ECC Stories

In the Spotlight

English professor Rachael Stewart teaches her class.

Faculty Profile

Longtime English Faculty Has Only Ever Wanted to Teach at ECC

As her retirement approaches, English professor Rachael Stewart reflects on her career at ECC, which began in the 1990s.

Alumni Profile

Stepping Up

Zach Lorenz became the owner of Lorenz Calibration in October 2024, following his father’s death. Now, the young business owner is navigating everything from hiring his first employee to expanding the company’s services, and he sees ECC as a potential partner.

Vanessa Macias Arias poses with her book

Staff Profile

Q&A: ECC’s TRiO’s Vanessa Macias Arias Publishes New Book

In September 2026, Vanessa Macias Arias became a published author with the release of “Chingona Playbook: Secrets to Dance To Your Own Beat.” The anthology book features 21 Latina writers sharing personal stories about how they became who they are today.

International Student Homestay Hosts Diana and Guillermo Felfe and international student Oanh Nguyen from Vietnam pose for a photo.

Student Profile | Student Resources

South Elgin Family Hosts Vietnamese Student

Diana and Guillermo Felfe of South Elgin have been hosting international student Oanh Nguyen for more than a year. Nguyen is from Vietnam, and the Felfes found small ways to help her feel at home when she first arrived in Elgin.

ECC graduate Yeni Elizalde poses with her daughter at the Spring 2026 Nurse Pinning Ceremony.

Alumni Profile | Student Resources

ECC Grad Receives Support from Workforce Development Program

ECC alumna Yeni Elizalde details how the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) program supported her during her time in ECC's nursing program.

ECC/ComEd Energy Efficiency Newcomer Training Cohort students pose together for a photo outside a house they visited for class.

Accomplishment

ECC/ComEd Energy Efficiency Cohort Builds Skills for the Workforce

The Energy Efficiency Newcomer Training Cohort, a collaboration between ECC and ComEd’s Market Development Initiative (MDI), began July 13 and runs through September 4.

ECC visual art professors teach members of the Elgin Boys & Girls Club of North Central Illinois about pottery during a visit.

Arts Center | Student Resources

Boys & Girls Club Visits ECC, Learn More About Visual Arts

A group from the Boys & Girls Club of North Central Illinois in Elgin visited ECC's Visual Arts department this past July to learn more about creating art and different career pathways in the arts.

Jasmin De La Torre, ECC student and Advance Lifts employee, poses next to her work station.

Academics | Student Profile

ECC Welding Students Excel Through Mentorship, Training

Many ECC welding students, including Jasmin De La Torre, Lilly Rutter, and Joseph Lortie, are now working at St. Charles manufacturer Advance Lifts, thanks to a recommendation from ECC welding professor Dave Reich.

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ECC in the News

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Elgin Community College Opens New CDL Truck Driving Center, Expanding Training Opportunities

ECC’s new CDL Truck Driving Center celebrated its grand opening on November 5, a new start for the 35-year-old program.

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Elgin Community College Presents Criminal Justice Conversations: Inside a Cold Case Investigation

On November 18, Elgin Community College will welcome unit detectives from the investigation for the third installment of its Criminal Justice Conversations series, Inside a Cold Case Investigation.