CLC - Summer 2011 Alumni Magazine by College of Lake County

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:09 AM Page 1

AlumNews PU BLI SHE D FOR GRADUATES OF THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

SU MME R 2011

Backstage with CLC Theatre, Dance and Music: Oliver! 2011 Summer Musical Student Performance Opportunities Graduates in Arts Careers

College of Lake County

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:09 AM Page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Contents FE ATU RES 3

The Vision’s the Thing The College of Lake County’s summer production of Oliver! offers a glimpse into the creativity, planning, logistics and many rehearsals that turn a director’s vision into a polished performance

CLC’s Annual Rite of Spring Each spring, the school year’s final performances of the theatre, dance and music departments showcase the talents of performing arts students as well as nonstudent community members who work in offices by day and perform by night.

Careers in the Arts Start Here The experiences of four former students show that CLC can be a great training ground for careers or further study in the performing arts.

To Our Readers: Each spring at the College of Lake County there’s a flowering of creative energy as the year’s final theatre, music and dance department productions are mounted. These performances are, of course, the culmination of a year’s worth of academic work designed to hone students’ artistic craft—making them better musicians, actors, dancers or directors. But because many CLC productions also make auditions open to non-students, they play an important part in maintaining a vibrant creative community in Lake County. Going behind the scenes of the spring’s productions, this issue of AlumNews shows that academic programs and community are both thriving at CLC! Julie Shroka Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events

Also a Patron of the Arts From raising funds to build the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the Grayslake campus to paying transportation costs to bring school children to performances, the CLC Foundation is helping to support the arts on campus.

D E PA RTME NTS 8

Class Notes

News Roundup

Upcoming Events

Cover: In a July dress/technical rehearsal for the college’s summer production of Oliver!, Fagin (Waukegan resident Greg Nevil) advises Oliver and the thieves that they’ve “got to pick a pocket or two” to survive.

AlumNews AlumNews is published three times a year by the College of Lake County’s Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events. Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events JULIE SHROKA Administrative Secretary DORAE BLOCK To submit story ideas, email Dave Fink, AlumNews editor, at dfink@clcillinois.edu or call him at (847) 543-2243.

Green and Accountable: The revamped AlumNews is printed on recycled paper at the same cost as the previous newsletter format. Photos: Mike Hirsh (ShowFoto) and Bob Booker, CLC Public Relations Department 2 | COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

You can also share ideas and comments at the CLC alumni website, at www.clcroundtable.org.

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:09 AM Page 3

COVER STORY

ess than two weeks after auditioning and five weeks before opening night, 20 young actors line up backstage in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County. Boys and girls alike have been cast as orphans living in a gritty workhouse in 1850s London. And despite their young age—they’re all under age 12, there is no horseplay or joking around. Each actor is intently listening for director Tom Mitchell’s cue. “One…two…three..,” he calls each of the 20 in succession on stage to take a place at a rough-hewn dining table. Rocking back and forth, and lifting their empty wooden food bowls in unison, they mimic cockney English accents, singing the famous opening lines of Food, Glorious Food : “Is it worth the waiting for? If we live ‘til eighty-four, All we’ll ever get is gruel! Ev’ry day we say a prayer Will they change the bill of fare? Still we get the same old gruel!” “That was pretty good, you guys!” shouts Valerie Alpert, a CLC dance instructor who’s also the show’s choreographer. She has coached the kids on lifting the bowls in unison, and she— as well as the kids— are happy that the routine is starting to jell. “Good job,” Mitchell agrees, but he’s not quite satisfied. “We have lots of time to perfect it.” Every scene in this production of Oliver! will be rehearsed over and over again before the opening night. But rehearsals are just a small part of the planning, logistics and dedication that will be required of the production crew and

CLC theatre professor Tom Mitchell directs the college’s production of Oliver! cast to turn director Mitchell’s vision into a polished performance. Mitchell made the decision to stage Oliver! in early 2010. The show, based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, tells the story of an orphan who runs away from an orphanage and hooks up with a gang of boys trained to be pickpockets by Fagin, an aging, moneygrasping underworld figure. The tale highlights class differences amid the upheaval of the Industrial Revolution. For its summer production, the CLC Theatre Department often chooses a musical, which tends to have a broader audience base, Mitchell said. But in choosing exactly which musical to produce, there is a lot to consider. “We look at the value of the play historically, socially and educationally,” he explained. “I like to have musicals that involve children. It brings kids to the college, and they are prospective students.” Venue is also a consideration. CLC’s James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts has three

theatres—the 600-seat Mainstage Theatre, the 250-seat Studio Theatre and the black-box Frank Harnish Experimental Theatre.

Rather than produce a musical theatre offering an idealized version of London, I want this to be more realistic. —Tom Mitchell “We stage bigger performances such as Oliver! on the Mainstage,” Mitchell said. “The smaller Studio Theatre hosts edgier productions that benefit from a more intimate setting such as last year’s Urinetown, a satire dealing with water conservation and greed.” continued on page 4

ALUMNEWS | 3

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:09 AM Page 4

COVER STORY

The Vision’s the Thing continued from page 3

The most important decision—the one guiding all others—is choosing an artistic vision, Mitchell said. Ten weeks before opening night, on May 5, he explored his vision for Oliver! with a production team that included choreographer Alpert as well as: Jean Hersey, vocal director; Paul Hefner, orchestra conductor; Matt Godlewski, sound designer; and Joey Brennan, lighting designer and scene shop supervisor. Mitchell shared his creative vision for the show. “It’s GOT to be a grittier show than the way it is normally portrayed,” he told the production staff. “The dancing will be less Broadway and more action. London in the 1850s was like all other cities during the Industrial Revolution. It was full of soot and garbage, the streets were open sewers and the common people didn’t wash all that often. Rather than produce a musical theatre offering an idealized version of London, I want this to be more realistic. This affects everything, to the costumes, scenery, lighting and the way the actors portray the characters.”

Though challenged by Mitchell’s vision, the team’s mood remained relaxed as the director shared the tentative production schedule: Auditions were still three weeks away, in late May. But after that, the pace would speed up dramatically. All 55 roles, many of them children, would need to be cast by June 1. From then, through the play’s first performance in mid-July, the team would need to design costumes, build sets, coordinate sound and lighting and hold many hours of stage rehearsals and technical run-throughs. “I’ve told parents of the child actors that once we get to July, all bets are off. I own their children,” he said laughing.

Bringing the vision to stage Mitchell began by sketching the look he wanted for the production on paper. Then, he worked closely with Brennan, who used a computer-aided design program to produce detailed drawings that guide the set builders. While Brennan coordinated lighting and sound effects with contractor Matt Godlewski,

Mitchell worked with student Bill Roberts, the show’s costume designer, to fine-tune a realistic look for each character. Most of the costumes are made from scratch, said Mitchell, noting that the large Oliver! cast will require about $3,000 worth of fabric. “I prefer to make costumes rather than rent them, because it’s an opportunity for theatre students to learn how to build costumes,” he explained, adding that he tries to re-use as much existing fabric as possible. “A costume tells more about a character than anything else,” said Roberts as he examined fabric swatches in the theatre’s costume shop. “We have a cast of 55 characters, and it’s important to dress each one correctly and let color tell the story. Characters from the ‘nice’ side of town will have bright, colorful costumes, whereas the thieves will be wearing green, rust or brown colors.” While set building and costume design began in May, the actors’ rehearsals began in early June and continued for at least four evenings a week, including dress rehearsals. The long summer evenings spent inside for rehearsals aren’t a chore for 11-year-old Matt Schroeder, a Gurnee resident who plays the leading role of Oliver Twist. “I love to do this,” said a smiling Schroeder, who has played Winthrop in The Music Man and Charlie in Willy Wonka, Jr. produced by Christian Youth Theatre. “Acting lets you try out different characters. At the beginning, you have the feeling that there’s a lot to remember, but in the end, it all plays out.” In addition to the stage rehearsals at CLC, Schroeder estimates that he spends about a half-hour a day at home memorizing lines and rehearsing his part.

Student set builders paint a window frame for the Oliver! production.

4 | COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 5

COVER STORY

Characters from the ‘nice’ side of town will have bright, colorful costumes, whereas the thieves will be wearing green, rust or brown colors. Almost there On a Tuesday evening, four weeks before opening night, Mitchell summons Oliver and the Artful Dodger on stage to rehearse the famous scene in which the Artful Dodger, a veteran pickpocket, encounters the runaway Oliver in London and recruits him into the gang. At Mitchell’s cue, Camille Michelotti, a Libertyville resident portraying Dodger high-steps and points to Oliver as she begins to sing the peppy tune Consider Yourself: “Consider yourself at home. Consider yourself one of the family. We’ve taken to you so strong. It’s clear we’re going to get along.” “STOP!” shouts Mitchell. “Dodger, I want you to move around Oliver as you are singing. Oliver, you need to show a more bewildered look at this friendly treatment by a total stranger. Let’s do this again.” In the next run-through, the Artful Dodger repeats a spirited rendition of “Consider Yourself,” this time moving around Oliver, who is sitting at the bench looking bewildered. “STOP!” shouts Mitchell. The young actors anticipate more coaching, but Mitchell is satisfied enough to let the cast take a 10-minute break. “That was good.” By the end of the evening, Mitchell is confident of where his actors will take their performances. “Overall, I’m pleased with where things are,” he said. But like all good directors, he wants to stretch his company further. “There’s still a lot to work out,” he says with a smile.

And then… Nerves and excitement are firing fast as Tech Week is set to begin. It’s the time when acting, costumes, lighting, sound and set design all come together. During a 20-minute morning storm on Monday, July 11—the first day of Tech Week, power is lost to much of Lake County, including the Mainstage Theatre where Oliver! is scheduled to open on Friday. Though electricity is restored later that evening to parts of the Grayslake campus, it is out for four days in the Mainstage Theatre, resulting in canceling the show’s weekend debut and moving opening night to July 21. “There’s a natural momentum to a show, and disrupting it like this can be devastating,” Mitchell said. “But the cast and crew just wouldn’t quit.” Until power was restored, the crew sewed costumes in hallways and the actors rehearsed in the cavernous, poor-acoustic atrium. And once the power was restored, their entire focus was on getting to opening night, he said. “They proved the fate of this production wasn’t in the stars—or the lightning!” he said.

The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, which houses CLC’s theatre program, has state-of-the-art facilities, including a costume shop.

Oliver (Gurnee resident Matt Schroeder, foreground) rehearses with Mr. Bumble, played by Dino Mazzetti of Lake Zurich. ALUMNEWS | 5

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 6

COLLEGE FOCUS

CLC’s Annual Rite of Spring Each spring, the school year’s final theatre, dance and music performances showcase the talents of performing arts students as well as non-student community members who work in offices by day and perform by night.

In a scene entitled “Words, words, words,” from All in the Timing, three chimps attempt to write “Hamlet.”

n a chilly, gray weekday evening in April, student performers are warming up throughout CLC’s James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts. Actors rid themselves of nerves by spewing tongue twisters. Members of the Prairie Spirits Dance Troupe stretch their legs at the barre in the dance studio. And musicians take horns and saxophones to their lips, creating a musical cacophony as they tune up. All the activity is part of rehearsals for an annual rite of spring at the College of Lake County: the year’s final performances of theatre, dance and music ensemble groups. The groups’ performances this spring included All in the Timing, a student produc6 | COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

tion; band and choral concerts; and the 13 annual Fear No Art showcase. The performers are made up of students who want to become actors, music teachers and musicians, and nonstudent community members who work leftbrain jobs like banking during the day but thrill to spending their evenings performing.

Getting the play on Performance space is reserved each spring for a student acted, directed and designd production, generically called Play on! until a specific play is chosen. It’s intended as an opportunity for students to display their creativity and talent as actors, directors, stage managers, technicians and designers.

In the fall of 2010, theatre department faculty chose Bill Roberts as student director for the production. With input from theatre instructor Craig Rich, Roberts chose All in the Timing,— a work that consists of six short plays, most of them comedic and employing word play—for the production. The choice of the play, Rich said, “takes into account the play’s complexity and the talent level of students.” All in the Timing offered the students the opportunity to make a lot of artistic choices, Rich said. “It can be done simply or elaborately,” he said. “I think we found the right balance. Bill made exciting directing choices. You could see his skill in blocking and the ideas that he brought to each character.” Mounting the production was a four-month process including casting, script read-throughs, blocking, costume fittings, set design and both acting and technical rehearsals, all done with students in charge. “As an instructor, I give students guidelines, but I don’t want to tell them what to do,” Rich said. “Part of this process is having the students discover their own creative approaches.” “I wanted to make each story individual,” said Roberts. “The cast did a great job of staying true to their characters.” Roberts, whose first CLC acting role was Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web, previously designed costumes and makeup for other CLC productions. In his role as a director, he said he has learned the importance of clear communication among everyone, on stage and backstage, in making a production run smoothly. “It’s all in the timing,” he said.

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 7

COLLEGE FOCU S

A harmony of feelings Spring music concerts present a diverse mix of compositions designed to build on performers’ strengths while challenging singers and instrumental musicians to broaden their own musical horizons.. It’s a philosophy that music professors Dr. Charles Clency and Dr. Michael Flack both share. In addition to teaching responsibilities, Clency is the college’s director of choirs, and Flack is director of bands. “By exposing students to such a great diversity of choral music—sacred and secular— I hope to deepen their understanding and tolerance for cultural differences and increase their appreciation of higher-quality levels of music and performance,” Dr. Clency explained. In addition to exposing musicians to a variety of musical styles, Dr. Flack said he wants his students to “learn how their own individual part fits into the whole of the ensemble.” The instructors’ encouragement, and challenge to reach higher, keeps musicians coming back to perform. Mariel Shaw (’06) is a telebanker at Harris Bank by day, and has

played the B-flat clarinet in the CLC Wind Ensemble for eight years. “I like it because it’s local and a challenging ensemble to play in,” she said. “Dr. Flack is really talented. He can hear a chord that’s off in a split second. He’s pushed us to grow, and he’s deepened my knowledge of music theory. Plus, I’ve made friends and bonded with members of my section of the band.” As a collaborative art, choral and band performances require musicians to grow together, a challenge that appeals to many of the choral performers. “What I find rewarding about singing in a choir is that it takes teamwork to make a beautiful piece of music,” said student Katie Grant. Grant, who has high-functioning autism, has been a soprano in the Choir of Lake County for three years. “Anyone in the world can understand what I’m singing, even if they don’t understand English,” she explained. “Singing is about feelings and sharing those feelings. A lot of people believe autistics don’t have feelings and being in a choir means I get to share my feelings with the audience.”

CLC’s four choral ensembles consist of students and community members.

CLC grad Lamaiya Lancaster (center), an adjunct dance instructor, performs in the 2011 Fear No Art production.

Dance Another form of expression, dance— including ballet, modern and jazz—thrives at CLC under the guidance of full-time instructors Valerie Alpert, Therese Crews and adjuncts. The Fear No Art event, which celebrates music, dance and visual arts, showcases original choreography by CLC students and faculty. “I’m always amazed and inspired to see my students up on stage breaking outside their creative boxes and exploring their own styles of movement,” Alpert said. One person who developed her own dance style under Alpert and Crews is Lamaiya Lancaster (’04), who later earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural studies from Columbia College. Now teaching part-time at CLC, Lancaster also performs professionally and choreographed two dance performances in this year’s Fear No Art, held in the Mainstage Theatre. “CLC has given me the chance to create my own dances, then audition and work with the dancers to see my ideas brought to life on stage,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much dance experience you’ve had in the past—if you have an interest in dance, you can pursue it here.” ALUMNEWS | 7

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 8

CLASS NOTES

Art Careers Start Here The experiences of four former students show that CLC can be a great training ground for careers or further study in the performing arts.

Emilie Lynn portrays Natalie/Ed in All Shook Up with Big Noise Theatre Company. 8 | COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEANMICHEAL KVACEK

hat happens to College of Lake County performing arts students after they leave CLC? The experiences of four former students show that CLC can be a great training ground for careers or further study in the performing arts. Andrzej Stec (’00) is now a lyric tenor singing in opera and at concerts around the world. Emilie Lynn, a student from 2003 to 2005, has acted in Chicago-area community theatre and on television, including a stint as a grieving sister in The Chicago Code, a Fox network police drama. Matt Godlewski, a student from 2003 to 2006, co-owns a company that provides stage lighting and sound systems. And Hanna Supanich-Winter (’10) is majoring in theatre design and production at Illinois State University, where she’s stage managing college productions.

Andrzej Stec (’00) stars as Arturo in Bellini’s “I Puritani (The Puritans)” at the Cleveland Opera Circle. All four say they developed a true passion for the performing arts during their CLC years. Stec and the others fondly recall how attending and participating in college productions expanded on what they learned in class. “When attending plays, I was fascinated by the audience interaction, the importance of serving your audience and knowing to whom you are singing,” said Stec, who later worked as a set builder and continued with acting, voice and dance classes. In CLC productions, he went on to play a friar in Much Ado About Nothing, and held singing and dancing parts in Cabaret. Stec honed his operatic voice under the tutelage and piano accompaniment of instructor Caroline Rynex. He continued his studies in music and dance performance, earning a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a doctorate from Montreal University. After

several years in theatre and dance, Stec is now devoted to classical singing. Collaborating with such artists as Canadian soprano Rosemary Landry, and French pianist Jean-Eudes Vaillencourt, Stec has performed throughout Asia, Europe and North America. In April, he returned to CLC for a “homecoming” concert in front of a capacity crowd in the D Wing rehearsal room. Accompanied by Vaillencourt, Stec beamed as he sang Après un reve by French composer Gabriel Faure. The song, he told the audience, was the first operatic aria he sang on that stage as a CLC student. Guidance from CLC instructors also inspired Godlewski, a Lindenhurst native who initially planned to be an electrician. But his goals changed while taking theatre classes at CLC. “Tom Mitchell saw something in me that I didn’t see,” recalled Godlewski, who worked behind the scenes as a carpenter, lighting

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 9

CLASS NOTES

Alumni News Robin Leckbee Perkins (’78) is archivist and conservator of records for Malise Prieto, clerk of court, St. Tammany Parish in suburban New Orleans. Artis Yancey (’80), former Waukegan Police Chief, is now Lake County (Ill.) coroner. Diane Otten (’82) teaches physical education for kindergarten through fifth grade at Howe Elementary School in Beach Park, Ill.

Hanna Supanich-Winter (’10) stage managed CLC’s 2010 production of Angels in America. designer, stage hand and at the soundboard. “When directing plays, he really let me experiment with new ideas, such as using lighting to change the color of shadows in a production of American Buffalo, a play set in a New York City junk shop.” Godlewski, who also coordinated lighting and sound for Lysistrata, The Balcony and other productions, also grew under the leadership of longtime instructor Eibhlin Glennon, who is now retired. “As director, she always had a clear vision of how she wanted a show to look, and would bring it to life,” said Godlewski, who co-founded a company, Swing Street Productions, with fellow student Michael Patrick in 2006. Glennon’s guidance also proved inspirational for Emilie Lynn, a Vernon Hills native who dreamed of acting in musical theatre but struggled with her own shyness when starting in CLC’s program. “Eihblin was supportive and encouraging while, at the same time, pushing me hard to break out of my comfort zone, dive deep into a character and really act,” recalled Lynn. In 2004, Tom Mitchell cast Emilie as Maria in West Side Story. “It was the largest role I had

been given,” Lynn explained. “It also was the first time I ever had to learn a dialect or accent, so the role was definitely challenging. I was determined to make Maria as realistic and natural as possible, as I had always seen her played very naive and a little static.” Following additional training in voice, acting and dance at the Improv Playhouse and other venues, Lynn has acted in community theatre throughout the Chicago area. Her many roles include portraying a nun in Sound of Music at Drury Lane Oakbrook, and playing the role of Marian Paroo in The Music Man at Deerfield Family Theatre. In addition to caring instructors, CLC offers first-rate facilities, according to Supanich-Winter, a Libertyville native. She has stage managed productions at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie and at Illinois State in addition to CLC productions of Angels in America and Anne Frank and Me. “CLC’s program is great, there are many opportunities for self-motivated students to flourish,” she said. “The college gave me my first very serious taste of pressure, stress and success. After two years, I felt prepared to move onward and upward.”

Christopher Carmichael (’84) is an associate professor of biology at Malone University in Canton, Ohio and a research associate at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. A herpetologist, Carmichael focuses on the behavioral ecology of reptiles and amphibians, including alligators, boa constrictors and pythons. Ronnie Rice (’95) is a Duncan, S.C. – based motivational speaker; find out more at www.rsquareenterprises.com. Cristina Alvarez (’05) is a project manager for Medline Industries, Inc. in Mundelein. Willa “Khandi” Lattimore-Turman (’09) is a nanny in Waukegan, Ill.

What have you been doing lately? Let your fellow grads know! Post your submissions online at www.clcaa.com. Look for the message board that corresponds with your graduation decade. Selected entries will also be published in the AlumNews.

ALUMNEWS | 9

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 10

COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Members of three CLC choirs performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2007. Their travel costs were funded in part by the CLC Foundation.

loud, sharp snap cuts through the air, as a magician on stage cracks a whip. The youngsters in the audience sit up in their seats, listening intently as he explains that the sharp sound is created because the tip of the whip travels faster than the speed of sound. It’s the same principle that makes colliding waves of sound create a sonic boom, he tells them. Before they know it, hundreds of school kids have been entertained into learning something new. The magician’s appearance on a stage in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts was just one of a series of educational performances mounted in the 2010-11 academic 10 | COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY

year, drawing 9,000 elementary and junior high school students to the College of Lake County Grayslake campus. The events included Stuart Little, a tale about a diminutive mouse directed by CLC theatre department co-chair Tom Mitchell, as well as national touring acts like MatheMagic™ and Super Scientific Circus. Bringing school children to campus to see them was made possible by support from the CLC Foundation, which funded bus transportation. “These programs are very engaging,” said Jo Taylor (’87), a sixth grade math teacher who attended MatheMagic and other perform-

ances with her students from Abbott Middle School in Waukegan. “They’re an excellent way to spark an interest in kids and help them see that math can be fun. The programs are also a great opportunity for students to see a live performance in a theatre setting, some for the first time. We are grateful to have CLC in our own backyard.” The CLC Foundation funds such programming as part of its commitment to support the college’s mission to expand access to education. Over the years—in the late 1990s, that commitment has included raising about $1.6 million toward the construction of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts. More recently, it has also included funding to send CLC students to participate in major national and international cultural events. In May 2007, the Foundation support helped 33 talented singers from three CLC choral groups perform under the vocal direction of music professor Dr. Charles Clency at a Carnegie Hall concert. It also helped send CLC’s Monday Night Jazz Ensemble and the Wind Ensemble to a music festival in Besena, Italy, in 2005. “Over the last five years, we’ve awarded about $134,000 to fund important educational projects,” said William Devore, executive director of the CLC Foundation. “Without the extra help from the Foundation, many of these projects just wouldn’t have happened.” Want to help support the CLC Foundation’s work on behalf of students? For information on making a donation, visit www.clcillinois.edu/about clc/ foundation.asp or call (847) 543-2640.

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 11

NEWS ROUNDUP

Alumni welcome 1,484 graduates in Class of ‘11 The class of 2011, consisting of 1,484 graduates, was recognized at CLC’s 42nd commencement ceremony, held May 14 in Waukegan’s Genesee Theatre. Commencement speaker Michelle Champagne (’92) received the Illinois Outstanding Citizen Award from the college. Champagne grew up in Chicago but dropped out of high school following her parents’ divorce. Later, after earning her GED diploma and graduating from CLC, Champagne earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lake Forest College and a master’s of education degree from Harvard University. She currently operates her own Chicago-based consulting firm that helps non-profit organizations provide health, education and economic development to underserved populations. “CLC gave me structure, education and support, and I excelled while I was here,” she said. Michelle Champagne (’92) was the 2011 commencement speaker.

Annual golf outing raises $29,400 for scholarships The annual Joan Legat Memorial Golf Outing, held May 20 at White Deer Run golf course in Vernon Hills, raised $29,400 for the CLC Foundation’s scholarship fund, according to Julie Shroka, director of alumni relations and special events. “We are grateful that during these economically challenging times, we have such generous supporters,” Shroka said.

Career mentoring program seeks alumni volunteers in person and online The Alumni Association is looking for alumni to help current CLC students or new graduates in job shadowing or career mentoring. “The time commitment is only only a few hours per month, involving one-on-one communication or an occasional presentation on your career as part of the Alumni in the Classroom program,” said Ed Oilschlager, alumni board member and coordinator of the program. “For out-of-state alumni, online mentoring is an option.” For details, call the Alumni Center at (847) 543-2400 or visit www.clcroundtable.org/mentoring.

Alumni discount program includes local and nationwide businesses Join the CLC Alumni Association and receive discounts to hundreds of businesses, from auto insurance to local theatre. Visit www.clcdiscountclub.com for more details on the discounts and how to register.

Stay in touch with fellow CLC alumni online Looking for a great way to network with fellow alumni and share your ideas? Visit the Alumni Association’s online community at www.clcaa.com.

ALUMNEWS | 11

29484 College_Layout 1 8/1/11 11:10 AM Page 12

AlumNews

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID

College of Lake County 19351 West Washington Street Grayslake, IL 60030-1198

Grayslake, IL Permit No. 53

return service requested

www.clcillinois.edu

U PCO MI NG EVENTS

Lake Geneva Boat Cruise

Gone Madigan

The Secret Garden

Sunday, Aug. 14 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Staring Kathleen Madigan

Sept. 29 and 30 at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at 3 & 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. Mainstage Theatre

Cruise the storied Lake Geneva aboard the Grande Belle of Geneva as you enjoy a champagne brunch with other CLC alumni and friends of the Foundation. Designed to resemble a turn-of-the 20th century steamer, the excursion boat is enclosed and climate controlled on the main deck and in a portion of the upper deck. For price, cruise departure time and other details, visit www.clcroundtable.org.

Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. Mainstage Theatre Jay Leno calls Kathleen Madigan “One of America’s funniest female comics.”

Alumni $33/28/23

Adapted by April-Dawn Gladu. Based upon the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Directed by Scott Mullins The Secret Garden is a beautifully timeless story about the blossoming of the earth and the human spirit.

Tickets $6

CLC Alumni Baseball Outing Friday, Aug. 26 Lake County Fielders’ Stadium, Zion Join fellow CLC Alumni and friends to cheer the Lake County Fielders as they battle the Yuma (Ariz.) Scorpions at the Fielders’ new stadium. The Alumni Association has reserved a party deck. Come and enjoy an evening of baseball, raffles, catered hamburgers, hot dogs and other picnic food, along with cool beverages, great company and post-game fireworks. The game begins at 7 p.m., and the stadium is located at the northeast corner of Route 173 and Green Bay Road in Zion. To register for the event or for more information, call the Alumni Center at (847) 543-2401 or visit www.clcroundtable.org/Fielders2011.

Save the Date! Saturday, October 29 Black & White Ball on the Magnificent Mile Hotel InterContinental® 505 North Michigan Ave., Chicago Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Empire Ballroom enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine and spirits, silent auction, live music and a game of chance. The evening’s gourmet dinner, live auction, raffle, dancing and live music will take place in the beautiful Grand Ballroom. Admission is $250 per person. All proceeds benefit the CLC Foundation Scholarship Fund. For more information, call the Alumni Relations Office at (847) 543-2400 or visit www.clcaa.com.

Auditions: August 23 & 24 at 6:30 p.m. Studio Theatre