Shawnee Student James Reeves, "The Best of the Best!"

7/24/08

Pictured left to right:
SCC President Dr. Larry Peterson,
SCC Alumni James Reeves and
SCC Board Member Don Patton.

Excitement from the 2008 Shawnee Community College commencement has faded, but not the glow of success radiating from graduate James Reeves. Participating in the ceremony not only as a student, but as the commencement speaker, Reeves took the opportunity to inspire not only his fellow graduates, but friends and families of the graduates. But this wasn't his first time behind an SCC podium. Reeves gave the keynote speech at the SCC 2007 Adult Education ceremony.

Reeves road to the podium wasn't easy. Unmotivated in high school, Reeves dropped out and chose to develop his vocational skills as a member of the Illinois National Guard. Reeves settled into the life of a tile setter until, at the age of 31, he found himself the victim of an automotive accident that left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. But confined is not exactly the way Reeves took the situation. In 2005, he joined students from the Goreville area participating in SCC's free GED classes.

Reeves said, "It was a pretty big leap to go to college."

He gives at least partial credit for his success to SCC instructor Sharon Walker. Walker, on the other hand, says that Reeves was an exceptional student.

"James is a role model for any student who wants to begin a new path in their life. He is not afraid to work hard and does not let obstacles slow him down. James stands for determination and perseverance." Walker went on to say, "Most students, on their worst days, do not face the obstacles that James encounters. SCC students see him working hard to achieve his dreams and it is encouraging to them."

Reeves efforts in GED class were not unnoticed by the college. As a result of his high GED test scores, he was awarded the SCC GED Scholarship covering tuition and fees. With his GED classes behind him, college seemed the next step and the scholarship eased the financial burden. He was surprised with the makeup of his college classes. As many people do, Reeves expected most of his classmates to be the "traditional straight-out-of high school" students.

James smiled and said, "Making friends was a lot easier than I thought it would be."

Reeves was recently awarded a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship, along with a transfer scholarship to SIU at Carbondale, where he will major in pre-law and participate in the SIU Leadership Council.