Alumni Spotlight: Rebecca Johnson

Rebecca R. Johnson (“Becky”) is the first in a series of alumni profiles we will be featuring. She is an alum twice over for TC3. Currently she is employed at CBORD group, Inc. as a Database Maintenance Specialist and the proud owner of two Eskimo dogs.

Please tell us about yourself.

In 1967, I joined the Air Force as an enlisted person, and became a Medical Technician. In May of 1973 with an Honorable Discharge I returned to Ithaca from Hawaii, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. I kept my active service time current and jointed the Air National Guard (ANG) at Hancock Field; at the time it was called the 108th Tactical Control Center.

I decided to take the advice of a Physician in Hawaii and get an education. I applied for the LPN class, and thank my lucky stars that TC3 had open admissions in 1973 and was accepted for the fall semester. The classes were held at Cayuga Medical (then Tompkins County Hospital.) and the clinicals were at Tompkins County Hospital and Cortland Hospital. One of the most interesting clinicals I had was to care for Rod Serling just prior to his demise of a heart condition. After completing the one-year course, and taking the LPN Boards, I was invited to be in the first two year RN course. What an honor! I graduated in 1975 with honors and made TC3 history, as the first class to take the RN Boards and passed with I believe a class average of 82 percentile. I still was associated with the ANG, and had made another rank, now a Technical Sergeants or E-6.

I decided to go on with my nursing career, and went to SUNY Utica Rome, now called SUNY Technical College. I again graduated with Honors in 1977 with a BS in Nursing. Now I was ready to go back to the Air Force life I had so enjoyed, but this time as an officer. I started out in February of 1978 at Sheppard AFB, TX for orientation. This time I was a 2nd Lieutenant (0-1). After many terrific assignments and about 17 years and making the rank of Major, (0-4), it was time to retire and attempt to become a civilian. I challenged myself at civilian nursing, but decided that was not for me. I returned home to Ithaca after about 30 years, and settled in next to my mom, on the same street I had grown up on.

Well, the fall semester of 1997, I returned to TC3 and enrolled into the Computer Information Systems program. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of that year but managed to complete the semester. I faced surgery and chemo during the winter and spring. I resumed my education in Computer Information Systems in the fall of 1998. There I met my “soul sister” and have been best friends every since. I faced a few more stumbling blocks along the way to graduation, but managed to complete the requirements and graduated with honors in May 2000 with just a .21 difference in my GPA and 25 years separating the two degrees from TC3.

What are you doing now?

Since September 2000 I have been employed by The CBORD Group, Inc. in Lansing as a Database Maintenance Specialist. I regularly volunteer for the Service League in Ithaca and am the proud owner of two Eskimo dogs, Fox and Blizzard.

To-date what is your biggest accomplishment?

The military has been the best thing I did.

What is your fondest memory of TC3?

How easy it was to come back to school after an extensive break. I thought challenging my brain cells was going to be difficult. I had a desire to prove to myself, that “it is never too late” and at TC3, that is and was the place to do it.

Who were your favorite professors?

Dr. Ted Szymanski, Professor Carol Janik, and Professor Marsha Powell.

Remember, it is NEVER to late to return to school. Strive to improve and challenge yourselves daily. Start slow, try auditing a class and take a subject you really love. Getting back into the "college" groove will become so much easier, and TC3 is the place to do it.

If you would like to be featured or know of someone you would like to see profiled please E-mail us.