60 years
My Tri-C
My Tri-C Student Resources News & Events Corporate College Alumni Give
Paying for College Apply Visit

Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you?
New Student
Returning
Transfer
Visiting
International
College Credit Plus
Non-Credit
All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more

Request Info

Tri-C is here for you. Have a question about a program or service? We'll help you find the answer.

Ask a Question

Live Chat

Chat live with college departments and services.

Start live chat

Tri-C 24/7

Outside of business hours? Get answers to your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Student Support Services

Ask Tri-C

Get answers to your frequently asked questions from navigating the website to programs and services.

Get Answers

Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you? New Student Returning Transfer Visiting International College Credit Plus Non-Credit All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more
Paying for College
Apply
Visit

Request Info

Tri-C is here for you. Have a question about a program or service? We'll help you find the answer.

Ask a Question

Live Chat

Chat live with college departments and services.

Start live chat

Tri-C 24/7

Outside of business hours? Get answers to your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Student Support Services

Ask Tri-C

Get answers to your frequently asked questions from navigating the website to programs and services.

Get Answers
Student Resources News & Events Corporate College Alumni Give

Categories

All Categories Tri-C News and Events Eastern Campus Metropolitan Campus Western Campus Westshore Campus Creative Arts Health Careers Hospitality Information Technology Manufacturing Public Safety Events JazzFest Alumni Athletics Faculty #mytricstory Tri-C Famous Student Success Veterans Community Involvement Corporate College Equity In Outcomes Gifts and Grants Pathway Programs Workforce Impact
  • Tri-C Home
  • »
  • News and Events
  • »
  • News
  • »
  • Worth the Journey

Worth the Journey

Tri-C graduate Darko Marinkovic discovers new passions

Darko MarinkovicDarko Marinkovic jokes that he's been at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) for so long that he's earned tenure. But the journey has been worth it.

Marinkovic, 42, graduates during Tri-C's Fall 2021 Commencement on Thursday, Dec. 16, with an Associate of Arts, marking a milestone in a decades-long career path — one that he intends to continue traveling.

"My wife jokes I could be in school the rest of my life and be happy," he said. "I don't plan on stopping after my bachelor's. if I need to get my master's, I'll get my master's."

Marinkovic began working in restaurants in 1998, falling in love with the business, the people and the energy. While he wanted to explore creative writing at the time, his heart wasn't in it — and because the money was good, he chose to remain in the restaurant industry.

After taking a class at Tri-C in spring 2002, he paused all academic work for more than a decade. In 2013, at his girlfriend's suggestion, Marinkovic returned to the College to discover a new passion.

"We had been dating for a few years," he said. "I was losing passion for restaurants, and I felt like there was something more I could offer. She encouraged me to take a class and see what happened."

Within a year, the two had married and had a son — which caused Marinkovic to set aside his academic pursuits again as he focused on being a parent and spouse. But he never lost sight of his goal.

"I took a class here, a class there. I was sticking with it and really enjoying it," he said. "There have been times when I had to drop a class or two because I was overwhelmed and frustrated. I wanted to get it completed. I wanted to see where the journey took me."

Uncertain what he wanted to focus on, Marinkovic took full advantage of the expertise Tri-C's career and transfer centers had to offer. He also drew inspiration from his professors.

A particularly engaging geology class with assistant professor Michelle Davis has Marinkovic considering an environmental services major at the University of Cincinnati, where he will enroll in January.

"Her passion for the planet at large really came through in her lectures," he said. "One of the most important things we can do is to leave what we have in similar or better shape for our kids."

Marinkovic cites the story of Manfred Steiner, a retired doctor who graduated with a Ph.D. in physics from Brown University at age 89, as a source of motivation.

"When I'm having frustrating moments, I think of that," he said. "I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but that's okay."

Cuyahoga Community College will celebrate the academic achievements of its newest graduates during commencement on Dec. 16 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Check our News and Events page leading up to the event for more highlights of the Class of 2021.

December 13, 2021

By Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu

© 2023 Cuyahoga Community College
700 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Quick Links

Employment at Tri-C
my Tri-C space
Athletics
Blackboard
Bookstore
Course Search
College Catalog
Library
Technical Support
Transcripts

About Tri-C

About
President's Office
Accreditation
Administrative Departments
Accessibility
Board of Trustees
Diversity & Inclusion
Student Consumer Information
Title IX Equal Opportunity
Privacy Policy

Campus Locations

Map & Directions
Parking
Campus Police

Connect With Us

Visit Tri-C
Request Information
Phone Directory
Tri-C 24/7
Ask Tri-C
Live Chat
Tri-C 216-987-6000 Corporate College 216-987-2800