John McGinnis

Alumni  |  Student  |  Transferred To Four-Year Institution

John McGinnis knew from a young age he wanted to work with computers and technology. “My ultimate career goal is to become a software engineer and project manager in Sweden,” he said. “I speak Swedish and French, and I enjoy learning about other cultures.”

After being home-schooled growing up, John decided to attend St. Charles Community College to study computer programming.

His start at SCC was inspired by his aunt, Laura Helling, who received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.

“I saw the campus during a speech she gave here, and it made an impression on me,” he said.

John got involved around campus from the start. He became an officer of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society of two-year colleges, and worked in various departments across campus as a work-study. “The highlight of my experience at SCC has been my amazing cast of teachers, mentors and co-workers,” he said.

“As a prior home-schooled student, SCC helped me prepare to transfer to other colleges by strengthening my sense of independence, my ability to cooperate as part of a team and my resolve,” he said. “SCC has given me the opportunity to prove to other universities that I can be a successful student and that I am able to perform well under the rigor and stress of working alongside an overloaded semester.”

Following his anticipated May 2018 graduation, John plans to transfer to the University of Missouri (Mizzou) on a full scholarship paid for through the Missouri Land Grant, which he learned about from one of SCC’s transfer advisors.

Last updated: April  23, 2018