James Smith, an award-winning member of Moraine Valley’s Forensics Team and a respected member of several theatrical productions at the college, is entertaining the idea of continuing being center stage after he completes his education.

Smith says Moraine Valley was the best choice for him after he finished four years as a mass communications specialist in the United States Marine Corps.  Once his education is complete, Smith hopes to start performing in the Chicago area doing both comedies and dramas. “It’s good to do both,” he said. “Sometimes we need days to laugh, and sometimes we need days to cry.”

After graduation, he plans to transfer to Illinois State University where he’ll continue his theater studies with a minor in communication.

“Being on the Speech Team at Moraine Valley, you get to meet of lot of individuals,” he said. “It’s like building a community among your peers and turning that community into a family.”