Alumni

Triton College alumnus and artist Aaron Canino of Hillside felt nothing but pride presenting David B. Guerin, mayor of River Grove, with two pieces of artwork on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Canino’s painting of the iconic Gene and Jude’s hot dog stand is nostalgic to him. He also created a collage of several River Grove well-known landmarks, including The Thirsty Whale, the River Grove Fire Department and Brunswick Zone. 

“I did a substation amount of research to identify the best businesses and municipalities to represent in my art,” explained Canino. “In my opinion, 'Gene and Jude’s' is the most well-known landmark in River Grove.”

Canino has made a career of selling his architectural artwork to communities within Triton’s district, such as Broadview, Rosemont, Melrose Park, Proviso Township, Maywood and Hillside, among others.

Growing up in Hillside, he became interested in art at an early age. While a student at Proviso West High School, Canino was encouraged by his art teacher, Jerry Jenkins, to get involved in a local art show.

“That art show experience made me want to pursue a career in art,” he said. “I realized that I really enjoyed drawing architecture. It became my inspiration.”

Tom Catalano of Crossville, Tenn., is the author of 10 poetry books, ranging in genre from humorous to religious, two books of short stories and a book of witty quotes. With over 9,000 books sold, Catalano feels grateful to Triton College for helping him find his passion.

Catalano grew up in Elmwood Park and graduated from Elmwood Park High School in 1973. He explained that he was shy, introverted and wasn’t a part of the “in” crowd. Having a lot of teenage angst, he began writing poetry in high school to release his emotions and feelings.

“I really started writing creatively in high school,” he said. “I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I thought about attending law school.”

After graduating from Elmwood Park High School, Catalano attended Triton College from 1973 to 1974.

At Triton, he was enrolled in the Kaleidoscope Program, which required all students to keep a journal. Catalano noted that journaling became a daily habit for him, stating that he enjoyed writing about his thoughts and feelings.

“Journaling became a routine that trained me to write every day,” he said.

Catalano graduated from Aurora College in 1977 and then took a few graduate classes at Northern Illinois University (NIU). He decided to go into marketing because he felt he would “burn out” if he pursued writing as a full-time career, yet, he still wanted to utilize his creative talents.

“If you put your heart into your job and give your best effort, there will be steppingstones,” he explained.

Catalano moved up the marketing ladder, eventually retiring from Curry Supply Co., a truck manufacturer in Pennsylvania. After retiring as director of marketing, he knew he wanted to pursue his writing full time.

Catalano’s works, Jelly in My Belly, Rhymes For Kids, Rhymes For Teens and Nicholas The Santa Story, are poems for kids. Rhyme & Reason, Verse Things First, Poetry 'N Motion, Poems For His Glory, I Dig Mud & Yellow Blood and Witty Words of Wisdom are poems and quotes for teens and adults. The Edge of Imagination and Tall Tales & Short Stories are short fiction books for teens and adults. His most recent book, Funny Rhymes About Life!, is a collection of funny poems about honey-do projects, getting older, procrastination, and love and marriage. It is written for adults.

“I have a wide variety of interests when it comes to poetry,” he said of the diversity of his books.

Catalano self-publishes his books but has them all professionally edited. All his books can be purchased on Amazon, in major bookstores or on his official website. Books purchased on his website are autographed by him.

When he isn’t writing or promoting his books, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his wife of 37 years, Peggy. The couple have three daughters, Anna, 32; Emma, 28; and Elizabeth, 23.

“This is the legacy I want to leave behind,” he said.

To learn more about Catalano or to purchase his books, visit tomcatalano.com.

For Michele Fiore, Triton College holds memories of discovery: her hands gliding over a keyboard, playing music written centuries before; her voice shaping the stories of the day through journalism.

"I grew up in a very loving, supportive family, so I had that for my grounding,” said Fiore. Triton was part of that family experience, and Fiore’s two sisters also attended college there.

In elementary school, Fiore said, “I (was) personally introduced by my parents, who took me to meet Dr. Eugene Schlabach in the music department, where he decided he would take me on as his personal protege.”

Fiore said Schlabach, then the head of Triton’s music department, “taught me weekly until I was about 16, all classical music – the most beautiful songs you can imagine; Beethoven and Bach and Scarlatti and Chopin and Mozart.”

At the same time, Fiore developed confidence and persistence. “When you have that kind of relationship with an adult who is really inspiring you and pushing you harder in your life, it spills over into other areas,” she said.

Fiore excelled academically, earning a full scholarship to Triton after high school. At Triton, she took on leadership roles, including serving as editor in chief of Triton’s campus newspaper, The Fifth Avenue Journal.

“We would print our pictures in an actual dark room, so I got to see that whole process, and it was really fun,” recalled Fiore.

One standout memory was visiting the White Sox stadium to interview another Triton alum, Major League Baseball player Kirby Puckett.

“I got to go in the actual field right by where the players all sit and do my interview right there, and I got the best pictures of him,” said Fiore. “I’m just a kid from Triton College, but Kirby Puckett went to my school, and he’s being honored, so somehow, we were able to get me credentialed to get in the dugout and field.”

Fiore also gained experience in radio and TV broadcast news, working at Triton’s radio station, WRRG and its cable channel, TCTV.

After graduation, Fiore continued her education at Northern Illinois University, preparing for a career in broadcast journalism.

Journalism was a field where Fiore could combine her empathy and her dedication to success. “You’re talking to people going through some of the hardest challenges of their life,” she said. “You’re also talking to people going through some of the happiest moments of their life.”

Throughout her career, “I had this fire to just never give up, to keep pushing for bigger and better stories,” Fiore said.

Fiore began her career in radio news, working in Illinois at stations in Decatur, Waukegan, and WMAQ-Radio in Chicago.

Desiring a career in TV news, Fiore thought creatively. She found a radio station in Milwaukee, WTMJ, got a part time radio news job, and actively let colleagues in TMJ4 TV in the same building know about her interest in working for them.

It worked. “I didn’t give up on my dream,” said Fiore, adding that Schlabach’s mentorship all those years before was a reason why: “I don’t think I would have done TV news if I didn’t have those years of guidance to keep trying to be better in life.”

Many of the aspects that made Triton College a good fit for Fiore – like affordability and more opportunities for involvement – are reasons why she continues to champion Triton and community colleges to others.

Because community colleges primarily serve nearby towns and villages, “it’s an extension of the community that you are likely already involved in,” said Fiore.

That’s why Fiore serves as a Triton College Alumni Association Council Member. “It’s a place that gave me so much, and I want to make sure that students who are coming in have the value that I had back then,” she said. “It’s a ‘pay it forward.’”

It’s why alumni events like the Pack the” Place basketball game in support of current Triton student athletes are on her calendar, and why she recommends that alumni reach out to their friends from Triton.

“You might want and feel that connection and want to come back, but not know how,” said Fiore. “An invitation sometimes helps bring alumni back.”

And it’s why she continues to follow her dreams wherever they lead her, recently starting a position in public relations for the City of Hope Cancer Center in Zion, Illinois.

Whenever Fiore visits Triton, she said she leaves with renewed energy. “I’m looking at these buildings and remembering walking on campus as a student, and, wow, that 19-year-old girl had no idea what her future held, but it was really bright, and my start was right there.”

If you are a Triton College alum, the Alumni Association welcomes your story. Celebrate your accomplishments and stay connected to your alma mater by filling out a “Reconnect” submission. Your response may be featured on Triton’s alumni website and its e-newsletter.

Ryan Greenwood (left) pinned a badge on his father, Deputy Chief James Greenwood, at a River Forest Village Hall meeting on Monday, Feb. 13. Greenwood’s daughter, Madolyn Greenwood, excitedly looked on. 

Triton College alumni James Greenwood was appointed deputy chief of the River Forest Police Department on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. His celebration continued in front of friends, family and residents at the River Forest Village Hall on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023.

“I feel a sense of loyalty and pride in my work,” said Greenwood.

Greenwood grew up in Franklin Park and attended Passow Elementary School, Hester Junior High School and East Leyden High School, graduating in 1992. He then attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studied political science and landscape architecture.

While a student at U of I, Greenwood was assigned to work in the Police Department. His duties included checking campus buildings and providing transportation for students at night.

“I admired the work that the officers did and realized over time that it was my passion,” he said. “I decided to change education paths.”

Greenwood decided to attend Triton College to study criminal justice. He graduated in 2001, earning his associate degree.

“Triton offered the coursework I was interested in,” he said. “The classes were affordable and the instructors in Criminal Justice Administration were all active professionals in the fields of criminal justice or law.”

In 1997, Greenwood began his career with the River Forest Police Department, working his way up the ranks from patrol officer, detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol commander and now deputy chief.

Greenwood furthered his education by earning a bachelor’s in business administration from Benedictine University in 2010, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He attended the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2018, earning the Kreml Leadership Award, selected by fellow law enforcement professionals in the course.

“Receiving the award was an honor, especially coming from a group of people that were just as deserving of the award,” he noted.

He has plans to graduate in fall 2023 to earn a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University.

As the new deputy chief, Greenwood wants to ensure that the department continues to offer great services to the community and to support members of the department in their daily work.

In addition to being a police officer, Greenwood is a member of the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association.

Greenwood and his wife Jill have two adult children, Ryan and Madolyn. Ryan is a student at Arizona State University and is studying supply chain management. Madolyn is a student at Benedictine University and is studying pre-medicine. 

Michaleen “Micki” Lewis is committed to helping organizations achieve their vision. Currently the senior organizational development consultant with computer technology corporation, Oracle, Lewis began her postsecondary education at Triton College, earning an associate degree in Ophthalmic Technology. 

While gaining the technical proficiency needed to succeed in the eye care field, Lewis described other ways community college prepared her for life-long learning.

“Triton College helped develop my communication skills,” she said. “The college developed a higher level of patience in me and built my skillset towards understanding people.”

As Lewis continued her career path, so did her education. She completed a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University, as well as professional certifications in coaching and talent development.

Lewis, who grew up in Unincorporated Leyden Township, graduated from St. John Vianney School and West Leyden High School, both located in Northlake, Ill. She was introduced to eye care as a career option while participating in West Leyden’s summer healthcare work program.

Students at Triton College have benefitted from Lewis’ expertise, both as a faculty member and guest speaker. 

Gary Linden is the museum curator of the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum in River Grove. He credits Triton College for giving him the tools to achieve his dreams.

“I feel like I truly made a difference in the world,” he said. “I learned so much at Triton College that helped me get to where I am today.” 

Linden grew up in River Grove and graduated from Rhodes School in 1966, East Leyden High School in 1970 and then Triton College in 1972. After graduating from Triton, he worked a few different jobs, but realized he wanted to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. In December 1973, Linden became a member of the River Grove Police Department as a reserve officer when was he was 21.

In October 1978, Linden became a full-time police officer for the River Forest Police Department. During his career, he was a patrol officer and then was promoted to sergeant on July 17, 1997. He retired on Nov. 7, 2002. During that time, he was also an evidence technician, juvenile officer, field training officer and foot patrol officer in River Forest.

“I received 11 letters of recommendation, 14 unit citations, eight honorable mentions and in 1989, I received Officer of the Year. In 1996, I won the Cook County Sherriff’s Medal of Merit,” he said.

As a River Forest sergeant, Linden said he had to do a lot of administrative work as well as serving the public. He feels that his business degree from Triton College prepared him well for his role as sergeant. 

Linden became the museum curator for The Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum in February 2021. As a museum curator, he said he enjoys interacting with the public when they enter the museum.

“One of the most important lessons I learned from my time at Triton College is to always treat people with dignity and respect,” he said.

When it comes to Linden’s dedication to preserving the legacy of veterans, he noted he gets inspiration from all the American veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

“We live in the greatest country in the world,” he exclaimed. “We have veterans to thank for that. Veterans should always be honored and respected. In this museum, their legacy can be remembered for generations to come. They are the real heroes.”

Other than working at the museum, Linden’s passion is writing. He has published numerous articles for toy magazines such as Collecting Toys, Plastic Figure & Playset Collectors and the book Marx Western Playsets.

When not working at the museum or on his writing, Linden enjoys spending time with his niece and nephew, and great nieces and nephews.

With a passion for dance, creativity and movement, Niki (Wilk) Mahon turned her zeal into a career.

A 2008 graduate of Triton College, Mahon credits her time at Triton for giving her the flexibility and freedom to pursue her dance dreams and entrepreneurial endeavors.

“As the owner of Turning Point Dance and the barre ep studio + café, both located in Elmwood Park, I can honestly say that it’s never too late to do what you love,” she said.

As a member of the Triton College Alumni Association, Mahon hopes to give back to the community that helped her get her start.

“Reconnecting with alumni through the Alumni Association is so important to me,” she added.

Growing up in Elmwood Park, Mahon took an interest in dance at a young age. Her parents enrolled her in classes at Turning Point Dance, which gave her the confidence to perform in front of others.

“I realized early on that I was good at dancing and performing,” she said. “Dance allowed me to connect with others as well myself.”

Following years of intense dance training, Mahon decided to pursue a dance career after graduating from Trinity High School. She enrolled in college courses at Columbia College Chicago, while simultaneously auditioning for dancing jobs. Although her studies were important to her, she found it difficult to balance auditions with her class schedule. She decided to take some time off from college but eventually felt the urge to return to the classroom.

“I thought it was too late for me to finish college,” she said. “As I know now, it’s never too late! I enrolled at Triton and started working towards a personal training certification, utilizing my passion for movement and knowledge of exercise.”

After earning her associate degree from Triton in 2008, Mahon went on to Northeastern Illinois University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and theatre and a minor in dance.

She furthered her education by acquiring a master’s degree in physical education and dance from Concordia University in 2011. 

“Triton gave me the opportunity to go to school while pursuing my dreams,” she explained.

As the owner of two Elmwood Park fitness and dance establishments, Mahon also juggles life as a wife and mom. Her three children are all involved in dance, especially her daughter, who is a competitive Irish dancer. In addition to her many accomplishments, she serves as a board member of the Grand Chamber by O’Hare.

“It’s so important for the community to know that Triton is a great option,” said Mahon. “I’m looking forward to making a positive contribution to Triton’s Alumni Association team.” 

Katie Muellner of River Grove is honored to serve on the Triton College Alumni Association Council, adding to her already impressive record of community service and dedication.  A proud advocate for the River Grove community and Triton’s surrounding districts, Muellner remains deeply committed to giving back.

“The River Grove and Triton community means everything to me,” she said. “It’s so important for me to give back to the neighborhood that has offered so much.”

A lifelong River Grove resident, Muellner attended River Grove Elementary School and graduated from East Leyden High School in 1994. Following high school, she turned to Triton College as a “steppingstone” before committing to a four-year institution.

At Triton she earned her Associate of Arts degree in Science in 1996, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Dominican University in 1998.

Muellner began working at Quasthoff’s Flowers, Inc. during high school. What started as a part-time job blossomed into a full-time job, and after many years of dedication, she acquired the business where she has been the owner since 2019.

“It has been an absolute blessing to own Quasthoff’s,” she said. “I get to share everyone’s celebrations with them, from their engagements to their weddings to their baby showers, to even their hardships. I try to always go a step above and beyond.”

Beyond running her business, Muellner serves as the past president and active member of the Chamber by O’Hare, recreation director for the village of River Grove and a member of the Village Beautification Committee.

She’s also an active parent volunteer at River Grove Elementary School, serving on the PTA and the River Grove Education Foundation.

Clearly for Muellner, joining the Triton College Alumni Association Council is yet another way to support the community she loves.

“Triton is a wonderful place for students to take the next step in their education,” she said. “It’s a great asset in our community. It’s a way to get the college experience while staying close to home. I am a huge advocate.” 

Italo Muralles of Chicago is proud of his many accomplishments in both his life and career. However, he admits that getting to where he is today wasn’t always easy. 

Muralles was born in Guatemala and immigrated to Chicago when he was 9 years old. He grew up in a very religious home and attended Gordon Tech High School (now DePaul College Prep). His life seemed to be going according to plan until one fateful evening.  

“I was driving with my family on Christmas night in 1979. We were hit by a drunk driver,” he explained. “My sister’s fiancé was killed. He was a medical student visiting from Guatemala. My sister never married after that because she had lost the love of her life.”

Due to the trauma of the accident, it was hard for Muralles to focus on college. At the time, he was working for Jewel-Osco and was encouraged by the company to work his way up without a bachelor’s degree. After several years of being employed there, Muralles realized he didn’t want to miss out on precious moments with his wife Lilly and daughter Sara, by working nights and weekends.

“I decided to make a career switch and began working at Eaton Tripp Lite, which is a manufacturing company,” he said. “I worked my way up to vice president of International Operations and Business Development. After working at Tripp Lite for 25 years, I knew I wanted to resign from my position and finally pursue my passion for landscape design.”

Muralles’ wife encouraged him to work towards a degree in horticulture at Triton College. Taking her advice, Muralles said he instantly fell in love with the school, students and faculty.

Now, at age 60, Muralles feels he is finally on the right path.

After receiving an internship with the Franklin Park Park District, Muralles’ bosses quickly became impressed with his creativity and work ethic.

Muralles was hired as a full-time employee and was also asked to oversee North Park’s Children’s Nature Center as a project manager when funding becomes available. In the meantime, he will graduate from Triton with a degree in horticulture applied sciences.

He expressed that he is passionate about his new career path and doesn’t have any plans to retire. He hopes to work for as long as his health allows him.

“I loved the support Triton gave me,” he said. “It opened up so many doors. The teachers are good at what they do. The counselors were always available to help. Triton improved my life.”

When Muralles is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family. He is very proud of his daughter Sara, who graduated from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She is currently doing her residency in Martinez, California.

Bulmaro “Bull” Saavedra of Morton Grove is the owner of Hay Caramba!, a Mexican restaurant in Park Ridge. With a successful business under his belt, many would think Saavedra achieved the embodiment of the American Dream. However, Saavedra’s road to success has not always been smooth.

Saavedra grew up in Mexico in a small town called Los Sauces, Guerrero. Growing up, he struggled in school and wanted to move to the United States, eventually immigrating to Chicago in 1973. Once in Chicago, he began working for Standard Grinding & Mfg. Co., a machinery business located in Skokie.

“Standard Grinding sent me to Triton College and enrolled me in the Machine Tool Technology Program to learn how to run machinery,” he explained. “At the time, I hardly spoke any English, so going to Triton taught me a lot. It was an amazing school experience.”

Saavedra married his wife Josephine in 1975, and soon after, began thinking about starting his own business, his lifelong dream. Making this dream a reality, he opened his first restaurant in Chicago, in 1986. By 1989, Saavedra found himself no longer working full time, but spent all his time at the restaurant.

In 1991, Saavedra and his wife decided to open a restaurant in Park Ridge called Hay Caramba! Recently celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their opening, Saavedra noted that Hay Caramba! serves several of their old family recipes, with the fajitas being Saavedra’s favorite.

“During the pandemic, we stayed open for carryout, so our business was still able to thrive,” he said. “We are grateful that we enjoy a lot of support from the community.”

Now, as a successful restaurant owner, Saavedra and his wife enjoy serving customers and making them happy.

“Hospitality is a wonderful way to connect with the community and share in their celebrations of life,” he said.

Although the job can be challenging, since they must sacrifice nights and weekends, Saavedra feels it is worth the hard work they have put into their restaurant. He’s grateful that Triton College gave him the foundation and tools to run and open a successful business.

When Saavedra is not working, he enjoys relaxing with his family and traveling. Saavedra and his wife Josephine have two adult children, Michael and Marlene, who work at the restaurant with their parents.

Maryna Salkovski, Ph.D., a 2014 Triton College graduate, is inspired by entrepreneurship, diligence and coffee. 

“I believe in working hard, having fun and meeting a lot of great people along the way!” she expressed. 

Salkovski is the founder and CEO of Bean Bar, a coffee vending machine company with a high-end product. Bean Bar serves high quality hot drinks, such as cappuccinos, hot chocolate and lattes, and has a machine that’s open for business in the Triton College Library.

“Bean Bar offers delicious, healthy, on-demand, high quality espresso drinks,” she noted. “It’s ideal for any college or university student and staff alike!” 

Salkovski, born in Ukraine, immigrated to the United States when she was 6 years old. She grew up in River Grove, attended East Leyden High School and worked in the community at Goody’s Fast Food (located in River Grove). After East Leyden, she was accepted into the Scholar’s Program at Triton College. She knew she wanted to attend Triton which she felt was a “perfect fit from every angle.” 

“I liked how student oriented Triton was and I expanded my experience in the Scholar’s Program. The location and price were perfect, and the faculty were very welcoming and helpful,” she explained. 

After Salkovski graduated from Triton, she attended Elmhurst College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She continued her education at the University of Illinois at Chicago studying autophagy and received a doctorate degree in chemistry from The Aldrich Lab. 

Salkovski said the idea for Bean Bar came when visiting her husband’s home country of Bulgaria. She explained that in Bulgaria, coffee vending is ubiquitous and believed people back home would enjoy the convenience of a coffee bar while studying or working. 

“My husband Tihomir and I are coffee aficionadas and wanted to bring this concept to the states,” she noted. “We found a manufacturer from overseas and the rest is history.” 

After purchasing a coffee vending machine, Salkovski and her husband took to their lab (aka their kitchen) and spent several months perfecting different coffee recipes to make sure every drink is delicious, healthy and made with the cleanest ingredients. After finetuning the recipes, Salkovski came up with the name Bean Bar and the slogan “We Bean Business”. They are in the process of getting both trademarked. 

Salkovski explained that after a lot of emails, Triton College was kind enough to give her the opportunity to install a Bean Bar machine in the Library. The Library has since created a “Library Café” where students can get a cup of coffee from Bean Bar, relax and read a magazine while they take a break from studying. 

“We are forever grateful to Triton College,” she said. 

In the future, Salkovski wants to expand to other locations, such as schools, businesses and airports. The goal is to grow the business nationwide and create a line of healthy and delicious products people can enjoy at home. 

When Salkovski is not growing her business, she likes to dance, socialize, and of course, drink coffee.

Michael Starrick’s Triton College experience led him from the George R. Cox Auditorium, where he studied theater and communications, to a successful career as the Assistant Vice President, Commercial Real Estate and Treasury Specialist at Pan American Bank and Trust.

“When you’re on the stage, you have to really make people believe what you’re talking about,” said Starrick. “The same thing goes with sales and obviously with what I do now.”

Communication skills, confidence and a focus on community are all qualities Starrick said he developed at Triton through a balance of fun, discipline and relationships.

A Triton education is a tradition in Starrick’s family – his sister, brother and wife all attended. “We all did our associates there, and then we all went on to different professional paths,” he added.

In choosing Triton College, Starrick found himself in good company. “What is great is that it pulled from every community,” he said. “I had friends I knew from high school, youth groups, sports groups and theater groups that were students at Triton as well.”

“There are still friends I have from Triton to this day,” said Starrick, and those close friendships were matched by the excellence of Triton instructors who Starrick said helped mold him and his classmates into the people they wanted to become.

Starrick mentioned that Triton’s affordability and location make it an attractive choice for families. “And what’s great about it is that the quality of education at Triton, I think, easily rivals any four-year institution, especially some of the teachers.”

Instructors like Dr. Michael Flaherty, who currently chairs Triton’s English Department. “Reading different plays with him in class really pushed me out of my comfort zone in terms of what I would typically read,” Starrick said.

And instructors like Ric Segovia, Triton’s current Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, whose “theater classes were probably some of the most fun I’ve ever had,” said Starrick. “In college, just hanging out with the class, doing shows and learning more about that passion.”

What is more, Starrick said, “it’s not only a learning environment but it’s a challenging environment” where deep conversations lead to new ways of thinking and struggles become life lessons.

Dr. Charles Fuller was Starrick’s geography instructor, who gave him his first failing grade in a course. “And then I ended up taking his class again, a year or two later, and got an ‘A’ and got the ‘F’ removed from my transcript.”

Along with learning perseverance, Starrick said he developed the dedication and discipline that he’d later apply to his career and community service.

“I went directly from my two-year degree and got a job at a bank one day and have been in finance ever since,” said Starrick, adding that Triton is a place “that facilitates those next steps” whatever they may be for graduates.

That’s why Starrick gives back both to the Triton community and to the towns and villages in its district. “Throughout my career, I’ve always been passionate about the community I live in,” he said.

Born and raised in Maywood, where he now lives, Starrick has served on the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s Next Gen Leaders of Philanthropy Board and is a current Triton College Alumni Association council member.

Noting that many local leaders across different fields have a Triton background, Starrick said that “it’s not just the network we have at Triton, but it’s the Triton network we have in our communities, too.”

Whether or not someone attends Triton College as a student, Starrick said the college provides resources to the community, and that one way alumni can stay involved is to let people in the places where they live, work and serve know about all it offers.

“Just word of mouth; spreading it throughout the community: ‘have you looked at Triton? Have you looked at this as an option?’ Because there are so many programs there to help,” he said.

Another way Starrick said alumni can further Triton’s mission is by sharing their expertise with local organizations.

“We have ways we can really impact the community around us,” he said. “So many different nonprofits are benefitted by people who go to a local community college and who have passion behind serving their community.”

In the end, Starrick described Triton College as “a great institution that is a launching pad for so many people I’ve known,” Starrick said. “It’s been great to me and my family, and I think it’s awesome, and I feel very proud of my being a Triton alum.”

If you are a Triton College alum, the Alumni Association welcomes your story. Celebrate your accomplishments and stay connected to your alma mater by filling out a “Reconnect” submission. Your response may be featured on Triton’s alumni website and its e-newsletter.

A career spanning more than 25 years of leadership and care in nursing led Dr. Tammara Trice, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, to her current role as Director of Patient Care Services at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Yet once, a high school diploma felt out of reach. “I had just had a daughter, and I couldn’t get to school,” she said.

A high school counselor offered a solution: Triton College. “I took two evening classes, and that helped me graduate,” said Trice.

Describing Triton as “a hidden gem in the community,” Trice said she appreciates the flexibility that the college offers – to those still in high school and those working toward a degree or certificate.

Triton also held her to a high standard. An English instructor “told me if I’m going to be in college, I need to write like I’m in college,” said Trice. “And what that did for me is to always make sure that when I’m communicating with people that I am communicating at the level that I should be.”

“I always reflect back to that when I’m ready to communicate with someone, because I want to make sure that I’m showing up as my professional and authentic self,” added Trice.

Community colleges like Triton, she said, are “a good segue into getting anyone prepared for the next journey in their life,” and there were multiple times when Triton was part of Trice’s academic and career journey.

A few years after high school, Trice enrolled in Triton College’s Basic Nursing Assistant program, later returning for her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing, all while working in the field.

“When I did the Nursing Assistant program, there was somebody there [at Triton] to help me navigate what it was all going to look like,” said Trice. “And again, it worked with my life. I was able to go to school in the evenings, and I did my clinical on the weekends.”

Even when Trice decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing, “I had to still take some other courses, like statistics and ethics, and I was able to take those classes at Triton, online.”

Trice still drives past campus. When she does, she said she finds herself thinking back to her own experiences, and how far she’s come. She looks at current students and has the same hopes for them.

Every time Trice visits campus, she said she feels that same welcome: “Whether they’re the people who work in the student center or people who work in the cafeteria, everyone has that friendly hue about them.”

Triton is “a melting pot, and there are so many people from different backgrounds that are walking through there,” added Trice.

“That is why I am with the [Triton College] Alumni Council,” she said. “I want other students to see what we can do for the people coming in.”

There are multiple ways Trice stays involved that she recommends to other alumni who want to stay connected.

When talking to her colleagues, “I always ask people ‘where do you want to go? Where do you want to be? What do you want to do besides what you’re doing?' Trying to encourage people to go to that next level,” Trice said.

Especially if she’s talking with someone who lives in Triton’s district, “I’m always pushing people back to Triton,” she added.

When Trice attends special events like the Alumni Wall of Fame ceremony, she notices the Triton students around her, like the culinary students preparing dinner.

“After everyone has eaten and everyone has gone home, you can see the pride in their faces that ‘we did that,’” said Trice. “And I love that. I absolutely love it.”

“I have learned that pouring into the students is really important,” she added, “and not only the students, but the community itself.”

That’s why Glow Golf is one of Trice’s favorite alumni events, and something she promotes on her own social media pages.

“Even if you’ve never golfed in your life, if you want to have a good time and you want to help while you’re there through donating money for scholarships, that’s a good way to get involved,” she said.

It demonstrates to students what Trice discovered; that “no matter how hard things look, they’re achievable.”

“I have a master’s degree, I have a doctoral degree, but that Triton experience stays in the forefront of my brain, because that is where it all started,” Trice said. “If it had not been for some of the lessons and some of the experiences that I had at Triton, I couldn’t even begin to tell you where I would be today.”

If you are a Triton College alum, the Alumni Association welcomes your story. Celebrate your accomplishments and stay connected to your alma mater by filling out a “Reconnect” submission. Your response may be featured on Triton’s alumni website and its e-newsletter.