Starting Again, Finishing Strong: Jacie Nunley’s JALC Story
Published on April 22, 2026
For Jacie Nunley, this spring’s graduation will be her first.
And it was something she once wasn’t sure would happen.
Originally from Mackinaw, Illinois, Nunley’s path to college did not follow a straight line. During the final semester of her senior year, she made the difficult decision to step away from high school.
“I had a really hard time,” she said. “I ended up dropping out and getting my GED.”
At the time, she was navigating health and personal challenges that made it difficult to succeed in a traditional school setting. While she was capable academically, the environment simply was not the right fit.
She completed her GED quickly, but finding her footing afterward took time.
Eventually, she made the decision to start over somewhere new. “I just needed a better environment,” she said.
That decision led her to John A. Logan College.
She initially enrolled with plans to pursue the Medical Laboratory Technology program, but her experience at JALC became about more than just a major.
From the moment she arrived, something felt different.
“The faculty and staff were so welcoming,” she said. “They made me feel valued.”
That environment gave her the space to move forward. The turning point came when she chose to get involved.
After learning about student organizations during a class visit, Nunley began attending Student Senate meetings and later joined Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community colleges.
She did not just participate. She stepped into leadership roles.
Now serving as president of Student Senate and vice president of Phi Theta Kappa, Nunley took on responsibilities that shaped her college experience.
“Being involved in student organizations has been invaluable,” she said.
Those experiences helped build skills and gave her a reason to stay engaged. “Being involved motivates you to go to class, to be on campus and to be part of something,” she said.
Phi Theta Kappa, in particular, opened doors she may not have found elsewhere. “It’s something I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t go to a community college,” she said.
Through leadership, involvement and support from faculty, Nunley began to regain momentum.
She also found something just as important. A sense of belonging.
From professors to staff members across campus, she said the environment at JALC made a lasting impression. “Everyone is so welcoming and kind,” she said.
After graduating in May with her Associate in Science, Nunley plans to continue her education, working toward a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with long-term goals of pursuing a career in toxicology.
But no matter where she goes next, this milestone will always mean more.
For the first time, Nunley will walk across the stage and earn a degree of her own.
“Because of John A. Logan College, I am earning my first degree,” she said.
For someone who once stepped away from school, that moment carried deeper meaning.
Nunley hopes others see themselves in her story.
“Everyone here has their own story,” she said. “Their own reasons for being here.”
For Nunley, JALC was not just a place to continue her education.
It was a place to start again and come back stronger than ever.