Samuel Jackson

Sam Jackson is not a stranger to hard work.  Currently working at Caterpillar, in the Marketing and Product Support Division, Sam started his career there during his junior year of high school.  Upon graduation, along with working full-time at Caterpillar, Sam attended Bradley University for a year.  However, after working full time and going to school, the fourteen-hour days took a toll.  He transferred to Illinois Central College to take night classes, with the promise to himself to obtain his Bachelor’s within the next two years.  After searching both online and “brick and mortar” programs, he chose Eureka College’s Organizational Leadership Degree Completion Program.  According to Sam, “Eureka College offered a program where the curriculum matched my education goals and fit what interested me.”

Sam’s motivation for completing his degree through the program is not just the promise of more money, but the satisfaction and life changing opportunities it brings. 

“Education is one of those experiences that, if taken seriously and finished, can be a liberating experience.  I am driven by learning more new things and by becoming a better person.” 

He is pleased with his decision to be a part of the Organizational Leadership Program.  He believes that the degree is set apart from others because it focuses on bettering his overall skills, and not just knowledge alone.  “This program…will help me use my knowledge and ideas to effectively lead the way for development towards tomorrow.”

Sam is flourishing at Eureka College and can already see and feel a change.  He admits his confidence is growing as well as his understanding of the world around him.  He has, however, encountered setbacks. 

“As far as my balancing of work, school, and family, it has been more difficult than I thought it would be.  I had to make a lot of sacrifices and some that I wasn’t ready to do at the time.  I was always more of a self-reliant person. I cooked my own meals and I cleaned my space. If it weren’t for the support of my family and roommate helping me along, I would be eating a lot of microwaveable meals or deli sandwiches and my things would lay haphazard around me.” 

He explains that because of the intense workload of the accelerated program, he has had less time for activities like working out and dating in which he used to participate.  “Family reunions and fun vacations are passing by around me while I keep my head in schoolbooks and my body at work.  The one thing that gets me through all of this is the understanding that when I wake up on that June-day, a year and a half from when I started it will all be over and my life will once again change.”

Since starting the program in August of ’07, Sam has learned not only how to succeed in the classroom, but also in the program. 

Sam's Advice

“[First,] get your other classes out of the way. Certain classes are required to get a Bachelor’s in the State of Illinois and all of those classes will not be covered in this program. Find out which ones you will need to graduate and get those done before you do anything else. 
[Also], a person cannot do this on his/her own and needs the help of others. Pick your support group wisely. You need people on your side that want you to succeed and are willing to go any length to help you get there." 

"[Finally, ] keep your head up and have fun. It is an accelerated program. As long as you keep focused on the short-term goals for completing each class you will make it through. You will be spending a lot of time with your classmates so enjoy their company to the fullest. You can help make the time away from friends and family better if you can make new friends with the people you will be spending every other weekend with.”

Betsy Bladel

Article written while Ms. Bladel was a student - 2008-2009

Education has been a major commitment in Ms. Betsy Bladel’s life, and now she is taking the opportunity to turn her focus onto her own education as a student in the first cohort of Eureka College’s Organizational Leadership Degree Completion Program. Bladel is an active citizen of Central Illinois. She is committed to her position at Northmoor-Edison Primary School in Peoria as a reading tutor. Bladel also serves as the key communicator for the school and serves on the Positive Behavior Intervention Committee. The heart of her work is working with and serving others.

This love for people and service is her inspiration for completing her degree through the Organizational Leadership program. After completing her term as the Vice President of Fundraising, Marketing, and Membership on the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Peoria, the Junior League nominated her for the Twenty-five Women in Leadership award. After being chosen for the award by WEEK TV, Bladel decided to finish her degree to improve her talents and knowledge in order to establish a possible career in management in a corporation or a non-profit company.

Bladel started her college education at Stephens College in 1972 but had to leave due to illness. She attended classes at Illinois Central College for several years and received her Associate’s Degree in Library Technology in 2001. While looking at colleges in the area to finish her Bachelor’s Degree, Bladel fell in the love with the atmosphere of Eureka College. However, EC typically offered classes during the day, which did not work with her busy work schedule. When she received a brochure about the unique learning experience of the Organizational Leadership Program, Bladel signed up and says that “the weekend cohort was the answer to my prayers, and it was the best decision of my life.”

Once in the cohort, Bladel has been driven by the members of her cohort and the faculty and staff at Eureka. Bladel enjoys the camaraderie that the cohort offers, as well as the ability to discuss concerns created by the classwork with her classmates. Since starting the program, she has had to rearrange her priorities by blocking off a few hours each night to work on school work but has still been able to maintain her career, personal relationships, and community involvement. Bladel feared that a degree would be unattainable at this point in her life; however with each class, her organizational and communication skills are increased, and she is a step closer to graduation.

“I love this program! My decision to attend Eureka was made after I visited the campus grounds. I love the historic buildings and the Ivy League feeling I get when I am at the College. Working two jobs during the day meant that I could only take night classes which Eureka wasn’t offering. The weekend cohort was the answer to my prayers and it was the best decision of my life. I balance my studying with blocks of time everyday and every night so I don’t get behind. My practicums are forcing me to think outside the classroom walls. My organizational and communication skills have increased and helped me at my work since I stared the OL program. The friends that I have made at Eureka College will be my friends for life.”