KCC’s Fast Path transfer degree program is accepting applications for Fall 2026.
“Fast Path at KCC was the perfect steppingstone between high school and university,” said Haven Barrett, a 2024 KCC Fast Path graduate. “The small classes, supportive staff, and a strong sense of community made all the difference.”
Barrett, a Watseka resident, is a senior at Eastern Illinois University studying communication disorders and sciences with a minor in psychology.
At KCC, Fast Path students complete two classes at a time, with a mix of in-person and online coursework. New classes begin every eight weeks during fall and spring semesters. After two years, students earn an Associate in Arts transfer degree.
“Students in the program benefit by taking the first two years of a bachelor’s degree close to home in Watseka,” said Nancy Schunke, the program director and adviser. “It simplifies college planning by having courses, dates and times prearranged.”
In-person classes are at the KCC South Extension Center, 1488 E. Walnut St. in Watseka.
“This program takes the guesswork out of college,” Schunke said. “Our students have a support system they can rely on. We mentor, guide and coach each student. Students receive the tools they need to be successful, including a new laptop, and assistance every step of the way. Our graduates are prepared to transfer to a four-year college or university.”
The Fall 2026 students will be the ninth Fast Path program cohort at KCC’s Watseka location. Classes begin in August.
For more information and to apply, contact Schunke at 815-802-8780 or email: nschunke@kcc.edu.
Temo Guerrero, a 2025 graduate of the registered nursing program at Kankakee Community College, has been awarded The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Students.
The annual award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care they provide patients and families.
Guerrero, a Kankakee resident, was nominated two times during his final semester as a KCC student. He was chosen by a committee at KCC, and the award was presented on Dec. 11 at the Registered Nursing pinning ceremony. Guerrero received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. Guerrero has accepted a position at Riverside Medical Center in the Intensive Care Unit.
Two ICU nurses at Riverside, Christina Tsiamas and Elizabeth Martinez, submitted nominations.
“Recently, after the unexpected loss of a patient during shift change, Temo walked past a man sitting alone in the hospital lobby,” Tsiamas said in her nomination. “He was crying while struggling to reach his family, getting voicemail after voicemail. Instead of going home after his 12-hour shift, Temo immediately recognized his pain and went to the emergency department nearby and brought him a box of tissues and offered him a hug. Temo then pulled up a chair and stayed with him for hours until his family arrived. During that time, the man shared stories about his loved one: her upcoming birthday, her favorite hobbies, their memories together, and the heartbreak of losing another family member just months earlier.
“Temo didn’t do this because it was his assignment,” Tsiamas said. “He did it because of who he is; someone who shows genuine compassion in moments when it is needed most.”
At Riverside, Martinez served as a preceptor–or mentor–to Guerrero.
“Temo was an amazing nursing student and did an amazing job with the patients within the ICU,” Martinez said in her nomination. “During his clinical rotation I asked if he would like to place an IV on one of my patients who needed more access. He was more than happy to help and gladly stepped away from (me) to perform the skill. What I did not expect, however, was his personal touch to care and the deep compassion he exemplified in the time he spent with my patient. My patient expressed repeatedly how much it meant to him that someone sat and talked with him.
“While Temo did an exceptional job of functioning in the critical care setting, the skill you cannot replicate is his human touch and compassion,” Martinez said. “Temo is an amazing student nurse and will without a doubt continue to impact many lives in the future.”
KCC’s two-year registered nursing program has a competitive entry process, and accepts new students each fall and spring semester. It incorporates classroom lectures, clinical experiences and lab demonstrations. The program is designed to prepare students for work in hospital departments, as well as in long-term care, home care, business and industry, outpatient clinics, public agencies, and physicians’ offices.
For information about entry requirements, consult with a KCC adviser or contact the program director, Jennifer Rogers at jrogers@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8828.
About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from Nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidenced-based means of providing nurse recognition and thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.
Prospective students are invited to an Explore KCC Day at Kankakee Community College on Monday, Feb. 16.
The session begins at noon.
Participants will learn about KCC’s academic programs, whether they are still exploring options or already have a career path in mind. There will be tours of various academic spaces, along with information about support services, financial aid, and the enrollment process.
To learn more and register, go to visit.kcc.edu. KCC’s Riverfront Campus is at 100 College Drive, Kankakee.
KCC serves more than 3,500 students each year with award-winning, accredited programs that lead to associate degrees, certificates, and transfer opportunities to four-year universities. With guidance from local business and industry, KCC’s career programs prepare students for today’s workforce. The college also offers continuing education, certification training, job fairs, literacy, English as a Second Language, and GED preparation. With 40 areas of study, KCC is the region’s trusted choice for affordable education and career advancement.
KCC welcomed students from the Kankakee Area Career Center (KACC) on Nov. 21. It was an immersive & engaging day to explore KCC’s Health Career programs.
Students were offered a unique opportunity to experience these program’s firsthand, interact with faculty, & discover the many rewarding career pathways in healthcare available through KCC. Students rotated through a series of hands-on demonstrations across KCC’s top health career programs.
The event showcased KCC’s commitment to supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals by giving young learners authentic experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and highlight the many educational opportunities available close to home. Students received KCC swag and some won even more KCC merchandise in the fun raffle at the end of their day.
