Harper College

Harper Highlights

View of students on campus, leaves just starting to change for fall.

What you need to know for fall semester

August 19, 2021

Fall classes begin next week and we can't wait to see you in the classroom, whether on campus or online. Here's what you need to know. Read More

Kelsey Lewis stands in front of display case in the Avante Center.

Second attempt at college a success for Harper College graduate

August 18, 2021

Harper College was a "turning point" for Loyola University-bound Kelsey Lewis, who arrived at a low point in her life but graduated with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Read More

Joaquina, engineering student at Harper

Joaquina's Story

August 12, 2021

Joaquina's was class president and the top of her class. Hear why she chose to start at the Harper Pathways to Engineering program over the top-ranked engineering schools she got accepted to. Watch the Video

Mukila Maitha Drone Program

Harper’s drone technology program selected for FAA initiative

August 11, 2021

The college’s certificate program has been recognized for high standards, support of emerging workforce needs related to unmanned aircraft systems. Read More

Jim Gallo

Harper Talks Show 11 - Jim Gallo

August 03, 2021

On this month's episode of Harper Talks, Associate Professor of the Arts, Brian Shelton, is joined by Harper’s own distinguished alumni, Jim Gallo. Gallo reflects on his time at Harper, how he stayed detached from the experience and community as a student and how his own educational, professional and personal journey eventually led him back to Harper where he became highly involved in the community years later, acting as a board member and as a distinguished alumni. In this episode, Gallo shares his episodic journey, from suffering an accident his freshman year of college that led him to be paralyzed from the waist down causing him to transfer to Harper, to his professional trajectory and how his experience as an accountant pushed him to transition into journalism, all the way to his wheelchair basketball days at UIUC and how that lead him to forming one of the nation's largest youth wheelchair basketball programs. All of which share a common thread, how Gallo has taken the challenges he has faced and reshaped them into fruitful opportunities, much of which he credits to his time at the “hidden gem” that is Harper. Tune in this week and soak up the plethora of advice and guidance Gallo has to share not only about his own life and experience, but also the impact Harper has had on him and how that experience isn’t finite, there are tools and lessons offered that can be applied far beyond student's time on campus. Download Episode 11 Transcript. Listen to Episode 11

Mitch Ryba

Student-employee finds his power at Harper

August 02, 2021

Mitch Ryba “fell in love” with science at Harper College. He is a member of three clubs, works for Harper Wellness and plans for a future in health and medicine. Read More

Ten questions jesus molina homepage

Ten Questions with Jesus Molina

July 27, 2021

Jesus Molina, Veterans Center Coordinator at Harper College, on rescue dogs, becoming a U.S. Marine and the importance of leading by example. Read More

Vanessa Jimenez Nava

Harper grad discovered talent, self-confidence in Fast Track Program

July 26, 2021

Harper’s faculty and staff helped show Vanessa Jimenez Nava that she belonged in college. After graduation, she bought her own restaurant. Read More

Andrea Pedersen of Nutritional Decadence

Nutritional Decadence

July 21, 2021

Many people want to eat healthier foods, but it’s so hard to give up the decadent foods that we all love. Andrea Pedersen saw this trend as an opportunity to sell the unique chocolate syrup she had developed and start her own food business, Nutritional Decadence. In 2020, Andrea launched Cocolasses® on Amazon and through her own e-commerce website. Read More

Harper 2021 graduates hold diplomas

MacKenzie Scott gift helps launch Igniting Paths to Success Scholarship

July 21, 2021

The two-year Igniting Paths to Success Scholarship will award full tuition, fees and books to 1,000 students beginning this fall. Read More

Last Updated: 1/21/26