Featured Alumnus - November 2022

Jon Dobson '10
Looking back at my time at Chicago Christian High School, I had a great experience. I met friends who would become my best friends and teachers, coaches, and principals that would make an impact on me for the next 12 years of my life. The Lord used Chicago Christian in my life as a building block, a time that I was able to meet other people who would influence, guide, direct, and encourage me throughout life. Coach Hamstra had the largest impact on me while I was at CCHS. His leadership, guidance, and wisdom stuck out to me. Coach wanted each one of us to work hard in every aspect of life. He wanted each one of us to be in a relationship with the Lord. To this day, I still reflect on some of the principles he taught me. Mr. Kreykes was another teacher that had an impact on my life. Having a lawn mowing business at the time, I think I took all the business classes he offered. While taking his classes, I started to realize that I wanted to have a business one day.

After I graduated from Chicago Christian in 2010, I went to Moraine Valley for two years and then transferred over to Trinity Christian College. At Trinity, I graduated with an Entrepreneurship Management and Marketing degree.  My career got started when I was young, cutting grass. Throughout high school and college, I spent my summers, weekends, and many evenings cutting grass, doing landscape projects, and/or plowing snow.  Before graduating from Trinity, this business had generated enough work to work full-time. At that point, I decided to attempt to make a career out of the landscaping business and started Dobson Landscaping, Inc. Today, I am still operating this business.

My time at CCHS had a major impact on my career, education, friendships, and walk with the Lord.  There are Bible classes with Pastor Chip on which I reflect today. Some of these classes helped me get a better understanding of scripture, and these lessons have helped me grow as a follower of Christ. I remember Mr. Payne asking me to shovel and salt the sidewalks around the school before school would start. This job encouraged me to continue building a business.  Teachers that stayed to help me understand a topic better, encouraged, and guided me made an impact. I knew it then but I really know it now--I am blessed to have been able to attend CCHS.
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