When our team interviews an alum, we’re excited to hear their amazing story. But when we sat down to interview Jon Heimbigner, we didn’t realize we were getting a special on amazing stories. It was a three-for-one deal, a family of alumni stories. 
 
Jon started his college journey at Spokane Community College in 1966. He ended up being in the first graduating class in 1968 at Spokane Falls. And he has nothing but wonderful things to say about his time at CCS.
 
When he graduated in his hometown of Odessa, he was really shy. He credits the environment of community college with welcoming him and helping him gain confidence. 
 
Jon played a year of basketball at CCS and completed his AA before transferring out to Eastern Washington University, where he got his business degree in finance and economics. It’s still his start at SFCC that he credits with his stellar sporting career (Jon is in seven different halls of fame here in Spokane, including EWU’s and CCS’s) and his 50-year business career. In Jon’s 21-years in banking, he worked his way up to Vice President. Later, he and his colleagues started a telecommunication company that he continued with for the rest of his career. 
 
“Academically, socially, and inspiring me to give back to my community, community college assisted me and helped me be confident,” Jon said.  He also talked about other strengths of CCS, including that it’s more affordable and you still get a quality education. It’s the advice he shared with student recruits he’d meet with on his visits to play basketball and work out at SFCC after he retired. And it’s the advice he gave his own kids and grandkids.
 
Jon’s daughter JoEne played volleyball at SFCC and became an all-conference setter, as well as a member of their Hall of Fame. After graduating with her AA, she followed in her dad’s footsteps and transferred to EWU to get her teaching degree. She is also in the EWU Hall of Fame for her sporting career and is a primary education teacher here in Spokane. 
 
The legacy of SFCC education continues, and now Jon’s grandson - JoEne’s son - Andrew, is at SFCC. He’s currently getting his AA and hopes to someday work in architecture. 
 
“I always talked about how school and doing well in school was so important to my three kids and six grandkids. And they’re all educationally excellent,” Jon said. 
 
Jon’s own history and success is a great alum story that shows the amazing futures our students have. But it’s really special to think of three generations of graduates in one family whose careers all got started right here at CCS. 

Jon and his family