Travis Taylor Creates the Image of Success

Travis Taylor’s road to academic success to a couple of twists, but he credits the faculty and staff at Danville Area Community College for keeping him headed in the right direction.

After graduating from Hoopeston Area High School in 2004, Travis spent a year at University of Illinois—Springfield as a Clinical Laboratory Science major. He remembered, “I started with UIS and quickly realized as a freshman that I did not have the support system I needed to succeed there.”

The next year he transferred to DACC and started working to be accepted into the Radiologic Technology program, but he didn’t get accepted at first. He worked on campus in the Academic Counseling and Advising office and was advised to use his transfer credits to finish an Associate of General Studies degree while he worked on what he needed for Rad Tech.

Once accepted into Rad Tech, Travis excelled and graduated in 2009 with an Associate of Science and Arts (transfer) degree and an Associate in Applied Science (career) degree in Radiologic Technology. He was awarded Magna Cum Laude status, the second highest academic honor, with both degrees.

Travis has high praise for the Rad Tech program and its faculty, “Within the Rad Tech program I not only learned how to be a radiologic technologist, but how to be a better student and how to prepare for future academic success. Director Alberto Bello was a mentor in areas that ranged from job interview strategies to researching which schools were appropriately accredited as I pursued further education.”

In March 2010, Travis accepted a position with Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He began as an X-Ray Technologist, but cross-trained for Computed Tomography (CT Scans). He and two friends from his DACC Rad Tech cohort shopped for an online Bachelor’s degree program that would allow them to work and go to school at the same time. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care from Grand Canyon University.

Meanwhile, a Carle colleague who taught part-time at Parkland College was unable to fulfill faculty duties one semester and Travis stepped in to teach the class. This led to an ongoing position as a part-time instructor, sometimes on campus and sometimes online, and a role as one of Carle’s Clinical Instructors for Parkland’s radiology students.

Travis graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Science degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management in February 2015, and received a promotion to Radiology Imaging Coordinator for the Carle Foundation Hospital Main Campus. He continues to teach and act as a Clinical Instructor for Parkland students. He enjoyed his time at DACC and feels the College prepares students for success.

“DACC allowed me to learn what worked best for me. The instructors would go the extra mile to ensure students had the chance to excel. I would absolutely recommend DACC to anyone!”