When asked, Corey Paris, 2010-2011 Student Senate president, says he owes everything to JCCC. After all, his parents met here more than 20 years ago.

Paris grew up in Arkansas, Kansas and Las Vegas, Nevada. When it came time to look for a college, his family encouraged him to come back to Kansas and he applied to KU. But when the classes he had in high school weren’t applicable to the KU curriculum, family members suggested he come to JCCC. “If it did wonders for my parents, it should do wonders for me,” he thought.

A born politician, Paris has held school office since he was the president of his eighth grade class. He became a student at JCCC in fall 2009 and promptly ran for the Student Senate, campaigning “day and night.” This year, he’s the Senate president. His ambitious goals for the Senate include creating a “summit” organization for all the presidents of student governments at Kansas and Missouri community colleges. The initial meeting will take place at JCCC. “We could change the course of two states’ student governments,” he says.

Paris wants to be a “hands-on” Senate president. He intends to hold Town Hall meetings for the college’s students to learn their thoughts and concerns, and he’d like to establish monthly luncheons with the heads of all the student clubs.

At JCCC, Paris says he has found that “family, close-knit atmosphere” he needed. “I love my school with all my heart,” he says. “There’s no greater school to go to.” This fall he’s taking classes in humanities, math, nonfiction literature and international relations.

Three JCCC people , he says, are particularly important to him: Lafayette Norwood, his father’s basketball coach (now the college’s golf coach); Pam Vassar, assistant dean, Student Life and Leadership Development; and Dr. Carmaletta Williams, executive director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Each, he says, “can put me in my place or reassure me.”

Paris is also the second vice president of the Kansas Young Democrats and is thinking about moving up in the organization. As a precinct head, he is already an official. He says he was taught that public service is the best way to give back to society. His goal is to go into politics, maybe one day becoming the governor of Kansas. The Student Senate will be an early milestone on his road to Cedar Crest, the governor’s residence in Topeka.