Success Stories

A Family-First Approach to
Getting a Degree

Not long ago, the notion of a bachelor's degree had to seem far-fetched for Diana Restrepo. She was the first in her family to leave their civil war-torn region of Colombia and arrive in Overland Park. Now she's the family's first college graduate.

Her path may be unlike those of most students who take part in Start2Finish – a bachelor's degree partnership program between Johnson County Community College and the KU Edwards Campus – but Restrepo exemplifies what it's all about.

After graduating from Blue Valley Northwest High School, Restrepo started coursework at Johnson County Community College and finished at the KU Edwards Campus.

Being able to begin at JCCC was helpful in a number of ways. Mainly, she was able to stay home and help her newly arrived family assimilate to American life; leaving them for college was unthinkable to her.

She could also explore different degree options while completing the courses she would need for any choice of major. Restrepo's associate's degree in biotechnology laid the groundwork for a smooth transition to the Molecular Biosciences program at the Edwards Campus, one of many bachelors programs now available.

"The (Molecular Biosciences) program has great faculty members, very knowledgeable library staff and advisors, all of whom go out of their way to help you succeed and plan your future," Restrepo says.

With her bachelor's degree in hand, Restrepo says that future will include pursuing a master's degree and ultimately using her education to improve water resources around the world.

"My fondest childhood memories are times spent by the river with my family in Colombia," says Restrepo. "I want to work on water quality issues here in the U.S. and in Latin America, to study the impact of this valuable resource on the lives of underprivileged groups."