Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) recently rolled out the red carpet for an exclusive premiere screening of its episode on the national TV series, “The College Tour,” showcasing the journeys of its students.
The celebratory event took place Wednesday, March 20, at the Putnam Giant Screen Theater in Davenport. The event marked a historic moment for EICC and its community as the one of the first community colleges, and the first in Iowa, to be featured on the show.
“The College Tour” delves into the heart of colleges and universities worldwide, offering an authentic portrayal of campus life, academics, housing, sports and activities. EICC, along with 18 other U.S. colleges, takes center stage in the show’s 11th season, which will begin streaming on Amazon Prime in May.
The full episode is currently available online at eicc.edu/collegetour.
Last summer, “The College Tour” sought out community colleges in Iowa, and EICC emerged as a natural choice, the college said in a news release. EICC students stepped into the spotlight, auditioning through video submissions that revealed their unique narratives. The filming process was meticulous, with students collaborating on scripts and helping scout locations.
The result, EICC said, is an inspiring 30-minute episode that captures the essence of EICC’s mission to change lives and build communities.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to be showcased on ‘The College Tour,’” said Johnna Kerres, EICC’s associate director for marketing and communications. “This program provides a unique platform to share the narratives of our students and demonstrate the transformative power of an EICC education.”
From high school students discovering their passion to non-traditional learners forging new paths, the episode shines a spotlight on the resilience and success stories that define the EICC community. With stunning cinematography and heartfelt narratives, viewers experience EICC’s campuses in Bettendorf, Clinton and Muscatine, and witness firsthand what it truly means to be part of THE Community’s College, the release said.
“I just had a lot of fun with it,” said student Maranda Hickey. “It was a once in a lifetime experience.” She shared her journey of working as a paraeducator while pursuing her teaching license through online courses at EICC.
“The most unexpected thing was we got to write our scripts,” said Dominque Steverson, who is enrolled in the college’s transfer biology major program. “It was fun, and the crew was phenomenal. They were super supportive throughout the whole thing and they made it 10 times more enjoyable. It was an awesome, really neat experience.”
The full cast includes:
- Bradley Thiessen-Cooper (Scott Community College)
- Danea Kimmins (Scott Community College graduate ’23)
- Dominique Steverson (Scott Community College)
- Grace Thalacker (Scott Community College graduate ’23)
- Jordan Sisk (Muscatine Community College)
- Nicole Bristol (Muscatine Community College)
- Jesse Garcia (Muscatine Community College graduate ’16)
- Emersyn Keefer (Clinton/Scott Community College)
- Lucas Raab (Clinton Community College)
- Maranda Hickey (Clinton Community College graduate ’23)
“The College Tour” also features Alex Boylan, a seasoned adventurer, traveler, and accomplished storyteller, who serves as both host and executive producer. The episode’s director of photography, Robert Jury, is a native of Iowa City. During filming week, a crew of four came into town and filming took place over five days at all three main campuses.
