Join clubs, advocate for peers and make your voice heard

A Q&A with student Katherine Torres on building connections that matter

As former president of the Student Government Association (SGA), Katherine Torres brings passion, perspective and persistence to her leadership role at College of Lake County. While pursuing a degree in biology and public health, she’s deeply involved in student life and dedicated to advocating for her peers, both on campus and across the state of Illinois.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started at CLC.

I started at CLC after graduating from Round Lake High School. It was close to home and financially affordable, two things that made a big difference for me and my family. I received scholarships and joined the Honors and Scholars programs, which opened so many opportunities. I am also proud to have served as the Student Government Association president. I plan to either become a physician assistant or work on the legislative side of public health.

Q: What is something you're most proud of during your time at CLC?

My development as a leader. I came in as a shy, unsure 18-year-old. But I felt called to lead, and CLC gave me the support to grow into that. I was encouraged to attend meetings, learn about college policies and procedures and understand how change really happens. That experience helped me build confidence and taught me how to effectively communicate and speak publicly. I learned to advocate, not just for myself, but for other students, too.

Q: How has CLC changed during your time here?

When I joined SGA in 2023, there were very few participants. I really wanted to make sure student involvement stayed strong. Through efforts with other club and organization leaders, we’ve significantly increased student participation, not just in SGA, but in clubs and orgs across all campuses. There’s a common stigma that community colleges don’t have much going on, but that’s simply not true. There are events, activities and opportunities all the time. For example, we held an Olympics-like competition, where student groups competed in games like tug of war and the Oreo challenge. Everyone made their own banners and shirts. It was very competitive! It was a fun way to build school spirit and show off our vibrant student life.

Q: What makes CLC unique in how it serves students and the community?

CLC truly goes above and beyond to meet student needs. Programs like LEAF and SHARE Market provide essential resources. As someone with ADHD working two jobs and an internship, I know how hard it is to juggle everything. There’s constant pressure to succeed, while also figuring out how to support yourself financially. This is the reality for many of us, and CLC understands that. It’s not just about classes—it’s about helping students survive and thrive.

Q: What role have you played in the evolution at CLC and how do you see the change impacting student outcomes?

It’s been a team effort, but I’m proud of the role I’ve played in elevating SGA into a powerful resource for students. I help coordinate events, manage our social media and take advantage of professional development opportunities. That’s led to real results, including some of our members landing internships and jobs in their fields. One major moment was traveling to Springfield, Illinois on Lobby Day to advocate for more funding for community colleges and student services. That experience taught me how to advocate not just for myself, but for our entire county and state.

Q: What excites you about the future of CLC?

As clubs and orgs progressively grow, I’m excited to see students continue to get involved, plan new events and make their voices heard. We can do so much when we work together. And I hope we’ll be able to offer bachelor’s degrees at CLC in the future. For many students, this is their only college option. Expanding degree offerings would mean more opportunities to meet Lake County’s workforce needs and give students a real shot at success.

In May 2025, Kat Torres was one of seven CLC students who received the 2025 Excellence in Leadership and Service Award for her dedicated service to students.