401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200Springfield, IL 67201-1711

1-800-454-2282 (phone)217-528-8662 (fax)

iccta@communitycolleges.org (e-mail)www.communitycolleges.org

ANNUALAWARDSBANQUET

June 8, 2007Chicago City Centre Hotel & Sports Club

Chicago, Illinois

For your convenience, a cash bar will belocated outside the ballroom in the LaSalleFoyer during the ICCTA Awards Banquet.In addition to individual drinks, bottles ofwine (Chardonnay, Cabernet, and WhiteZinfandel) are available for $28 each,inclusive of tax and gratuity.

The bar is able to operate on a cash basisonly and will not be able to accept creditcards.

Please jointhe Trustees Associationin saying “THANK YOU”

to our convention sponsors

• Friday awards luncheon •Accurate Biometrics Illinois Community College

System ProcurementConsortium

• ICCTA President’s Reception •Illinois Community College

Risk Management Consortium

• Paul Simon Student Essay Contest •Illinois Community College System Foundation

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IN MEMORIUM

Kevin CainSenior director for information technology

Illinois Community College Board

Carol FarnerTrustee

John A. Logan College

Les McCollumTrustee

John A. Logan College

Angela Perez MillerMember

Illinois Community College Board

David T. MurphyTrustee • McHenry County College

1986-87 President • Illinois Community College Trustees Association

Judith TuckerTrustee

John Wood Community College

Nola VirrusoTrustee

Morton College

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

June 8, 2007

This year marks the 37th anniversary of theIllinois Community College TrusteesAssociation. Created as an advocate for thestate's public community college boards, theTrustees Association has grown in influence andeffectiveness, just as the colleges have grown tomeet the needs of nearly one million studentseach year.

Tonight we welcome you to our annualcelebration of excellence in the Illinois system.We will honor several trustees and publicofficials who have been unwavering supportersof the community college movement. Inaddition, we will recognize the winner of ourPaul Simon Student Essay Contest and ouroutstanding community college alumni, faculty,and business partners.

A special welcome is extended to our conventionsponsors: the Illinois Community College RiskManagement Consortium, the IllinoisCommunity College System ProcurementConsortium, the Illinois Community CollegeSystem Foundation, and Accurate Biometrics.

We hope that you enjoy tonight's awardpresentations. Thank you for sharing our pridein Illinois' outstanding system of communitycolleges.

Dr. Clare M. OllayosPresident, ICCTATrustee, Elgin Community College

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PAUL SIMONSTUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

• Sponsored by the Illinois Community College System Foundation •

Named after the late U.S. Senator (and cofounder of theIllinois community college system) Paul Simon, thiscompetition is open to all students at ICCTA membercolleges. The 1st place winner will receive a $500 scholarshipfor fall 2007 educational expenses.

1ST PLACEChristine PembertonElgin Community College

“Of Generous Gardeners”

Eight years ago, I was a sixth grader who was about to walk into a futureI could not have fathomed. My sister, older by six years, was beginning herdescent into drug addiction. Addiction is a downward spiral, and it rippedinto my home like a tornado, tearing the place to shreds.

While my sister was becoming a junkie and my parents were preoccupiedwith her, I began withdrawing. I became more and more lonely, eventuallyplunging on my own downward spiral into a severe depression. My reportcards dropped suddenly from A’s and B’s to straight D’s. By the time Igraduated high school, my GPA was shot, and there was no way I couldget into a good college. But, for whatever reason, I told myself that Icouldn’t give up. I knew what I wanted to do – become a psychologist andgrow into an adult who would help people like me.

I enrolled at Elgin Community College. I saturated myself in the material,becoming an “A” and “B” student again. School distracted me from myotherwise fractured life. I wanted to crank out the A’s so that I could beaccepted into a far-away school and leave home for good. But, as it turnedout, school would be much more than just a mere distraction. I came to seethat learning could be about more than just grades – it could be about self-discovery.

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REGIONAL CHAIRS

James L. AyersParkland College

East Central Region

Dr. Robert EhrichIllinois Central College

West Central Region

William KelleyWilliam Rainey Harper College

North Suburban Region

Ed LedvinaMorton College

West Suburban Region

Nick ManceSouthwestern Illinois College

Southwest Region

Mary NolanMoraine Valley Community College

South Suburban Region

Dr. John O’KeefeJohn A. Logan College

Southeast Region

James C. TyreeCity Colleges of Chicago

Chicago Region

David WilcoxsonIllinois Valley Community College

Northwest Region

AWARDS COMMITTEE

Carol ChiligirisChair

Richland Community College

James L. AyersParkland College

Jim BeasleyKaskaskia College

Dr. Joan DiLeonardiOakton Community College

Larry LittellHeartland Community College

Mary NolanMoraine Valley Community College

Dr. Clare OllayosElgin Community College

David WilcoxsonIllinois Valley Community College

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THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1970, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association representsthe board members who govern the state's public community colleges. ICCTA’stwo-fold mission is to provide trustees with opportunities for legislative advocacyand educational development.

2006 - 2007 OFFICERS

Dr. Clare M. OllayosPresident

Elgin Community College

Kathy WesselVice president

College of DuPage

Jeff MaySecretary

Joliet Junior College

Jerry WrightTreasurer

Illinois Central College

Thomas M. BennettPast president

Parkland College

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My teachers served as generous gardeners, sprinkling water on me, awithered flower. My Intro to Fiction teacher showed me the tragedy ofKafka’s “hunger artist,” a man doomed by his own hapless pursuit ofintegrity. I reflected that I, too, was a hunger artist, searching for a way toboth be one with the world and to not betray my secret self. Also, mycreative writing teacher taught me what it was to be a person who livedand breathed her work with each ounce of her being. She told me that,while it’s hard to remain a loving and giving person in this harsh world,it’s worth it. Finally, my Intro to Asian Philosophy instructor schooled mein, among other things, Buddhism and Taoism. This helped me developmy love of these philosophies, and I later decided to attend a school whereI could major in Buddhist philosophy.

When transferring a flower from one pot to another, it has to first behealthy and strong or it won’t survive the move. I see ECC as a buildingfull of generous gardeners tending to their nursery of students, giving justthe right amount of nourishment to each of us. Upon graduating, theyrelease us gently on our way. Our petals pop open one by one, introducingus to the world. In my case, thanks to ECC, I am now strong enough to pullup my roots and move to a new town; one where I can take root, bloom,and finally, stretch out into the sunlight.

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OTHER STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST ENTRANTS

Jennifer BarnesCollege of DuPage

Loubabatou BouzouOakton Community College

George GarciaRock Valley College

Syreeta GarciaWilbur Wright College

Sarah GillespieOlney Central College

Megan K. GuilfoyleIllinois Valley Community College

Jillian HansenKishwaukee College

Niveesha HillLincoln Land Community College

Jennifer HoffmanSouthwestern Illinois College

Andrea LeonardCollege of Lake County

Michelle MancellLake Land College

Stacey MorseSoutheastern Illinois College

Cheri MyersJohn Wood Community College

Ashley PerrineLewis and Clark Community College

Allison PettyKaskaskia College

Kimberly SheltonMoraine Valley Community College

Mary J. SmithMcHenry County College

Barbara StewartJohn A. Logan College

Heather WatkinsBlack Hawk College

Jennipher K. WilsonParkland College

James WrightHeartland Community College

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RAY HARTSTEIN TRUSTEE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award recognizes a currently servingtrustee whose exemplary board service and leadership sets the standard foroutstanding trusteeship in Illinois. The award is named after Ray Hartstein, thefounding chair of the Oakton Community College Board of Trustees and anHonorary Member of ICCTA.

James C. TyreeChair • Board of Trustees

City Colleges of Chicago

James C. Tyree chairs the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago,Illinois’ largest community college district and one of the largest urbancommunity college systems in the nation. He was appointed to the non-paid position by Mayor Richard J. Daley in 2000.

During his tenure as board chair, Tyree has initiated a number ofinnovative programs at City Colleges, negotiated a landmark collectivebargaining agreement, and lobbied effectively on behalf of communitycollege issues in the Illinois General Assembly. He has also served on theTrustees Association’s Executive Committee since his appointment asboard chair and played a key role in ICCTA’s nationwide executivedirector search in 2004.

Outside the educational arena, Tyree is chair and CEO of MesirowFinancial Services, an international diversified financial services firmheadquartered in Chicago. He has served on more than 40 corporate, civicand not-for-profit boards, including terms as chair of The Executives Clubof Chicago and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, hislongtime advocacy on behalf of diabetes awareness led to his selection as“Person of the Year” by the Illinois chapter of the Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation.

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Becky WernerOffice technology

Highland Community College

I believe that all people have the potential to learn and that everyoneshould want to continue to learn in order to improve their world. . . . Inteaching, I don’t just give my students the answers to a problem. I wantthem to be able to problem-solve, use technology to find solutions, andrealize that learning is a lifelong process. Hopefully they will continue tocome back to school as they advance in their careers and realize there ismore to learn.

Keith WilliamsBusiness and economics

Carl Sandburg College

I apply some of the same ideas to teaching that I learned in many years ofmanagement – remove barriers and create an atmosphere in which thestudent can be as productive in their learning as possible. . . . I really don’tsee myself as their teacher; instead, I view my role as facilitator. Thestudents are in charge of their own learning; I create the situation in whichthey can learn.

Jane Jiajing WuHistory and Chinese

College of DuPage

Like a farmer tending his orchard, I prepare a rich environment for theoptimal result of my care – my students, by giving them my unconditionallove, and undivided attention to their growth. In the end, they will bearfruit. . . . . With encouragement and frequent reassurance, students canmaximize their potential, grow to their full maturity, and blossom. Theiraccomplishments will be the fruits of my labor. I, as the teacher and thefarmer, will enjoy the harvest.

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COLLEGE BOWL

Nicknamed “the varsity sport of the mind,” College Bowl features fast-pacedquestion-and-answer competitions between teams of students. Statewide CollegeBowl tournaments have been co-sponsored by ICCTA and the Illinois CommunityCollege Student Activities Association since 1993.

1st PlaceJoliet Junior College

Each team member has received a $300 scholarship for fall 2007Natalie CastroJohn Downey

Miles Ford

Keila HarrisChris Vicich

Bill Yarrow, coach

2nd PlaceIllinois Central College

Each team member has received a $100 scholarship for fall 2007Nate Cambron

Rob KoehlerBrad Rose

Rachel SchmillenDylan Troxel

Helen Krause, coach

3rd PlaceElgin Community College

Each team member has received a $50 scholarship for fall 2007Ramon Albino

Tristian AnguloVal A. Fox, Jr.

Courtney HamillSteve Krull

Katie Hopkins Storey, coach

All-Tournament Team (individual high scorers)

Tristian Angulo • Elgin Community CollegeDylan Troxel • Illinois Central College

Chris Vicich • Joliet Junior CollegeKevin Widdows • Shawnee Community College

Miles Ford • Joliet Junior College

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LIFELONG LEARNING AWARD

ICCTA’s Lifelong Learning Award celebrates the accomplishments of Illinois'community college students over the age of 50. Nominees must be currentlyenrolled students who have completed at least six credit or non-credit courses atan Illinois public community college.

Joan ArnalElgin Community College

Joan Arnal had already retired from Elgin Community College’scontinuing education office when she was recruited last year to return anddevelop programs for senior and “boomer” students. Now her“retirement” includes part-time jobs at ECC and the public library, as wellas owning and managing a smal l onl ine business ,www.bestwineglasses.com, with her husband. Arnal has also found timeto take gardening, cooking, writing, computer and fitness classes at ECCand Rock Valley College. “Lifelong learning reflects the journey of anindividual’s life,” she says.

Judy BrownOakton Community College

When Oakton Community College first began offering night classes in theearly 1990s, Judy Brown was one of the first to sign up. “Since I was achild, I wanted to draw and paint,” she says. “However, earning a livingalways was an obstacle to achieving this. When I went on disability, I wasable to go back to school full time at Oakton, where the counselorsencouraged me to achieve my dream of being an artist. I have never beenhappier and I have never looked back.” Despite seven major surgeries inthe past seven years, she has earned 33 credit hours and the respect of herclassmates and instructors. “Isn’t life wonderful?” Brown asks. “I am a 60-year-old cancer survivor on disability and have been afforded theopportunity to live my dream by Oakton Community College.”

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Bruce SpangenbergChair • Horticulture department

McHenry County College

Learning is a lifelong process. As an instructor, it is important to recognizeI can always learn more from student experiences, observations andquestions. This will in turn improve my teaching. There is always more tolearn. When we think we know it all, it is apparent we have lots more tolearn!

Lynn SteffenAdministrative office systems

College of Lake County

Being a good teacher goes far beyond being knowledgeable about yoursubject area and being able to present concepts in a logical and interestingway. That’s the easy part. The difficult part comes when the teacherbecomes the coach. Each student is unique. As a teacher you have theresponsibility to get to know each student. When you get to know astudent better, you are better prepared to encourage that student tosucceed.

Dr. David A. SujakInstructional coordinator • Behavioral sciences

Elgin Community College

One must have a passion for one’s subject matter and be able to convey thisto one’s students. If they do not see the intense interest you have in yourown life’s work, why should they be motivated to learn anything about it?. . . I tell my students the first day of class that it is my guarantee that if theyget nothing else out of the course, it will be justice: they will be treatedfairly. They will get out of the course what they put into it. If they workhard and stay focused, they will learn and do well. If they give little or noeffort, they will not.

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David QuinnTheatre and speech

Kaskaskia College

I want this to be a rewarding experience for my students, the beginning ofa college education that can take them wherever life may lead. For some itis the springboard to a four-year university, for others an education, adegree, a dream fulfilled. Most students want to learn more, but some tryto stay detached, not willing to make any effort to get something out of thecourse. My goal is to be a teacher who inspires students to get involved inthe classroom subject and to get more involved in their education.

Pamela SchmidtComputer technologies and information systems

Oakton Community College

I enjoy the challenge and reward of expecting extra effort from mystudents. Some consider me a tough teacher with high expectations. Butwhen the bar is set high, students have the opportunity to excel. Thepurpose of education is to create lifelong learners. That is the passion Ihope to share with my students.

Tracey SmithSpeech

Lewis and Clark Community College

An education requires active participation by the learner. There is no suchthing as passive learning. My college mentor always said that being a goodteacher meant leading your students into the swamp and then letting themget dirty as they found their way out. I believe in being a guide on the siderather than a sage on the stage, helping to form learning communities thatare student-centered.

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Crystal ClairJohn Wood Community College

Earlier in her life, Crystal Clair was discouraged from pursuing her collegeeducation. But backed by a very supportive husband and employer, shehas completed 28 hours at John Wood Community College since turning50. She has also applied her new accounting methods to improve therecordkeeping of her husband’s farming operation and used skills learnedin her web design class to create a website for the Adams County Fair. “Myformal education is teaching me that my age does not matter,” says Clair.“I am learning that I can do just about anything I desire to do.”

DeWayne DeatonRichland Community College

DeWayne Deaton retired as an art therapist for the developmentallydisabled after 26 years in the field. Yet he continues to expand hisknowledge and skills in the arts through classes at Richland CommunityCollege. He has explored new techniques in metal sculpture, ceramics,welding, and photography, and has exhibited his work in the college’sErlanson Art Gallery. “After I retired it was important to me to continuewith my art and to pursue different media,” Deaton says. “Richland hashelped me grow as a person and artist, given me the opportunity to bearound other artists, and to make friends who share my passion for thearts.”

Rosemary Gordon-YoungKaskaskia College

Her co-workers at Kaskaskia College’s Salem Education Center encouragedRosemary Gordon-Young to return to school and pursue her collegedegree. Accepting their challenge, she earned her associate degree in May2006 at the age of 50. She now boasts a total of 106 credit hours and has sether sights on a bachelor’s degree. “I’ve always wanted to live a life thatallowed me to be open-minded and open to new ideas,” says Gordon-Young, who assists dislocated workers through the job retraining process.“My education provided me with many new skills that I can use in mywork. This is no small feat as I have had this job for the past 30 years.”

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Annette LynchLake Land College

After 35 years as an elementary and secondary science teacher, AnnetteLynch chose to embark upon a new career field. Inspired by a formerstudent, in 2006 she enrolled at Lake Land College (where she had firsttaken classes in 1974) to train as an esthetician. Her friends and family haveapplauded her career choice and even volunteer as her clients for “spaday” facials at Lake Land. “My philosophy has always been to continuelearning and have fun,” says Lynch. “When other people my age thinkonly of quitting their jobs, I look forward to beginning a new, fascinatingcareer.”

Evelyn McKennaMoraine Valley Community College

Moraine Valley Community College has been a source of personal andprofessional enrichment for Evelyn McKenna throughout her life. Duringher 36-year career as an educational administrator, she relied upon MVCCfor Spanish, digital photography, and computer literacy classes. In 2004,when she entered the healthcare industry, the requirements of her new jobled her back to Moraine Valley, where she discovered a new field ofinterest: medical coding. She now plans to complete her Coding Specialistcertificate this summer. “My life has been re-shaped by Moraine Valley,”McKenna says. “It has helped me find and explore this new venture, whichallows me to have ‘a sit-down job for when I get old.’”

Ann SantoroRend Lake College

As a resident of Sun City West, Arizona, Ann Santoro regularly tookclasses at her local community college. Since moving to Illinois in 2001, shehas continued this tradition and has participated in 33 non-credit coursesat Rend Lake College. This summer she is enrolled in a unique coursewhere college students meet with incarcerated men inside the county jailto discuss issues of crime and corrections. “My advice to anyone whowants to enjoy a happy senior life is simple: stay active and keep learningnew things,” says Santoro, who is 86 years young. “Your communitycollege can help you with both of these.”

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Amie MayhallBusiness and office careers

Olney Central College

As an educator, understanding student needs and tailoring effectivelearning experiences to accommodate them is an inherently challengingprocess. . . . I take my responsibility to my students very seriously – thisincludes my preparation for the classroom and the currency of my ownknowledge and skills. I truly enjoy working with students, both traditionaland nontraditional students, whom I serve on a daily basis.

David PalmerHumanities

John Wood Community College

Education is no laughing matter and academia isn’t a pair of “gag glasses”to be worn for effect! But just as in real life, a person can see better, gofurther and do more things if they are equipped with the proper tools, andI believe that is what all of us involved in community college education do– we let students see the fullness that can become their world.

Julia PfeifferArt

Southeastern Illinois College

My days and years as a community college educator are sustained not byblocks of time, or events, or classes, but by moments. That delicate momentfor a student when confident thoughtfulness overcomes awkward struggleand an idea is shared. The beauty of a gesture that creates skillful marksand expresses what otherwise might remain obscure. The pride of placerevealed on the face of a first-generation college graduate oncommencement day. These are moments that influence a lifetime.

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James N. McGowen, Jr.Chair • Business transfer department

Southwestern Illinois College

The mission statement of my college says that “learning is a lifelongprocess that enhances the quality of life.” This statement motivates myapproach to education. My goal is to create a foundation for lifelonglearning. I want to spark a genuine desire in students to learn more aboutthe world around them. . . . I enter each semester with a sense ofexcitement and anticipation. I really enjoy teaching in the communitycollege environment, and believe doing so gives me an opportunity tomake a lifelong difference in the lives of students.

Dr. Neal McKennaMathematics

Kishwaukee College

By nature, the students attending a community college are a heterogeneousgroup. There is great diversity in educational backgrounds, academictalent, motivations, and lifestyles. The first challenge for an instructor is tocreate a non-threatening learning environment. Only when students feelsafe to engage in discourse with their instructor, and with fellowclassmates, about topics and meaningful problems or activities are theyable to construct the deep relational understandings of the discipline. Onlythen will students be able to actualize their academic potential.

Merri MattisonSociology and anthropology

Illinois Valley Community College

Teaching should be about excellent, dedicated and enthusiastic instruction– the type of instruction that brings the subject to life and makes learningan interesting and stimulating experience rather than a chore or merelysomething to be gotten through. . . . Teaching should be about thecelebration of learning! Taking time to appropriately acknowledgestudents’ learning is one way to reinforce that education matters and thatthey are not alone on their academic journey.

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Lu Ann SteffenBlack Hawk College

Lu Ann Steffen has grown from a 49-year-old who did not know how toturn on a computer into a 52-year-old who is proficient in QuarkXPresspublishing software. A practicing stained-glass artist for 25 years, shecredits Black Hawk College for reinforcing her natural talent whileproviding her with new skills in marketing and graphic design. “Every dayin my work and business, I use many of the things I have learned at BHC,”says Steffen. “This experience has opened new doors I could never haveimagined but am grateful to accept. I am committed to my lifelongeducation. My thirst for more knowledge will never be quenched.”

Jo Anne WaldenIllinois Valley Community College

Jo Ann Walden recalls, not so fondly, her very first class at Illinois ValleyCommunity College: it was Data Processing/Business Machines, wherestudents were required to literally wire computers and work with punchcards. Forty years later, she has overcome her dislike of computers, earned70 credit hours, and just completed her first online class in tax accounting.“There are times when I stress out because of tests and lack of time, but itis worth following my dream of getting an accounting degree,” Waldensays. “I think a person can never get enough education, especially sincetechnology and our world are always changing.”

Charles and Mabel WeikSouthwestern Illinois College

A true “lifelong learning couple,” Charles and Mabel Weik began takingclasses at then-Belleville Area College in 1965 and 1959, respectively.Charles had originally attended BAC to become an auto mechanics teacherbut entered engineering instead. Since retiring in 1988, he has relied uponSouthwestern Illinois College to “prepare for retirement” and enjoy classesin computers, woodworking, personal finance, golf, and home gardening.Similarly, Mabel took night courses in typing, physiology, and medicalterminology for her job in the healthcare field. She now takes advantage ofSWIC’s golf and tai chi offerings. “I feel that SWIC is a treasure that mostpeople do not truly appreciate,” she says.

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GIGI CAMPBELLSTUDENT TRUSTEE EXCELLENCE AWARD

Student trustees created this award in 1996 to recognize exemplary leadership bytheir peers. This honor is named after the late Gigi Campbell of Prairie StateCollege, who ably served her fellow students with her spirited advocacy ofeducational opportunity for all.

Ramon AlbinoElgin Community College

As a seminarian in the Philippines, Ramon Albino attended the 2000student rallies to impeach the president and end totalitarian rule. When hisfamily relocated to the United States, he enrolled at Elgin CommunityCollege where, he says, “I grabbed the opportunity to continue my desireto make a difference.” Besides serving as student trustee and studentgovernment president, he participated in two Habitat for Humanity tripsto New Orleans to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He alsorepresented student interests during the college’s recent presidentialsearch. Albino recently graduated from ECC with a triple major ofphilosophy, psychology, and nursing, and plans to transfer into CornellUniversity’s pre-law program.

Roy BeckhamIllinois Central College

One of Roy Beckham’s goals as student trustee was to improvecommunication between the students and leaders of Illinois CentralCollege. Toward that end, he logged more than 150 hours of office time sothat students could freely voice their opinions and concerns. He alsodeveloped a survey to gauge student satisfaction with the college,orientation, and activities, and reported on his findings to the board oftrustees. In addition, Beckham formed a campus chapter of the Phi BetaLambda business club and served as its first president. One of the chapter’sfirst activities was the coordination of a campus-wide textbook exchangefor students.

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Dr. Michael KasprowiczSocial scienceMorton College

In my history and geography courses, I strive to develop my students’abilities to think critically and communicate while providing them with thehistorical framework for the world they inhabit. . . . I take teaching generaleducation courses seriously because I believe such courses provide thefoundation for later learning. In this regard, I feel I have been successful.Many final papers are well-written and display a strong command overtheir subject matter. Although I demand much from my students’presentations, most rise to the challenge and improve as a result.

Kenneth J. KunzAutomotive technology

Waubonsee Community College

A community college is a place for people of all ages and abilities to gainan education. It should provide a positive atmosphere where one can groweducationally, socially and spiritually. I see my role in this environment asmore of a learning facilitator than a teacher. As educators, we all need toprovide opportunities for students to develop to their fullest potential, butstudents need more than what they can learn in the classroom or shop. . .. For my students, the learning process becomes a discovery process.

Donna McCauleyCoordinator • Recreation therapy / recreation management program

Moraine Valley Community College

CHANGE is essential in education. I embrace change through my beliefthat learning is lifelong, something that is as important for me as aneducator as it is for students. I need to learn something everyday and shareit with my students. By having extensive knowledge in my subject area, Iam better equipped to teach students skills to be successful in theirprofessional careers and productive individuals in society.

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Lesa HildebrandEnglish

Triton College

The college has experienced an increase in both returning adult studentsas well as in English as a Second Language students. In response to thesechanges, I have adopted a philosophy of clarity, flexibility and accessibility,as well as providing a classroom climate that embraces diversity. . . . Ialways include a variety of readings from authors of varying races andethnic groups in order to demonstrate the fact that I value diversity.

Donna IrvinEquestrian scienceBlack Hawk College

Every student and horse combination is unique with differing abilities,personalities and styles of learning. Students, like their training partners,the horse, learn best by having the opportunity to find the correct answerinstead of by just simply being told. By setting up theoretical situations andallowing students to make mistakes during the learning process whileproviding guidance in the process, the students are better able to developtheir skill set and the ability to interpret and implement new techniquesand knowledge.

Laura F. JamisonSocial science and human services

Parkland College

When I made the decision to come to Parkland to teach full time in 1999,one of my social work colleagues told me that many people were bothsurprised and sad that I had decided to leave the profession. I rememberbeing very surprised by the comment, because to me I wasn’t leaving theprofession – I was simply changing locations for where I practiced. . . . Asteachers, we are change agents. As I am able to observe students change,become more confident, and to create better, more fulfilling lives forthemselves and their families, I can think of no better way to help othersand to serve society.

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Megan K. GuilfoyleIllinois Valley Community College

“The past two years, and especially this past year, have been the best yearsof my life, mostly due to my role as student trustee,” says MeganGuilfoyle. As the students’ “direct link” to the Illinois Valley CommunityCollege board, she reported on student events and concerns at monthlymeetings, and conducted student opinion surveys on topics ranging fromathletic programs to the campus food service. She also joined her fellowtrustees in interviewing finalists for the college presidency. “Theresponsibility and confidence I have gained as student trustee will benefitme in all areas of my life,” says Guilfoyle, who will pursue communicationstudies at Marquette University this fall.

Michelle JorgensenRichland Community College

Michelle Jorgensen jokes that during her tenure as student trustee, “I lived,ate and breathed Richland Community College.” Because she viewed herrole as being the “student face of Richland,” she participated in numerousstudent groups and activities on- and off-campus, including clean-up days,food drives, toy runs and sending cards and care packages overseas. Shealso initiated the development of a travel scholarship for Richland studentswho wish to study abroad. Jorgensen plans to continue her commitmentto serving others as she works on her social-work degree from MillikinUniversity.

Arielle C. PayneMcHenry County College

Arielle Payne has become an expert at the art of compromise. Afterreviewing feedback from her student constituents, she modified her initialproposal to make McHenry County College a smoke-free campus so thatit successfully accommodated the needs of smokers and non-smokers alike.This student trustee has also won praise for her work on diversity issues,including the McHenry County Peace and Justice Award for her efforts tocreate a Black Student Union at MCC.

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Todd R. RauchLake Land College

When his military career was cut short by wounds sustained in Iraq, ToddRauch found new purpose at Lake Land College. He immediately joinedthe Student Government Association and helped win approval for a newphysical fitness center, food court, and smoking areas. After his election asstudent trustee, he set a personal goal to represent Lake Land not only inthe community but at the state level as well. Halfway through his term, hewas one of two students appointed to the Illinois General Assembly’sHouse Joint Resolution 122 Task Force on Community Colleges.

Brian SavageJoliet Junior College

Although Brian Savage ran unopposed as a student trustee, he stillcampaigned with flyers and videos to promote the importance of the officeamong Joliet Junior College students. He worked with student governmentto create a scholarship for student leaders and raised $2,500 for a classmatewho lost her home and three family members in a fire. He alsochampioned several controversial issues, including a fair attendance policyand the JJC lake restoration project, and served on the state HJR 122 TaskForce. “Looking back at my role as student trustee, the only word I coulduse to describe the last year would be ‘wow,” says Savage. “I have learnedthat there is no challenge that can’t be conquered.”

Brandon SmithKaskaskia Community College

Brandon Smith has improved the quality of student life at KaskaskiaCollege in several ways. He hosted open forums with the college president,allowing students to voice concerns regarding campus food service,textbook costs, tuition and fee increases, and expanded student activities.Sensitive to the needs of students with limited financial means, he pushedfor the implementation of a calculator loan program. A talented painter, healso created several pieces of artwork displayed on campus. “Becomingstudent trustee has helped me to understand that I have the ability to makea difference,” says Smith.

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Robert GrindyEnglish

Richland Community College

I see education primarily as a transformative experience: when it’s doneright, we come out of it better than we went in. Better workers, true, butjust as importantly, better parents, children, husbands, wives, citizens ofour country and planet. These studies nurture the human spirit, and isreason enough to go to college.

And the only reason needed to teach.

Jan HardyCoordinator • Honors program

Spoon River College

Twenty years ago I took my older daughter to her first day ofkindergarten. As I left her there, it was with a prayer that the youngteacher would recognize the precious, unique and brilliant treasure thatwas my daughter . . . . The following day, when I stepped into my collegeclassroom, it was with an entirely different perspective that I had hadduring my previous 10 years of teaching. . . . And I knew that day that Icould only expect as much for my daughter as I was willing to give toothers peoples’ daughters and sons.

Janet HenryCoordinator • Office technology program

Lake Land College

After a hectic day at work, I came home and said, “I didn’t get a thingaccomplished today.” My wise husband said, “Quit measuring yoursuccess by the number of papers you check and the number of tests youmake. Measure your success by the decisions you make, the problems yousolve, and the people you help.” I look at those hectic days muchdifferently today.

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Dr. Johnna DarraghEarly child care and education

Heartland Community College

Through my teaching philosophy, I embrace and cultivate learnerdiversity. This diversity is the product of the varied educational needsstudents bring to the classroom environment, their rich life experiences,and their unique ways of knowing and processing information. . . . Myeducational philosophy focuses on both mastery of information with theclassroom community, as well as the relevance of learning within thelarger social context.

Rhonda L. DillowChair • Math and science division

Shawnee Community College

A sincere educator truly loves the subject and is quite simply thrilled withthe opportunity of sharing their excitement and discoveries with others.Personally, I love mathematics! If a student in my classroom appearsunengaged, I feel personally responsible for not making that student awareof how interesting the sciences really are. . . . I have also found that simplybeing a good listener now and then is the secret to continual education.Receiving information is difficult sometimes for those of us whoselivelihood is to deliver it.

Ronald D. GrimmetteDirector • Pharmacy technology program

Malcolm X College

It is my personal belief that education begins with delegation of the teacherand the participation of the individual in the classroom environment. Thelearning process is continually shaping the inquisitive mind andempowering the learner who is willing to learn. . . . Individuals have theirown instincts and tendencies but do not know what they can accomplishuntil it is translated into their language of understanding. I must be able toemphasize continuous improvement in the classroom so that the student’slearning experiences are of the best quality.

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GARY W. DAVISETHICAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

This award was established in 2005 to honor the association’s retiring executivedirector, Dr. Gary Davis. The award recognizes individuals who have made anoutstanding contribution to the pursuit and support of ethical leadership anddecision-making in their fields of work and volunteer service.

Marget D. HamiltonManager • Older Adult Institute

College of DuPage

Marget Hamilton has spent most of her adult life confronting racialinjustice and empowering women of all ages. In the 1940s, she founded theBarrington League of Women Voters to protest discrimination againstJapanese-American children. As Wheaton’s first woman mayor, shedrafted, introduced and passed the nation’s first fair-housing ordinance.In 1986, Hamilton was planning to retire from the College of DuPage whenshe was asked to assume responsibility for its Older Adult Institute. Nowin her 90's, she continues to lead the Institute with the same gusto as whenshe joined it 21 years ago. “Every day I can see how much people enjoywhat we’re doing and how much we enjoy what we’re doing,” she says. “Ilove every minute of it. Now they’ll probably have to carry me out.”

Stephen KubiczkyAttorney and community volunteer

Triton College

Steve Kubiczky leads by example. As an attorney, he led efforts to improvethe training standards of the legal profession as chair of the Illinois StateBar Association’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. As a two-termtrustee at Triton College, he served on the local and state Leadership andCore Values Steering Committees, encouraging schools to incorporateethical values into their day-to-day operations. And as a volunteer, hedonates time to Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, where he isa credentialed Hospice Care worker, a “Cuddle Volunteer” for prematureinfants, and a member of the Hospital’s Institutional Review Board 2.

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The Hon. George Van DusenMayor • Village of SkokieOakton Community College

George Van Dusen has demonstrated his commitment to open andinclusive government during more than 30 years of public service as acongressional aide, a village trustee, and a suburban mayor. Under hisleadership, the village of Skokie received the Governor’s Home TownAward in honor of the high level of citizen involvement in the decision-making process. Mayor Van Dusen has also handled tough ethicaldilemmas with grace and creativity. When confronted with a Ku Klux Klangathering in ethnically diverse Skokie, he acknowledged their right to freespeech – but called upon village citizens to assemble at another venue ina Peace and Harmony convocation. These values are reflected in hislectures as an adjunct faculty member at Oakton Community College.

Linden WarfelTrustee • Parkland College

Kaskaskia College

Lin Warfel has selflessly devoted nearly four decades to communityservice – 16 of those to Parkland College and the community collegemovement. A poet, gentleman farmer, and activist trustee, he has chairedstate committees on community college funding, partnered with the IllinoisFarm Bureau on education reform, and championed diversity,international education, and leadership and core values initiatives. He hasalso worked with the Rotary District World Community ServiceCommittee to bring expanded educational opportunities to the world’spoor. In 2006, when ICCTA asked its members to list those individualswho had been most influential to them as trustees, Warfel's name appearedon every single list. That year he also received the association’s RayHartstein Trustee Achievement Award.

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Glenda BolingSpeech and communications

Danville Area Community College

Excellence is something I strive for, and I expect the same from mystudents. Learners must meet deadlines, attend class, and have positiveattitudes. Strict enforcement of rules help students manage their time, learngood study habits, and accept responsibilities. I also teach my students thatsometimes we have to give others a second chance, but we need tounderstand why we would do this. . . . My teaching mission is to helpstudents become excellence communicators by leading the way and beinga good example.

Diane BuswellNursing

Kankakee Community College

Commitment to education is a necessary attribute in the success of thestudent and educator. Creating environments that foster learning for alltypes and ages of learners is a challenge. . . . Providing an atmosphere opento new eyes of inquiry enhances the view that all those involved,regardless of age or previous life experiences, have merit andcontributions.

Elynne Chaplik-AleskowCommunications and speech

Wilbur Wright College

When it is right, when there is a fit, my class and I feel like a hand andglove. My students move with me in synchronized perception andinspiration. . . . Hearing “Hello, professor,” in the halls of Wright Collegemakes my soul smile. The meaning of this name has allowed me theprivilege of teaching – the privilege of working with students who havenever reached for the stars – the privilege of bringing the stars into theirreach – the privilege of making them reach toward their potential.

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OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER AWARD

Outstanding teaching helps make a college great, while faculty recognitionenhances a systemwide emphasis on excellence. This award honors Illinois'community college instructors and their invaluable contributions to their studentsand institutions.

Each Faculty Award nominee was asked to write a brief summary of hisor her “Philosophy of Education.” Here are some excerpts:

Deborah BennsAssociate degree nursing

Rend Lake College

I believe my teaching technique must be open and flexible to match thelearning needs of every student. I respect each student and believe no oneshould be belittled or judged because he or she doesn’t “get it” right away.I welcome questions and personal tutoring to illuminate difficultyconcepts. Students must believe that they can learn, and I must foster self-awareness for them to learn. The charge to learn is on their shoulders; I amthere to help them find the way.

Jeneece BishopEnglish

John A. Logan College

During my many decades of teaching, I have never allowed myself to bebound by rigid constraints of pedagogical theory. I have always paidspecial attention to the human element in any educational setting. I do notview my students as merely tuition-paying consumers but rather as adiverse population with personal stories, dreams and histories. I havealways bent an empathetic ear to the struggles and challenges that mystudents, both traditional and nontraditional, face on a daily basis.

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BUSINESS / INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP AWARD

This award recognizes an Illinois business that has built a successful workforce-training alliance with a local community college.

Birkey’s Farm StoresParkland College

In the late 1990's, Birkey’s Farm Stores identified a growing problem – anexplosion of new technology had left their technicians in dire need ofupdated training. Company officials responded by approaching ParklandCollege and Chase IH (an equipment manufacturer) about developing adiesel technology program. In a win/win partnership, Birkey’s providedfree training to Parkland’s new diesel technology faculty and donated CaseIH products as training aids for their students. The company also createdinternships and ten $1,000 scholarships for students interested inagriculture careers. “Birkey’s has been our rock,” says Parkland instructorMark Ziegler. “They are there for us when it comes to our internships, andthey are there for us as a sounding board to guide our program.”

Chicagoland Regional College ProgramMoraine Valley Community College

UPS and Moraine Valley Community College are entering the fifth year oftheir innovative Chicagoland Regional College Program. CRCP is uniquein that it offers students a combination of educational, employment andhealth benefits along with additional financial incentives (including a$1,000 graduation bonus). Students work part-time at UPS’ Hopkins plantwhile taking classes tuition-free at one of the program’s educationalpartners – founding colleges Moraine Valley and Chicago State University,or more recent partners Morton, Prairie State, and Olive-Harvey colleges.Nearly 400 students are enrolled in the program, and UPS has found thatits retention rate for CRCP employees has tripled.

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Community Hospital of Ottawa, Illinois Valley CommunityHospital, Mendota Community Hospital, Perry MemorialHospital, St. Margaret’s Health, and St. Mary’s Hospital

Illinois Valley Community College

In 2003, six area hospitals joined with Illinois Valley Community Collegeto increase the pool of qualified nursing graduates. When scarce resourcesprevented the college from hiring a much-needed nursing instructor, thehospitals agreed to finance the new position for a three-year period. Thecooperative effort led to a 36 percent increase in the number of nursinggraduates and spurred the development of two new certificate programsand 28 continuing education courses for healthcare professionals.“Partnerships like this one provide an environment with benefits to thecollege, the hospitals, the students and most importantly, the community,”says chief nursing officer Kris Goodbred of Mendota Community Hospital.

Continental Tire of North America, Mt. VernonRend Lake College

With an annual payroll of $80 million, Continental Tire North America isthe largest employer in Rend Lake College’s district. In 2005 the tiremakerconstructed a new training center within its plant, and RLC provided thecurriculum coordinator and computer equipment. The partnershipgenerated 150,000 hours of job-specific training in 2006. This summerCTNA and Rend Lake will formalize the creation of “ContinentalUniversity” at the Mt. Vernon plant. “Lifelong learning is the bridgebetween life and the workforce,” says Hank Eisenga, CTNA’s vicepresident of manufacturing. “By developing a long-term partnership withRend Lake, CTNA has put forward a new level of training excellence.”

Henderson TruckingKaskaskia College

Henderson Trucking officials had been reluctant to invest in trainingprograms because of the highly specialized needs of their industry.Kaskaskia College overcome their fears by creating a customizedcurriculum that addressed such issues as keyboarding and how to live “onthe road.” A team-building component also resulted in Hendersonemployees crafting a new mission statement for the company. “We havetruly gained much from our association with Kaskaskia College,” saysHenderson chief operating officer Josh Kaburick.

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Geraldine WilliamsDirector, Radiography program • Malcolm X College

Malcolm X College (1981)

Geraldine Williams has enjoyed 38 years of teaching and service in thefield of radiologic technology. She is also an ordained minister andcommunity volunteer who received the 2000 Kathy Osterman Award forSuperior Public Service from the city of Chicago. “Enrollment in the CityColleges of Chicago has impacted my life in ways that I could not haveforeseen,” Williams says. “My community college education has affordedme a great education with a solid foundation, and it has provided anopportunity to serve, mentor and teach others to do the same.”

L. Patrick WindhorstState’s attorney • Massac CountyShawnee Community College (1995)

As a student at Shawnee Community College, Patrick Windhorst honed hispresentation skills as president of the Student Senate and editor of thestudent newspaper The Tempo. This training came in handy in 2004 whenhe won election as state’s attorney of Massac County at the age of 29.Windhorst maintains ties to his alma mater as a board member of the SCCFoundation and also serves his community as president of the MetropolisRotary Club and the Massac County Mental Health Board.

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Douglas N. ScheiderPresident • Scheidairy Farms, Inc.Highland Community College (1971)

A second-generation graduate of Highland Community College, DougScheider was one of the first farmers in Illinois to research and implementbiodiesel as an alternative fuel source. In addition to producing over 2million gallons of milk each year, his farm produces green power fromlivestock manure, creating electricity for 140 homes. Scheider also helps hiscommunity in another way. “All of my employees have attended or areattending Highland,” he says. “As an employer, I cost-share tuition fortheir education. I am trying to do my part so others will have theopportunities that I had.”

Kenneth G. SchmidtIndependent consultant • Ken Schmidt Company, Inc.

McHenry County College (1981)

As director of communication for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, KenSchmidt played a pivotal role in that corporation’s stunning rebound fromnear-bankruptcy. Now an independent consultant, he specializes inmarketing and branding issues for Coca-Cola and IBM and has receivedthe Public Relations Society of America’s highest honor, the Silver Anvil.“I’ve been extremely fortunate,” says Schmidt. ”Attending McHenryCounty College gave me the opportunity to discover just how capable Iwas of learning and excelling.”

Dr. Bonnie Smith-SkrippsDean • College of Education and Human Services

Western Illinois UniversityCarl Sandburg College (1971)

Dr. Bonnie Smith-Skripps is a nationally recognized expert in assistivetechnology and teacher training. In addition to securing more than $15million in grants focused on improving education, she also spearheadedthe creation of Western Illinois University’s first doctoral degree (ineducational administration). “I believe that the individual attention andquality instruction I received at Carl Sandburg College contributed greatlyto my self-confidence and success as a student,” she says. “As I beganteaching . . . I modeled my instructional strategies after the communitycollege faculty that so influenced my growth and desire to learn.”

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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146Richland Community College

Since 1998, Richland Community College and the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146 have cooperated to increaseeducational opportunities for more than 1,800 electrician apprentices.Aspiring electricians who are completing their five-year journeypersoncertification may now earn an associate in applied science degree at thesame time. Eligibility for the degree program extends beyond theboundaries of Richland’s district into 12 counties in central Illinois. “IBEWvalues its partnership with Richland and appreciates their commitment inaddressing the specialized educational training needs of business andindustry,” says IBEW business manager Jay Dunn.

Memorial HospitalSouthwestern Illinois College

Southwestern Illinois College’s partnership with Memorial Hospital datesfrom 1967, when they worked together to develop one of the nation’s firstPhysical Therapy Assistant programs. Many SWIC allied health studentscomplete the clinical portion of their training at Memorial. In turn, thecollege’s Center for Training Innovations has offered Spanish classes forthe hospital’s nurses and leadership skills and workflow productivitycourses for its managers. “The leadership development opportunitiesprovided by SWIC have proven to be a catalyst for change within ourorganization,” says Memorial chief financial officer Joe Lanius.

Rock Island ArsenalBlack Hawk College

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Rock Island Arsenal is a militaryinstallation and business that produces armored doors, shields and mobilehospitals. Black Hawk College has provided the academic portion of theArsenal’s apprenticeship programs since the 1970s. When the college wasasked to create a welding program in 2004, it naturally sought theArsenal’s help. In a precedent-setting arrangement between a communitycollege and a government business, BHC’s welding program is located atthe Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing Technology Center, allowing studentsto gain hands-on experience in a real-life manufacturing environment. Inaddition, in lieu of paying rent, BHC “banks” the money and the Arsenaldraws off of that value to train its workforce.

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MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD

Meritorious Service Awards are presented to elected/appointed officials and otherfriends of community colleges who have contributed to the advancement of theTrustees Association and community college education in Illinois.

Geoffrey ObrzutPresident / CEO

Illinois Community College Board

Geoff Obrzut has witnessed the growth of Illinois’ community collegesfrom several vantage points: as a student, a trustee, a legislator, and nowas the head of the third largest community college system in the UnitedStates.

A 1972 graduate of Triton College, Obrzut served on its board of trusteesfor six years during the 1980s. He also gained a statewide perspective astreasurer of the Trustees Association from 1986-87. From 1991 to 1993, heserved in the Illinois House of Representatives, where he co-sponsoredlegislation to increase education funding.

In January 2004, Obrzut was appointed president/CEO of the IllinoisCommunity College Board. During his first year, he traveled to nearlyevery college district in the state to commemorate the system’s 40th

anniversary.

Under Obrzut’s leadership, ICCB has undertaken a Homeland Securityand Campus Safety Initiative, advocated for additional resources for adulteducation and family literacy, and completed comprehensive reports ontextbook costs, baccalaureate degree access, and funding of IllinoisVeterans and National Guard grants. This summer, ICCB will release thefindings of its statewide community college economic impact study.

Obrzut is also making Illinois’ presence felt on the national communitycollege scene. He recently completed a one-year term as treasurer of theNational Council of Directors of Community Colleges and will serve asvice chair for legislation for 2007-2008.

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Kathy LivelyExecutive director • MAN-TRA-CON Corporation

John A. Logan College (1977)

Kathy Lively is both an alumna and a former administrator of John A.Logan College. During her 19 years at JALC, she chaired several statewideadult education groups, including the Illinois Adult and ContinuingEducation Association. In her current role, she continues to work with heralma mater to bring economic growth to and improve the quality of life insouthern Illinois. “The community college system in Illinois has shaped mylife in many wonderful ways,” says Lively. “It is difficult to imagine mylife without the influence of the community college.”

Deborah NelsonDirector • Carnegie Seminar

Philip Merrill College of Journalism • University of MarylandCollege of Lake County (1973)

A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, Deborah Nelson haswritten for such prestigious newspapers as The Washington Post and TheSeattle Times during her 30-year career. She now helps train and preparefuture reporters at one of the best university journalism programs in thecountry. “I encountered some of the most talented teachers in my collegeexperience at the College of Lake County,” says Johnson. “As I beganmulling over what sort of teacher I wanted to be, my experience at CLCwas the first thing that came to mind.”

Chad PregrackeFounder and president • Living Lands & Waters

Black Hawk College (2001)

As head of the non-profit group Living Lands & Waters, Chad Pregrackehas cleaned literally hundreds of miles of our nation's river banks andcleared out hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris. “Completing myassociate degree was quite the challenge,” recalls Pregracke, who studiedat Black Hawk College while living and working on a houseboat withoutelectricity. “I completed my final paper literally from the middle of ariver.” His advocacy has earned him the Jefferson Award for PublicService, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Take Pride in America Award,Biography magazine’s Top 10 Future Classics in America Award, and theAmerican Association of Community Colleges’ 2006 Outstanding AlumniAward.

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Dr. Valerie GoldfainPhysician / partner • Westwood Obstetrics & Gynecology

Kankakee Community College (1980)

Valerie Goldfain’s commitment to accessible healthcare for all goes farbeyond her medical practice. In 2004, she founded Journey to the Cure, anon-profit group that has raised more than $70,000 to fund breast cancerresearch and provide support services for people affected by breast cancer.“When I came to Kankakee Community College, I knew what I wanted,”says Goldfain, who had dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood.“Community college makes a dream doable rather than impossible.”

Danica Nay Jacobs, RNCharge nurse, Pediatrics special care • St. Alexius Medical Center

Elgin Community College (1997)

After a failed marriage, Danica Jacobs was faced with no college degree, nojob, and the hardship of raising her daughter alone. She turned to ElginCommunity College for help, starting as a freshman even though she hadalready earned 100 credits from a four-year university. She is now a highlyregarded medical professional who mentors aspiring nursing students andhas led several youth humanitarian missions to Belize. In October 2006 shereceived her hospital’s Legend Award for outstanding nursing service.

Christopher L. JohnsonDistribution center manager • Walgreens

Rend Lake College (1998)

A non-traditional student, Chris Johnson first enrolled at Rend LakeCollege in 1987 while an hourly worker at Walgreens’ flagship distributioncenter in Mt. Vernon. Twenty years, six promotions, and three movesacross the country later, he has returned to his roots to lead the very sameWalgreens facility when he got his start. “Rend Lake College gave me anexcellent knowledge base and a good education to get my feet underneathme and establish myself in the business world,” says Johnson. “When Igraduated RLC, I found that education there had enhanced my analyticalskills . . . . to the point where I was able to analyze aspects of business in amore quick and efficient manner.”

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ADVOCACY AWARD

The ICCTA Executive Committee created this special award in 2006 to honorcommunity college leaders with dedicated leadership in advocating for the needsof students and the Illinois community college system.

Dr. Keith MillerPresident

Black Hawk College

Dr. Keith Miller has served as president of Black Hawk College since 2000.This year he has also served as chair of the Illinois Presidents Council,where his term has been dominated by significant issues affecting allIllinois community colleges, including the preservation of state-supportedstudent financial aid; increased state funding for community colleges; andfull funding of Illinois Veterans Grants. His efforts to raise awareness ofissues facing community colleges and the importance of local autonomyhave benefitted students, employees and trustees throughout the state.

Miller has been especially effective in building coalitions with the highereducation community, the media, and other advocacy partners. For thepast year, he has taken the community college message to the Illinois Boardof Higher Education as a member of its presidents’ advisory committee.This spring he was chosen by his peers to serve as chair-elect of theAmerican Association of Community Colleges – the first Illinois presidentto hold that office since 1983. He will assume the presidency of the nationalorganization in July 2008.

Miller says that community colleges have been active in engaging withgovernment officials, business leaders, education advocates and the public.But with renewed efforts by federal and state governments to improvehigher education, community colleges should strive to take the lead inthose initiatives.

“We have a seat at the table. Now we need to move to the head of the table.We have the expertise and the ability to do so,” he says.

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OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR AWARD

Each year ICCTA honors select lawmakers for their continuing support of theIllinois community college system. This year marks the first time that this honorhas been given to a member of Congress.

The Hon. Melissa L. Bean8th Congressional District • Illinois

U.S. House of Representatives

Melissa Bean was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004,defeating the longest-serving incumbent in the House majority. A graduateof Oakton Community College, she has been a vocal proponent of thecommunity college movement in the halls of Congress.

“I am personally a beneficiary of – and a strong advocate for – our nation’scommunity colleges,” says Rep. Bean, who was a successful businessconsultant prior to her election. “Our community colleges provide a vitalservice in our nation’s efforts to complete effectively in a global economy.”

As a member of the Congressional Community College Caucus, Rep. Beanhas championed such issues as workforce development and collegeaffordability. During her first term in office, she supported legislation tohelp community colleges increase opportunities to train skilled workersand make it easier for colleges to invest in expansion. This January, she co-sponsored the College Student Relief Act, which would make college moreaccessible by cutting the interest rate on subsidized student loans in halfover the next five years.

“I am grateful to Oakton and my teachers there for encouraging me in myjourney,” says Rep. Bean. “I didn’t know then that it would lead me to theU.S. Congress. Now that I’m here, I often suggest to my constituents thatattending a community college can be a fulfilling part of their owneducational and professional path.”

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Daniel C. DobbinsVice president and general manager • Industrial Nonwovens Group

Southwestern Illinois College (1979)

Dan Dobbins oversees operations for a $125 million internationalmanufacturing corporation with seven domestic plants. A member ofSouthwestern Illinois College’s nationally ranked 1978 basketball team, hecredits the school for teaching him to focus beyond “sports, girlfriends andother life experiences.” Says Dobbins: “So what did my community collegeexperience mean to me? Simply put, it was my train station. It was theright place and the right time for me to find answers to a number ofquestions, balance a number of different issues, and redirect my academicefforts and my life.”

Scott M. FraileyReservoir engineer • Senior research scientist

Illinois State Geological SurveyLake Land College (1983)

An award-winning scientist, Scott Frailey has been involved in 24geological and energy research projects totaling $15 million since 1994. Hecurrently serves as the Illinois State Geological Survey’s deputy projectdirector for FutureGen, the world’s first pollution-free power plant. Fraileyrecalls that as a member of a small (30 students) high school graduatingclass, he “was not mentally ready for a university located far away fromhome.” But “Lake Land College offered me the perfect compromise for me:college courses close to home at an affordable price,” he says.

Joseph W. FrancoPresident • Heritage Development & Construction, Inc.

Illinois Valley Community College (1956)

Joe Franco has found success in two fields: medical technology andbuilding construction. He pioneered the concept of outsourcing hospitallaboratory services, creating a network of seven medical and industrial labsthat perform more than 5 million tests annually. As founder and presidentof Heritage Development & Construction, he has completed more than$130 million in projects and contributed to the downtown renaissance ofKankakee and Moline. “Without the option of a community college,” saysFranco, “I would not have been able to gain the foothold needed to embarkon a career that would begin in medicine and expand to much more.”

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Michael A. BlackAdministrative sergeant • Matteson Police Department

Crime novelistMoraine Valley Community College (1980)

Michael Black had already earned a bachelor’s degree before enrolling inMoraine Valley Community College’s criminal justice program. But it wasthe support he received in MVCC’s creative writing classes that sparkedhis interest in the field that has won him special acclaim – crime novelist.While working full-time as a suburban police officer, Black has publishedsix fiction crime novels, two nonfiction books, and more than 70 articlesand short stories. “I entered Moraine at the ideal time in my life forlearning,” he says. “My Moraine Valley experience continues to enrich mylife to this day.”

Chris M. BlockThoroughbred race horse trainer

Owner • Chris M. Block Racing StableParkland College (1991)

Chris Block has established himself as one of the leading thoroughbredtrainers in the Midwest. Starting his 15-year career as an apprentice, hemost recently trained the horse Vacare to a victory in the $500,000 QueenElizabeth II Challenge Cup race in October 2006. “I have experienced thebenefit of my community college education in many ways,” says Block.“Parkland College was a great catalyst in shaping my future. Theadministrators, the instructors, and the hand-on experience all providedme with the necessary tools to enter the equine business industry.”

Nathan M. CarrollGeotechnical engineer • Shannon & Wilson, Inc.

Richland Community College (2001)

“When I returned to college in 1999, I had a meager educational trackrecord,” says Nathan Carroll, who confesses to a 1.9 high school GPA. Butthanks to instructors at Richland Community College, he gained hisacademic footing, earned three degrees, and now works for a world-classengineering firm. “Whether I am inspecting the Trans Alaska Pipeline froma helicopter, or heading to a native village to design a wastewater facility,I know I am at a place in my life that I could not have reached without thecommunity college,” Carroll says.

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LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP

ICCTA’s Lifetime Membership program provides a special opportunity for anIllinois community college to honor its outstanding and retiring board membersfor their service and contributions. This year, two former trustees have becomeLifetime Members of the Trustees Association.

Jim McFarlandJoliet Junior College

Jerry WrightIllinois Central College

30-YEAR TRUSTEE AWARD

ICCTA created this award in 2005 to recognize the community college system’slongtime public servants. This year’s recipients are celebrating their 30th year ofdedicated service on their local boards.

Richard “Shorty” DicksonWaubonsee Community College

Robert B. WatsonLewis and Clark Community College

Robert WunderlichJoliet Junior College

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PACESETTER AWARD

The Pacesetter Award honors those individuals who have graduated from anIllinois community college within the past five years. Taking advantage of theunique educational opportunities provided at reasonable costs, these recent alumnibegan their journey toward their personal or professional goals at their localcommunity college.

Lisa BarnesDirector and sales associate • Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.

Parkland College (2002)

With few job skills and low self-esteem, Lisa Barnes faced a bleak futureuntil a friend “literally had to drag me to Parkland College” in 1999.Encouraged by caring faculty and classmates, today she has earned herassociate and bachelor’s degrees and is the owner/operator of threesuccessful home-based businesses. “I am truly blessed to have had theexperience of attending a phenomenal community college that nurturedmy mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being,” says Barnes.“Parkland lit a spark that allowed me to see my potential and challengedme to make potential a reality to better my life and those I touch.”

Eljona CeciUndergraduate student • University of Illinois at Chicago

William Rainey Harper College (2006)

Neither Eljona Ceci nor her family spoke English upon their arrival in theUnited States in 1999, yet by the end of her first school year, she was astraight “A” student. Winning a full scholarship to William Rainey HarperCollege, she set a school record with her leadership roles in eight collegeorganizations. Eljona has continued her drive toward excellence at theUniversity of Illinois and was recently chosen for an internship at AbbottLaboratories from among 10,000 applicants. “Attending William RaineyHarper College made me a stronger and well-rounded person,” Eljonasays. “It was a treasured time that can never be replaced . . . . I was able toget a great education and make a difference in the lives of so manypeople.”

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

This honor symbolizes the accomplishments of those individuals who graduatedfrom Illinois' community colleges more than five years ago. Many have achievedsuccess in artistic, technical and humanitarian endeavors; others have foundpersonal fulfillment through higher education.

Shelley BarkerScience division leader and teacher • Danville High School

Danville Area Community College (1973)

Shelley Barker has dedicated her life to instilling a love of science tostudents in her hometown of Danville. The first recipient of her district’soutstanding teacher award, she has led science trips to Belize and the GreatBarrier Reef, instituted a schoolwide recycling program, and developed amentoring program between high school and grade school students. Shehas also participated in the cutting-edge GK-12 technology educationprogram through the National Center for Supercomputing at theUniversity of Illinois. “Danville Area Community College has been anintegral part of my life,” says Barker. “As a high school teacher, part-timeinstructor, and alumnus, I am in the unique position of seeing the value ofa community college education from nearly every angle.”

Dr. Joshua Jon-Michael BergerChiropractic physician • Williams Chiropractic Office

Kaskaskia College (2002)

Thanks to Kaskakia College, Joshua Berger is the first in his high schoolclass of 2000 to obtain a doctorate. While a student at KC, Joshua Bergercompleted 95 credit hours in just five semesters – allowing him to transferdirectly into the Logan School of Chiropractic. In addition, he wasinstrumental in bringing the first men’s golf team to campus. “Being theyoungest person in my class in chiropractic school, I was intimidated bythe level of schooling that many of the other students had,” Berger admits.“But due to the variety and high quality of class offerings at KaskaskiaCollege, I was able to excel in graduate school and felt better prepared thanmany of my classmates.”

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Melba ValarezoSocial worker / Bereavement counselor • Hospice of Kankakee Valley

Kankakee Community College (2003)

Melba Valarezo suffered such serious injuries while working as a mentalhealth technician in 1978 that she remained on permanent disability for 20years. But inspired by her daughter (who overcame leukemia to becomea social worker), she returned to Kankakee Community College to restarther own career. Now a licensed social worker, she facilitates grief supportgroups for bereaved individuals, especially children and teens. “KCC gaveboth of us (she and her daughter) the means to begin our journey tocomplete our goals,”says Valarezo. “KCC was that first step to gettinghere.”

Tron Young7th grade teacher • Centralia City School District #135

Kaskaskia College (2002)

Unlike many individuals from rural communities, Tron Young made aconscious decision to return and live in his hometown. “I felt a strongsense of pride and connection to the community while attending KaskaskiaCollege that made me want to give back to the community that had givenme my foundation, “ he says. “This is a major reason why I came back toCentralia to teach.” Young has proven to be a popular mentor through his“Mr. Young’s Little Brothers” motivational club, and his teaching prowesshas helped raise Centralia Junior High School’s math scores by 40 pointson the Illinois State Achievement Test.

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Russ GowinTechnology assistant / Webmaster • South Central School District

Richland Community College (2004)

A self-described “computer geek since I was 10 years old,” Russ Gowinoriginally took dual-credit classes at Lewis and Clark Community Collegein hopes of becoming a computer science teacher. But a near-fatal caraccident forced him to leave school to endure months of rehabilitation. Hisfamily encouraged him to move to Decatur and take computer classes atRichland Community College. In May 2004, he graduated with twoassociate degrees in network administration and technology. “I may not bedoing what I thought I would be doing when I graduated high school, butthanks to community colleges, I’m on my way,” Gowin says.

Melissa KennedyPromotions manager • WBBM Newsradio 780

Moraine Valley Community College (2003)

When Melissa Kennedy was in high school, she thought her future careerwas in architecture. But after enrolling at Moraine Valley CommunityCollege, she found that her real love was in media relations. Besidesworking as editor-in-chief of MVCC’s student newspaper The Glacier, shegained experience as a freelance writer for two area newspapers. Aninternship with WBBM, one of Chicago’s top radio stations, blossomed intoa full-time position in events promotion. “Not many people can pinpointexactly what fork in the road led them to where they are,” says Kennedy.“For me, it was one. I can attribute my success to my decision to attendMoraine Valley. It set the course of my education, career, and life.”

James LarsenBattalion chief • Hanover Park Fire Department

Elgin Community College (2003)

James Larsen’s career as a first responder began at age 16, when hevolunteered as a cadet with the Hanover Park Fire Department. He hasbeen decorated six times in the line of duty and led humanitarian effortsfor the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. The firstin his family to obtain a college degree, Chief Larsen attributes the skills hehas gained in balancing career and education to his experiences as astudent at Elgin Community College. “ECC inspires you to never stoplearning,” he says.

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James MaloneyDomestic violence advocate • Family Resources Inc.

Black Hawk College (2003)

As a person with a disability, James Maloney is especially attuned tohelping others with special needs. As a student trustee at Black HawkCollege, he traveled to Springfield and Washington, D.C. to lobby onbehalf of student and accessibility issues. He also became a strongsupporter of victims of domestic violence, raising funds for the local shelterand receiving the 2006 Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award. Now employedas a victims rights’ advocate, Maloney says, “I feel that attending acommunity college gave me the foundation I needed to succeed in life. Allin all, I believe community colleges can plant the seed for students toachieve their biggest dreams.”

Cheryl Lynn MayUndergraduate student • Lake Forest College

Oakton Community College (2006)

Four years ago, Cheryl May was a hotel housekeeper trying to pay off thebill from her high-school correspondence program. Now, thanks to OaktonCommunity College, she is a first-generation college senior and a recipientof the highly competitive $30,000 Jack Cooke Undergraduate TransferScholarship. “My community college embraced me from the beginning andhelped me to see that dreams are worth having,” says May, who hopes toearn her doctorate in art history so she can teach and inspire other studentslike herself at the community college level.

Julie I. Serrano3rd grade bilingual education teacher • Glenwood Elementary School

College of Lake County (2005)

“I began this two-year journey as an aimless arrow,” admit Julie Serrano,whose college studies actually started in New York in the 1990s. It wasn’tuntil she was recruited for the new “Transitions to Teach” program forbilingual paraprofessionals that she committed herself to finishing hereducation and becoming a certified teacher. “Even though it took me yearsto complete an associate degree, I learned that it does not matter how onestarts a particular race or how fast they run, the value lies in how the raceis attained,” says Serrano. “The College of Lake County gave me the finalboost to immerse myself in the role I was called to fulfill.”

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Tinisha Shade-CravensReporter and weekend anchor • WCIA-3 TV

Danville Area Community College (2002)

Tinisha Shade-Cravens knew in junior high that she would attend DanvilleArea Community College. “My mother and father, aunt and uncleattended DACC, so the choice seemed natural,” she says. “I am a family-oriented person and DACC built the bridge I needed between home andhigher education.” Her choice also allowed her to receive top-notchbroadcast training, which became apparent when WCIA hired her as a full-time on-air reporter just two months into her unpaid internship. “Everytime someone compliments me on my successes in life or asks my adviceon a path to take, I always mention I started at DACC,” says Shade-Cravens.

Gabriel C. SmithTeacher’s assistant • Industrial technologySouthern Illinois University at Carbondale

John A. Logan College (2003)

“I was scared to death prior to attending John A. Logan College in the fallof 2000,” says Gabriel Smith, who at the time was employed as adishwasher at a local restaurant. Enrolling as a remedial student, heworked his way up to advanced coursework, developed a passion forelectronics, and discovered hidden leadership and public speaking skills.This summer he and wife Kelly (whom he met at JALC) will move to Iowaso Smith can begin his new career as a quality engineer for John Deere. “Irealize that none of these accomplishments would have been possiblewithout the caring support of faculty and students at JALC,” says Smith.

Robert ThomannLead physician assistant, Emergency department • Mt. Sinai Hospital

Malcolm X College (2004)

At the age of 37, Robert Thomann found his work as a nuclear safetyengineer to be personally unfulfilling. Seeking a job “where I could use mytalents to help people,” he volunteered in the emergency room at a localhospital – and found his true calling. Because of Malcolm X College’saffiliation with St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, Smith was able toearn his master’s degree while completing coursework at Malcolm X. Henow assists some of Chicago’s poorest and most medically needy patients.“My education at Malcolm X has changed my course in life,” he says.