Simon’s leadership celebrated with competitive fellowship
The selective fellowship, awarded through Campus Compact and beginning September 2022, provides recipients with a full year of training, networking opportunities and resources to nurture their leadership abilities and fuel their passion for social change. It recognizes students “who are changemakers and public problem-solvers.”
Each institution can nominate only one student. Last year’s recipient, D'Ajahnae Croft ’23, was the first IC student chosen for the honor since Samer Anabtawi ’12 received the fellowship in 2011.
Simon is majoring in sociology and minoring in gender and women’s studies. She is an active member of Nuestra Casa and Black Student Union, an Involvement Leader, and has had internships with the Prairie Council on Aging and the Jacksonville Area Museum. She developed a convocation that required coordinating with IC’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the gender and women’s studies program; and an outside organization based in Chicago, Mujeres Latinas en Accion. Her convo was titled, “Empowering Latinx Survivors of Abuse: Mujeres Latinas en Accion.”
Simon was nominated for the fellowship by IC President Barbara A. Farley, who described her as a leader who seeks no recognition but exerts “tremendous effort to improve their community.” Before even stepping into her first class, Farley said Simon’s potential as a campus leader was clear to faculty and staff who facilitated the College’s Students of Color Orientation ahead of her first year.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Jaclyn Tabor supported Simon’s nomination. She said Simon is sincere, committed to social justice and “incredibly civic-minded,” adding that she does the work of a leader with modesty and without drawing attention to herself.
"I'm very grateful that Gloria has this opportunity,” Tabor said. “I think she's going to thrive in it and I can't wait to see where this takes her."
Simon describes herself as a shy person, but said she realized as she was writing her personal statement for the fellowship that she was taking a first step toward getting out of her comfort zone — something that would allow her to achieve things she is passionate about.
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- Illinois College celebrates 190th CommencementIllinois College celebrates 190th Commencementemily.titsworthTue, 05/07/2024 - 10:45 5.07.2024 Approximately 250 degrees will be awarded to members of the Class of 2024. Commencement exercises are scheduled to take place in Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center at 1 p.m. On Sunday, May 12, Illinois College celebrates its 190th commencement. Approximately 250 degrees will be awarded to members of the Class of 2024. Commencement exercises are scheduled to take place in the Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be available via livestream. Trenton Terry ’24, this year’s senior class representative, will speak during the ceremony. During his time on campus, Terry double majored in biology and secondary education. He was a member of Pi Pi Rho literary society, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, and served as a student marshall. He is currently student teaching at Beardstown High School. Upon graduation, Terry will work as a secondary science teacher at Kewanee High School. During the commencement ceremony, Illinois College will recognize Del Dunham ’72 and Gary R. Haynes ’74, M.D., Ph.D. with Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa degrees on the occasion of their retirement from the Illinois College Board of Trustees. A Winchester, Illinois, native, Dunham’s successful career focused on financial information systems. Most recently, he served as the senior technology management consultant with Carlisle and Gallagher, and prior to this position was senior vice president of Fidelity Investment Systems. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in math and physics from Illinois College in 1972, a Master of Science degree from Northern Illinois University, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Recognized by the Alumni Association in 2009 with the Distinguished Service Award, Dunham played a transformational role in the growth of Illinois College during his 20 years of service to the board. He will retire in June 2024 after leading Inspiring Achievement: The Campaign for Illinois College to a successful conclusion in 2022 as Campaign Chair, raising over $54 million. He has chaired and served on various committees during his tenure and currently serves on two committees: Finance & Audit and Development, along with the Capital Improvements Working Group. Illinois College is grateful to Del and Lisa Dunham for their vision to renovate the auditorium in Crispin Hall which was renamed the Del ’72 and Lisa Dunham Auditorium in 2019 in honor of a lead gift made by the family to the College. They also established an endowment to support STEM research in honor of Emeritus Professors G. Jack Mann and Fred Pilcher, and are strong supporters of the IC Fund. The Dunhams are Lifetime and Annual Members of the Illinois College Society as Diamond-level donors and Julian Monson Sturtevant Society members. Haynes, a native of Springfield, Illinois, is the Merryl and Sam Israel Chair in Anesthesiology and Professor of Anesthesiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has held clinical and academic positions at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Haynes received his Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois College in 1974, a Master of Science degree from University of Cincinnati, and an M.D. and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. He has extensive experience in complex clinical and medical organizational problems and is widely published in medical journals. Dr. Haynes retired from the Board of Trustees in 2023 after a 12-year term that included serving as the Chair of the Committee on Academics and Student Success and Vice Chair of the Inspiring Achievement Campaign. He has also served on the Development and Enrollment Committees and currently serves as an Emeritus Trustee on the Risk Management Working Group. Along with his wife, Debra Kurtock Haynes ’76, Dr. Haynes has supported the College’s liberal arts education in important ways, including a summer program on campus focusing on the preparation of students who plan to attend medical school. Dr. and Mrs. Haynes are Lifetime and Annual Members of the Illinois College Society. The College will host several additional events during commencement weekend. The 92nd annual Phi Beta Kappa installation ceremony for new members will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, in Sibert Theatre in McGaw Fine Arts Center. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society. The Nurse Pinning Ceremony will also take place in Sibert Theatre the following day, Friday, May 10, at 4 p.m. The popular Osage Orange Festival and Senior Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the lawn at the corner of Mound Road and Lincoln Avenue. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. The evening will feature face painting, inflatables, games and more. A variety of the area’s favorite food trucks including Twyfords BBQ, Leo’s on Wheels and Lazy Laker will provide festive food and drink options, including beer and wine, for purchase. The Baccalaureate Service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in Rammelkamp Chapel. The service will feature the IC music department, speakers and readings. Special events for graduates and their families will be held after the Baccalaureate and after Commencement that day. For more information about Commencement Weekend or to RSVP for events, visit the 2024 Commencement schedule. On Campus
- IC office of advancement and alumni engagement welcomes two alumni back to the HilltopIC office of advancement and alumni engagement welcomes two alumni back to the Hilltopemily.titsworthTue, 05/07/2024 - 15:07 5.07.2024 Zach Wittmann ’10 and Scott Belobrajdic ’86, alumni of Illinois College, recently returned to their alma mater as advancement officers in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement. In their leadership roles, Wittmann and Belobrajdic will continually meet with alumni and friends of the College throughout the country, introducing opportunities for philanthropy and engagement. Working closely with President Barbara A. Farley and Vice President of External Relations Stephanie Elpers Chipman, the duo will provide strategic guidance to meet the College’s fundraising goals. Both Wittmann and Belobrajdic have held previous professional roles at the College. Chipman says their fond memories of being students at IC, along with the insight they gained working on the Hilltop make them uniquely qualified for their new roles. “Illinois College is a special place, and I am thrilled to welcome back two alumni to the Hilltop who live our mission every day,” she said. “Alumni and friends of IC want to give back generously because they know what it means to be inspired and empowered, and they know their investments change students' lives. I am confident that Zach and Scott will build on the momentum of all the excellent work happening at Illinois College right now.” Wittmann '10 Wittmann’s ties to the Hilltop began with his grandfather, the late Edgar Franz, who taught in the mathematics department at Illinois College from the 1960s up through the 80s, then worked part-time until 1994. “My grandpa used to tell me stories, and IC really became a part of our family history,” Wittmann explains, “When it came time for me to apply to colleges, I knew that I was going to attend IC.” During Wittmann’s time as a student, he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a member of Phi Alpha literary society. After graduate school, he returned to IC holding several roles where he taught psychology, supported students as a mental health counselor and recruited incoming students as an international admissions counselor. Wittmann said he looks forward to creating new connections as a major gift officer. “The most valuable aspect of the position so far has been the reach this role has afforded me,” Wittmann said. “I have been given an opportunity to connect with people who I would have otherwise likely never met. I feel privileged to be able to establish friendships with them and share Illinois College memories, as well as our hopes for the College moving forward.” Shortly after Wittmann's return, Belobrajdic joined the team in January. With a career steeped in higher education, Belobrajdic has held various roles in admissions, culminating in his retirement from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville after over 15 years of service as the associate vice chancellor for enrollment management. Belobrajdic ’86 During Belobrajdic’s time on campus he double majored in art and communications. He was a member of Sigma Pi literary society and met his wife Kari Calbreath '87 on the Hilltop. Belobrajdic’s first role in higher ed was at IC; he started as an admission counselor immediately after graduating with a double major in art and communications. “After I graduated, there was one thing I was an expert in: life in college,” he recalls. “I quickly realized as I talked to parents and students from around the country that they listened to me about the student experience at IC, and that I had something valuable to share with them.“ Belobrajdic went on to hold leadership roles on the admission team, notably helping IC surpass an enrollment of 1,000 students for the first time in history during the 90s. Today, he hopes his experiences at IC will help him connect with even more people. He said his new role at IC has already changed the way he thinks about his connection to his alma mater. “I used to think literally about my IC experience as this four-year window,” he explained. “Within a couple of weeks of starting this job, I had lunch with an alumnus who had graduated in 1964. We started talking about a professor who taught us both. All of a sudden I had this linkage to the 60s and Illinois College in a way that was very real. Then, Zach (Wittmann) and I were talking about the professors we shared. Now, this college experience went from four years to a 40-year expanse. This connects us. This means something to people.” To learn more about the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, visit ic.edu/alumni. Alumni
- Illinois College engineering students reimagine park with inclusive designIllinois College engineering students reimagine park with inclusive designemily.titsworthFri, 05/03/2024 - 13:14 5.03.2024 A story about Illinois College engineering students presenting to the City Council was featured in an article in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier on April 25, 2024. To read the full story by Dave Dawson, visit myjournalcourier.com A vision for a more inclusive Minnie Barr Park in Jacksonville was presented to City Council this week by engineering students at Illinois College. The 20 students in Charles Riggs' community systems engineering class want to renovate the park so it includes inclusive playground equipment, a flower garden, more sidewalks and better parking. The class and Riggs, a visiting associate professor of engineering at IC, attended a council workshop meeting Monday, April 22 to explain what they have in mind. The class has been attending council meetings regularly over the past several weeks. "We're not asking the city for money. We are asking if we have your blessing to continue so we can move ahead and apply for grants we hope would pay for the entire project. We are trying not to have this cost the city anything other than maintenance," said Hannah Lueke, one of the students giving the presentation. The class has been working with Jamie Headen, president of Benton & Associates, and Adam Fletcher, director of the city's Parks and Lakes Department, as IC is trying to broaden its engineering program. Riggs said Headen, who is also on the engineering advisory board for IC, attends the class at least once a week and has been a great help to the students with his experience as a consulting engineer. "We've had tremendous support from Jamie and Adam. Adam has been helpful with talking about after the project is completed and ways to eliminate costly maintenance," Riggs said. Lueke, Jesus Romero and Larvell Watkins presented the class's ideas to the council before its regular meeting. Lueke said the class assessed community needs and the reason for the location, as well as potential new equipment and estimated costs. "There are significant numbers of under-served children in the area. We looked at other areas of the city and the west seems served by Duncan Park and the southeast by Nichols Park," Romero said. An inclusive playground is designed to provide a sensory-rich environment that enables children to develop physically, socially and emotionally. It can also provide more opportunities for kids without disabilities to meet their peers with disabilities. To read the full story written by the Journal Courier, visit the website. To listen to an interview with Charles Riggs, visit wlds.com/ In the News
- Osage Orange Festival returns as part of celebration for Class of 2024Osage Orange Festival returns as part of celebration for Class of 2024emily.titsworthTue, 04/30/2024 - 10:14 4.30.2024 Illinois College will host the Osage Orange Festival on Saturday, May 11, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Memorial Lawn located at the corner of Mound Road and Lincoln Avenue. The all-ages event is free admission and open to the public. The evening will feature face painting, inflatables, games and more. A variety of the area’s favorite food trucks including Twyfords BBQ, Leo’s on Wheels and Lazy Laker will provide festive food and drink options, including beer and wine, for purchase. The annual celebration kicks off the 190th Commencement Weekend and will serve as a welcome to the graduating Class of 2024 and their families as they join the Illinois College alumni community. The festival dates back to 1882, when students and faculty would break from their studies to picnic and trim the Osage hedge that surrounded campus. In that same spirit, Illinois College welcomes the Jacksonville community, alumni and friends to join in the fun tradition. The Illinois College Alumni Association will host the event. Osage Orange Festival and Senior Celebration attendees are invited to RSVP online to help with planning, but all are welcome to attend without an RSVP. For more information about Commencement Weekend, visit www.ic.edu/commencement. On Campus
- Senator Dick Durbin awards Illinois College $911K grant for nursing programSenator Dick Durbin awards Illinois College $911K grant for nursing programemily.titsworthFri, 04/26/2024 - 14:12 4.26.2024 On April 25, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited campus to hold a press conference announcing a $911K grant to further support Illinois College’s mission to combat the national nursing shortage.This grant is just one of the many ways that IC is fostering success and academic excellence in its nursing students. From left: Kent Siltman, Catharine O'Connell, Stephanie Chipman, President Barbara Farley, Senator Dick Durbin, Ed Curtis, Marsha Prater, Angela Bentley Important leaders on campus and in the community were in attendance when Durbin made the announcement awarding the nursing program $911K. These funds will directly impact current and prospective nursing students through the renovation of facilities on campus to strengthen the program’s excellence and expand enrollment. During the press conference, Senator Durbin stressed the need for medical professionals. A recent national survey stated that 100,000 nurses left the medical field during the pandemic. IC is working extensively with the local community to prepare students for the field. The success of the IC nursing program has grown exponentially. So much so that qualified applicants at IC are admitted to the nursing program with no waitlist, allowing students the opportunity to begin their education without worrying about program capacity limitations.
I want to congratulate and thank Illinois College for establishing and working on this new nursing school. This morning I met with some of the leaders of Illinois College with President Farley and they talked about their goals. America would be proud to hear that Illinois College is part of the future, not only in Jacksonville and central Illinois and the Midwest, but the national effort to make sure that Americans have the best healthcare in the world.
Senator Dick Durbin Last year, IC announced a partnership with Memorial Health to combat the growing nursing shortage in the area. This partnership includes scholarships for eligible residents from 38 surrounding counties interested in pursuing a career in nursing, covering the cost of tuition for the first two years at IC. In years three and four, students have the opportunity to continue receiving support while working part-time at any Memorial Health site, allowing them to gain hands-on experience while continuing their education. These nursing scholarships are in addition to Illinois College’s Advantage Plus Program, which covers 100% of financial need for Illinois residents.Illinois College is dedicated to nursing education. The federal support announced today will support the expansion of our program to recruit and educate the future nursing workforce.
Illinois College President Barbara Farley Funds from this federal grant will directly impact current and prospective nursing students in addition to a generous grant from Memorial Health. The IC+MH academic partnership announced in June 2023 included a $4.2 million grant to renovate facilities, provide scholarships to nursing students, and support student success. The renovation project, slated for completion by August 2024, focuses on expanding the nursing program labs. This reaffirms Illinois College's dedication to delivering a high-quality, hands-on education that prepares students for the evolving demands of the healthcare industry. This endeavor creates additional state-of-the-art learning environments in Baxter and Parker Halls, providing nursing students with increased opportunities for hands-on learning and cutting-edge training. Ed Curtis, Memorial Health president and CEO, gave remarks at the conference about the important partnership between IC and Memorial Health. “[In the healthcare field] we continue to say that health care was the first in the pandemic and the last out. Why? Because of the labor issues and the impact the pandemic caused, accelerating retirement rates even further and leaving the profession. We have worked to increase the number of graduate nurses, and we're doing that successfully because of Illinois College.” In addition to the four-year BSN, the College added a fully online MSN program in 2022 after securing federal Community Project Funding sponsored by Congressman Darin LaHood. To learn more about the nursing program at Illinois College, visit ic.edu/nursing In the News - Successful giving day positions Illinois College to exceed $1 million annual fundraising goalSuccessful giving day positions Illinois College to exceed $1 million annual fundraising goalemily.titsworthFri, 04/26/2024 - 14:30 4.26.2024 With support from over 1,200 donors around the world, Illinois College’s annual ALL IN FOR IC, on March 20, 2024, set records raising $642,650. The figure is the highest in the campaign’s seven-year history, with an increase of over 40% of last year’s total. The next highest total of $423,763.09 was raised in 2022. Katie Carls, executive director of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, said she is excited to see the impact this funding will have on students in the fall. “Students at Illinois College are experiencing extraordinary opportunities for learning inside the classroom and around the world. I have seen a lot of positive momentum this year — with the opening of Crispin Hall as a STEM center, new and growing academic programs and several notable winning seasons for athletic teams. None of this is possible without the generous, engaged people in this community,” she said. Carls believes the College could have a record-setting year for giving — exceeding $1 million — if this level of support continues through May when the academic year closes. She added that the IC Fund helps meet the needs of today’s students as colleges provide more personalized services, technology, innovative learning environments and global experiences needed to prepare students to meet the evolving needs of the modern workforce. ALL IN FOR IC is an annual daylong fundraising event. Since its start in 2018, IC has seen an exponential increase in gifts made to the College, having raised over $2.2 million through these days of giving alone. ALL IN FOR IC directly impacts students in areas of experiential learning, scholarships, and enhanced academic programs and community engagement. Donors were able to designate their gifts to various areas of campus, with academic programs raising the most. Generous donors offered to match funds raised to double the impact of gifts given that day. Of those, Joan Pederson Schulz ’63, a lifelong supporter of her alma mater along with her late husband, Randy Schulz ’63, generously provided a $50,000 matching gift on the day. Leading up to the day of giving, the College hosted a bingo event, giving students the opportunity to win prizes. One student won the grand prize of a $1,000 scholarship generously donated by Bob Moore '78 and Sherry Kwater. Students were also able to win prizes from local businesses such as Leo's Pizza, The Vault, Sonic, Walmart, Arby's, Taco Bell, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Applebee's, Los Rancheros, and Alison & Co. To track progress toward the IC Fund goal and make a gift to support students at Illinois College, visit ic.edu/giving Giving