ECTC helps Metallica Scholar find his path

ECTC student Jon Lee was surprised when he found out he had been named a Metallica Scholar.

“I was shocked at first,” Lee said. “I’ve never earned anything like this before, especially in academics. It’s a very humbling experience.”

Lee, who is studying industrial maintenance, first gained experience in the field through a vocational class at his high school. He was drawn to learning how things function and how to take them apart and put them back together.

“I’m also fascinated by the robotic aspects,” he said. “I knew I’d go into this field if I ever got the chance.”

Lee, who will graduate in 2027, will further his education afterward, possibly studying business.

“Jon is a nontraditional student who works to maintain a high grade-point average,” said Willie Weakley, industrial maintenance program coordinator for ECTC’s Springfield Campus. “He is a student and worker that people can depend on.”

Lee sees being named a Metallica Scholar as proof that he’s on the right path. It also will show his 17-year-old son and 21-year-old daughter that mistakes don’t define a person and it’s possible to turn life around at any time.  

“It’s scary to come back to school at 45, but it’s a godsend to earn the Metallica Scholarship,” he said. “I’ve made mistakes and been judged for it, but earning this award shows that I can do something different,” he said.

He noted that the support he's found at ECTC has made a difference.

“If you can’t be successful here, you’re not participating,” Lee said. "There are all these helpful services in play, and you just have to talk to the right person. Any question I’ve had has been answered the same day.”