9 Notable Community College Grads (PHOTOS)

In honor of the White House's inaugural Community College Summit -- at which President Obama called community colleges the "unsung heroes of America's education system" -- consider this list of prominent community college grads who would surely make the president proud (even Ross Perot).

Is there anyone we missed? Let us know below.

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H. Ross Perot: Texarkana Junior College

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Two-time independent presidential candidate and founder of Electronic Data Systems, the quirky Perot has worn many hats throughout his prolific career. One of them is community college student -– before continuing to study at the Navy Academy, Perot attended Texarkana Junior College.

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Two-time independent presidential candidate and founder of Electronic Data Systems, the quirky Perot has worn many hats throughout his prolific career. One of them is community college student -– before continuing to study at the Navy Academy, Perot attended Texarkana Junior College.

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Comments

[Eric Sweigard]

06:33 PM on 10/27/2010

I am curious as to why Gwendolyn Brooks is listed as "washington DC" most of her work was done in Chicago and she was Illinois' poet laureate.

[jalowe1957]

09:04 PM on 10/14/2010

When I got my BA just before Christmas 1989, the very first thing I did was high-tail it to a California community college. I didn't consider it to be a demeaning experience, as it provided me with the opportunities to take classes in other fields that I otherwise missed out on.

Learning never stops when you get a terminal degree; it's a lifetime experience that only makes you better on the long run.

[Demarcus Jackson]

09:07 PM on 10/12/2010

Though I am not as famous as these folks, I graduated from Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky and I think my life turned out pretty well. I am a full-time instructor of psychology at a community college in Tennessee, giving back to the community college system what it gave to me.

[TeacupKitten]

10:33 AM on 10/12/2010

I knew a Rhodes Scholar from a local college. The point is, we knew he was spectacular BEFORE he went there, so it was a given. No matter what school, it has more to do with the drive of the student. Bush Jr graduated from Yale with Cs.

[stevebol2]

11:33 PM on 10/10/2010

Milwaukee Area Technical College!!

[mobieobie1]

12:50 PM on 10/06/2010

Although I later taught at community colleges, Gaddi Vasquez was my student at Orange High School, where I began my teaching career. He was memorable for several reasons. At a time when students were wearing some pretty outrageous costumes to class, Gaddi often wore a white shirt. He was a serious student, already as a sophomore entering speech contests and doing very well. He had an adult's voice by that time and a compelling manner. I remember working with him after school, showing him how to organize his speeches. As the years went on, I'd see his name in the newspaper, usually in a story about the Orange County political scene. I'd lost track of him for years, so it was great to see how much he has accomplished in his life.

[lauraleebian]

11:18 AM on 10/06/2010

Unless you go to a Community College to take strong math, and science courses, you'll still be making sub standard wages. Community Colleges are a strong source for low level job training, which provides small businesses with employees who have some training, yet will still make low wages.

[Chi--townfool]

12:52 PM on 10/06/2010

People who work in the jobs you are talking about would be working there anyway it's all about motivation thats it

[Demarcus Jackson]

09:13 PM on 10/12/2010

Community colleges are far more than just training spots for "low level" jobs. What are you talking about? I teach at a community college and I know many graduates who have gone on to earn advanced degrees and are making very good salaries right now. Community colleges have many challenges to overcome, but they are an outstanding starting point, in my opinion, for a good and secure future.

http://www.lee.edu/atd/pdf/FS-ChallengeBenefit.pdf

[cestpasvrai]

10:04 AM on 10/06/2010

I went to a CC with a 75% tuition scholarship. It was much cheaper for me and as soon as I received my AA I enrolled at FSU and got my Bachelor's there. I graduated in 09 with $0 in debt.

CC's are great! I wish people wouldn't turn their noses up and realize they could be saving a lot!

[StringOfLights]

12:43 AM on 10/07/2010

Congratulations! Florida does a great job with their community colleges because going to one guarantees you a spot at a 4-year university. It's a great draw for motivated students who might otherwise go out of state...and it raises the caliber of the education. :)

[broui]

09:51 AM on 10/06/2010

NIce piece.

I'll be using it with my High School Seniors today.

[Freesia2]

09:37 AM on 10/06/2010

I'm a college graduate, and I think everybody should have the chance to go even if it's just to discover more about where your strengths or ambitions are. But the fact is I think that college is what you make of it. If you're fortunate enough to be able to go to one of the larger or more prestigious school, you'll likely have access to more, from the varied professors to just the opportunities the institution provides.

But someone determined to get an education can take a community college opportunity and wring a great deal from it. Because what college is supposed to do is not tell you what to think - but how to think. For yourself. And from there you can do anything with it. No - you likely won't read as well on a resume if you went to the "Community College of This or That Community". But if you show talent, develop a good work ethic and study habits, odds are you'll be able launch yourself from there. Make contacts.

Education is all about just wanting to learn. Get it where you can. College doesn't make you smart. It helps you use your smarts.

[Tugar]

10:14 AM on 10/06/2010

This is an excellent post Freesia !

I have a grand daughter who's now a senior in HS. And because of the high cost of college tuition costs today, we've got her focusing on beginning her college education at our local community college level, where I know she will do well after applying her attention to what they have to offer all of their students! They even offer the city's HS students free classes on career development, based on subjects that they express an interest in as a lifetime's field of work !

Now how can it get any better than that !

[Michael Mouton]

01:33 AM on 10/06/2010

There are actually only 9 notable Community College Grads; go to a real college kids. Just kidding, mostly.

[GraniteSkyline]

05:47 AM on 10/06/2010

Save your money kids! Spend two cheap years at community college and then transfer to get a nice diploma.

Or you can try the tricky technique my brother used. It is easier to get into an ivy league school from high school rather than as a transfer student. So if you get accepted spend the freshman year at your elite university then transfer to a cheaper school for 2 years before transferring back to get your ivy league diploma.

If you went to the school as a freshman they are more likely to take you back over someone transferring in who had never attended before. Many, many people do this, but they don't admit it.

[Robert Saint Amour]

12:23 AM on 10/06/2010

you forgot to mention that jackie robinson was a hero in montréal, québec, canada long before he was allowed to play in the usa because of your ridiculous racism at the time... a win for the montréal royals and a big loss for the usa

[JStading]

12:04 AM on 10/06/2010

Not claiming credit for Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, huh.

[KristinNoelle]

11:38 PM on 10/05/2010

This article would have made a good point save for the fact that nearly everybody on this list went on to graduate from a regular University.

[RobinSeattle]

11:02 PM on 10/05/2010

I know Gaddi's brother pretty well. Never really talked to Gaddi himself, who was an Orange Police Department officer at the time. Their parents were migrant farm workers.

Surprised Diane Keaton wasn't mentioned. She went to the same JC that Vasquez did.