Before Jenny entered NHCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program, she worked as a pharmacy technician in retail. While she valued being part of the healthcare team, she found the patient-facing aspect of retail pharmacy to be challenging. A friend who was working in a research lab introduced her to the world of laboratory science. Around the same time, Jenny decided to leave a difficult situation and move to Minnesota to be closer to her found family. While exploring options, she discovered that NHCC offered an MLT program. A community college felt accessible and welcoming, and it gave Jenny a path back into healthcare that felt attainable. Since then, her found family has grown exponentially. Jenny is excited to share that she recently accepted a position at a reference laboratory! In her own words, “It feels super rewarding to know that the path I chose is leading to meaningful work that supports patient care behind the scenes.”
Jenny is about to graduate from NHCC with a degree in MLT, and on top of that, she was chosen to represent her class as the 2026 commencement speaker for the 3 p.m. commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 14!
“Being chosen as one of the 2026 Student Commencement Speakers is deeply meaningful to me because there was a time in my life when my future felt uncertain, and when not everyone believed in me. I wasn't sure college was for me. So being chosen is both humbling and affirming. It's a reminder that persistence matters, and that sometimes the greatest victories are the ones that quietly prove to you that you were capable all along.”
Discover Jenny's story!
- Do you have plans to continue your education after NHCC?
I do plan to continue my education after NHCC! I'm currently looking at a couple of different options to get the four-year equivalent of my associate's degree (getting my AAS in Medical Laboratory Technology in May; next step would be BS in Medical Laboratory Science). There's a 2 and 2 program NHCC hosts with St. Cloud State, and there's a 3 semester MLT-to-MLS, fully online program through the University of Alabama. Those are the two I'm most interested in choosing between at this time.
- What’s your favorite North Hennepin memory?
My favorite North Hennepin memory was attending the 2025 Celebration of Generosity. I got to meet some very generous donors, including the sponsors of one of the scholarships I was awarded, and the donor who makes the Chem Foundations program possible, which I benefitted greatly from. I learned that night that the sponsors of one of my scholarships had named it in honor of their son, who had passed away. I was very moved by this, and cried. I also got to see my work study supervisor at the event, who was ever my kind and supportive cheerleader. It was a really special night and I felt honored to get to be a part of it.
- If you could talk to a prospective NHCC student, what would you tell them?
If I were to meet with a prospective NHCC student, I would probably modify my comments based on their situation. If they were afraid of how challenging college is reported to be, I would tell them that the biggest challenges I had to overcome were all logistical. I had to schedule time into my week for the class itself, for studying, for family time, for exercise, etc. - but I've come to understand that intelligence really has nothing to do with how successful you'll be; it's all about effort, not ability. If I was speaking to someone like me, who was worried because they were starting "late," I would tell them that it's never too late to start, and it's worth it to simply begin. One small step at a time, and before you know it, you're done. To everyone, I would say: the faculty, staff, and students here are all amazing. They want to help you reach your goals. Come in and meet us. No matter who you are or what your situation is, they care about you and they will point you in the right direction!
- What does it mean to you to be chosen as one of the 2026 Student Commencement Speakers?
Being chosen as one of the 2026 Student Commencement Speakers is deeply meaningful to me because there was a time in my life when my future felt uncertain, and when not everyone believed in me. I wasn't sure college was for me. So being chosen is both humbling and affirming. It's a reminder that persistence matters, and that sometimes the greatest victories are the ones that quietly prove to you that you were capable all along.
- What inspired you to study MLT, and how has your passion changed?
Before entering the Medical Laboratory Technology program, I worked as a pharmacy technician in retail. While I valued being a part of the healthcare team, I found the patient-facing aspect of retail pharmacy to be quite challenging. A friend of mine in southern Illinois, who was working in a research laboratory, introduced me to the world of laboratory science. Around the same time, I made the decision to leave a difficult situation and move to Minnesota to be closer to my found family. While exploring my options, I discovered that NHCC offered an MLT program. A community college felt accessible and welcoming, and it gave me a path back into healthcare that felt attainable. Since then, my found family has grown exponentially. I am excited to share that I recently accepted a position at a reference laboratory! It feels super rewarding to know that the path I chose is leading to meaningful work that supports patient care behind the scenes.
- Without giving away too much, what’s the core message or theme of your speech?
The core message of my speech centers on community and belonging. It’s about taking pride in how far we’ve come, recognizing the shared humanity that connects us, and remembering that none of us reached this moment alone. At its heart, the message is one of connection, gratitude, and love.
- Who, or what, influenced the message you’ll be sharing with your fellow graduates?
One of the biggest influences on my speech was the time I spent studying Blood Bank, my favorite subject in the MLT program. Especially as a former pharmacy tech who used to perform non-sterile compounding, the idea of blood as medicine feels super compelling. It's like a marriage of nature and human ingenuity. The other major influence may be more unexpected. When helping my youngest daughter with a school project for Black History Month, I stumbled upon the story of Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win the US Open. I was drawn to his story not only because I used to play tennis, but because of his legacy as a humanitarian. His life was tragically cut short after he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion, and his story highlights both the life-saving power of medicine and the responsibility we carry to continually improve and care for all members of our communities. I quote this great man in my speech.
- How do you hope your speech will resonate with your class and their own paths ahead?
I hope my speech encourages my peers to pause and reflect on how hard they’ve worked to reach this moment. More importantly, I hope it reminds them to carry that same determination forward while lifting others along the way. Our successes mean more when we use them to create opportunity and encouragement for those who follow.
- What do you like to do for fun?
In my free time (haha, what free time, I'm a mom!😉) I love to read, play video games, and eat as many different kinds of food as I can get my hands on - especially if I didn't have to do the cooking!
We wish you the best of luck as you continue your education and start your new research lab position, Jenny! Congratulations again on your achievements! We look forward to hearing you speak next week!