Great futures start at parklanD

Since high school, Karla Martinez knew she enjoyed studying the sciences. However, she wasn’t quite sure what STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career she wanted to pursue.

“Parkland College gave me the chance to explore a wide range of courses, from physics and calculus to forensic science and eventually helped me discover my love for chemistry,” she says. “Many of the professors at Parkland really nurtured my curiosity in the sciences which then led me to complete my bachelor's degree in chemistry at UIUC.”

Growing up in Urbana, the now-Decatur native always had a good impression of Parkland since she was a teenager. Many of her relatives like her mother, uncle, 5 cousins and 2 nieces also took Parkland courses, ranging from business to computer science.

“It's almost a family tradition at this point,” she says.

Martinez participated in a summer program on Parkland’s campus too.

When the time came to choose which college to attend, she notes Parkland offered the opportunity to explore different careers “without the pressure of a four-year program.” Attending Parkland made the perfect choice.

“I really wanted to make the most out of my time at Parkland and so I joined as many clubs as I could,” she says. “Since the clubs were small and flexible, it was easier to balance them with my classes and a part-time job, which was especially helpful for staying an active student.”

Martinez served as President of the Parkland Science Club (PSC) and Vice President of the Honors Program Leadership Team and Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a co-ed service fraternity. PSC organized guest speakers in various STEM fields, as well as fun science activities and talks, which allowed students to learn and explore different career paths in the sciences.

“This experience really helped me improve my communication and administrative skills,” she says. “In APO, we facilitated mentoring and volunteer programs, giving me the opportunity to develop as a mentor while supporting new students and the community.”

After college, she began working for Aerotek, a company contracted with Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) in Decatur. She soon joined ADM full-time and has been there ever

since, exploring different chemistries from corn milling to crystallization, chromatography and other separation technologies.

“Working at ADM's research facility means my day to day can vary significantly, from running experiments to learning new technologies,” she says. “As a process development scientist, I'm part of a team that provides plant support and develops new technologies or products the company is exploring. Research can sometimes be fast paced and often requires adapting on the fly. However, that also means there are many opportunities to learn more and continue growing as a scientist.”

Parkland College continues to be a special place for Martinez, where she says many memories and friendships were formed. She’s grateful to still be in touch with these friends and professors like Britt Carlson and Keiko Kircher.

“Parkland gave me the opportunity to explore my interests without the concern of finishing on a schedule,” she says. “It also gave me the resources to interact easily with my professors, other students and the community. I was able to create so many fond memories of my time at Parkland while also growing as a person, mentor and scientist.”

For anyone looking to attend Parkland, Martinez advises: “Whether you are a senior in high school or seeking a new direction in life, career paths can feel overwhelming. It's tough to know what you want to do, and there is a lot of pressure to choose the ‘right’ path. Parkland offers all the resources to explore different fields of interest while providing the opportunity to get involved in clubs and find a supportive community.” 

At a young age, Brittany Scott admits she was dreadfully shy. This soon changed when her great future began at Parkland College.

“Parkland is where I really started to spread my wings,” says Scott. “While attending Parkland I was able to make friends, get involved and have the smaller class sizes that were most comfortable to me.”

Scott graduated from Parkland with an A.S. in General Science in 2016 and then transferred to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, earning a degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Environmental Engineering.

“I grew up in Champaign-Urbana, and knew my best option was to go to community college to earn my general education credits done before transferring to a four-year university,” Scott says. “The education and skills I learned at Parkland have aided me throughout my career. Not only did I gain formal education, but also interpersonal skills I use in my everyday life!”

Some of Scott’s fond memories at Parkland were spent in student involvement. She was a founding member of Parkland Science Club, an officer in Alpha Phi Omega, involved in Phi Theta Kappa, and wrote for The Prospectus.

“There was a club for everyone, and they were all so welcoming!” Scott says. “Professors were very easy to communicate with and really got to know you on a personal level as well as professional. I loved the library at Parkland. I spent a lot of time there studying, checking out books and hanging out.”

Scott now works in the St. Louis office for Springfield, Illinois-based Hanson Professional Services as a civil engineer. Previously, she was a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Parkland College truly has something for everyone,” Scott says. “I believe anyone that attends can do great things as long as they put their mind to it!”

The Parkland College Police Department ensures a safe and secure campus environment for the more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and visitors. One officer’s great future began right where she works today.

Somphon Penland, better known on campus as Sam, was always aware of the community college in her hometown of Champaign-Urbana.

“I knew I had an interest in law enforcement very early on in high school,” says Penland, who now serves as a Public Safety Sergeant on campus, a position she’s held for almost seven years. “I started looking at schools and the programs they offered and was delighted to learn Parkland offered a criminal justice program.”

Penland planned to transfer to a four-year institution, but wanted to stay local, be close to home, and have as much time with her mother as she could.

“Parkland had a great reputation, and I had heard about the criminal justice program from older students,” Penland says. “The price per credit hour was much more affordable than other colleges, and at the time, the financial burden was something I had to consider since I was paying for school on my own.”

While attending Parkland, Penland served as a dispatcher for Public Safety, then later as a security patrol officer. This gave her on-the-job experience and allowed her to work closely with sworn officers in preparation for a career in the field. Ironically, Penland once played an undercover detective working to solve an unexpected murder at a dinner party in a Parkland Theatre production of Monk Ferris’ “Bone Chiller!”

“My Parkland education gave me a very strong foundation to build on,” Penland says, emphasizing courses which helped her become a better writer, communicator, and more. “I felt very prepared for university, but also for the actual criminal justice field. I truly believe the environment was supportive and encouraged learning. It helped me reach high scholastic achievement, and I graduated top of my academy class.”

Penland says her Parkland instructors were instrumental in helping find her voice, inspiring her to be “distinguished, fierce, and fearlessly ambitious.” Educators like Freda Decerbo told her she had no limits; Anna Wall Scott praised her for having the courage to speak up when others were silent; and Paul Sarantakos identified her potential and pushed her to do more. The latter is still a trusted mentor today.

After attending Parkland 1999–2001, Sam transferred to Western Illinois University before beginning her police career in Joliet, Illinois. She soon found her way back to Parkland.

“I love our school and our community,” Penland says. “Being able to come back to the place I started has given me an opportunity to reflect on what a treasure this place is. When you're a young adult, you're eager to leave home and 'grow up,' but going away and experiencing something different was really the chance for me to see what amazing resources I had right at my fingertips.”

Penland added: “My entire Parkland experience was an integral part of my current success. I am grateful to all the people who were a part of my early life during that time. Being back here now, I carry an even larger sense of pride knowing I am part of a team that believes in a strong mission. Wherever people are in their journey when they come to Parkland, I know we have the ability to make a large impact on their story.”

Zach Stefan believes everyone has their own unique educational journey. His great future began at Parkland College.

“As a Champaign native I knew Parkland was a great school,” Stefan says. “After high school, I was looking for an affordable option that would give me the opportunity to transfer to a four-year school. Parkland was the obvious choice.”

Stefan graduated from Parkland in 2010 with an associate degree in agriculture before transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He now works as an Advanced Markets Consultant at Country Financial in Bloomington.

“Going to Parkland allowed me to have a solid educational foundation,” Stefan says. “I really enjoyed the small class sizes at Parkland and access I had to my professors. When I transferred to UIUC, I was well prepared for the coursework.”

Stefan expresses his gratitude toward his Parkland education.

“I was able to earn a high-quality education, transfer to the four-year program that I wanted to, and save a lot of money along the way,” Stefan says. “I want others to know that Parkland is a great school and should seriously be considered by anyone looking to start or continue their education journey.”