Mark Kouria

Mark Kouria of Elmwood Park, a graduating student at Triton College, has always valued hard work, determination and education. With the support of Triton College’s Transfer Center, Kouria has applied to 20 universities and has been accepted by ten of them so far. He expects to hear back from the remaining ten by June 1.

An immigrant from Syria, Kouria moved to the United States as a young boy and was introduced to Triton College at an early age.

After graduating from Elmwood Park High School, Kouria returned to Triton to explore the campus where he met Julia Willis, Dean of Students. He asked her about everything that Triton had to offer and was impressed by the high-quality education, activities and opportunities available.

“It was the best place for me,” he said. “I loved it. It has shaped who I am.”

During his time at Triton, Kouria served as President of the Triton College Student Association (TCSA) and was actively involved in Program Board, TRIO, TRIUMPH & SURGE, Model United Nations, Model Illinois Government (MIG) and AI Club.

He also worked closely with the Transfer Center to ensure he made the best choice for continuing his education to a four-year university.

“Ian from the Transfer Center has been a blessing,” he said. “He encouraged me to apply to several schools.”

Kouria credits the Transfer Center for guiding him through every step of the process, making the entire experience much smoother. He received assistance with college essays, resume building, and workshops with university representatives, allowing Kouria to make meaningful connections with potential schools.

“The Transfer Center advocated for me,” he said. “My acceptance rate doubled because of them. They were so helpful.”