In Memoriam
JJC President Dr. Gena Proulx Campus Center to be named after late leader
Streamlining Student Services - Campus Center Opens
Automotive Expansion - New State-of-the-Art Facility Addresses Area Job Shortages
New Library Opens to Students, Community FALL 2011
FIND YOUR CAREER AT JJC:
Automotive Earn a degree from JJC’s automotive technology program and prepare for a career in a field that’s growing across the nation. JJC offers a degree and several certificates in automotive service technology, boasting one of the nation’s few ASE/NATEF certified master automotive programs. Learn from experienced instructors and train in state-ofthe-art facilities as you develop the skills you need for a successful career.
New automotive expansion now open for classes! Visit jjc.edu or call (815) 729-9020
CONTENTS
10 8 Honoring JJC’s History: Relocating Historical Roots This summer, JJC relocated its alumni bell tower and commemorative paver bricks to the front of the Campus Center.
12 In Memoriam: JJC President Dr. Gena Proulx JJC’s seventh president Dr. Gena Proulx passed away Aug. 12 after a courageous battle with cancer. In her honor, the new Campus Center has been named after her.
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Streamlining Student Services: Campus Center Opens
State-of-the-Art Automotive Facility Addresses Area Job Shortages
New Library Opens to Students, Community
For Joliet Junior College, the completion and opening of the Campus Center is the realization of a goal many years in the making.
The new 17,000 sq. ft. expansion complete with a commercial automotive shop will help JJC address critical job shortages in the field.
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News Briefs Q&A with Angie Kaysen Luzbetak Alumni Notes
Open 75 hours a week with 40 public computers, the JJC library is a convenient resource for not only students but community members as well.
We are pleased to provide you with another edition of the Connections magazine. In this issue, you’ll find stories about the success of our graduates in the workplace alongside the college’s 2010 Annual Report. While the annual report explains the college’s financial picture, the stories detail JJC’s impact on and investment in our community, especially that of our students, alumni, faculty and staff who are doing amazing things in the workplace and in the community.
Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the sixth year in a row. We believe that the leadership of our Board of Trustees is a major contributor to the continued financial strength of this institution. Joliet Junior College is proud to be your community college. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the faculty and staff, thank you for all that you do for Joliet Junior College. Sincerely,
While the news from the state continues to be bleak, it’s our commitment to make quality affordable education available to our District 525 residents. For the past 38 years, the college has presented a balanced operating budget and has been honored with the Government Finance Officers
Kelly Rhoder Editor
A J OLI ET J U N I OR COLLE G E MAGA Z I N E VOLU M E 4, I S S U E 1 JJC District 525 Board of Trustees Barbara DeLaney, Chair Jeff May, Vice Chair Andrew Mihelich, Secretary Susan Marie Klen Daniel O’Connell Michael O’Connell Robert J. Wunderlich Kayla Randolph-Clark, Student Trustee JJC Alumni Board of Directors 2011-2012 Officers Sylvester Cottrell, President Sondra Rankin, Vice President Brian A. Thompson, Treasurer Susan Mejia, Secretary Fred Harris Ken Kroll Ramsey Mallory, Past President Terri Micetich Judith Mitchell Doug Ostrem, Past President Dan Porterfeld Dena Schlunz Karen Stewart Marie Wilson, Past President Dr. Richard Tarizzo, Foundation Representative
The purpose of Connections is to strengthen the relationship between Joliet Junior College, its alumni, and community. By sharing their stories and accomplishments, this magazine serves as another example of the college’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Connections is published two times a year by the Offices of Marketing and Creative Services, Communications and External Relations, and Institutional Advancement. President of Joliet Junior College Dr. Frank Zeller (interim) Publisher Andrea Lehmacher Editors Kelly Rohder Rachel Rose Project Coordinator Catherine Trezek Contributors Joyce Deddo Sharon Medek Kristin Mulvey Amanda Quinn Dee Ulloa-Jimenez Ericka Wellner Kristen Rivers
Photographers Glenn Carpenter Jeff Fisher Mike O’Brien Geoff Rusch David Weaver Ericka Wellner Graphic Design Gammon Group Editorial Office Joliet Junior College 1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431 (815) 280-2659 communications@jjc.edu www.jjc.edu/ info/connections
Joliet Junior College, the nation’s first public community college, will be a leader in teaching and learning, and the first choice for postsecondary education.
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JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
Information is subject to change.
Office of Alumni Relations (815) 280-2218 alumni@jjc.edu www.jjc.edu/info/ alumni Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations for address corrections and alumni notes. Please send your letters to the editor to the Editorial Office address.
I am excited to write to you as Joliet Junior College’s new Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Manager. For those of you who receive our e-Connections newsletter,* you have been hearing from me monthly since July. I have encouraged you to contact me to talk about your experience as one of our alumni; I hope you have taken me up on that offer.
Connect with JJC
Dear Alumni and Friends,
I feel fortunate that JJC has played a significant role in my personal history. Born and raised in Joliet, I vividly remember attending graduation when two of my sisters received their associate degrees from JJC. I was lucky enough to attend school here before transferring to University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. When I returned to the college four years ago to begin my career, it was exciting. People still hung out on the bridge between classes, many of my previous professors were still teaching, and the campus was still as beautiful as ever. The only problem was that while the student population had grown tremendously, the college was physically the same as I had left it eight years before. The transformation of the campus since I began working at JJC has been amazing. The college’s master plan has brought about new buildings and restoration of natural areas. This change supports the growth of the college. In a tough economy, students graduating high school cannot afford to go away to college, and adults who have lost their jobs must search for new careers and new training in order to reenter the workforce. This is what the master plan is all about. In 2010, the American Association of Community Colleges led an effort designed to ensure the success of the American public by producing 50% more students with high-quality degrees and certificates by 2020. This Completion Agenda is the responsibility of the educational institutions in our country. This issue of Connections is letting you know what JJC is doing to embed this agenda into the institutional plans that were already taking shape at the college. The Campus Center, which serves as the new front door to the college, allows for all student service offices to be together; this makes it easy for our students to navigate the admissions and registration process. The automotive technology expansion, greenhouse facility, health professions building, and natural sciences expansion enhance the instructional programs at JJC, providing state-of-the-art facilities in which our students can learn. I have been lucky to see the growth right before my eyes. If you live in the area or come back for a visit, I encourage you to drive onto the campus to take a look. You will be amazed at the changes the campus is undergoing. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to visit www.jjc.edu/info/ reconnect to update your personal information, so we can keep you informed on all the college is doing to support the Completion Agenda. Best, Amanda Quinn Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Manager *If you would like to receive our monthly e-Connections newsletter, please update your personal alumni information and include your email address at www.jjc.edu/info/reconnect.
JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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News Briefs
News Briefs Community College before retiring in 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lewis University, a master’s degree and a doctorate in school business management from Northern Illinois University.
Floral Team Wins National Competition
Interim JJC President Frank Zeller speaks with Illinois Lt. Governor Shelia Simon during her visit to the college Sept. 22.
Zeller Appointed Interim President Following the death of President Gena Proulx on Aug. 12, the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Frank Zeller as the college’s interim president. Zeller’s appointment was approved by the board after Proulx, JJC president since 2006, lost her three-year battle with cancer. Zeller, of Peru, was initially hired earlier the same month to serve as an interim senior executive to oversee day-to-day college operations while President Proulx was on sick leave. Now, he will serve as JJC’s interim president while the college conducts a nationwide presidential search.
Zeller said. “I think it’s important to keep the college going in the direction Dr. Proulx would want, continuing to streamline student services and providing the space necessary for programs that address job shortages in our communities.” Zeller added that in the last three years, the college campus increased its square footage by over 50 percent, space that he said is vital to provide the necessary educational and job training opportunities that are so intrinsic to the college’s mission. No stranger to higher education in Illinois, Zeller served for 27 years as chief financial officer of Illinois Valley
Earlier this summer, two students from Joliet Junior College triumphed in the National American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) competition, placing first in the nation. The contest was held in San Francisco, in early July. Both Kathrynn Wahl of New Lenox and Betsy Cangiano of Oswego tied for first place for overall designer of the year. Wahl also placed first in bridal bouquet and Cangiano in banquet design. “The event made history,” said Donna Theimer, JJC professor and department chair of agriculture, horticulture and veterinary medical technology. “For the first time in the competition, two students from the same college tied for first place.” JJC also brought home six additional awards. Cangiano placed second in sweetheart table design and eighth in bridal bouquet. Wahl placed third in banquet design, ninth in napkin design and 10th in sweetheart design and Kaitlyn Harlow of Kinsman placed fourth in sweetheart table design.
Zeller has worked at JJC before, once in 2001 with then-president J.D. Ross as the college celebrated its 100th anniversary and again in 2010 with Dr. Proulx, both in the position of interim vice president of administrative services. “I’m pleased to be here and work with the Joliet Junior College family again,”
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FALL 2011 JJC CONNECTIONS | SPRING 2010
Left to right: Kathrynn Wahl, Betsy Cangiano, Diane Chamberlin and Kaitlyn Harlow.
News Briefs
Left to right: Fashion designer and guest judge Joe Katz, JJC culinary grad and lab assistant Heather Schreiner, judge Kerry Vincent and Chef Andy Chlebana.
Diane Chamberlain of New Lenox was also a part of the team. The competition consists of four categories including bridal bouquet, banquet design, sweetheart table design and napkin design. The students have one hour to create and complete a design in each category with the exception of napkin design, which takes place in a 45-minute session. Each category was judged on methodical use of color, depth, line, balance, focal emphasis, unity and proportion. Points are also awarded for flawless mechanics, appropriate interpretation for the category and creativity.
JJC Chef Wins Food Network Challenge Joliet Junior College Chef Andy Chlebana won the Food Network Challenge in an episode that aired on the network on April 24. In the show, Chlebana competed against two other chefs to successfully create a dress made of sugar. Chlebana, of Plainfield, was joined by his lab assistant and 2009 JJC alumna Heather Schreiner of Minooka, who flew with him to Denver in November 2010 to tape the show.
The Food Network Challenge set.
The theme of the show was Sugar Fashion, which means each contestant must create fashionable ensembles and accessories for four mannequins, all of which must be made of sugar. But creating the dress wasn’t the only challenge--they had to transport the piece--made of hundreds of delicate, multi-colored petals--four miles from where they built it to display in a storefront window. In addition to bragging rights, Chlebana, a 1995 JJC alumnus, also won $10,000 for winning the contest, which he said he’ll use to take his family to Disney World. “I’ve never heard them scream so loud,” Chlebana told the ChannahonMinooka Patch as he watched the show Sunday night with his wife Heather and twin daughters Abigail and Annabel, 8, and sons Andy, 7, and Adler, 3. Chlebana was chosen by Food Network producers after sending in a video application that addressed why he should be featured on the show.
Chef Chlebana’s winning creation, a dress made entirely of sugar.
In 2008, Chlebana was honored by the American Culinary Federation as its National Pastry Chef of the Year. JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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Q&A: Angie Kaysen-Luzbetak
Q&A with Dr. Angie Kaysen Luzbetak, Coordinator of Transfer Articulation Can you describe your role as a JJC coordinator of transfer articulation? My position is housed in Student Development. I am a member of the Counseling Department staff, but my position is unique. I work with the academic side of the house, with partnering colleges and universities. JJC offers a variety of fantastic academic programs and my position helps maintain articulation agreements. Articulation agreements are academic agreements with specific academic majors at the four-year colleges. One of things I most enjoy about my position is the collaborative spirit generated by such agreements. I work closely with JJC faculty as well as faculty and staff at the colleges in maintaining and creating agreements. This allows me to form close and personal relationships with JJC’s college partners. As a member of the Counseling Department I keep counseling and advisors abreast of new agreements, changes in existing agreements, but also inform them of new major opportunities, curriculum requirements and changes at the four-year institutions. You are a JJC alumna. What role, if any, did your experiences here play in determining your own career path? My academic background and career path is interesting. Student Development was not my intended career. I was a pre-law major as an undergrad. Having a passion for serving people and
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QA
Angie Kaysen Luzbetak
JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
“I believe in helping students achieve their goals-- as diverse as they may be. Not every student needs or wants a degree, but I want to be part of an institution that believes in inspiring and elevating people. That is JJC.” advocating for them is in my blood. However, I learned that there are many ways to fulfill this passion. In fact, it was a JJC counselor that inspired me to change my career path. We were not talking about majors or even college--
we were discussing life and the various paths people take to fulfill dreams. I went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling and did some work in a private practice. Eventually, I was called to continue serving community college
students and returned to JJC. In 2010, I earned a doctorate in education for community college leadership. I feel strongly about the mission and vision of community colleges. I believe in helping students achieve their goals-- as diverse as they may be. Not every student needs or wants a degree, but I want to be part of an institution that believes in inspiring and elevating people. That is JJC. How does JJC demonstrate a commitment to student success? Having worked in other places and in other fields I have a great appreciation and admiration for everyone that inspires students at JJC. Every person employed at the college has a vested interest in the life and career path of our students. Don’t discount anyone-- from the director of student activities, the cashier in the cafeteria, the custodian or the president--each and every person is there to help students on their journey. What you have at JJC is the most dedicated faculty and staff, who will take the time to talk with you.
“Dream big, think big and regardless of where your starting point is, don’t underestimate where JJC can help you go.” How have the recent campus improvements made it easier for students to navigate their collegiate path? I cannot express my excitement regarding the new facilities at JJC. The Campus Center is extraordinary. I am thrilled that students will have all of the necessary support services at their fingertips. There is access to every service they might need. The Campus Center also has a must-see library! JJC students deserve fantastic facilities because we have fantastic faculty and staff! We are the complete package! What advice would you give to students looking to transfer? The advice I would give transfer students is the same advice I would give any student. You might not know your path, or have a major or firm direction as of yet. You need to talk and think about your passion. Dream big, think big and regardless of where your starting point is, don’t underestimate where JJC can help you go. Spend some time just talking to people you respect. Transferring isn’t the finish line-- it is the beginning. I encourage students, their families and/ or care givers to start talking about college early. Take the time to dream!
Prepare for a seamless transfer Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university can plan on a smooth transition when they start at JJC. Plus, students can save up to $40,000 over a four-year private school when they complete the first two years of college at JJC. These are just some of the colleges and universities that JJC students transfer to: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Aurora University Bradley University Columbia College Eastern Illinois University Ferris State University Franklin University Governors State University Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg Illinois State University Kaplan University Lewis University McKendree University North Central Northern Illinois University Purdue University – Calumet Saint Xavier University Southern Illinois University – Carbondale University of Illinois - Chicago University of St. Francis Western Illinois University
Q&A: Karl Brooks
Karl Brooks
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JJC Dean of Student Success Karl Brooks, who has been with the college since March of 2008, explains how JJC strives to help all its students succeed through a wide variety of programs and services. What is your role at JJC? My role as one of the deans in the student development division is to support the retention of JJC students and ensure that they have the programs, services and accommodations they need in order to succeed. As dean of student success, I oversee the departments of Academic Skills, Counseling and Advising, Career Services, Student Accommodations and Resources (StAR), Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), Project Achieve, as well as the areas of general student development and the transfer program. Our mission is to keep our students here at JJC and help them identify clear, successive pathways to achieving their goals.
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What services or programs are available at JJC to help students succeed? JJC has a diverse range of support services, and it depends on the student and their individual needs as to which service is best for them. Counseling and career services are critical to the success of every student, since these areas help students explore their interests and strengths and discover the possibilities for their academic pathway and a future career. StAR, for example, is a vital service for our student population with special needs, providing them with tools and resources to do well in the classroom. Other populations such as first-generation or non-native English speaking students can find resources tailored specifically for them in programs such as OMSA or Project Achieve. As an institution, it’s our job to ensure that
students and their families not only have the services they need to help them succeed, but know about them; I never want to hear a student say, “I didn’t know” that assistance is available to them at JJC!
How do you think the new Campus Center will help in improving the way JJC serves students? The new Campus Center provides easy, streamlined access to vital student services, and having a central location for these departments also increases collaboration among the faculty and staff whose job it is to help our students do well in college. As soon as you walk into the building you’ll see the Enrollment Center on the right, with admissions, financial aid and registration – the place where all our students need to start. As you walk down the hallway, or what is known as the Student Street, students will see the other key programs that are here to help them succeed at JJC such as Career Services, Counseling, OMSA, Academic Skills, Project Achieve and StAR. And that’s the message we wanted to send by designing the building this way: the success of our students is the main priority at JJC. What drives you personally in your work at JJC? First and foremost, my personal mission is about making sure this institution meets its goals of helping students be successful and supporting them in their educational journey. I enjoy helping
students discover who they are and figure out how they are going to be a contributing member of society, both while in college and afterward.
Can you share a particular success story that means a lot to you? We’ve seen so many success stories here: so many students come to us without direction or in need of guidance and assistance, and we’ve seen them through to become confident, successful graduates who have gone on to great things. One that particularly stands out to me is the story of a young man whose mother called me very angry, demanding to know why her son had been placed in developmental classes and why he would not be earning credit for those classes. I explained to her that this is where he needed to be placed based on his test results, and that this was for his benefit – he needed to take these classes first in order to move up and do well in other classes. I told her it was our goal to see him be successful, and promised that I would personally see him through the process and help him reach his goals at JJC. Three years later, that young man graduated from JJC with an A.A. degree and transferred to University of St. Francis to complete his bachelor’s degree. Watching him walk across the graduation stage was a proud moment for me and especially his mother, who hugged me afterwards and couldn’t wait to introduce me to the rest of her family. It is stories like these that make my job so rewarding.
Student Spotlight: Nadia Dunlap
To Whom It May Concern... Teacher Inspires Student to Write Novel by Ericka Wellner
There was a time in Nadia Dunlap’s life that was rooted in depression. She was unable to afford textbooks and was mustering through financial strife, a life-saving surgery and the death of her grandmother all at once.
And so Karlberg suggested Dunlap write a novel, based on her class writings.
But relief came in 2009, when she met her criminal justice instructor Kim Karlberg.
“I felt as though she could help so many people … she has over came so much adversity in her life that her stories must be shared for others to learn how to overcome the same,” Karberg says.
“I needed something good to happen,” says Dunlap. “And that good thing was walking into Mrs. Karlberg’s office.”
That following summer, Dunlap began her writing “To Whom it May Concern … In the Struggle”—a compilation of stories about personal strife.
She was taking an online course with Karlberg and as midterms approached, she needed to borrow a textbook. The two had never met so it was a surprise to Dunlap when—while introducing herself—Karlberg recognized her name from the class’s message board.
Though Dunlap was struggling through personal anguish of her own, her stories are fictitious. Writing them, she says, was therapeutic.
Like each of the students taking the course, Dunlap had been responding to questions posed on message boards, but unlike the other students she was answering short essay questions with elaborate scenarios, characters and plots.
“The hardest part of beginning the process was learning to believe in myself,” she says. “I had totally given up but Mrs. Karlberg gave me a reason to believe again. I needed something good to happen and that good thing was walking into her office.” Dunlap spent the next year and a half writing, editing and publishing her novel.
“Her writing style is unlike any … I have ever read. It shouted, ‘I’m going - Kim Karlberg to be a great writer!’” Criminal Justice Instructor
“I was shocked when reading her discussion boards. They were such powerful and fulfilling writings,” Karlberg says. “Her writing style is unlike any … I have ever read. It shouted, ‘I’m going to be a great writer!’”
“You can let pain do one of two things, bring you down or be your motivation and it has made me want to help people,” says Dunlap. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write this book. I’ve always wanted a “Cinderella” story of my own and this has been it.” JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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Honoring JJC’s History Relocating Historical Roots by Rachel Rose
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JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
COMMEMORATIVE PAVER BRICKS To purchase a commemorative paver brick, please contact the JJC Foundation at (815) 280-2353 or visit jjc.edu/info/foundation.
As the ongoing construction of new buildings and parking lots on Main Campus signifies an exciting time of growth and expansion at JJC, the college is honoring its historical roots with the relocation of the alumni bell to the front of the Campus Center. Formerly tucked away in a wooded nook by the JJC Lake, the alumni bell and its inspiring story was relatively unknown at JJC until 2009 when it was incorporated in the redesign of the college logo. A detailed history of the bell, which came to the college in 1969 thanks to the tireless dedication of alumni and college administrator Bill Glasscock, was published in the fall 2009 edition of Connections. “I can’t tell you how delighted I am to learn that the bell and its tower was chosen for the college logo,” said Robert Glasscock, son of Bill Glasscock. “The Glasscock family will always think of the bell as our father’s memorial.” Recognizing the significance of the bell as a symbol of the dedication of JJC’s alumni and a historical artifact for the local community (it had previously hung for decades in the old Will County Courthouse), college administration and the Board of Trustees made the decision to relocate the bell to a place of honor and prominence in front of the new Campus Center.
After being removed from its old location, the bell was sent away for refurbishing and a fresh coat of paint before it was installed in its new location in July 2011. It also tolls on the hour throughout the day. In addition, the college’s commemorative paver bricks, originally introduced in 2001 as part of JJC’s centennial celebrations, have been relocated to the area surrounding the bell tower. The bricks can be purchased through the JJC Foundation and can be inscribed for a special memorial or to honor a significant achievement, such as graduation from JJC. A rededication event for the alumni bell and the paver bricks was held on Sept. 15 as part of the grand opening celebrations for the Campus Center. “The rededication of the alumni bell and the paver bricks marks an important milestone for JJC’s future as we honor our past,” said Kristi Mulvey, executive director of the JJC Foundation. “Our strongly supportive alumni and friends of the college enable us to meet the needs of students and prepare for future growth. We’re pleased to know that our historic alumni bell will now be one of the first things our visitors and students see when they come to Main Campus.”
JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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IN MEMORIAM
JJC President Dr. Gena Proulx by Kelly Rohder
Though much of the 2010-2011 school year brought about anticipated and oftentimes exciting change, the death of JJC President Gena Proulx was a somber, and for some, an unexpected event. Diagnosed in 2008 with fallopian tube cancer, Proulx rarely let the disease slow her down, working until just weeks before her death Aug. 12 at age 66. She is survived by her husband, Bill; three adult daughters, Noreen, Nicole and Gisele; her mother, Irene, and her brother Gene. The college held a memorial Aug. 15, which drew a few hundred campus community members and included remarks from JJC Board of Trustees Chair Barbara DeLaney; Dr. Robert Marcink, faculty union president and English professor; Dr. Christine Sobek, Waubonsee Community College president; and Dr. Michael Vinciguerra, University of St. Francis president. The remembrance, which was held in front of the alumni bell tower outside the Campus Center, concluded with the release of butterflies. “It’s so clear that Gena’s vision and leadership over the last five years have made Joliet Junior College a better place,” DeLaney said at the memorial. “She was the college’s greatest advocate, and for that, we are grateful.”
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Proulx began her tenure as the seventh president of Joliet Junior College in July 2006. The first woman to hold the position, she came to JJC after serving JJC CONNECTIONS | SPRING 2011
six years as president of Dundalk and Essex campuses at The Community College of Baltimore County. She brought over 20 years of teaching experience in the higher education arena and was attracted to JJC, the first public community college in the nation, because of its historical roots. Proulx devoted the majority of her career to community colleges, holding faculty and administrative posts at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, Genesee Community College in Batavia, N.Y. and Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, N.Y. before coming to JJC. In 2008, Proulx spearheaded the college’s master plan, which came to constitute the largest physical changes to the Main Campus location in its 40-year existence. Through her vision and leadership, seven major construction projects have taken shape across the college landscape to streamline student services and provide the space for programs and training to address critical job shortages. In September, the Board of Trustees voted to name the Campus Center in Proulx’s honor. “She and her team were able to develop a master plan and successfully pass a referendum which has led us to where we are today, with her dream of a space where the students could easily, successfully and efficiently be served in one area of the college,” Joan Tierney, senior executive assistant to the president, said.
“She was so proud of our new Campus Center and looked so forward to seeing the students settle in and enjoy the new facility.” During her time at JJC, Proulx was also a strong supporter of the college’s chapter of the international honors society, Phi Theta Kappa. Her support of Phi Theta Kappa extended well before her years in Joliet, when she was honored with the Regional Coordinator’s Award in 2004 and the Center for Excellence Brick Recognition in 2001 while at the Community College of Baltimore County. “Gena’s enthusiasm for JJC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter has had a tremendous impact on our students,” Lisa Sandoval, Phi Theta Kappa adviser and JJC English professor, said. “I am especially thankful for the time she personally spent with our officers, encouraging and inspiring them. Her pride in their accomplishments was motivational and contagious.” Proulx also brought sustainability to the forefront at JJC, helping to make it part of the college’s strategic plan and supporting the creation of the first-ever JJC Sustainability Committee. In 2009, she signed the historic American College and University
Presidents’ Climate Commitment, an effort by institutions across the country to address global climate disruption, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations, and educate students in the process. That year, she wrote a guest column for the American Council on Education, stating, “Signing the Presidents Climate Commitment is more than a simple act of endorsement. It is recognition of the important role higher education plays in affecting climate change. With more than 11 million students enrolled in two-year institutions throughout the
Proulx was an ardent supporter of cancer research well before her diagnosis, participating in community events like the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and after her diagnosis, making donations to the Loyola University Cancer Center where she received care. She also donated the wigs she wore during the first year she underwent chemotherapy treatment to Loyola’s center.
The JJC Foundation Board of Directors has established the Dr. Gena Proulx Memorial Endowed Scholarship to help JJC students reach their educational goals. If you would like to honor Dr. Proulx and help create this living legacy, you can provide a memorial gift to the college by giving online at www.jjc.edu or providing a gift made payable to Joliet
Two years into treatment, in 2010, Proulx decided to do something she’d never done before to support the cause: she dyed pieces of hair surrounding her face teal, the color that represents
Through her vision and leadership, seven major construction projects have taken shape across the college landscape to streamline student services and provide the space for programs and training. country, community colleges are in an unprecedented position to reach and influence their students on the issue of climate change.” This dynamic resume matched her active role in the community and in regional and national organizations, where she was a member of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Communication and Marketing, served on the Board of Directors for Provena St. Joseph Medical Center, the Will County Center for Economic Development, the Will County Workforce Investment Board, and maintained membership in the Joliet Rotary Club.
ovarian cancer, in accordance with efforts by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Her drive to support the cause was documented in local newspapers, including the JJC student newspaper, The Blazer, in 2008. “She was a tireless leader and was small in stature but was resolute in her charge to lead the college, even during her last days,” Tierney said. “I often referred to her as ‘little toughie.’ I was fortunate to have seen her the afternoon before she passed and one of her last charges to me was, ‘Be strong and carry on.’ Dr. Gena Proulx will be remembered by me forevermore.”
Junior College Foundation, mailed to the following address: Joliet Junior College, Office of Institutional Advancement, Dr. Gena Proulx Memorial Scholarship, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, IL 60431. For more information, contact Kristin Mulvey at (815) 280-2353.
JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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Streamlining
Student Services CAMPUS CENTER NOW OPEN
For Joliet Junior College, the completion and opening of the Campus Center is the realization of a goal many years in the making. The hallmark building of JJC’s Master Plan, it not only creates a visitorfriendly front door for Main Campus, it meets some of the college’s most critical student service needs by streamlining key functions and putting student service departments together in a central, easily accessible location.
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JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
JJC CONNECTIONS | FALL 2011
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“Relocation to the Campus Center is a major step for the plan and students’ completion of their academic agendas,” said Susan Paddock, interim vice president of student development. “The move provides us greater ability to serve students with a convenient one-stop shop.”
Student Accommodations and Resources, Project Achieve, the bookstore, Multicultural Student Affairs, photo ID services, and the dean of students, in addition to the new cafeteria that is situated in the space adjoining the Campus Center to the C- and S-Buildings.
Previously, service departments were scattered throughout the campus and were often difficult to find. Now, vital services such as admissions, financial aid and counseling are located along the corridor of the ground floor of the Campus Center, which is also known as the Student Street.
The entire second floor of the building is devoted to the library, which offers a wide variety of print and digital learning resources, individual and group study space, computers, and laptop plugins, among many other services.
Paddock explained that now, for example, a continuing student can meet with a counselor to determine their appropriate class schedule, and then go right across the student street to register and pay their bill in an area known as the Enrollment Center. “Having Student Accounts and Payments as a partner within the Enrollment Center for personal contact has been a great benefit for assisting our students,” she added. On the first floor of the Campus Center students will find career services, counseling, the new Enrollment Center (which includes admissions, financial aid, registration and records, and student accounts and payments), Academic Skills,
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“The students that have come in have been really excited to see what the new space has to offer,” said Susan Prokopeak, library department chair. “There are so many resources here in the new space that they didn’t have before.”
need for centralized student services. Since she began her tenure at JJC in 2006, she worked tirelessly to see the Master Plan, the physical articulation of those needs, come to fruition. In addition to presiding over several groundbreakings and several smaller construction projects, and seeing the Greenhouse Facility and the Facility Services buildings completed, Proulx saw the Campus Center through to completion in July 2011; but shortly thereafter, she passed away following a courageous battle against cancer. In a 2008 interview, Proulx talked about how she was excited that JJC’s Master Plan was alive and being put into action as opposed to collecting dust on a shelf as sometimes happens at other institutions; and that she enjoyed working together with her JJC team to see it carried out.
The third floor is home to administrative offices such as the president and vice president offices, institutional research, marketing and creative services, foundation and alumni relations, financial services, human resources, business and auxiliary services, and the board room.
Board of Trustees Chairwoman Barbara DeLaney reflected on this aspect of Proulx’s legacy at JJC.
Meeting the needs of JJC students and developing the space and resources JJC needed to serve them was a priority for late president Gena Proulx, who recognized the college’s
“But it wasn’t until Dr. Proulx came to JJC that the Master Plan was taken off the shelf and put into action,” Delaney added. ”It was under her guidance that the college was able to move forward on several
“As an alumnus of the college, it was clear to me that the Campus Center, as the one-stop shop for student services, was always much needed at JJC, even 20 years ago,” she said.
critical projects outlined in the Master Plan, which included the Campus Center. The institution now has a true front door, and we have Dr. Proulx’s strong vision and leadership to thank for that.” Proulx’s dreams of seeing JJC undergo the changes and growth necessary to meet the needs of its burgeoning, changing district are evident on Main Campus and especially in the Campus Center, now a bustling hub of activity as students return and fall classes are underway. Sitting on a bench and taking in all the activity and sights of the building, Arisa Tocwish, a second semester student, said how much she liked how easy everything was to find on the first floor. “After visiting StAR (Student Accommodations and Resources), I was able to go right across the hall to the bookstore, where a guy helped me find the books I needed for my classes right away. It was so easy!” As a busy fall semester begins, staff and faculty are now settling in to the Campus Center and students are familiarizing themselves with the new buildings and changes on Main Campus. But the college continues to look to the future and remains focused on its mission of providing affordable, accessible, and quality programs and services to its students. “It’s a very exciting time of change to be in this beautiful new building, but what has not changed is our commitment to helping our students succeed in their goals,” said Paddock. “In our new spaces we are now better equipped than ever to serve students and provide them with the resources they need, and I’m looking forward to seeing what a positive impact that will have on their academic success.”
Streamlining Student Services
Key features of the building: • Built to LEED Silver standards* • 114,000 sq. ft. total, for student services, academic support and administrative offices • A highly efficient geothermal system comprised of 90,000 ft. of pipe and 84 wells buried 500 ft. deep in the earth maintains the building temperature, using ground temperature for heating and cooling • Carbon-neutral green roofs help reduce the heat island effect and also reduce storm water runoff by 50 percent • Most of the building has access to daylight through windows and skylights, minimizing electricity consumption • Energy-efficient LED lighting is used caption throughout the building • Over 40 percent of the building is comprised of regional (produced within 500 miles) and recycled materials
*Pending certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an internationally recognized green building certification system.
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Career Connects
Career Connects Jeremy Ly helps launch JJC’s new workforce development program, Career Connects by Kristen Rivers As a former teacher who has worked in inner-city Chicago, Jeremy Ly knows the challenges students face when it comes to finding a career path, especially in a struggling economy. His commitment to strengthening the local community and workforce is what led him to become a part of piloting the new Career Connects program at JJC. Career Connects Will and Grundy Counties is an online tool produced by CareerCruising.com, an interactive career resource that connects students and job seekers with businesses through a virtual environment. “This project is truly an amazing example of how we need to break down the walls of our departments and all work together for the betterment of our community,” Ly said. The initiative is funded by grants that include a JJC Student Success grant, a $5,000 Award for Excellence grant from the JJC Foundation, a $3,000 grant from the Grundy Community Foundation help to launch the program, and most recently, a $1,000 grant from the Grundy, Livingston, Kankakee Workforce Board.
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“Career Connects is a one-stop electronic portal where students, teachers, administrators, job seekers, and adults can go to find out about
careers within the JJC region… [And see] Will and Grundy Counties as a great place to work and live,” Dan Kreidler, JJC dean of community and economic development, added. Partnering with local high schools and colleges like the University of St. Francis, Career Connects is currently available to over 60,000 students. Nearly 70 area businesses are currently involved, but Ly and Kreidler hope to reach a goal of involving 150 area businesses. For businesses, the benefits of Career Connects are many. Career professionals in the local community can play an active role in connecting with the future workforce. Mentors can inform students of the best classes to take for their future with local companies. Never before has there been such a strategic link between supply of workers and demand for their talent, Ly said. Using Career Connects as a guide, students can obtain real world information about their career options, making them well informed and well trained before they enter the workforce, he added. Drawing from his three years of teaching fourth grade through Teach for America, where he had to act as
parent, nurse and often probation officer for his students, Ly said he has learned the value of community involvement in education, and uses his position within the program to give back to the community that gave him his start. “I love the community aspect of my job. I’m not a desk job kind of guy and I love to be out in the community, making a difference. Our area has a high unemployment number and the only way we are going to rebuild our economy is by everyone working together to solve problems,” he said. “One business, one school, one high-school, one politician alone can’t solve anything, but working together for job growth and connecting businesses to students early on in their educational career will only prove fruitful down the road.” Additional partners on the project include the University of St. Francis, Community Foundation of Grundy County, Joliet Junior College Foundation, Three Rivers Education Partnership, Workforce Board of Grundy, Livingston, and Kankakee, and the Will County Workforce Investment Board.
For more information about the Career Connects program, visit www.jjc.edu/info/career-connects or contact Ly at (815) 280-6831.
Community Access to Library
New Library Opens to Students, Community by Ericka Wellner In a lounge area reminiscent of a contemporary coffeehouse with sleek modern furniture and floor to ceiling windows sits T.J. Urbanski as he begins to share his excitement for college’s new library.
“The library should play a vital role in merging new social media and mobile device options with the more traditional education tools it currently provides to ensure it is an integral part in education,” he says.
“The goal of the library was to create an environment that would meet the needs of JJC students,” says Urbanski who is JJC’s library director. “The new library is a beautiful place for students … to study and pursue their educational goals.”
Not only is there an extensive collection of books and periodicals, there is a vast electronic collection including digital magazines, journals as well as over 660,000 maps of more than 12,000 American cities and towns in Sanborn Maps collection and over a million images in the digital resource ArtStor.
After nearly 40 years, the college library has relocated from the thirdfloor of the Main Campus J-Building to its home on the second-floor of the new Campus Center as part of the college’s $189 million master plan. “The library now has seven group study rooms that can be scheduled for students working on group projects, plenty of computers that can be used to complete course assignments and research, and a stable wireless network,” Urbanski says. As the information age evolves, technology grows more and more prevalent, for this reason, Urbanski says the library must also evolve— marrying the traditional with the new.
Also, new to the library is a tool called MyMediaBookBag, which allows students the ability to download audio books and eBooks to a PC, mobile device, and tablet. And just steps from the stacks, outside on the terraces are green roofs, which in a culture moving toward sustainability, could be used as a valuable learning tool, Urbanski says. Open 75 hours a week with 40 public computers, the library is also a convenient resource for community members.
It was for Jeremy Kreuzer, who was laid off this spring and used the resources in the library to help him land a job. “I was laid off in May,” says Kreuzer. “So I made a routine of coming to the library a few times a week and spending four or five hours on the computer, creating a resume and surfing the internet looking for jobs and filling out applications.” After nearly five months of being unemployed, Kreuzer recently got hired at Lunch At Hand, a delivery food service company, an opportunity he credits to hours spent in the JJC library. “I don’t have a computer at home so JJC was the next best thing,” he says. “Who knows where I’d be if having the access to those computers wasn’t available. I’m just glad I never got kicked out,” he jokes. “I might be still be unemployed had I not camped out in front of the computers for days at a time.” Kreuzer’s story is just one of many successful tales that Urbanski hopes to come. “The hope for the future of is that the library continues to grow and evolve to serve the needs of the students, staff and community members,” he says. “The library is the heart and the soul of the institution. It is our goal is to support the pursuit of our student’s goals and ensure their success.”
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by Ericka Wellner
New state-of-the-art facility addresses area job shortages What began over a year ago as an empty lot bordering the C-Building on the Main Campus has transformed into a stunning 17,000 square-foot expansion complete with a commercial automotive shop. The $5 million Automotive Technology expansion, which was completed in July, took two years of vigorous research and planning says Jim Coleman automotive professor at JJC. “We traveled to dealerships and schools as far away as Wisconsin and took the best ideas from all of these facilities and incorporated them into our design,” says Coleman. “We wanted the shop to have the look and feel of a dealership while maintaining the functionality of a training facility.” And with the addition of 16 service bays, a large customer service area including a parts department and utility and storage space, the new shop is everything Coleman had envisioned. But more importantly, for students like Dan Caputo, the expansion grants the opportunity to work with the most up-to-date technology in an environment comparable to the automotive field. “I can’t wait to work with the new equipment. We’ll be using the same tools as in the field,” says the 19-yearold. “Working with this equipment will make the transition into the auto industry less intimidating. It will feel natural—like the next step.” 20
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New lifts have been installed and alignment equipment updated to meet current industry standards, which is pivotal in an industry evolving from mechanical parts to electronics and computers, says Scott Walsh, owner of Rockdale Automotive. “The new shop is outfitted with cutting edge tools and equipment,” says Walsh, who is also an Automotive Advisory Board member at JJC. “It is a state-of-theart facility and is comparable to not just general dealerships, but brand new dealerships.” Accompanying each service bay is a tool stall complete with toolkit, locker and computer. Having a computer at every service bay allows students instant access to repair and service information and technical support. The computers will also allow the ability to reprogram the vehicle computer. In the past, students had to leave their workstation and print the necessary information from a localized computer. Sometimes this meant printing up to 20 pages—a laborious task Caputo says he will not miss. “If we need to look something up, like torque specifications or disassemble procedures, we would have to walk to the only computer and print it out,” Caputo recalls. “But now we will have a computer within arms’ reach.” The expansion is not only furnished with the most up-to-date equipment and technology, it is double the
Automotive Expansion Completed
size of the original area, allowing students the ability to service approximately 30 cars a day. And unlike the former shop, the new space gives students enough room to see a project from start to finish. Prior to the addition, students had to share larger projects. For example, one student might start an engine or transmission job, but another would finish it. “It’ll be nice to have all the new space and the freedom to work without having to maneuver around each other,” Caputo says. “There is a sense of accomplishment when you’ve completed a job from start to finish.” Having the new space also means that the college will be able to train more technicians to fill critical job shortages within the industry. According to a recent publication of the Federal Occupational Outlook Handbook, 126,000 new automotive technicians will be needed across the country. This represents the biggest
actual increase of all the technical careers listed and does not even include the jobs that will become available because of retirements and promotions. Earnings locally range from $20,000 to $85,000 annually. As the finishing touches were added to the expansion, an 18-by-12-foot American flag was hung in the new automotive shop to symbolize the culmination of hard work and good fortune to years that come, says Coleman. “We have done something very special that will change the lives of many people for years to come,” he added. “I always tell students there is one simple rule in life and that is to always leave things better than you found them. In this case we certainly have.”
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Facility Services Building Completed The second building completed in JJC’s Master Plan incorporates the latest in green design features by Kelly Rohder
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The LEED Silver (pending certification) facility, located on the Main Campus, is home to the college’s custodial, maintenance, environmental safety, planning/construction, roads/grounds, and facility scheduling staff. The project was funded as part of the 2009 Illinois Jobs Now program through the Illinois Capital Development Board. Jim Underwood, executive director of the Illinois CDB, spoke at the ceremony and said they are proud to have been a part of the project. “This Facility Services Building uses the latest in green design features which means it will use less energy and have less of an impact on the environment than traditional construction. This is something near and dear to Gov. Quinn’s heart, and CDB is proud to lead the Governor’s Green Building Initiative in Illinois,” Underwood said. He added that construction of the building created approximately 60 badly needed, good-paying construction jobs. “And this doesn’t count the number of people who will have permanent jobs working here, or those who will find good-paying jobs after coming here to learn. This is a win-win situation for everyone,” he said. The new building replaces 42-year-old temporary buildings that had previously housed the Facility Services functions. Originally, the temporary buildings were constructed to serve as short-term classroom and office space during construction of the permanent main campus, when the college split from Joliet Township High School and moved to the current Houbolt Road location in the late 1960s.
Green Features Designed by Legat Architects with lead construction by Gilbane Building Company, the building boasts multiple green features, which include:
Facility Services Building Completed
JJC hosted a grand opening ceremony in March for its new Facility Services Building.
• All light fixtures are LED, making this one of the first buildings in the area to have this feature • White reflective roofing • Geothermal heating and cooling system • Solar-powered/pre-heat ductwork that is located on the roof takes air from the outside of the building, heats it, and cycles it into the interior of the building • All occupied spaces in the building have motion sensors that control lighting • Daylight ventilation in all areas including offices and shop/work areas. This means each area is uses the maximum amount of daylight possible. All windows are operable, meaning they can be opened to help naturally control room temperature • Most materials for the building were purchased from within a 500-mile radius. This includes steel from Chicago, precast concrete from Aurora, Ill., windows from Wisconsin • All windows are high-efficiency, Low E glass, meaning that the glass repels UV rays with a metallic coating in order to keep furniture, carpet from fading but still allow visible light • All plumbing fixtures are super low flow, meaning that they have the lowest water consumption available • All paint, coating, glues and adhesives contain low volatile organic compound, or VOC
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Alumni Notes
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1960s
Nancy Rowley ’61 went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1963 followed by a master’s in architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology. Currently, Rowley is semi-retired and occasionally helps her husband in his insurance office. She enjoys traveling to visit her grandchildren and making quilts. Rowley is happy to have established a firm foundation at JJC in all the skills she needed when transferring to IIT.
1970s
Bettie Komar (nee Gilbert) ’74 went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in education from College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis). A few years later, Komar completed a master’s degree in reading at Northern Illinois University. After teaching for 35 years, Komar recently retired from Valley View Public Schools and is an adjunct instructor for the College of Education at Lewis University. “My classes at JJC got me off to a good start in my education program,” says Komar.
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1980s
Tim Reichert ’80 after earning an associate degree in culinary arts at JJC, worked for Hyatt Hotels and Marriott as a chef, moving from Chicago to Greenville, S.C. From Greenville, he moved to Long Beach, Calif. In December of 1987, Reichert changed career paths and was hired by Ecolab where he’s been in sales since. He got married in May of 1986, has two daughters and has resided near Charlotte, N.C. since. Judy Minarich ’88 earned two associate degrees at JJC and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University in 1990 followed by a master’s in science education in 2000. After teaching in various schools for over 18 years, Minarich has recently started her own business; a gluten-free company, Real Appeal Inc. Her products can be found in local health and grocery stores. JJC gave her the basis she needed to continue her education. Minarich has been talking to her son about JJC since he is interested in the orthotics and prosthetics program along with engineering. “This is the best compliment you can give a school because he is my best accomplishment,” says Minarich.
Send your e-mail address, news about your family, your career, and anything else you would like to share with the Alumni Association and JJC alumni. We will include your news in the next Alumni Notes. Photos are also welcome; simply provide information about the content of the photos. Then, mail it along with the photos to: JJC Alumni Relations Office Room A-3023 1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431-8938 Or forward your information and digital photos (.jpg format) via e-mail to alumni@jjc.edu.
2000s
Jennifer Pankow ’01 went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Aurora University, a master’s degree in developmental psychology at Northern Illinois University, and another master’s degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology at Texas Christian University (TCU) in December of 2010. Pankow has accepted a position with the TCU Institute of Behavioral Research where she will have the opportunity to collaborate with many gifted researchers in the area of main interest to her – drug abuse and correctional settings. Her coursework at JJC and her work with the JJC Campus Police launched her into the academic track. Pankow shares experience at JJC with the criminal justice program. “It was the cornerstone of my on-going education!” Pamela Lewis ’04 went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University where she graduated magna cum laude. Lewis was also inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honors Society. She continued at Robert Morris Graduate School of Management where she received a MBA in Leadership. She was the speaker for both the 2008 and 2010 fall commencement at Robert Morris and published a poem in the Robert Morris University’s literary magazine “The Egg.”
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IN MEMORIAM
John Weitendorf, Sr. by Kelly Rohder
John H. Weitendorf, Sr., major donor, former Foundation Board member, JJC alumnus, and supporter of the college’s agriculture program passed away Sept. 17. He was 89. Through his philanthropic endeavors, Weitendorf and his wife, Mary, established a high school scholarship for students graduating from Joliet West and an endowed general scholarship for JJC students, which pays for their books, tuition and fees. Most notably, he donated 32 acres of land to the college in 1999, valued at $500,000, to be used as the site of a new agricultural center, now located on Laraway Road in Joliet across from the Chicagoland Motor Speedway. Several gifts were given by various donors in support of the agricultural educational center but the project was financed in majority by Weitendorf, who donated $2.2 million. “John H. Weitendorf, Sr. believed in the importance of education and wanted his legacy to reflect that. He was a very generous man,” Kristin Mulvey, JJC director of institutional advancement and executive director of the JJC 26
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Foundation, said. “He was very proud of the new facility that was named in his honor and we are grateful for everything he did for the college and our students.” The John H. Weitendorf Agricultural Center officially opened its doors in June 2007 and serves as a reminder of Weitendorf’s generosity and the longstanding tradition of JJC alumni contributing to the educational mission of the college. While the center’s primary focus is education, the 30,500 square foot complex is available for outside groups and is an ideal location for meetings, events, or shows. Features include: • Four meeting/class rooms • 10,800 square foot arena • 6,900 square foot exhibit hall • Livestock holding wing • Livestock gates, auction block, and indoor wash racks
Born in Frankfort, Illinois and a lifelong Joliet area resident, Weitendorf graduated from Frankfort High School in 1936, Joliet Township High School in 1940, and from Joliet Junior College in 1942. In 2003, he was awarded the Joliet Junior College Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for his success in the real estate business and his generosity to JJC. John Weitendorf served as a member of the JJC Foundation Board of Directors from 1999 – 2007 and afterward served as an honorary member. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Mary L. Weitendorf Family Center Endowment Fund, the Joliet Junior College Foundation, or the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Research Fund of Jacksonville, Fla. For more information, contact Kristin Mulvey at (815) 28026 2353.
Alumni Award Winners
Alumni Awards
The awards below were given at the 30th annual Alumni Brunch held in June at the Renaissance Center in downtown Joliet. Susan H. Wood Hall of Fame Award The Susan H. Wood Hall of Fame Award was established to recognize a non-alumna/alumnus of Joliet Junior College who is a current or former faculty member, administrator or friend who has served Joliet Junior College in an exceptional way. Dr. Emily C. Zabrocki, JJC Professor Emeritus of Nursing, is one of the founding members of the JJC nursing program. Dr. Zabrocki devoted many years to the development and success of one of JJC’s hallmark academic programs. After graduating from the College of St. Teresa, she worked in Chicago and Indiana hospitals before joining the faculty at Silver Cross Hospital School of Nursing. Later, she would go on to earn her M.S.N. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Chicago. In the late 60s, Dr. Zabrocki came to JJC and assisted Helen Tea in launching the ADN program, which welcomed its first students in the fall of 1969. She became chair of the nursing program in 1971, a position she held intermittently for 12 years. Throughout more than 30 years with the college, she was active on many committees and taught nursing courses at almost every level. Dr. Zabrocki is currently working on a family histories project, and has contributed several articles to genealogical publications.
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award This is the highest honor bestowed upon alumni of Joliet Junior College. It is presented to those alumni who have demonstrated outstanding success in their chosen field, and who have provided humanitarian service to society. Dr. Daniel Gutierrez ‘58 is an internal medicine physician who is actively involved in the medical community and in supporting his alma mater, JJC. After graduating from JJC, he went on to earn a doctoral degree in medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He also served in the U.S. Army for two years, which included a year spent in Vietnam as a medical officer. In addition to operating an internal medicine private practice for 31 years, Dr. Gutierrez served as medical director for the Will County Health Department and helped found the Will County Community Health Center. He has also served on the Silver Cross Hospital Board of Trustees, and was chairman during the time in which the board decided to build the new hospital in New Lenox. Dr. Gutierrez supports JJC by endowing a scholarship in honor of his parents, and is currently enjoying semi-retirement. Robert Baca ‘78 has a prestigious music career that spans four decades, and includes his work as jazz band director, professor of music, performer, clinician and active community member. After completing a music degree at JJC, he continued on to Indiana University in Bloomington where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and music performance. Since 1986, he has held the position of professor of music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. In addition to an impressive list of performances in orchestras, bands and jazz ensembles - which include the 2009 Disney Jazz Celebration and several Broadway shows such as “Wicked”, “Evita” and “My Fair Lady” - Baca is the Bach Artist/Clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company and has presented more than 100 clinics and concerts throughout the United States and China.
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Sponsorship Campaign
2011 Sponsorship Campaign In January 2011, the JJC Foundation began a combined sponsorship campaign soliciting vendors and businesses with an established relationship with Joliet Junior College. Rather than appealing for their support with each event, one request was made asking for support for our annual 5K Run, the Steinway Piano 88 Key Campaign, and the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the JJC nursing program.
The combined appeal raised a total of $51,750. We would like to thank the following sponsors who took part in this campaign: Gold Sponsors--$5,000 and above First Midwest Bank Gilbane Building Co. Harris NA Legat Architects Silver Sponsors--$3,000 to $4,999 Baldwin & Company Excel Electric, Inc. Diamond Sponsors--$1,000 to $2,999 Hometown National Bank Hometown Suburban Vending, Inc. McKeown, Fitzgerald, Zollner, Buck, Hutchinson & Ruttle Provena Health/Provena St. Joseph Medical Center
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Pearl Sponsors--$500 to $999 Abri Credit Union C. R. Leonard Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Clarity Corporate Benefit Consultants, Inc. DeGeus & Klafter Insurance Kavanagh Grumley & Gorbold, LLC Low Voltage Solutions Mazon State Bank Northern Illinois Steel Supply Co. Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc. Spirit Family Farms Sullivan Roofing, Inc. Crystal Sponsor--$250 to $499 TCF Bank Gift-in-Kind Sponsors DNA Sports TCBY
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jjc.edu/info/foundation or contact Kristin Mulvey at (815) 2802353 or kmulvey@jjc.edu.
Upcoming Events at JJC SAVE THE DATE Joliet Junior College Foundation 5K Run/Walk May 5, 2012 To register, visit www.jjc.edu/info/5K December 2011 Alumni Employee Recognition Event
February 2012 Financial Aid/Scholarship Workshops
March 29, 2012 Scholarship Recognition/Donor Dinner Event
May 20, 2012 31st Annual JJC Alumni Brunch
Visit www.jjc.edu/info/events for more information.
CULTURE AT JJC! Every year, the Fine Arts Department offers a wealth of entertainment and cultural activities for the community to enjoy. With excellent theatre productions, must-see art gallery openings and nationally recognized musical offerings, the college is a cultural destination in the Chicagoland area.
For more information, contact the Fine Arts Department at (815) 280-2200 or visit www.jjc.edu/info/fine-arts.
Not for Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 312 JOLIET, IL
1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431-8938
As part of Joliet Junior College’s commitment to environmental stewardship, this publication is printed on paper that contains 10% post-consumer recycled fiber.
JJC prepared Chef Andy Chlebana, a 1995 graduate, for a successful career as a nationally renowned, awardwinning pastry chef. As an instructor at the college, he is now training the next generation of culinary professionals.
WHAT IS YOUR JJC STORY? We want to hear how JJC helped you start your career, realize your dreams or begin a new path in life.
Visit www.jjc.edu/info/alumni to submit your story and reconnect with your college.