Marc Elliot

Uncommon insight, comes at an uncommon price! Two days after Marc Elliot was born, he was diagnosed with a rare birth defect called Hirschsprung's disease. His doctors discovered that he had barely any working intestines. Despite the fact that death was more probable than the prospect of any quality of life, one brave surgeon, Dr. Jessie Ternberg took Marc under her wings and ultimately saved his life. After being in the hospital for the first six months of his life, seven experimental surgeries, and four years of being in and out of St. Louis Children's Hospital, he miraculously left the hospital for good once and for all—minus some intestines of course!

However, his medical challenges did not end there. By the age of nine, he was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes him to make involuntary motor and vocal tics. As Marc grew older his tics manifested in all different forms, ranging from 'ticcing' inappropriate words to head convulsions, and blurting out random noises.

Over the next ten years, Marc triumphed over these challenges as he tried to live a normal life in the suburbs of St. Louis. Aside from the scars that stretched across his abdomen and the frequent outbursts of racial slurs and dog barking, Marc lived with a special enthusiasm for life. He was a talented thespian, played tons of sports, and even was elected student body president of his high school.
After graduating from high school, Marc attended Washington University in St. Louis where he majored in biology, actively participated in a fraternity (Sip Ep), and took the premed requirements in hopes to follow in the footsteps of his pediatric surgeon. Not surprisingly, Marc's life took a different path.

Once he graduated in May of 2008, Marc embarked upon a speaking tour around the nation about tolerance. With his presentation "What Makes You Tic?" he has taken his lessons of being different to convey fundamental lessons about the importance of tolerance. Within his first year, he has traveled to almost 25 states, internationally, and spoken to over 20,000 individuals across the country.

Although not a doctor, at the age of 25, Marc is now helping individuals grow in a way he could have never imagined!

John Jacobs

John Troy Jacobs was born in Tacoma, Washington.  He graduated from Lakes High School, Tacoma Washington in 2003 and received his BA in Communication Studies from Texas State University - San Marcos, Texas in 2007. Just recently John Jacobs received a Masters of Science in Leadership with a Specialization in Higher Education Administration in 2011.

John Jacobs has many accomplishments in his 27 years and there is no sign of him stopping.  He currently serves as Student Life Coordinator of activities at Austin Community College's East view campus as well as the process holder over Diversity and Inclusion.  In this role he encourages students to explore new possibilities, oversees diversity board, produces co-curriculum activities, and counsel and advise students; aiding in their success.

John also is a minister of the gospel and is one half of national recording artist Double Portion in which he  travels the country inspiring youth, young adults and his peers through song. John’s goal is to become a Vice President of Student Affairs where he can continue to encourage and impact students in a greater way!