By William Smith
For Serena Stevens, Southeastern Community College wasn’t just the first couple of rungs on the college ladder.
It’s where she found her true self.
The Fort Madison native, who gave the commencement speech at the Southeastern Community College West Burlington campus 2022 graduation Thursday night (May 12) at Memorial Auditorium, was featured as the distinguished alumnus. She graduated from SCC in 2008 and 2011.
Coming out of her high school graduation, Stevens thought she wanted to get into the medical field. But taking classes at SCC pointed Stevens toward her true passion – creating art, typically through large scale paintings.
“Now I’m a full time artist. I’m living the dream,” she said.
Stevens is still close to her former SCC art instructor, John Bybee. His guidance was crucial to developing her artistic skills, and taking them beyond SCC.
“By the time I transferred to Western (Illinois University), I had a transfer degree so I could focus fully on art,” she said.
Since then, Steven has gotten a bachelor of fine arts degree, and recently finished her master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa, where she also taught. Since then, her artwork has been reviewed in “The New York Times” and “The New Yorker.”
“It’s great. I’m returning to Burlington, and will have a studio,” she said.
Due to the ongoing TIGER grant funded redevelopment construction around Memorial Auditorium, many of the graduates arrived early to snag the limited parking spaces. The rest rode shuttle buses from four downtown locations, or parked on surrounding streets.
“I don’t think it (graduation) has hit me yet. I’m really excited, but I don’t if the emotions have hit me yet. But I’m excited,” said graduating SCC student Danielle Rhinehart.
Like Stevens, Rhinehart didn’t have her future locked in place when she arrived at SCC. She originally tried the nursing program, only to discover a greater interest in agricultural science. Rhinehart grew up on a farm in Henderson County, Ill., and will be working for a local seed company now that she has her diploma.
Her friend Ella Defenbaugh, from Kirkwood, Ill., started the ag science program before Rhinehart did.
“I came in the next spring, and I was a little nervous when I started, because I came in later. But I was like, ‘Okay, I have Ella.’ It kind of helped me a little bit. I wasn’t so terrified,” Rhinehart said.
Ella will be staying on the farm as well, and will also be veterinarian – a dream job she has wanted since grade school. She already oversees 200 head of cattle.
“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said.
Graduating SCC basketball teammates Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton and Jesiah West posed for graduation pictures taken by family members before the ceremony started, framed by the Great River Bridge in the background.
All of them expressed relief at graduating to the next chapter of their lives, and all have similar plans – a four year school, more basketball, and more studying.
“It’s been a long, hard two years of work, but it paid off,” Carpenter said.
West plans on going even further with his education, and will be pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training.
“I’m the first out of my mom’s boys to graduate, so it was a big stepping stone for me,” he said.
Photo caption: Graduating SCC basketball teammates (from left to right) Jesiah West, Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton poses for pictures in front of the Great River Bridges as their families take pictures.