Student Spotlight: Henry Gordon

When Henry Gordon learned he received the Naperville Rotary Charities scholarship, he knew attending college was now possible.

"The day I got the phone call saying that I was awarded the scholarship, I jumped around the house like a little kid on Christmas," he said. "I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity and hope to make the best of it."

Gordon used the $6,000 to start classes at College of DuPage in fall 2010. He's now finishing his studies and plans to transfer to Northern Illinois University to earn his bachelor's degree in mathematics. After that, he'd like to earn his master's and then teach at a community college, preferably College of DuPage.

He's also finishing up his term as President of the Student Leadership Council and continuing his work as a peer tutor in the Learning Commons. Gordon praises COD and wants people to know of its excellence.

"At my high school, College of DuPage is usually referred to as the 'College of Dreams' with a sarcastic undertone," he said. "It is the place where people wind up when they can't go to a 'real' college. That is just not true.

"I was talking with a friend of mine who attends UIC, and he was surprised at the topics that we covered in my Calculus II class at COD that he never learned until later classes. The education provided at COD is first-rate and even better in some areas when compared to big universities. I'm getting a quality yet affordable education at College of DuPage."

More about the Mathematics program