No matter what.

Three simple words echoed through Amerion College’s graduation ceremony as family members cheered on a grandmother crossing the stage to earn her associate degree. For her, “No matter what,” wasn’t just a slogan, it was a promise to herself, one Amerion staff member said.

“I’m getting there, I’m getting my goals, I’m doing what I was always meant to do, no matter what,” are words that Renee Ecckles-Hardy, Vice President and Dean of Students at Amerion College, said have stuck with her as she watched one of Amerion College’s newest graduates cross the commencement stage. 

Those three words capture the heart of Amerion College’s mission, Ecckles-Hardy added. 

Whether students are returning to school later in life, balancing careers and family, overcoming addiction or incarceration, or simply looking for a second chance, Amerion meets them where they are.

That philosophy has guided the institution’s transformation over the last several years. Once known primarily as a traditional two-year college, Amerion has evolved into a nonprofit institution focused not only on preparing students for careers, but on helping them grow into confident, purpose-driven individuals.

“When you look at the college and look at the evolution, this started off as your typical junior college or two-year college,” Dr. Edward Chicko, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer said. “Now, it’s become more than that. It’s a college where you get to discover not only your inner self, but also how you’re interacting with other people.”

Along with teaching the fundamentals students need to transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce, Chicko said Amerion places a strong emphasis on character, ethics and personal responsibility.

“We’re teaching about character and virtues and ethics,” he said. “We want you to be prepared.”

That preparation extends beyond textbooks and technical skills, he added.

“When you talk to employers, one of the top things they say is, ‘Teach them to show up on time, teach them about body language, and teach them about being polite,” Chicko said. “Those soft skills are everything.”

Amerion College President Dr. Fred Fransen said those lessons are becoming increasingly important in today’s workforce. 

“We’re embarking on a process of really rethinking how we can graduate students who carry themselves differently,” Fransen said. “We want somebody to say, ‘You’re an Amerion graduate, I can make certain assumptions about you’ in that you understand responsibility, purpose and what it means to contribute.”

While those goals may sound ambitious, Fransen said he believes they’re essential to preparing students for success. 

For many students, that journey begins by simply finding a place where they feel at peace.

“I think students should know that they’re welcomed,” Ecckles-Hardy said. “Come home, we’ve got you.”

Amerion serves a large number of adult learners and students who are balancing careers, raising children or returning to school after years away from the classroom.

“When I went back to college in my 40s, I was considered a non-traditional student,” Ecckles-Hardy said. “Now, non-traditional looks a whole lot different. It’s traditional for anybody to start school whenever they’re ready.”

Many students arrive carrying challenges that extend far beyond academics.

“A lot of our students have experienced life and trauma and addiction,” she said. “Their story is different.”

That is why Amerion has built what Ecckles-Hardy calls intentional support into nearly every aspect of the student experience.

“We’re intentional about our touches,” she said. “We want to connect with them on the phone, for them to hear our voice and we want them to come into the building, and to let them know that we care.”

That individualized approach also makes higher education feel more attainable, Ecckles-Hardy added. 

Affordability and flexibility also play a significant role, Chicko said. 

“Here, it’s more cost-friendly,” he said. “When you go to a bigger school, sometimes you get lost, here, you don’t.”

Fransen added that most courses are online or mostly online, allowing students to complete coursework around work schedules and family responsibilities.

“We make it easy for them to find that flexibility,” he said.

More than flexibility, Fransen said Amerion serves as a place for second chances.

“Not everybody starts at the same place,” he said. “This is another chance to grow.”

As Amerion continues to grow, its leaders hope to strengthen partnerships throughout the business community.

The college is actively seeking employers willing to collaborate on internships, externships and employment opportunities to help shape the future of academic programs at Amerion.

“Our mission is to help the community,” Fransen said. “We want the community to think of us as their go-to institution.”

Whether it’s helping someone earn their first degree, return to school, or simply discover confidence they never knew they had, Amerion College is planting seeds that its leaders hope will continue to grow long after graduation.

“We only have them for a couple years,” Ecckles-Hardy said. “But the seeds that we plant are what’s most important.” 

And for students who walk through Amerion’s doors, those seeds often begin with three simple words: No matter what.

To learn more about Amerion, visit https://amerion.edu/ or visit in-person at 900 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701 open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. 

If you’d like to support Amerion College’s mission, monetary donations can be made through https://amerioncollege.givingfuel.com/amerion-donations