GALESBURG — As someone who was in foster care until she was 7, started living on her own at 14 and is a single mom of four, Keri McKay has stared down her share of challenges.
For years, though, going to college never felt like one she could conquer.
“I didn't think college would be a thing for someone like me,” said McKay, 35, of Galesburg. “It took a lot of therapy and growing up to go, ‘Yeah, maybe I can do that.’”
McKay had held down jobs in the food industry, done janitorial service, cleaned hospitals and worked in manufacturing. She also made and sold clothing, jewelry and accessories, but she found herself in what she called a “slump” when she decided to come to Sandburg in search of more for herself and her kids. While pregnant with her youngest child, she started attending classes here in 2023. It unlocked something in her she didn’t know was there.
“People make college sound really scary,” McKay said, “but here at Sandburg, the teachers aren’t trying to make college really hard.”
McKay started succeeding in the classroom and becoming active on campus outside of it. In addition to earning her way onto the dean’s list and honors list, McKay is a member of Art Club, Quills (a creative writing club), TRIO Student Support Services, Women of Character and is a student ambassador. She even won Best of Show in this year’s student art show.
“This is my glow-up. This is me growing up and realizing things about myself,” McKay said. “Once I got here, it morphed into, ‘Hey, if I can do this, I'm showing my kids they can do it too.’”
Others on campus have taken note of McKay as well. At last week’s Student Awards & Recognition Ceremony, McKay was presented with the Spirit of Sandburg Award, which is selected by the executive board of the college’s Student Government Association and given to a student who exemplifies Sandburg’s core values of excellence, collaboration, integrity and respect.
“Keri stood out because she doesn’t just advocate for her clubs. She advocates for all student engagement with any club,” said Genny Stevens, director of student engagement and leadership. “She actively seeks out students who look lost or not fully engaged and makes them feel welcome, helping them find their place in Sandburg’s community. Keri’s always looking to bring people in and make them feel welcome and included.”
As the list of the Sandburg Spirit Award winner’s activities and accomplishments was read at the awards ceremony, it wasn’t until her kids were mentioned that McKay realized they were talking about her. She was moved to tears as she accepted the award.
“I’m still in a little bit of disbelief,” McKay said. “The idea kind of blows my mind because of the impostor syndrome. It's nice for people to go, ‘Yeah, she's doing all this and balancing it with her kids.’ I’m not used to being recognized for putting in the work.”
McKay is on track to graduate next spring with Associate in Arts and Associate in Fine Arts degrees, though she isn’t certain what her future holds after that. Her time at Sandburg has helped her discover she has a knack for helping people find resources they need. After all, she’s had to be resourceful just to get to where she’s at today.
“I went through everything I went through and survived, and here I am thriving in this environment,” McKay said. “I can do it. All it takes is for you to just start. I’m way more capable than I think I am, and I can accomplish things. I’m good at things.”
That mindset is now being passed down to McKay’s children, Aribelle (12), Tyler (9), Artemis (8) and Victoria (2). Aribelle wants to be a lawyer who also makes furniture. Tyler is already thinking about going to college. Artemis wants to be a doctor and a gymnast. McKay has dreams of all her kids attending Sandburg one day, but first she wants them to see their mom cross the stage as a college graduate.
“I want them to be little legacies running around here like, ‘Oh, that's my mom's picture on the wall,’ or, ‘She did this,’ or, ’She did that,” McKay said. “I hope they're proud of me. I hope it's a canon event that solidifies in their minds that they can achieve their goals.”
Keri McKay wipes away tears as she receives the 2025 Spirit of Sandburg Award.
Keri McKay holds her Best of Show award from the 2025 Sandburg Student Art Show.