Moraine Valley Community College participated in the national Community College Month (#CCMonth) campaign, coordinated by the Association of Community College Trustees, during April. The campaign celebrates the value of the nearly 1,200 community colleges in the country and showcases their role in offering educational opportunities.
This year’s campaign theme “Best Decision Ever,” encourages students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members to share how their community college positively impacted them.
Moraine Valley held Community College Month activities throughout April, starting with a kick-off event, complete with snacks, giveaways and the opportunity for current students to share why attending the college was their best decision by writing on a large whiteboard in the Student Union. On April 17, students and staff enjoyed Moraine Valley Spirit Day by taking pictures with #BestDecisionEver cutouts and wearing college apparel. Students and staff also were encouraged to talk about how attending a community college was an excellent choice for them on social media.
Ghada Muhsen, an alumna who graduated with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts in 2020, said attending Moraine Valley was her “best decision ever” because it allowed her to explore different fields of study before choosing her major. She started as a business major, then switched to nutrition. However, after a class project required her to visit a local restaurant to learn about its business operations, she decided culinary arts was her destiny.
“It opened my eyes and changed everything. I wanted to learn how foods were made, and Moraine Valley’s instructors were so knowledgeable. I loved the way they taught,” Muhsen said. “They taught me how to love what I’m doing with food.”
After graduating, Muhsen worked in food service settings and eventually became a pastry chef. She now is preparing to open her own restaurant and bakery, Neima Coffee and Bakery, in Lemont.
Muhsen said she enjoyed her experience at Moraine Valley, her local community college, so much that she plans to take additional courses in the future.
“I enjoyed my time there and I want to keep learning. Everything at Moraine Valley was amazing,” she said.
Learn more about Moraine Valley’s participation in the 2025 Community College Month campaign here.
For media inquiries, contact Karen Town, communications specialist, at (708) 974-5652 or town@morainevalley.edu.
