Date: April 24, 2024
Kankakee Community College is proud to announce the recipient of the John Fulton Distinguished Alumni Award for 2024. This honor recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions of alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.
A 2012 KCC graduate, Eric Peterson, CEO and founder of Project Headspace and Timing received the John Fulton Distinguished Alumnus Award on April 18. He has also been nominated by the KCC Foundation for the 2024 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumni Award.
Peterson has achieved many personal and professional achievements, including awards such as Hometown Hero, Nonprofit of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and more. As a veteran, Peterson faced personal challenges, including PTSD and substance abuse. Instead of succumbing to despair, he founded Project Headspace and Timing. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit promotes positive mental health practices to U.S. military veterans by working to unify them with their communities, nature, and themselves.
The organization’s impactful initiatives, such as the Spartan Shield Veteran Advocacy Program and Troops on Trails, highlight Peterson's commitment to positive engagement and mental health practices for veterans. Despite facing personal obstacles, including the suicide of a teammate and death of his mother, Peterson remains dedicated to advocating for veterans, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and community support. His journey of self-discovery has not only transformed his life but also illuminated the struggles faced by veterans.
If you know a KCC graduate who has achieved success and distinction in their field, performed humanitarian service to benefit society, supported education and community colleges, and who has overcome life’s obstacles, please contact the KCC Alumni Relations office and share their story at https://foundation.kcc.edu/alumni/.
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Kankakee Community College is an accredited two-year college which awards associate degrees and certificates of completion. KCC prepares students both to transfer to four-year colleges and to enter the workforce. The college also offers continuing education courses and certification training, literacy programs, English as a Second Language and GED preparation. The KCC mission is “Enhancing quality of life through learning.” The college has a Riverfront Campus in Kankakee, South Extension Center in Watseka, North Extension Center in Bradley and Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center in Kankakee.
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More KCC news and photos are available at our Newsroom<http://www.kcc.edu/news/Pages/default.aspx>, and on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/KankakeeCommunityCollege>, Twitter<https://twitter.com/KCCedu> and YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/KankakeeCommCollege>. Official college logos<http://www.kcc.edu/FacultyStaff/departments/marketing/Pages/logos.aspx> are available online.
Contact:
Kari Nugent
Vice president for advancement, marketing, and public relations
815-802-8256
knugent@kcc.edu
