General NewsJohn A. Logan College

President’s OfficeJanuary - March

2012

HISTORICAL VILLAGE DEDICATION SETCompletion of one of John

A. Logan College’s most unique endeavors will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m. The Harrison/Bruce Historical Village will be dedicated in a brief ceremony at the Village Centre, followed by refreshments and tours of the area.

The Village’s newest additions include a replica of the historical Harrison House pictured left), originally built in 1868 in Herrin by David Ruffin Harrison; a replica of a 19th century log cabin general store and post office (pictured below left); and a new Village Centre which will be an ideal venue for a variety of College and community gatherings. These structures complete the historical area already occupied by Purdy School, a one-room school built in 1860 in southern Perry County and moved to the John A. Logan College campus in 1983; and the Hunter Cabin, a log cabin built in 1818 and

reconstructed on the JALC campus in 2007.President Robert Mees has been an enthusiastic

supporter of the historical area for many years, and says he couldn’t be more pleased with the end results. “This will be a very special day for the College and the entire Southern Illinois community as we mark the completion of this project dedicated to accenting and preserving our history,” Mees said.

The vast majority of the funding for the historical village was furnished by the Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation and the Fred G. Harrison Foundation. While the Purdy School building was donated to the College by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Rice, the Harrison/Bruce Foundations made the move to the JALC campus possible. The Hunter Cabin was donated by the Jacob Hunter Trust in 2005, and again, the Harrison/Bruce Foundations provided a generous grant allowing for its reconstruction on the JALC campus.

“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the Harrison/Bruce Foundations,” said President Mees. “Words cannot express our gratitude to the advisors of these Foundations for their assistance in making this dream a reality. It is my understanding that history was extremely important to Julia Harrison Bruce, and I believe she would be very pleased with this attraction which will bring the past alive for generations to come.”

Structures in the Village will serve as museums to display an impressive collection of historical items. An advisory committee is being formed to make decisions regarding museum displays. The volume of the collection will allow for displays to be rotated in and out of storage, keeping an ever-changing showcase of Southern Illinois history available to the public.

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Message froM the President

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Message froM the President

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Message froM the President

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Message froM the President

Message froM the President

Dear Colleagues and Friends:Spring semester is progressing

well – and quickly -- at John A. Logan College. While we did not experience record enrollment figures this semester, I am pleased at the increase over fall semester and feel that we are holding our own during these difficult times. I applaud the efforts of those involved in our enrollment management plan as they work to analyze and address issues affecting our enrollment, retention, and credit hours.

I am very excited to announce the completion of the Harrison/Bruce Historical Village that will serve as a tourist attraction and preserve and accent our history for generations to come. The new Village Centre will provide a wonderful venue for meetings and celebrations for the College and the community. I hope you will all plan to attend the dedication ceremony of the Historical Village on April 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the Village Centre. I am so grateful for the support of the Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation and the Fred G. Harrison Foundation in making this historical area a reality.The completion of the new pervious parking lot is a welcome addition to the campus, with 89 new parking spaces. More importantly, it underscores

Art Mural Unveiled At Marion Ford Hyundai

The John A. Logan College Humanities Department turned out to celebrate the unveiling of the mural created by Drew Tucker and students. From left: Nathan Arnett, music instructor; Darby Ortolano, art instructor; Gayle Pesavento, term faculty member and retired humanities instructor; Tucker; Maudie Graham, humanities professor; and Stephanie Chaney-Hartford, Humanities Department chair and speech instructor.

Mike Absher, owner of Marion Ford Hyundai, presents JALC President Robert Mees with a donation of $5,000 to the John A. Logan College Foundation for the College’s Art Department.

A mural depicting the history of Ford Motor Company and Marion Ford Hyundai is now on display in the service bay at Marion Ford Hyundai, thanks to the artwork of John A. Logan College art instructor Drew Tucker and his students. The large work of art starts with Henry

Ford on one end and a red Mustang on the other end, with the company’s rich history woven in between. The mural was officially unveiled on February 28, and dealership owner Mike Absher honored Tucker and his students with a donation of $5,000 to the John A. Logan College Foundation for the College’s art department.

The project began last fall when Ford Service Manager Brian Evans expressed his desire to dress up the service bay at the dealership to John A. Logan College’s Steve O’Keefe. O’Keefe immediately thought of Drew Tucker, the appropriate contacts with the College’s art department were made, and Tucker and his students went to work.

Absher says he couldn’t be more pleased with Tucker’s work.“It is unbelievable what he and those kids have been able to do with a concrete wall.

You can’t imagine the amount of interest this has generated. We aren’t the only ones that have been excited about the project. Our customers love it and representatives from Ford Motor Company can’t wait to see the completed project.”

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Dean For Student Services Office Relocates – With A Touch Of Rock & Roll

Terry Crain and Robert Fester struck a pose for General News in April, 1998, as instructors of the College’s first Internet course, “The History of Rock and Roll”

If you ever need “A Little Help from Your Friends,” Dean for Student Services and eternal Beatles’ fan Terry Crain invites you to stop by his new office area in B-30. He doesn’t have a welcome mat, but you will be greeted with a huge poster depicting one of Crain’s all-time favorite groups. Crain and his secretary, Melissa Inman,

recently moved into the space formerly occupied by the Office of Educational Programming. Crain is excited about the move, and says, “Having some separation between the dean’s office

and the admissions area will make for more efficient operation of both offices.” In addition to the reception area and Crain’s office, the office suite includes a conference room and space for records storage.

Crain has added his personal touches throughout, reflecting his love of rock and roll music. When he isn’t busy serving JALC students as their dean, he likes to share his passion and knowledge with fellow music enthusiasts. He is teaching his second JALC online class on the Beatles this semester, following a very successful class last fall. Along with Robert Fester and Tom Bell, Crain offered the very first total Internet course at John A. Logan College in the spring of

1998 – “The History of Rock and Roll” - - t h r o u g h t h e College’s continuing education program. The c la ss dre w w i d e s p r e a d attention and the team of instructors, a l o n g w i t h Associate Dean Barr y Hancock , were inv ited to m a k e s e v e r a l presentations on this “new online m e t h o d ” o f instruction.

Miss Volunteer AnnaMarie Cook

Miss And Mrs. Volunteer Pageants Held On Campus

The 25th Annual Miss and Mrs. Volunteer Scholarship Pageant was held at John A. Logan College on February 17. AnnaMarie Cook of Johnston City was crowned Miss Volunteer. She competed in evening gown, swimsuit, talent and interview and won a $500 scholarship. She will compete in the Miss Illinois pageant in June. Miss Cook is a sophomore at John A. Logan College, enrolled in the nursing program.

Melissa Olsen of Carterville was crowned Mrs. Volunteer. She competed in evening gown, interview and talent, and also received a $500 scholarship. Mrs. Olsen returned to John A. Logan College to complete her degree after attending classes at the college years ago.

Professor Emeritus Karen Sala is one of the pageant organizers.

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Spoerre Shares Experiences In Uganda Last spring, The General News ran a piece about a trip Perkins Coordinator Gary Spoerre was planning to Southern Uganda (Spring Break in Uganda!). Mr. Spoerre has shared some of the details of that trip in the following narrative: 

Last March seems like such a long time ago now... two friends and myself took a 10-day trip to Uganda where we visited a friend of ours, Fr. Gerald Wamala, and toured some of the schools in his area.  We were also to photograph the children in one of his schools as part of a new project here at home - The Sister Parish Project.  It turns out that hungry children in Southern Uganda have a hard time learning just like hungry children in Southern Illinois, and two retired educators from Herrin, Bill and Marge Harmon,

thought they should do something about it.  They felt if they could put names and faces to some of the orphans from Fr. Gerald’s school, they should be able to collect enough money to feed them lunch at school each day for the entire school year (about $50 US per child).  Last year, with those photographs, the Harmons found donors to feed 313 children at the Mulajje (moo-LAH-jay) School.

Fr. Gerald is in charge of 12 parish schools in South Central Uganda, about 40 miles north of Kampala, Uganda’s capital.  About eight years ago he was a visitor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (OLMC) in Herrin, and through the years a close relationship has developed between the two communities; we have helped to drill two wells, build a church, and most recently - build a school for the Parish of Kaluze (ka-loo-ZEH).  We traveled to that parish one afternoon of our trip to dedicate the school, and were stunned by the outpouring of community generosity.  They place such a high value on education - building them a school was seen as a gift of the highest order.  

In addition to the parish schools in the area, we visited public and private schools and met with education administrators.  The schools are mainly open air structures - a roof with walls and openings for doors and windows, but no doors or windows.  Most classrooms were filled to the point of being over-crowded... one public school had class sizes that easily approached 200 students, with only one teacher for the class.  Students in all the schools we visited wore uniforms and welcomed us to their classes - I told one elementary school assembly that they needed good math skills, that math was part of everything they did... and they gave me the same “Oh No” look that students in the States give me!  We also toured a hospital, an infirmary, and an orphanage, and were welcomed in most areas by the village elders.  

In all, I had an amazing but unsettling trip.  Uganda is a beautiful country, but there is little industry and too few jobs to support their workforce.  AIDS and a long civil war have resulted in many orphans and much poverty, and education is clearly the path to strengthening their economy.  More schools are needed, and school supplies, and sports equipment.  One thing that we saw everywhere was singing and dancing, it was great!  We could use more dancing in our schools.  To come full circle, the Harmon’s put out the word again this year to feed the students at Mulajje, and last month had received enough to feed 479 kids in 2012!  Fr. Gerald reported that because of the lunch program, the number of children coming to school keeps growing - an additional benefit to an already generous gift.  That’s how kindness works.  For a look at my trip, check out this YouTube clip: http://youtu.be/g2j76wUx3OM.

STUDENTS TAKE PART IN ACCOUNTING CHALLENGERyan Bonifield, Associate in Arts major, and Zach Stacy, accounting major, participated in the Accounting Challenge hosted by the College of Business at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on February 10. Both Mr. Bonifield and Mr. Stacy plan to attend SIUC during the 2012-2013 academic year. Dr. Jason Tanner, professor of business, served as the faculty representative from JALC’s Department of Business.

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JaLC oPens PerVioUs ParKing LotBy Tim Gibson

Members of the John A. Logan College Green Committee from left: Dean for Workforce Development and Community Education Phil Minnis, HCCTP Coordinator Mark Etters, Director of Buildings and Grounds Dwight Hoffard, Coordinator of Grounds Maintenance Tom Hamlin, Sustainability Coordinator Tim Gibson, Facilities Staff Member Scott Hunziker, Associate Dean for Health and Public Service Valerie Barko, Nursing Instructor Debra Russell, and Auto Mechanics Instructor Lee Rawson.

The College continues its commitment to sustainability with completion of the new pervious pavement parking lot, the first of its kind in Southern Illinois. The lot has space for 89 vehicles and serves the new “E” wing of the communications building which opened with the spring semester.  The pervious lot has been designated lot “P”, and the stripes on the lot have been painted green.   Six inches of pervious concrete was poured over a base of 18 inches of coarse gravel and another 6 inches of small, clean gravel.

For those not familiar with pervious pavement, here is how it works, courtesy of the ConcreteNetwork.com:

Essentially, pervious concrete is a structural concrete pavement with a large volume (15 to 35 percent) of interconnected voids. Like conventional concrete, it’s made from a mixture of cement, coarse aggregates, and water. However, it contains little or no sand, which results in a porous open-cell structure that water passes through readily. Pervious concrete can take in storm water at a rapid rate of 3 to 5 gallons per minute per square foot of surface area, which exceeds the flow rate needed to prevent runoff in most rain events. The coarse gravel layer underneath the pavement stores the rainwater and allows it to percolate slowly into the underlying soil. Because the pavement itself acts as a retention area, it helps to prevent much of the polluted runoff that normally occurs with impervious pavements. The filtration process also helps to purify the water. As the water percolates through the open cells of the pavement, aerobic bacteria in the voids help to break down harmful pollutants and chemicals.

The new pervious lot will not only help with erosion issues during heavy rains, it will ensure that oil and gas and other contaminants from parked vehicles do not wash directly into the nearby creek and Crab Orchard Lake.

Gilbert’s 12Th Book Of Poetry Now Available

Used Lanterns, the newest publication of poems by JALC’s Ken “Fog” Gilbert, is now available. This is the twelfth book of poetry select ions by j a c o b e r i n -c i l b e r t o , Gi lber t ’s pen name, and may be purchased at the John A. Logan College Bookstore, The Book Worm in Carbondale, or online at waterforestpress.com and amazon.com. Book signings will be held at the JALC Bookstore on Monday, March 26, from 2-4 p.m., and at The Book Worm in Carbondale on Saturday, April 14, from 2-4 p.m.

Highly respected author B. Z. Niditch says of this latest work, “jacob-erin cilberto shines an eloquent light on the poetic highway of life.” He calls erin-cilberto’s work “exciting, often diverting, and always rewarding – whether illuminating where we’ve been, where we are, or even where we’re going.”

Tim Tolnay, editor-printer of Birch Brook Press, calls Used Lanterns “a splendid latitude of observation, thought, and circumstance.” He speaks of erin-cilberto’s ability to draw the reader into vivid contact with the impact of poetry in the writer’s life, pointing to a line from the title poem, “make my poems run naked/and embarrassed in front of people I don’t know/who only want to use me to see into themselves” -- and stating that this is a “very good reason to read the poetry in this book.”

Gilbert is an English term faculty member at John A. Logan College and Shawnee Community College. He has been writing and publishing since 1970, and his works have earned nomination for the prestigious Pushcart Prize in poetry in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In addition, he teaches poetry workshops for Heartland Writers Guild, Southern Illinois Writers Guild, and Union County Writers Guild.

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LITERACy PROGRAm HOLDS 4TH ANNUAL TRIVIA FUND RAISEROn February 17, the John A. Logan College Literacy Program held its 4th Annual Trivia Fund Raiser. The event was held at the Carterville Community Center, with 27 participating teams and over 200 in attendance. The fund raiser has grown from 17 teams to 27 teams, this year being the biggest turn out. The first place team, pictured left, won $240, the second place team won $160, and the 50/50 raffle winner won $202. Participants were also able to bid on over 37 silent auction items donated by various community merchants. Concessions were available with items such as hotdogs, chili, cheesecake and Pepsi products. The Literacy Program would like to thank Mayor Mausey and members of the city council for the use of the Carterville Community Center; Wes Bennett from W3D radio, MC for the evening; trivia judges, Carla and David Haas; and everyone else for their support of the program and in helping make this a successful event. The funds will be used to support literacy efforts throughout the JALC district. Be looking for next year’s trivia fundraiser on Friday, February 22, 2013.

sullivan Participates in transatlantic education dialogue Project

Dr. Sherry Sullivan, education professor at John A. Logan College, is currently participating in a 9-week project hosted by the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The Transatlantic Education Dialogue (T.E.D.) project provides an opportunity for educators in the United States and the

European Union to come together online for shared exploration and examination of a variety of educational topics as they relate to issues of identity and difference, with a particular emphasis on representations of “the other” in the classroom. Dr. Sullivan says this experience of educational diplomacy and exploration from multiple perspectives has the goal of enabling educators to overcome cultural misunderstanding and misconceptions.

A total of 70 educators in the U.S. and the EU are involved in the project, including current teachers, pre-service teacher education students, school administrators, graduate students, and education faculty. Countries involved in the project are: USA, Finland, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Italy, France, Hungary, Norway, and Bulgaria.

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FOUNDATION AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPSStac y Holloway, director of scholarships and alumni services for the John A. Logan College Foundation, has announced the awarding of the following scholarships:

Arnold and Wyma Smith Memorial Scholarship

Taylor Atchison, Mulkeytown

Elaine Mitchell Memorial Scholarship

Christopher Glazik, Jr., HerrinBethany Stuemke, Carbondale

Harold and Marolyn O’Neil Scholarship

Steven Ball, Indiana

Ken Gray ScholarshipMandy Little, West Frankfort

Rosemary Berkel Crisp Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Quinton Bagwell, Carterville

Shorty Switzer Memorial ScholarshipBen Porter, Vergennes

Vicky Green Memorial ScholarshipJamie Binkley, Marion

Randi Luthy, Du Quoin

Williamson County Crime Stoppers Scholarship

Marisa Perry, Pittsburg

NEW FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS ESTABLISHEDIn the past two months six new scholarships have been established at the John A. Logan College

Foundation. Silkworm Inc. in Murphysboro started 2012 off by establishing a $25,000 endowment. The Silkworm

Scholarship will be awarded to a first generation college student majoring in graphic design, business or marketing. Cheryl Endres, Vice President of Silkworm Inc., said she would encourage others to consider establishing a scholarship, “John A. Logan College is a tremendous asset to our community, and this scholarship is our way of saying thank you.”

Chris Auffenberg, owner of Auffenberg of Carbondale and Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin recently presented the Foundation with a check for $25,000 to establish the Auffenberg Scholarship endowment. “We are proud to be a part of the southern Illinois community, and we feel it is important to give back. By setting up this scholarship we are able to give opportunity,” said Auffenberg.

Foundation Executive Director Staci Bynum says the funds couldn’t have come at a better time. “We experienced record enrollment at John A. Logan College for five straight years and as enrollment increases so does our need for new scholarships.”

In addition to the growing student population, state grant funding has suffered drastic cuts. “The MAP grant originally paid for 100% of tuition costs for students who qualified. Over the past ten years funding has gradually decreased. Now the MAP grant covers approximately 50% of tuition costs, so the need for financial assistance is significant,” said Sherry Summary, Director of Financial Aid.

An increase in students and a decrease in state funding means the pressure is on for the Foundation to deliver. Twenty-six people located throughout the JALC District serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We have worked diligently to increase awareness about the Foundation over the past two years and we are starting to see that hard work pay off,” said Board President Andrea Turner of Carbondale.

Bynum said many donors favor setting up an endowment as opposed to a scholarship fund due to the permanency of an endowed scholarship. “Take the Silkworm or Auffenberg scholarship for example. The $25,000 gift will be invested in perpetuity. A portion of the earnings is distributed to an expendable fund to be used for specific purposes, in this case for scholarships. It is the interest earned that the Foundation uses to carry out the donors wishes, not the principle. When you create a named endowment, you are creating a legacy that lives forever.”

There are many people who choose to set up a scholarship that is funded annually. Extra Help Inc. set up a $1,000 scholarship for students entering the field of business. The Leathernecks Motorcycle Club recently set up a scholarship that will be awarded each year to a veteran. From individual donors, to community groups, to major businesses like AISIN, the Foundation receives support from a wide variety of sources.

The ways to give are endless. “Not every donor is in a position to give thousands of dollars. We work with you to help you achieve your philanthropic goals regardless of the size of the gift,” said Bynum.

This past year, the Foundation administered more than 600 scholarships to students totaling nearly $800,000. John A. Logan College President Robert Mees said, “While tuition is among the lowest of community colleges in Illinois, the fact remains that over 65 percent of our students rely on financial assistance to pursue their education.”

“I have tremendous faith in the southern Illinois community. We will continue to meet the needs of our students because people understand how powerful education is and how it impacts not just the one student, but our entire community,” said Bynum.

To learn how you can give opportunity, contact the Foundation office at 985-2828 ext. 8355, or visit their website at www.jalc.edu/foundation

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tWins noMinated to aLL-Usa CoMMUnitY CoLLege aCadeMiC teaM By Teri Campbell

John A. Logan College students Jennifer (pictured left) and Jessica White, identical twins from Carterville, were recently nominated to the 2011-2012 All-USA Community College Academic Team. USA Today; Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges; and the American Association of Community Colleges sponsor this program annually to recognize some of the country’s top community college students.

Each community college can nominate two students to compete for the academic team. While academics are one factor in the selection process, JALC President Robert Mees says he looks for students who are outstanding both in and out of the classroom.

“Both Jennifer and Jessica have good academic records,” Mees said. “And they have also been involved in a lot of campus activities and community-service projects that are so important in shaping well-rounded students.”

The twins are 2009 graduates of Carterville High School, and they have excelled academically at Logan. They earned academic scholarships to attend JALC, and both have achieved near-perfect 3.9 grade-point averages. They have been involved in the College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and Chi Alpha, a Christian organization, and have also worked as peer tutors in the Student Success Center. The twins are also active in their church.

All students who applied for the All-USA Academic Team were required to fill out an application, obtain two letters of recommendation, answer several discussion questions, and write a 500-word essay.

“The application process for this program is quite rigorous,” said Jennifer Rose, a counselor/advisor at Logan who sponsors the College’s PTK chapter. “We have many exceptional students at Logan and had some excellent applications. What stood out about Jennifer and Jessica was their academic achievement coupled with their commitment to service. They were selected unanimously by the review committee.”

In April, 20 students will be selected to the All-USA Community College Academic team from all the nominees across the nation. Each of these students will receive a $2,500 scholarship.

As nominee to the All-USA Academic Team, Jennifer and Jessica were automaticallynamed to the All-State Community College Academic Team for Illinois. They will be recognized with the other members of the Illinois team at the PTK banquet in Springfield on April 18. All nominees will receive a medallion and a certificate and will be featured in an article in the Chicago Tribune.

hUge tUrnoUt for Utah ConCeaL CarrY PerMit CLasses

The Utah Conceal Carry Permit classes (for non-residents) offered through the College’s Continuing Education Department have been extremely popular with southern Illinoisans. To date, six sessions of training have been offered on the JALC campus, with over 700 people participating. These students ultimately receive a conceal carry permit which allows them to carry a firearm in 30 states.

The class takes four hours, and firing of a firearm is not required to obtain the non-resident Utah concealed firearm permit. The permit is valid for five years and training is not required for renewal. This permit is perfect for people who travel and want to legally protect themselves and their family. Students receive fingerprint cards and a photo is taken at the class.

The next training classes will be offered on March 24, 2012, from 8 a.m. - 12 noon, and from 1 – 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Continuing Education Department at Ext. 8248.

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT FACULTY PARTICIPATE IN STATE CONFERENCEThree faculty members from the JALC Business Department attended the annual Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference in Bloomington on February 15-17. Melanie Pecord, Business Department chair, presented information regarding Windows 7, while Terri Rentfro, professor of computer information systems, presented information regarding Office 2012. Dr. Jason Tanner, professor of business, served on the planning committee for the conference and as a session host.

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Faculty Members Complete Half Marathon At DisneyBiology Instructor Cheryl Thomas and Professor Emeritus Brenda

Erickson spent a great deal of their fall semester preparing for their first half marathon. As a result of the running they began last academic year, the two had a strong urge to push themselves further to complete longer distance runs. They made the decision to run their first half marathon early last spring and completed the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on January 7, 2012.

The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend draws runners from throughout the world, and is a well-organized weekend of races that include a 5K on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday. Those up for the challenge, known as the Goofy Challenge, can run both the half marathon and the full marathon to earn bragging rights for their “goofiness!” The Marathon weekend draws nearly 60,000 running enthusiasts and is full of entertainment and Disney magic along the race routes. The half marathon course ran through two of the Disney theme parks, Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and had over 22,000 finishers this year.

Their half marathon adventure began at 3:30 a.m., when they boarded the Disney bus to the race. After waiting for over two hours for their start time, they began the race with fireworks and Donald Duck giving the go-ahead gunshot!

Cheryl and Brenda are happy to report they completed the race and both met their personal goals. They received a Donald Duck medal for finishing the race.

Cheryl’s favorite part of running is the physical and mental challenge, and that it has become a family affair. Cheryl’s husband also ran the Disney Half Marathon and the two trained together for the event. In addition, her older son is a serious runner, and her younger son is also becoming interested in the sport. When asked what is the best part about running, Brenda replies, “I am so happy I started running. It has changed me for the better. I feel stronger, healthier and absolutely love what it has done for my mind and body!”

Cheryl and Brenda have already committed to their next half marathon, which will be Mother’s Day weekend in Paducah, Kentucky.

NEWS IN BRIEFBoard Meeting ChangesThe John A. Logan College Board of Trustees has voted to change the date of its regular April 24 meeting to Monday, April 30, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. The change was necessary due to schedule conflicts. The board also voted to change the time of its March 27 meeting to 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. in order to accommodate an interactive session with the John A. Logan College Student Senate.

PresidentiaL searCh Progressing WeLLThe Presidential Search Committee has completed applicant screenings and scheduled interviews with seven individuals during the month of March. When interviews have been completed, names of three to five finalists will be submitted to the Board of Trustees. The Board will conduct interviews of the finalists at specially called

meetings in April. Action to employ the new president is expected to be taken at a special board meeting in April or the regular April board meeting. The new president will assume the role July 1, 2012, upon the retirement of President Robert Mees. The Presidential Search Committee members are as follows: Trustees Jim Snider and John O’Keefe, Committee Co-Chairs; Vice-President for Administration Tim Daugherty; Baccalaureate Transfer Faculty Member Jane Bryant; Career Faculty Member Mark Rogers; Non-Teaching Professional Member Stacy Holloway; Vice-President Emeritus Don Middleton; Operational Staff Member Tamra Walker; JALC Student Kayla Malone; and community members Woody Thorne (Southern Illinois Healthcare), Bob Bleyer (Bank of Carbondale); and Ethel Holladay (retired teacher).

sPring enroLLMent Tenth day figures for spring semester showed 6,867 students enrolled at John A. Logan College. This is the third highest spring enrollment in the College’s history, and shows an increase over the fall semester tenth day enrollment of 6,257. Dean for Student Services Terry Crain said that while enrollment at the College is holding steady, the number of credit hours students are taking continues to decrease – an issue that colleges around the state are facing. Crain said that while students are still recognizing the need to attend college, many just cannot afford to take more than two or three classes at a time. A new enrollment management plan has been implemented that Crain feels has already yielded positive results. The number of in-district high school graduates enrolled for the spring semester is at an all-time high of 3,289 students, and the number of veterans enrolled is at an all-time high of 287.

Professor Emeritus Brenda Erickson, Biology Instructor Cheryl Thomas, and husband Howard are pictured celebrating the completion of their first half marathon in Orlando.

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24TH ANNUAL TROPICAL ADVENTURE OFFEREDJohn A. Logan College students will again have the

opportunity to travel to Trinidad and Tobago by participating in the 24th annual course “Introduction to Tropical Ecology,” (Biology 241) June 1-8, 2012. Participants will learn about tropical ecology in this beautiful two-island nation in the Caribbean by going on field trips to tropical evergreen rainforests, tropical deciduous forests, and mangroves. They will experience glass bottom boat tours of coral reefs, and observe giant leatherback turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. There will also be opportunity to see the colorful bird species, including the eighteen hummingbird species found in Trinidad at a private residence.

Nelda Hinckley, JALC professor emeritus, term faculty member, and coordinator of the adventure, stresses the trip is not limited to students. Persons interested in natural history, including faculty from other colleges and universities, have accompanied the group in the past and are welcome. For more information, contact Ms. Hinckley at 618-549-5588.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST SHARES mEmORIESCarbondale resident Genevieve Hughes was the featured guest at John A. Logan College’s diversity and multicultural event, Freedom Riders, recently held in commemoration of Black History Month and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ms. Hughes was one of the participants in the original Congress of Racial Equality Freedom Ride in May of 1961, whose goal was to help end the segregation of public transportation in the South. Toyin Fox, director of educational planning at JALC and chair of the Diversity Committee, helped organize the event.

Nelda Hinckley (right) poses with last year’s tropical adventure travelers.

DATES TO REmEmBERMarch 23 Closing the Gap Conference

March 24 Men’s Health Conference

March 27 Regular Board of Trustees meeting

April 3 Dedication of Harrison/Bruce Historical Village

April 6 HOLIDAY: College closed for Good Friday

April 15 JALC Community Band and Community Orchestra Spring Concert

April 30 Regular Board of Trustees meeting (rescheduled from April 24)

May 4, 5, and 6 PERFORMANCE SERIES: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, spring musical directed by Nathan D. Arnett

May 7 Honors Night

May 10-16 Final Exams

May 14 Annual Retirement Reception

May 17 Commencement

May 22 Regular Board of Trustees meeting

May 24 Annual Athletic Department Fish Fry

May 28 HOLIDAY: College closed for Memorial Day

June 11 Summer Instruction begins

June 15 JALC Foundation’s Annual Golf Classic

June 26 Regular Board of Trustees meeting

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Message from President continued from page 2College’s commitment to sustainability. I encourage you to read the article on page 5 of this newsletter describing the many benefits of the pervious lot to our environment.

The presidential search is going very well, and the Presidential Search Committee plans to interview seven individuals during the month of March. Special board meetings will be held in April for the Board of Trustees to interview the finalists, and selection of the new president is expected either at a special board meeting in April or at the regular April board meeting.

I would like to join the John A. Logan College Foundation in expressing my gratitude to the donors of six new scholarships over the past few months. Congratulations to the Foundation on a successful Italian Dinner in January, serving over 400 people and raising nearly $4,000 for scholarships. The Foundation is vital to the success of the College, and I appreciate the excellent work of Executive Director Staci Bynum and the Foundation Board of Directors.

Congratulations to JALC art instructor Drew Tucker and his students on the unveiling of their awesome work of art at Marion Ford Hyundai. Their mural depicting the history of Ford Motor Company and Marion Ford Hyundai is on display in the service bay of the dealership and has been lauded by all who have viewed it. Mike Absher, owner of Marion Ford Hyundai, honored Tucker and his students with a generous donation to the JALC Foundation to be used in the art department.

I would also like to congratulate twins Jennifer and Jessica White of Carterville on their nomination to the 2011-2012 All-USA Community College Academic Team, and wish them well in the national competition. They are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Team for Illinois and will be honored at a banquet in Springfield.

I continue to appreciate all the efforts of our College team that keep us moving forward in these difficult economic times. Best wishes to each of you for the remainder of the semester.

Robert L. Mees, PhD President

BETH BLUmENSTOCK

full-time, temporary assessment coordinator

WeLCoMe to …Lisa Fletcher, part-time, preschool substitute

on the MoVe… Kristy Neville has moved into the position of full-time director of accounting services; Dawn Pinkston has moved into the position of secretary III in the office of the vice-president for business services and college facilities; and Lisa Pruitt has moved into the position of full-time secretary III at the Alongi Du Quoin Extension Center.

CongratULations to…Melanie Pecord on new academic rank of associate professor.

KyLE SUPRENANT

stipend, assistant

baseball coach

HAILLy FULK-

WILLIAmS full-time staff

accountant

PEOPLE… New Faces

Professor Maudie Graham does a dramatic reading.

Humanities Department Presents Faculty Showcase By Teri Campbell

The Humanities Department at John A. Logan College presented its Faculty Showcase on February 9 in O’Neil Auditorium. The show featured performances and works of art by the Humanities Department faculty.

Murphysboro resident Rebecca Newburn, an alum of Logan and current music student at SIU, was one of the show’s organizers.

“This was the third time we’ve done this showcase and it went extremely well,” Newburn said. “In the first two shows, only music instructors performed, but this one included speech and art instructors, too.” Three speech instructors did readings in between the musical performances. Art faculty members Darby Ortolano and Drew Tucker had art exhibits in the gallery near O’Neil Auditorium.

Nathan Arnett was one of seven Logan music instructors to perform in the show, singing a piece from the musical, Babes in Arms. “I love to perform and rarely get the opportunity do so anymore, so it’s fun to participate in this show,” Arnett said.

Admission to the showcase was a $1.00 donation to JALC’s Instrumental Scholarship Fund.

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General Newsis published by the President’s Office

John A. Logan CollegeCarterville, Illinois

Robert L. Mees, President

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:Michael Hopkins, ChairJim Snider, Vice-Chair

Jaclyn Hancock, SecretaryDon Brewer

John F. O’KeefeJacob “Jake” Rendleman

John W. SandersMandy Little, Student Trustee

STAFF:Donna Glodjo, Managing Editor

Robin Egelston, Design, Layout & PhotographySteve O’Keefe, Writing & PhotographyJohn Homan, Writing & Photography

Your input and suggestions for articles are welcome.

Please forward to Donna Glodjo, President’s Office

donnaglodjo@jalc.eduThe General News

is published four times a year.

athLetiC dePartMent Benefits froM fUndraisers

Mike Seltzer, term faculty English instructor at John A. Logan College, was the winner of a 2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle raffled off by the John A. Logan College Athletic Department on Christmas Eve at Black Diamond Harley-Davidson in Marion. The bike is valued at more than $8,000. Tickets went on sale for the Sportster in late September, and the fundraiser netted nearly $3,500 for athletics. Pictured with Seltzer from left are: Shad Zimbro, co-owner of Black Diamond Harley-Davidson; Seltzer’s wife Debbie; and JALC Athletic Director Jerry Halstead.

T h e A t h l e t i c Department also hosted a n o t h e r s u c c e s s f u l fundraiser in January when over 100 bowlers f r o m t h r o u g h o u t Southern Illinois turned out at the SI Bowl in C ar ter v i l le to ra i se money for athletics. The event was underwritten by First Bank and Trust in Murphysboro, and food was provided by 17th Street Barbeque in Murphysboro and Marion.