Our Clients

Our students represent a diverse range of adults aged 19 to past retirement age. They are non-traditional, mature and rely on a full complement of life experiences that enable them to succeed in their pursuit of educational opportunities and vocational training. Here are four examples of the wonderful individuals who utilize EOC services!

Desirée Lesniewski

After being in hospitals for several years recovering from a rare illness, I re-entered college with the assistance of the Educational Opportunity Center. Sallie Kernan, an EOC program counselor, helped me to apply for admission and financial aid, and she also assisted me with initially deciding on a career plan. I have changed my plan several times over the lasts couple of years, and the Educational Opportunity Center has always been there to help me no matter what my educational needs are.I have finally decided on the Business Management associate degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College and I am now completing my third semester. I am taking a combination of online and on campus classes that fits my lifestyle well. I feel that this degree will provide me with many exciting career opportunities in the future.I am even considering going on to purse a bachelors degree after completing my associate degree.

Faustina Gamble

I became deaf at the age of 21, and I was no longer able to pursue my nursing careerwhile living in my home country of Africa. I moved to the United States in 1984, and really struggled to find suitable employment while raising my family on my own. I was very frustrated because I was rejected from so many jobs because of my hearing loss. I felt that employers would see my disability and not my skills, and I was turned down job after job.

I am so glad that I came to the Educational Opportunity Center and met with Sallie Kernan because she really believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my dream of completing a college degree in a new profession. The EOC helped me to choose a program and assisted with the admission and financial aid process. The EOC has given me support along the way, especially when I was thinking of withdrawing from college. They helped me to weigh the pros and cons and gave me the encouragement that I needed to keep going.

I am now only one semester away from receiving my degree in Office Assistant. I have recently obtained part time employment as an office assistant, and will continue to do this job part time while I finish my degree. This position will turn into full time employment upon finishing my program.

I feel very happy and successful!

Harun Kofiro

I graduated high school in Kenya, Africa. I came to the United States in 2003 and was living in Barron, WI. I completed my HSED at WITC in Rice Lake, WI. I supported my younger siblings working at the Jennie O' Turkey Store in Barron, WI. I met Jim Dzimiela, my advisor/counselor in 2005 at University of Wisconsin-Barron County in Rice Lake when I decided to go to college.

I started out as a part-time student at UWBC in the Spring of 2005-2006. He assisted me in every step of the process from financial aid to advising me on class selection. The Education Opportunity Center made my transition to college painless. I am in my final semester at UWBC and will be graduating with an Associate of Arts & Science Degree in May of 2008. I have applied to University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and River Falls to complete my bachelor's in business.

Jeffrey Ames

Jeffrey Ames is a 38-year old handyman from Bruce, WI, looking for a better life. Jeff had been diagnosed with a learning disability; and lacking the support from his teachers in high school, eventually dropped out. Despite Jeff's frustration with his lack of education, his perseverance to improve himself brought him to the Educational Opportunity Center at the local university and technical college in Rice Lake, WI. Jim Dzimiela, EOC Career Counselor, guided him through the process of taking and passing the Ability To Benefit * test. Jeff successfully passed the entrance requirements. Now, with the support of Wisconsin
Indianhead Technical College, and the EOC, Jeff is now a student at WITC pursuing his dream in the marine mechanic program. Jeff advises other adults that, wherever they are in life, "to follow their dream and believe. You too can do it!"

Who says a college kid has to be a kid?

You are becoming a role model for your family, friends, or fellow employees. What you're experiencing and learning, both in content and survivorship skills, is worthy of respect...and you'll get it. The tone you set by prioritizing your time and study responsibilities will become a model for others to follow.

College is the time to struggle to learn a formula or a concept…it’s supposed to be hard. That’s how you learn to think, to problem-solve. Your boss probably won’t be as lenient or as helpful as your professors.

If I end up never being a biologist, I still wouldn’t trade my life in college. I learned so much about who I am…what makes me succeed and what makes me fail. It was an exploration of me…

The best gift you can give yourself or your family is an education. When you receive your diploma, most everyone will agree the sacrifices made by you and your family were worth the effort.

You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make up for lost time.

You are seeking a degree because you have decided that this is what you need to do to have the best life possible for you and your family. You are eager to learn, and that means you will be willing to do the work, as for assistance, and stretch your limits.

As you go further in your academic career, your life experiences will serve you well.