President’s Office April – June 2012
John A. Logan College
General News
PREPARING FOR TRANSITION
The John A. Logan College community is preparing to welcome Dr. Michael Dreith when he assumes his duties as its seventh president on July 1. Faculty, staff, and the public had an opportunity to meet Dr. Dreith and his wife, Carol, at an afternoon reception held in the College’s Conference Center on May 24. The Board of Trustees voted April 30 to hire Dr. Dreith following a nationwide search conducted by the board and a search committee comprised of campus and community representatives. Dreith is a native of southwestern Illinois and currently serves as the president of Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. Prior to becoming president of Western Texas in 2007, he served as president of Frontier College in Fairfield, Illinois from 2001 to 2007. He began his career in higher education at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois in 1986, where he served as Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Business and as an Assistant Professor of Mass Communications. Dreith earned a doctorate in higher education with a specialization in workforce development and vocational studies from Nova Southeastern University, a master’s degree in media communications from Webster University, and a bachelor’s degree in workforce education from Southern Illinois University. He and Carol share five adult children. The Dreiths plan to reside in Murphysboro. Dr. Dreith is excited about the opportunity to return to southern Illinois. “Serving an institution with John A. Logan College’s reputation will be an honor. This will give me an opportunity to be closer to family and to invest in a region that I care deeply about,” he says.
Admist a flurry of honors, receptions, and fond farewells, President Robert Mees is making preparations to turn leadership of the College over to Dr. Dreith. The longest-serving president in the history of the College (2000-2012) will retire on June 30, leaving a legacy of accomplishments that would fill pages. Prior to his presidency, Dr. Mees was Vice-President for Instruction at JALC from 1991-2000. His educational career has spanned over 40 years, including service as a public school superintendent, principal and math teacher. Throughout his tenure at John A. Logan College, he has remained very committed to P-20 initiatives which focus on articulation and cooperation from pre-school through higher education. As president, Mees has overseen the largest building construction project in College history; completion of the first strategic plan, Logan at 50 and Beyond; and development and implementation of a sustainable financial plan for budget cuts to deal with the current budget crisis facing community colleges. His presidency saw record enrollment figures, expansion of partnerships with universities, and the explosion of online instruction. He has worked tirelessly for economic development in southern Illinois and has made positive relationships with community organizations a priority. His work statewide includes serving as president of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents and active membership in the Generations Serving Generations initiative for the State of Illinois. Mees has served as executive secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Association of School Administrators-Shawnee Division (superintendent’s organization) since 1984 and as executive secretary/treasurer of Southern Illinois Schoolmasters since 1996. Mees says, “It has been a privilege and an honor to be president of this great institution the past 12 years. I will truly miss all the wonderful, talented people I have worked with during my 21 years at JALC. I wish Dr. Dreith the very best as he continues to build upon the tremendous success of the College.” His plans include travel with his wife, Karla, and establishment of RLM Consulting, specializing in affordable presidential and vice-presidential searches.
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Message from the President
Dear Colleagues and Friends: I would like to thank everyone for the completion of another successful spring semester at John A. Logan College. It was a pleasure to welcome Dr. Michael Dreith and his wife Carol to our campus on May 24. I believe the Presidential Search Committee and the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees are to be commended for an efficient, well-executed process that resulted in the selection of a quality individual to lead the College into the future. The end-of-year activities were once again a testimony to the quality of our students and a reminder of the importance of what we do here. While not all graduates elected to participate in the 43rd Annual Commencement ceremony on May 17, over 800 qualified for degrees and certificates in the academic year. Honor’s Night saw the best and brightest from all divisions of College recognized for their accomplishments. The Annual Retirement Reception on May 17 honored several outstanding employees for their many years of service to the College. Congratulations to Tom Cardwell, Helen DanielsMoncrief, Kim Dixon, Bob Fester,
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Village Centre Named For President Mees The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees voted at its April 30 meeting to name the Village Centre in the Harrison/ Bruce Historical Village in honor of retiring President Robert L. Mees. The Robert L. Mees Village Centre serves as the hub of the historical village and provides a venue for College and community events. Dr. Mees worked tirelessly to make the village a reality. Board Chair Mike The Robert L. Mees Village Centre Hopkins said, “Dr. Mees understands that as we continue to grow, it is important to remember the past. His efforts to bring the historical village to life entirely through private donations will benefit area school children and visitors to the College for years to come.”
PRESIDENTS ENJOY FISH FRY JALC’s incoming and outgoing presidents and their wives enjoyed attending the Athletic Department’s Annual Fish Fry fundraiser at the Herrin Elks on May 24. Pictured from left are: Carol Dreith, Michael Dreith, Karla Mees, and Robert Mees. Dr. Dreith will assume the presidency of John A. Logan College on July 1 upon the retirement of President Robert Mees.
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Lifesavers© Retreat Trains Students In Peer Support And Crisis Prevention Techniques by Teri Campbell Sarah Morrell, a Carbondale resident and John A. Logan College student, recently attended a LifeSavers© training retreat to learn listening and communication skills that will help her recognize and reach out to peers in need of support. “I got involved in LifeSavers© when I started attending Logan, and it’s a great organization,” Morrell said. “I’ve had to deal with emotional issues in the past and I’ve had friends who’ve gone through difficult situations. It’s nice to have people to talk to, especially peers, who are always there to listen if you need someone.” The two-day retreat, held in Carbondale, was sponsored by both the JALC and SIU chapters of LifeSavers©, and Morrell said attending was worthwhile. “I met some fun new people, and I learned a lot,” she said. “We learned how to identify signs of depression and people who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. We also did activities to help develop good listening skills and to guide people into making healthy choices in their lives.” Jennifer Rose, a counselor/advisor at Logan, has sponsored the college’s chapter since it was founded two years ago. “There have been 27 LifeSavers© chapters in our local high schools for the past several years,” Rose said. “Many of the students in our district who were active in LifeSavers© in high school wanted to continue their involvement in that student organization in college. That’s why we established the chapter here. We have about 30 members right now and 15 of those have gone through the LifeSavers© training. “At the college level, the organization is very student directed,” Rose continued. “The interests that the students have determine what issues we get involved with.” Phillip Lane, the webmaster at JALC, will be taking the sponsorship reins from Rose this summer. “I was active in LifeSavers© in high school, and I’m looking forward to getting involved again,” Lane said. “It’s a really positive organization, and I think it has benefitted many people over the years. We’re always looking for new members and everyone is welcome to check us out. Diversity and acceptance of others are part of what we promote and encourage.” Lane said the organization will begin having regular meetings when the fall semester begins in August. Anyone interested in more information can contact him at 618-985-2828 or 618-457-7676, Ext. 8337 or by email at philliplane@jalc.edu.
Students Participate in “Bonding in Chemistry” Project Ten John A. Logan College students enrolled in VOL 101 participated in the service learning project, “Bonding in Chemistry” (BIC) during the spring semester. BIC students prepared and presented two sessions filled with demonstrations and hands-on activities at Carterville Intermediate School. One session titled “COLORS” was presented to seven classes of 8th graders on March 23, and other sessions titled “POLYMERS” were presented to seven classes of 7th graders on April 20. Although BIC students were exhausted after full days of presentations, all of them agreed that it was a fun learning experience for all. In addition to service learning, all BIC participants are engaging in research by developing new experiments. JALC’s coordinating chemistry professor, Michiko Eberle, is excited about the plan of submission of papers on their research to the Journal of Chemical Education and is very happy about the outcome of the project. The BIC project was first run as a pilot program in spring 2011 under the guidance of then Dean of Instruction Deborah Payne. The project received the Merit Award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Leadership this year, and all ten students received $100 merit awards on Honor’s Night and were recognized for their service. The ten BIC project participants are Jamie Sullivan, Carlos Estrada, Travis Williams, Forrest Simmons, Matt West, Luke Stegmann, Jacob Jackson, Phylesha Sigman, Aubri Almaroad, and Chris Noble-Beek. Three returning students from last spring, Jamie Sullivan, Carlos Estrada, and Travis Williams, served as team leaders, and Chemistry Lab Assistant Jamie Sullivan served as the project leader.
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JALC PROFESSOR PUBLISHES BOOKS By Teri Campbell
Dr. Marilyn Toliver, a long-time early childhood education professor and academic advisor at John A. Logan College, recently earned a new distinction – published author. Toliver penned two children’s books that were published and released earlier this year. Toliver said the two books, “Marcellus Alphabet Book” and “Marcellus Really Wants a Pet,” were inspired by her grandson, Marcellus Toliver. “I wrote the alphabet book last year when my grandson was in preschool,” Toliver said. “It was a fun way to help him with letter recognition and reading. The book was our little game and we had a good time with it. “The idea for “Marcellus Really Wants a Pet” was sparked by my grandson’s love for animals,” she continued. “He kept asking for a pet and he told me if he got one, he would take care of it. I thought a book would be an interesting way to show the decision making process that goes into selecting a pet and the responsibility involved in caring for one when you have it.” Toliver said it is rewarding to share her books with others. “These books started out as a way to have fun with my grandson. I hadn’t planned on publishing them, but my family encouraged me to,” Toliver said. “It’s been a good experience. I was asked to read both books at the Logan Preschool for the Read Across America event in March. The books were very well received by the children. They really seemed to enjoy them, which brought me such great satisfaction.” Toliver’s books are available online at the Trafford Publishing Company Web site and at many online bookstores, including amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, foyles.com, and booktopia. com. Copies will soon be available to check out from the John A. Logan College Library and will be for sale at the John A. Logan College Bookstore. “DelShaun Hudson, the manager at Logan’s bookstore, has asked me to do a book signing on May 15, and I’ve also been invited to have an exhibit of my books at the Conference on Children’s Health that will be held at Logan on Nov. 3,” Toliver said. “I’m looking forward to both of those opportunities. The support I’ve received from my John A. Logan family and the early childhood community in general has been so nice, and I’m very grateful for their interest in my books.” Toliver said she may write more books in the future, but she is always an educator first. “I am passionate about education and the importance of reading,” She said. “My whole goal with my writing is education. Every book I write will have an educational purpose and message for the children who read it.”
ALL ABOARD! Vice-Pre sident Brad McCor mick welcomes employees from his division aboard his converted motor home for a ride to lunch. McCormick bought the bus a couple of years ago as a family project and has done most of the conversion work himself. Still smiling after the ride are: Robin Pauls, Dwight Hoffard, Sue Zamora, McCormick, Gail Rawson, Kim Dixon, Dawn Pinkston, and Jan Otey.
Dental Assisting Program Scholarships Awarded Two John A. Logan Dental Assisting program students were recently recognized with scholarships. Laura Lindell, pictured on the left, was awarded the American Dental Association Foundation Dental Assistant Student Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Heather Still, pictured on the right, was awarded the Hu-Friedy ADAA Merit Scholar Award. This commemorative award was provided by dental instrument manufacturer Hu-Friedy, and it includes a one year paid American Dental Assisting Association membership. Award recipients’ names are published in the ADAA Dental Assistant magazine and posted on the Hu-Friedy website. Both students have excelled academically in the JALC Dental Assisting program and have passed their Dental Assisting National Boards examination. Heather has been hired at Klein & Cook orthodontics and Laura is currently pursuing employment in the dental field. At Honor’s night, one other dental assisting student, Tonja Peterson, was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Southern Illinois Dental Society.
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NEWS FROM STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL EVENTS
NEWS IN BRIEF
The annual Logan’s Got Talent event was held on May 9. Out of 14 entries the top winners were Melissa Olsen of Carterville taking first place for her soulful vocal solo, Matthew Wilson of Carbondale winning second place for his rendition of a Luther Vandross ballad, and the duo Ben Chapman of Ava with Israel Lopez of Murphysboro getting third place for their vocal and piano medley of Disney songs. Winners received cash prizes provided by Student Activities and Student Senate. Contest judges were Terry Crain, Dean for Student Services; Cally Mooneyham, President of Student Senate; and Derek Hamblin, owner and artistic director of Dance4Grandma Theatricals.
In response to the College’s Sustainable Financial Plan, the John A. Logan College campus will be closed every Friday throughout a ten-week period this summer. The summer schedule began on May 25 and will be observed through Friday, July 27. Employees are given a choice of working extended hours or using vacation time to compensate for the Fridays off.
News from the Student Senate Members of Student Senate attended Student Advocacy Day in Springfield on April 19. Students met with legislators about the urgent need to maintain funding of the Monetary Assistance Program, From left: Cally Mooneyham, Mandy Little, Imani which provides financial Hudson, Rama Saidou and Joe Venable) assistance for many John A. Logan College students. Governor Pat Quinn spoke at the opening rally. Student Senators who attended were Imani Hudson, Mandy Little, Cally Mooneyham, Rama Saidou and Joe Venable. To help students better prepare for final exams, the Student Senate distributed 100 free “Finals Week Survival Kits” on May 7 and 8. The kits included a list of tips for preparing for final exams, a stress ball, ink pen, highlighter, bottle of water and healthy snack. Kits were a big hit with students and the stress ball was a particularly favorite item. A new video featuring Student Senate will be shown on the lounge televisions on campus. Based on “Be the difference” a phrase coined by Student Senate President Cally Mooneyham, the video shows individual Student Senators with projects that the Senate has sponsored or influenced. The purpose of the video is to increase student awareness of Student Senate’s role on campus. Officers for the 2012-2013 academic year were elected on April 30. Kayla Malone of Marion was elected President; Kirstyn Hanson of Murphysboro was elected for a second term as Vice President; and Cally Mooneyham of Herrin was elected Secretary.
Upcoming Events Legally Blonde: The Musical, will be presented by Dance4Grandma Theatricals & John A. Logan College on July 19 – 21 at 7 p.m. in O’Neil Auditorium. Tickets are $12 each and will be available beginning June 4. John A. Logan College Community Band Summer Concert, directed by Bob Swearingen and featuring music from the movies, will take place on July 29 at 2 p.m. in O’Neil Auditorium. Admission is free. Online application is available for the AutumnFest Arts & Crafts Show at www. jalc.edu/activities and click “Special Events”. Application deadline is July 20. Event dates are November 10 & 11.
CAMPUS ON MODIFIED SUMMER WORK SCHEDULE
CHANGE OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS
Upon recommendation of the College’s Health Insurance Committee, the Board of Trustees has approved changing the employee health insurance provider for the upcoming fiscal year. The decision was made to leave the Community College Insurance Cooperative (CCIC) at the end of this fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2012, JALC will join the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Health and Welfare Fund. Several informational meetings have been held regarding the new provider, and the promise of lower premiums while maintaining a strong benefit package has made this a popular choice with JALC employees. The medical provider network for Central States is BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. CONTINUING ED TO OFFER NEW SUMMER CLASSES Associate Dean for Community Education Barry Hancock has announced the addition of several new continuing education classes this summer, including Zumba basics, Ipad II – “I have one, now what?”, “Are you ready to franchise your business?”, bowed psaltery pre-violin for children, Dan Cross “On The Mark” basketball camp, digital camera for two generations (grandparents and kids), serger sewing, writing workshops, and women’s strength and conditioning. David England’s Stock Market 109, 110, and 111 classes will be offered, along with a number of health care courses and conferences. For more information visit the continuing education website at http://www.jalc.edu/cont_ed/ . NEW LOSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NAMED The Logan Operational Staff Association has announced new Executive Committee appointments effective September 1, 2012. They are as follows: Victoria Kelly, president; Tamra Walker, vicepresident; Judi Pastori, secretary; Tracie Zoller, treasurer; Bill Erwin, Beth Hanner, Tim Smith, and Deana Smith, representatives-at-large. Frances Cobb will become the regional council representative effective July, 2012.
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COMMENCEMENT 2012
Families and friends of graduates packed the Donald L. Brewer Gymnasium and Convention Center and O’Neil Auditorium on May 17 for the Forty-Third Annual Commencement at John A. Logan College. Over 800 students qualified for graduation for the academic year which includes fall semester 2011, spring semester 2012, and summer 2012. In addition to the presenting of degrees and certificates to graduates, the College’s 2012 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Award winners were honored and spoke briefly to the students. The Distinguished Alumnus, Outstanding Faculty Member, and Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member awards are presented annually. Winners from across the state will also be honored at a banquet in Bloomington in June.
Distinguished Alumnus
Herrin native David Lee Murphy is JALC’s 2012 Distinguished Alumnus
Student Speaker Elaina Cozart of Murphysboro addresses her Country music singer-songwriter David Lee fellow graduates. Murphy was honored as the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus at the May 17 commencement ceremony. The Herrin native received his Associate in Science degree from John A. Logan College in 1981. Murphy made his mark as a performer in the mid-1990s with breakout songs like Party Crowd and Dust on the Bottle which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. His debut album, Out with a Bang went platinum and became the best-selling debut album by a male country artist in 1995. That year, he was nominated for Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. He had several other hits before shifting from perfomer to songwriter. Many of his compositions have been recorded by some of today’s country music superstars and have found their way to the top of the charts. Murphy and his wife Donna reside in Franklin, Tennessee. They have three sons.
Outstanding Faculty Member
Mathematics and computer science instructor Scott Elliott was selected Outstanding Faculty Member for 2012 and was recognized at Commencement. Elliott has been teaching at JALC since 1989. He is known for conducting his classroom in a manner that allows students to feel comfortable asking questions and for going beyond the classroom experience to help his students. Some of his many notable accomplishments include posting online instructional videos , helping not only his current students, but people worldwide who want to learn more about math; helping to initiate MathXL, an online homework system in all developmental math courses at JALC , and providing top-level technical support to students and faculty who use it; and assisting with management of the Moodle learning management system. Elliott has consistently received outstanding evaluations from both the administration and students and is highly respected by his peers. Elliott and his wife, Jill, reside in Herrin with their three children, Erin, Jordan, and Carson.
Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member DeSande R was selected the 2012 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member Art instructor DeSande R was chosen 2012 Outstanding PartTime Faculty Member and received the award at the May 17 commencement ceremony. A native of Chicago who now resides in Carbondale, DeSande has been teaching at John A. Logan College since 2002. DeSande is respected by her peers as a very knowledgeable teacher in her field who is constantly researching new information on current theories and practices. During her tenure at JALC, she has developed a course called Art Preparation and Portfolio to help better prepare art majors to go on to get the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In addition to teaching art classes at both JALC and Shawnee Community College, DeSande continues to work as a freelance artist in oil painting and drawing. Her artwork has been displayed in exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally. More information about her art may be found at her web site: www.desanderdreamerrenditions.com.
Outstanding Faculty Member Scott Elliott
President Mees (right) presiding over his last Commencement ceremony at John A. Logan College. To the left is Mike Hopkins, chair of the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees.
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FOUNDATION NEWS Stacy Holloway, director of scholarships and alumni services for the John A. Logan College Foundation, has announced the awarding of the following scholarships:
Retirees attending the 2012 Annual Retirement Reception on May 14 pose in the Conference Center atrium. From left: Larry Spears, Tom Cardwell, Bob Fester, Robin Pauls, Kim Dixon, Jan Otey, Helen Daniels-Moncrief, and Robert Mees.
Congratulations And Best Wishes To All John A. Logan Retirees Tom Cardwell, Director of Testing Services 23 years of service Helen Daniels-Moncrief, Nursing Instructor 5 years of service Kim Dixon, Dean of Financial Operations 27 years of service Bob Fester, Director of Veterans Services 33 years of service Steve McLaughlin, Director of Distance Learning 14 years of service Robert L. Mees, President 21 years of service Lou Morgan, Director of Network Infrastructure 15 years of service Darby Ortolano, Assistant Professor of Art 12 years of service Jan Otey, Secretary to the Vice-President for Business Services and College Facilities 28 years of service David Packard, Professor of English 42 years of service Elaine S. Parker, Director of Adult Secondary Education 25 years of service Robin Pauls, Associate Dean for Information Technology 31 years of service Dennis Phillips, Campus Safety Officer 14 years of service Larry Duncan Spears, Associate Professor in Biology 18 years of service
American Association of Women in Community Colleges Christina Boyce, Makanda Justin Wiseman, Cambria Amy Young Memorial Scholarship Jungmi Park, Carterville Arnold and Wyma Smith Memorial Scholarship Taylor Atchison, Mulkeytown GED Scholarship - Jovanni Cooper, Hurst John A. Logan College Foundation Art Scholarships Kristine Boggis and Keith Thompson, Carterville; Doty Buker, Ava Hancock Memorial Scholarship Mallorie Hertter, Marion Massage Therapy Hope Scholarships Baylen Earles and Matthew Stearns, Carbondale TRIO Scholarships Brandy Dix, Imani Hudson, Allisa Lanier, and Siegfried Schroth, Carbondale Quinton Bagwell, Zachary Bagwell and Joseph Schmitt, Carterville Nichole Pate, Herrin Cory Davis, Shawn Francis and Johnny Walker, Marion Joseph Napiorkowski, Pittsburg
DR. MEES HONORED AT FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING
JALC Foundation Executive Director, Staci Bynum and Foundation Vice President, Elaine Melby are pictured with President Dr. Robert Mees at the Foundation Board meeting on May 8. The Foundation announced they are giving $5,000 to the Village Center to install a large stone fireplace in honor of Dr. Mees.
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Baseball Team Region 24 Champs
The John A. Logan College baseball team was crowned Region 24 champions for the second straight year in May and advanced within one game of the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Logan Golfers Finish Third At Nationals The John A. Logan College men’s golf team brought home the third-place trophy from the NJCAA National Championship held May 22-25 at Swan Lake Golf Course in Plymouth, Ind. Pictured from left are: Colin Robinson, Steve Souchek, Bryce Doughty, Colin Hendrickson, Tucker Guisewite, and head coach Tom Ferris.
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JALC ADULT BASIC/ SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFERS CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING John A. Logan College’s Adult Basic/ Secondary Education Program is pleased to announce a new Bridge program about customer service training for GED students. This program is being offered as part of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Career Pathways strategy to help adults who are completing their GED receive training related to area labor market needs. The first class (pictured above) is being trained for local hospitality and tourism jobs in lodging, entertainment (such as our local wineries), dining, and retail. In addition, the students are learning about articulation and continuing their education towards certificates and degrees at John A. Logan College after they receive their GED. The group is receiving training on communication skills, offering service to the public, and developing basic employment skills such as resume writing and preparing for interviews. This instruction is occurring through classroom lectures and discussion, computer research, role playing, and site visits. The class began on May 1, and will end on June 21.
Scott Hunziker and Dale Marrs balance high above the pool in the Aquatic Center while Mike McCuan with Pulley Electric passes up a light.
JALC Interior Lighting Upgraded
by Tim Gibson, Sustainability Coordinator Perhaps you’ve heard some folks commenting that things seem a little “brighter” on campus lately. They literally are, thanks in most part to an extensive interior lighting renovation project the College recently completed. The opportunity to make more lighting improvements came in the form of the Illinois Community College Targeted Energy Savings grant secured this past year by the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), funded by IL DCEO. To be eligible to participate in the ICCTES grant, colleges had to have completed a campus wide energy audit performed by a third party. Thanks to the foresight of our administration who understood the benefits of such an energy audit and already had one done, JALC was one of only 18 Illinois colleges able to meet that requirement and take advantage of ICCTES year one program funding. To give an idea of the scope of what was accomplished, here are some numbers. Over 1600 lamps and 450 plus ballasts were changed in existing light fixtures. A total of 528 new fixtures were installed, and 50 new occupancy sensors were placed in rooms where it’s easy to shut the door and forget to turn off the lights. A rather special challenge was changing the lighting over the pools in the J building. Because newer bulbs using less wattage replaced older ones, a total of 108,940 total watts of lighting was removed and replaced with only 57,477 watts. Statewide, the ICCTES grant is expected to save almost 3.5 million kWh at IL colleges combined. Bulk purchasing of lighting equipment in year one alone saved nearly $ 200,000 on $1,100,000 of materials bought. The College will be participating in year two of the ICCTES grant, which will include more interior lighting upgrades, and day lighting controls which automatically adjust lighting levels in areas where sunlight streams through windows. The College also hopes to change all parking lot lighting to LED lights, which a lighting survey showed can reduce energy use by 60% over existing parking lot lighting.
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OVERDUE PLAQUE PLACED ON DISPLAY 1993 Academic All-American Steve McLaughlin, President Emeritus Ray Hancock, 1996 Academic All-American Paul McKnight, and President Robert Mees Since the early 1990s, John A. Logan College has participated in an honors program through the American Association of Community Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa academic honor society, and USA TODAY. Selection to the national All-USA Academic Team has been one of the highest honors available to John A. Logan College students. While the State of Illinois has in recent years honored all the nominees in the state as the All-Illinois Team, the national award is still ultimately prestigious. John A. Logan has had the distinction of having two graduates – Steve McLaughlin (1993) and Paul McKnight (1996) – named to the All-USA Academic Team – the only students in College history to win at the national level. While both McLaughlin and McKnight received individual awards at the respective times, there was nothing in the public displays at the College to properly commemorate their achievements. Thus the decision was made to prepare a plaque in their honor and make a formal presentation prior to the March Board of Trustees meeting. The plaque now hangs near the All-Illinois Team photos in the west lounge area of the College. McLaughlin, of Herrin, has served as director of distance learning at John A. Logan College for the past 14 years and plans to retire July 1. McKnight is executive director of the Massac Counting Housing Authority and resides in Metropolis, Illinois.
Another Successful Big Read An ongoing effort to create a campus-wide reading event was initiated at John A. Logan College in 2011 with the JALC Big Read. The project consisted of a month-long series of events centered around the book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. The event was so successful it was continued in 2012 with the book Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. English Professor Katy Carl issued a special thanks to all who attended some or all of the 2012 Big Read events. “A powerful message is sent when students see faculty, staff, and administrators taking time away from our regular duties to support and encourage reading as a lifetime-learning activity,” Carl said. On-campus speakers Chris Willis and Rick Ellett provided interesting, useful information on preparing for and coping with disasters. FEMA speaker, James Taylor, outlined the ways FEMA has been re-organized and duties re-assigned as a result of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Act. The students of humanities faculty member Diana Tigerlily brought the Big Read to a moving close with dramatic performances of a series of monologues. Student writing contest winners Siggi Schroth and Colin Keith earned $50 Barnes and Noble gift cards. English faculty members Nikki Borrenpohl and Dave Evans coordinated the contest, and Associate Dean for Library Services Judy Vineyard, leading a team of library professionals, sponsored the Big Read and hosted book-club discussion groups. Faculty members Matt Garrison, Cheri Barrall and Robyn Stevens participated in planning events, as well as attending and encouraging students to attend. Carl says plans are already underway for next year’s event.
Annual Legislative Breakfast Held Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is shown speaking at the annual Legislative Breakfast held at John A . Logan College on April 16. Those present also heard comments from Representative John Bradley and Senator Gary F o r b y. G r a v e concerns about education funding throughout the state were the major topic of the day. While officials pledged their continued support, their comments were a testimony to the daunting tasks they are facing in this budget crisis. Public school officials from the John A. Logan College district were also present at the breakfast and shared their concerns.
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Message from President continued from page 2 Steve McLaughlin, Lou Morgan, Darby Ortolano, Jan Otey, David Packard, Elaine Parker, Robin Pauls, Dennis Phillips, and Larry Spears. I wish each of you well as you enter this new phase of your lives. I would like to congratulate the baseball team on its excellent season as Region 24 champions, and the men’s golf team for bringing home the thirdplace trophy from the NJCAA National Championship. Since this will be my last column in the General News, I would like to thank the Board of Trustees for giving me the opportunity to be president of this great institution the past twelve years and serve our students who are truly the heart of this College. In addition, I appreciate the excellent work done by the faculty and staff. A special thanks goes to the vice-presidents and my office staff for an outstanding job. I will truly miss all the wonderful and talented people I have worked with the past 21 years at John A. Logan College. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Karla, and my son, Scott, for all of their support during my tenure at JALC. I wish the best to everyone for a prosperous and healthy future.
Robert L. Mees, PhD President
BOARD APPOINTS DEPARTMENT CHAIRS At its May 22 meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed the following department chairs for a three-year term (FY 2013 - FY 2016): Pam Karns – Allied Health & Public Service Grant Department Chair Greg Walker – Applied Technology Department Chair Robert English – Physical Science Department Chair
PEOPLE… New Faces Courtney Finigan
Julie Strauss
full-time secretary III in community education
Rebecca Skipper
veteran’s advisor/counselor
full-time IGEN/TAA regional coordinator
WELCOME TO… Elizabeth Ferguson - full-time secretary III in the Student Success Center
ON THE MOVE… Stacy Buckingham will move into the position of dean for financial operations. Keith Krapf has moved into the position of dean for instruction. Rosemarie May has moved into the position of full-time secretary III in the Scheduling Office. Francie Morhet has moved into the position of full-time, temporary, ABE/GED counselor/facilitator for the hospitality and tourism bridge program. Jenifer Rongey has moved into the position of full-time secretary III in the Continuing Education Office. Ryan Sierman has moved into the position of director of network infrastructure. Kyle Suprenant has moved into the position of full-time advisor/ assistant baseball coach. Matt Yusko has moved into the position of director of testing services.
CONGRATULATIONS TO… Jason Tanner on his recent election as second vice-president of the Illinois Business Education Association. He will serve in this role from fall 2012 until fall 2013 when he will assume the role of first vice-president. Lora Hines who is representing the College on the Midwest Higher Education Compact Cross-State Tuning Initiative and serving as co-chair of a faculty workshop group for marketing. This initiative is funded through the Lumina Foundation for Education and its goal is to define the core essence of disciplines and establish measurable learning outcomes at each level of a student’s education. Valerie Barko on her election to the National Association of Career and Technical Education Information Board as one of two Region IV members. Kristin Shelby on her appointment to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Disabilities Advisory Committee. The committee was established by the IBHE in 2004 to provide the Board with technical advice about increasing and improving services and programs for students with disabilities in Illinois higher education. Chris Georgantas on completion of a National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool Operator course, earning him the CPO certificate as an operator of aquatic facilities. Renewal of this certification is required every five years. Georgantas has operated and maintained pools professionally for over 21 years.
Venable Elected Student Trustee
John A. Logan College Freshman Joe Venable was chosen as the student representative to the Board of Trustees in a campus-wide election held on March 7, 2012. Mr. Venable was seated at the April 30 meeting of the Board of Trustees and will serve a one-year term which will expire in April 2013. Venable is a Carterville native and a 2011 graduate of Carterville High School. He has a strong passion for politics, sports and his Christian faith. He is very active in the community, with political campaigns, and in his church. He promises to bring his passion for service to the students of John A. Logan College. “I will represent the student body to the very best of my ability and will be a strong voice in expressing their concerns. I look forward to working with the students and the Board of Trustees over the next year,” Venable said.
General News
is published by the President’s Office John A. Logan College Carterville, Illinois
Robert L. Mees, President BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Michael Hopkins, Chair Jim Snider, Vice-Chair Jaclyn Hancock, Secretary Don Brewer John F. O’Keefe Jacob “Jake” Rendleman John W. Sanders Joe Venable, Student Trustee
COLLEGE PRESENTS JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR® DREAMCOAT JALC’s own Brandyn McGhee is lifted high by the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat. McGhee, theatre technician for the College, played the part of Joseph in the renowned Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. The cast performed to a sold-out O’Neil auditorium on May 4, 5 and 6. JALC music instructor Nathan Arnett directed the production.
STAFF: Donna Glodjo, Managing Editor Robin Egelston, Design, Layout & Photography Steve O’Keefe, Writing & Photography John Homan, Writing & Photography Your input and suggestions for articles are welcome. Please forward to Donna Glodjo, President’s Office donnaglodjo@jalc.edu
The General News is published four times a year.
John A. Logan College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, or gender orientation.
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