June
8, 2004
Oakton Student Wins 2004 Paul Simon Essay Contest
Julie Stoneburner, a nursing student at Oakton Community College, is the winner of the 2004 Paul Simon Student Essay Contest, sponsored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Stoneburner, who lives in Des Plaines with her husband and five children, will accept her prize - a $500 scholarship for future educational expenses - at the annual ICCTA banquet in Springfield on Friday, June 18.
"We are extremely proud of Julie's achievements," said Margaret Lee, president of Oakton. "Her determination to overcome academic as well as personal obstacles serves as an inspiration to everyone at Oakton."
Stoneburner has spent five years at Oakton completing prerequisite and core nursing courses, and plans to enter Oakton's nursing program in the fall. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average and scored in the 95th percentile on the National League of Nursing exam.
"During that same period, my husband lost his job with the University of Illinois and continues to be unemployed, regardless of his experience and his MBA," Stoneburner wrote in her winning essay. "Talk about our lives being changed! In addition to persevering through this coursework, I also became the main income and benefits provider for our family of seven."
Entrants in the Paul Simon Essay Contest must address the theme, "How My Community College Has Changed My Life," in fewer than 500 words. Student essays are judged on writing style, clarity of expression, relevancy to the topic, and the use of grammar and punctuation.
Oakton Community College offers degree and certificate programs for students preparing to enter a four-year college or university, as well as those seeking employment in a variety of careers. Oakton is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the Illinois Community College Board and American Association of Community Colleges.
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