Student Leader Dion Beals to Deliver Commencement Address at JALC Graduation
Published on May 13, 2026
When Dion Beals first arrived in Southern Illinois from Chicago, college was always somewhere in the back of his mind.
But like many non-traditional students, life happened first. Bills needed to be paid. Work became routine. Days turned into years.
Like many adults who step away from education, Beals said it became easy to convince himself school could wait another semester, then another year.
“I was just kind of going through the motions,” Beals said. “I had a pretty good job. It was stable, but it wasn’t something I was passionate about.”
Now 30, Beals has become one of the most recognizable student leaders at John A. Logan College. A student ambassador, former president of the Black Student Association, employee at Logan Fitness and active presence on campus, Beals completed his time at JALC in December. However, the impact he left on campus did not end there.
College leaders asked him to return to deliver this year’s student commencement address, a reflection of the impact he made during his time at JALC. He will take the stage during JALC’s commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Mtn Dew Park.
His journey back to school began when a coworker encouraged him to enroll alongside him at JALC, believing the two could take the leap together.
At the time, however, Beals was preparing to tell his friend he had decided not to enroll in college after all. Before he could send the message, his phone died.
That unexpected pause changed everything.
“I sat there and really thought about when exactly I decided it was too late for me,” Beals said. “When did I let my ambition die?”
In that quiet moment, Beals said he realized the biggest thing holding him back was no longer time, money or responsibility, but fear of starting over.
Instead of backing out, he charged his phone, texted his friend back and registered for classes at JALC.
“The rest is history,” he added.
Since stepping onto campus, Beals has immersed himself fully into college life.
“I don’t like to do things halfway. If I do something, it has to be worthwhile,” he said.
That mindset helped him quickly become a leader among his peers. Whether organizing events through the Black Student Association, helping lead campus initiatives or encouraging fellow students and community members through his work at Logan Fitness, Beals said the supportive environment at JALC helped him thrive.
“I feel like the staff and administration here are some of the most supportive people they could ever be,” he said. “Anything I went to them about, they always gave me the tools that I needed.”
For Beals, returning to school became about far more than earning a degree. More than anything, he said becoming a father changed the way he viewed responsibility and leadership.
He said his son, Dion III, became one of his biggest motivations to keep pushing forward. “Kids don’t do what you tell them to do. They do what you do,” Beals said. “You have to set an example.”
That example now extends far beyond his own family.
Beals is currently continuing his education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale through an accelerated master’s program in criminology. His long-term goal is to attend law school and become a juvenile criminal defense attorney.
Growing up in Chicago shaped that dream. “I realized if you really want to help people, you have to help them at a younger age,” he said.
Beals hopes to one day mentor and advocate for young people before they become trapped in cycles that are difficult to escape.
As commencement approaches, Beals said being selected as the student speaker is both humbling and meaningful because of how many different types of students he feels he represents.
“I feel like I’m a mixture of every type of student here at John A. Logan,” he said. “I’m non-traditional, but I was involved on campus. I did a lot of different things.”
Looking back, Beals said choosing JALC changed his life in ways he never expected. “I’m definitely glad I came to John A.,” he said. “Here, you build connections with people. It’s more personable.”
What began as a simple decision to give college another chance ultimately changed the trajectory of Beals’ life, transforming him from someone simply going through the motions into a leader determined to make a difference.
And for students who may feel like it is too late to start over, Beals hopes his story proves otherwise. “The time is going to pass anyway,” he added. “You might as well do it.”