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Honoring Accomplished Alumni
honoring
accomplished alumni: Joan Hammel
Adding to her illustrious career as an Emmy-winning musician, Joan Hammel was recently honored with the CLC Alumni Recognition Award and is CLC’s nominee for the 2022 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumnus Award.
“Thousands of students have come through CLC, so to be recognized is fantastic. I’m happy to represent so many people who took what they learned at CLC and use it to make a difference. Receiving this honor has caused me to take time to reflect on my time at the college,” said Hammel.
Born and raised in Lake County, Hammel grew up in a musical family. She studied voice and instruments in school and privately. She transferred from CLC to Columbia College Chicago in 1983 where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She performs at many live music events across the country and has appeared in commercials, on television, in films and on radio.
Hammel’s interests in supporting meaningful organizations led her to a role on one of CLC’s advisory boards. She helps with alumni relations, developing ways to get alumni involved and discovering those who are a good fit to help. She also has served as President of the Board of Trustees for the Lake Country Discovery Museum and as a Trustee on the Board of Columbia College Chicago, the largest liberal arts college in North America.
“Students benefit greatly from having alumni involved,” she said. “It’s important for people who went through the same classrooms to come back and share experiences to show how successful they can be.”
Hammel was very involved during her time at CLC. She was part of the choir, band, radio station and newspaper. Hammel was also the chair of the programming board, organizing entertainment on campus.
“This award makes me feel grateful for the friends and family who support me and for staying the course when the obstacles and challenges came, trying to move through life with grace, humor and heart,” she said. “We all have those hours we put into our lives and careers that seem to be invisible to anyone. It is lovely to be seen!”
