Miss Illinois Hannah Smith, MCC Alumni

MCC wishes Miss Illinois Hannah Smith, an MCC alum, the best of luck in the Miss America Pageant on January 14, 2012 in Las Vegas. We’re rooting for you.

Miss Illinois Hannah Smith traded her jeans and sweatshirts for high heels and a shimmering crown and has spent the last several months traveling throughout Illinois to speak on Distracted Driving or showcasing her talent of ballet dancing.

During her visit to MCC, the 2009 Huntley High School graduate took a moment to describe her experience at MCC, where she has attended for two years while preparing to transfer to Northern Illinois University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business and dance performance. She hopes to someday open her own dance studio.

When she first came to MCC, she was undecided about her career choice, so she took a personal development course with Pat Zokal, an MCC counselor.

“Pat Zokal helped me with career development. When I was undecided about my career goals, I learned some skills that have been very beneficial,” Smith said. She added that she also visited the Sage Learning Center often to receive assistance with some difficult course material. “I practically lived in the Sage Learning Center,” she quipped.

Smith said she would recommend MCC to prospective students because of the wide array of courses to choose from and because the college is close to home. “MCC is like a large university with its variety of offerings, but with smaller classes and friendly atmosphere,” she said.

Her most memorable experience at MCC is: “The quality academic and community service opportunity. I was offered the Promise Program, which was really special. I focused not only on educational goals, but volunteered my time as part of the program requirements, which has taught me about the importance of community service. You can still make time for helping others,” Smith said.

She volunteered at Animal House Shelter in Huntley.