January 2008

Foundation
Board of Directors
President
David C. Heide

Executive Vice President
Cheryl Wilson

Treasurer
Bruce G. Nawara, C.P.A.

Secretary
Margaret Lehner, Ed.D.

Brian Andersen
Frank R. Barre
Hon. Irene H. Brodie
Vernon Crawley, D.Ed.
Maria DeCaprio-Sunta
Anthony Q. Drake
Philip T. Foster
Barry Gaw
Noreen Ligino-Kubinski
Katie Maier
Egon J. Menker
John Moore
Omar Najib
William J. Opelka
Debra Piscola
Dick Post
Maureen Ryan
Dennis Shannon
Carolyn Viverito
Sandra Wagner
Jon Weglarz

Executive Director
Sue Linn

Message from the President
AI am pleased to report the campus expansion project is
moving forward as planned. Our groundbreaking ceremony
held in November commemorated the start of a new and exciting future for Moraine Valley. The project includes renovation and expansion of the College Center—the hub for student activities and services— construction of an Instructional and Job Training Center, and a science building, recently named through unanimous resolution of the college Board of Trustees as the Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall. We anticipate both of the new buildings to begin serving students in fall 2009.

In addition to the renovations and expansion on our main campus, plans include construction of an education center in the southwest area of the college district.

Our number-one priority is our students and thanks to the community’s support in approving the bond measure, we are able to grow to meet the needs of our students and the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Dr. Vernon O. Crawley
College President

Traveling Calls Now a Good Thing for Former Hoops Standout

For Moraine Valley graduate Bob Lanigan, the traveling calls used to come from a ref—now they come from customers and ESPN.

Bob is the epitome of a sports nut—from high school and collegiate to professional—and he credits Moraine Valley for helping him chase his athletic dream. A former standout in the basketball program at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Bob knew he wanted to continue his minutes on the court, but he wasn’t quite as sure about what else he wanted out of life.

At Moraine Valley, Bob enjoyed successes both on the court— named MVP in the late 1980s—and off. “I wasn’t always the most mature, and those couple of years at Moraine Valley made a huge difference in me,” he said. His hard work earned him a Division I scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Martin where he continued to enjoy athletic and academic successes while earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Bob spent time as a reporter and anchor for a television station in Kentucky, and as a reporter and producer for the former Fox Sports in Rockford, before making the transition into sales for the Jim Beam Brands Company.

His role as sales manager keeps him traveling quite a bit from Peoria to the Chicago area during the week. His diehard passion for sports prompted him to take a part-time job with ESPN that keeps him traveling on the weekends.

“I do about 18 to 20 college football games a year for ESPN. I work behind the scenes—more production,” Bob said. His travels take him to cities and states he might not have otherwise visited, like Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Idaho, to name a few. “There’s a real energy and a spirited atmosphere in college football. I love it,” said Bob.

He is quick to point out that it was Moraine Valley and his former basketball coach, Bill Finn, also Athletics director, that gave him a shot at pursuing his passion. “Coach Finn gave me an opportunity to chase my dream,” Bob said. “I still come back for games and have made it for several of coach’s milestones.”

When Bob attended classes at Moraine Valley, there were some permanent facilities, but many classes were still held in the temporary buildings. “It’s amazing what’s happening at the college. I’m so proud to have gone to Moraine Valley. I would encourage anyone to go here, especially anyone who’s not entirely sure what they want to do,” Bob said. “It was a great place for me. As a matter of fact, two of my best friends now are guys I met at Moraine Valley.”

From the Foundation President

TAs we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the Foundation’s accomplishments in 2007. During the past year, the staff and Foundation Board of Directors contributed $185,000 to Moraine Valley Community College to support student scholarships and college programs. We would not have been able to accomplish this without the support of Moraine Valley’s friends and alumni. On behalf of the Foundation’s board of directors, thank you for your continuing support.

I know you will find this edition of Connections both informative and inspirational. It includes a highlight of the college’s athletic teams, information about the Foundation’s gala fundraising event, and more. I hope you will be able to join us for Starry, Starry Night 2008 on Saturday, April 12, for a memorable evening of fine food and engaging entertainment.

David Heide

Newest Director Brings Leadership,
Experience to Board

The Foundation is pleased to announce Jon Weglarz has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors.

Jon is part of the First Investment Real Estate/Weglarz Company team, which develops retail properties, office buildings, hotels, billboards, industrial properties, and apartment buildings.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from Bradley University, and earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from Roosevelt University. Jon serves as an assistant coach in the Palos youth baseball organization and is active in the Cynthia Weglarz Rountree Fund organized to honor his sister’s passion for the natural environment.

Establish a Scholarship

The Moraine Valley Community College Foundation is committed to making a college education accessible to deserving students, including those with limited financial resources. Every day talented and deserving students take the first step toward achieving their dream of success by enrolling in Moraine Valley. Although Moraine Valley is affordable, it is beyond the means of many students and families.

According to national studies, lack of money is the primary reason students withdraw from college. More than 30 percent of Moraine Valley students receive some type of financial aid. Almost 50 percent of our traditional aged students, those who are 18 to 21, receive no support from their parents. Eighty five percent of our students must work, and many of them must work full-time while they attend classes. Many of our students could not pursue their dreams without the financial support a scholarship provides.

You can make a difference in the lives of our students and our community by investing in scholarships. Donors who contribute to the Foundation’s scholarship program may stipulate the criteria for selecting scholarship recipients. The criteria might include enrollment in a specific degree program, a minimum grade point average and/or the demonstration of leadership and community service. The Foundation is responsible for selecting the recipients based on the criteria supplied by the
donors.

Various scholarship and award options are available for your consideration, including the following:

• Pooled General Scholarship and Book Fund. You can contribute any amount to the student scholarship and book fund. There is no minimum gift amount required, and this fund supports students in all academic areas of the college. It also provides support for students with unanticipated emergency needs to keep them in class and productive while the emergency is being addressed.

• One-Time and Annual Scholarships. These are
  typically established in memory of, or in honor of, a loved one or a special occasion. The one-time and annual scholarships are awarded each year as the donor renews the gift for a particular scholarship. A minimum gift of $1,000 is needed to design your own scholarship. All of the gifts made are restricted for spending on the special purpose stipulated by the donor.
• Endowed Scholarship. Like annual scholarships,
  endowed scholarships are often established in memory of, or in honor of a family member, friend or business. Endowed scholarships continue in perpetuity and provide student scholarships forever. A minimum gift of $20,000, which can be paid over a five-year period, is required to establish an endowed scholarship. Your gift will be invested and a portion of the earnings will be used each year to award the scholarship.

When you make a contribution to the Moraine Valley
Foundation scholarship program, you will ensure that scholarships are available to help a deserving student achieve immediate and long-term goals for success.

To learn more, contact Sue Linn, executive director of the Moraine Valley Foundation, at (708) 974-5335 or linns@morainevalley.edu.

Giving Tradition Spans Four Decades
One of the most frequently overlooked opportunities for individuals and businesses to help fund the success of Moraine Valley Community College students is a gift of goods or services to the Moraine Valley Foundation. These charitable gifts are known as “in-kind” gifts or donations and include a variety of resources, from technology and equipment to supplies and services.

Gifts in-kind to the Moraine Valley Foundation help multiply and expand the life of financial resources available to the college. Gifts of equipment and technology, like those provided by Chrysler Corporation for the award- inning Automotive Program (see related story on page 2) provide state-of-the-art equipment for career training that might otherwise be unaffordable to the college. Gifts of items for fundraising events like our Starry, Starry Night gala and our annual golf outing help the Foundation raise monies that fund scholarships and college programs. Gifts of services, such as printing, help to decrease overall costs for Foundation operations so more dollars go directly to student scholarships, equipment purchases and program enhancements.

These non-cash gifts given to the Foundation, a 501(3)c nonprofit organization, are tax- deductible to the extent allowed by law through a process that gives a cash value, or fair market value, to the items or services. Foundation staff will work with donors to help ensure that specific donations are eligible for deductions. To find out more about making an in-kind donation to the Moraine Valley Foundation or to obtain additional information about donations of cash, stocks, securities or planned giving opportunities, call the Foundation Office at (708) 974-5335 or e-mail linns@morainevalley.edu.

Thank you to this year’s campaign volunteer coordinators, who included Helen Agresti, Michele August, Jane Bentley, Christine Bennett, Jeannine Christensen, Ricky Cobb, Sharon Davis, Raquel Duszynski, Bill Finn, James Fraites, Ben Hernandez, Jan Hill-Matula, Maryan Jatczak, Delwyn Jones, Brian Knetl, Sandy Leonard, Scott Leturno, Helen Limberopoulos, Tracy Macejak, Ed Martig, Sue McNulty, Edna Miller, Ed Mosna, Cathy Nolan, Sue Phelan, Gary Piercy, Holly Pilarczyk, Josh Reinhart, Chris Riola, Ali Riphagen, Pam
Rodriguez, Craig Rosen, Deb Sievers, Kashif Shah, Troy Swanson, Norma Vasquez-Zwick, and Aurora Zwick.
 

Parents Picked His First Community College—He’s Picked the Rest

Sometimes—just sometimes—parents really do know best.

“My father brought me to Moraine Valley,” said James Grant, reminiscing about his first campus visit in 1975. “I really didn’t want to be there, but I had no choice. My father made up his mind and that was that.

“I can remember us coming to the campus and we couldn’t find a parking spot so my dad pulled into the president’s spot. Then he turned to me and said, ‘If Ford shows up, we’ll move.’ All I could say was, ‘I think they mean a different president, dad.’ ”

Despite his original objections and what he calls a “sad first impression” of the campus with its temporary buildings, Dr. Grant ended up being very pleased about his days at Moraine Valley.

“My parents were very good garage sale shoppers, so they knew a good deal when they saw one,” he said. “I ended up falling in love with the place. I found the faculty to be exciting and challenging.”

A Sandburg High School graduate, Dr. Grant earned his associate degree at Moraine Valley and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Southern Illinois University, a master’s in counseling and guidance from Eastern Illinois University and a doctorate from the University of Houston. After all of his education, however, he found the pickings slim when it came to counseling positions.

“My first job out of college was as a janitor at Navy Pier,” Dr. Grant said. “They paid great money at the time, and I got to see all kinds of concerts—like Chicago and The Beach Boys— while I kept the pier clean.”

Rumor had it there were more jobs available down south, so he packed his car and headed to Texas. After trekking nearly  ,000 miles, Dr. Grant was hired at Navarro College, a community  college in a small town southwest of Dallas. He went on to work for several other community colleges as a sociology teacher, a counselor, and a director of counseling.

His most recent position is at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri. There, he is a very busy man in his role as dean of Student Services, which includes responsibility for admissions, testing, housing, and athletics. “We’re a rural area, but we’ve grown immensely, especially thanks to the development of satellite facilities,” he said, referring to a project he undertook when he began his employment at the college.

Golf Outing Swings Big for Student
Scholarships

The 2007 Moraine Valley Foundation annual golf outing held in September at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park netted nearly $47,000 for the Moraine Valley Foundation Scholarship program and the newly established Student Emergency Fund.

Many thanks to the sponsors:

Andrew Corporation—event sponsor
IHC Construction Companies, LLC—associate event sponsor
Teng & Associates, Inc.—associate event sponsor
Suburban Bank & Trust—golf cart sponsor
Rosenthal Murphey & Coblentz—hospitality sponsor
Comcast—vest sponsor
Legat Architects and Metro Design Associates—dinner cosponsor
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois—dinner co-sponsor
DDA Architects—bag towel sponsor
MB Financial Bank—golf ball sponsor
Nawara Financial Services, Inc.—golf ball sponsor
AT&T—beverage cart sponsor
Pepsi—hole-in-one sponsor
Terry’s Lincoln Mercury—hole-in-one sponsor

Linda’s Legacy Pays It Forward

The legacy of a dedicated Moraine Valley instructor will live on through a scholarship created in her memory.

Linda Metz, who passed away in 2006, became ill while she was an assistant professor in the Radiologic Technology Program, a position she held for seven years. “When we found out about Linda’s illness, Peggy Machon said to us, ’we’re going to walk with her as far as we can’ and that’s exactly what we did,” said Sue Phelan, department chair of Health Sciences and Public Services. Peggy, acting assistant dean, posted a sign-up sheet in the department and it didn’t take long for staff members to volunteer to help their colleague in her time of need.

“People were driving her to and from the hospital and doctors’ offices, taking her to lunch, making sure her fridge was well stocked—whatever she needed,” Sue said.

“There was a profound level of support. We always knew we had a pretty special group here, but this showed us something about our department that we wouldn’t have otherwise known.”

What the staff members did was something that came straight from their hearts.

“Linda was one of the finest educators I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” Sue said. “She was totally committed to quality, quality patient care, and student success.” So much so that she once tutored students while she was hospitalized. “Some students went to visit Linda in the hospital, and the conversation turned to their studies. They had questions about something they didn’t understand, so Linda grabbed her IV pole and had the students follow her to the solarium for an impromptu class. She was amazing.”

Shortly after Linda’s death, her brother, Vaughn Metz, and his wife, Midge, started the Linda Metz Memorial Scholarship. Eligible students are those enrolled in the Radiologic Technology Program at Moraine Valley who plan to pursue a career in radiology. For more information on this scholarship, visit www.morainevalley.edu/foundation.

The World at Your Fingertips

At one time, a library was a destination; a place you went to get a book. Today, a library has become a vehicle; one that can take you around the world.

The library at Moraine Valley is an exceptional resource for students, staff and the community, and welcomes the public to use computers free of charge, conduct research, check out books for business or pleasure with a special community borrower’s card, and receive assistance from knowledgeable staff.

The library also hosts a variety of events for the public, such as panel discussions on current affairs, guest lecturers, traveling exhibits, and more. This year’s One Book, One College—The Autobiography of Malcolm X—will include special events in February, March and April that are free and open to the public. For details, visit www.morainevalley.edu/malcolmx.

www.morainevalley.edu/library

Recent Grad Hits a Home Run
with Her New Career

Joanna Jarzabkowski never wears her game face on game day—or any other day for that matter. Instead, her enthusiastic smile makes it quite obvious she enjoys what she’s doing.

Joanna originally planned to become a teacher, so it should come as no surprise that one of her favorite perks as director of Community Relations and sales executive for the Windy City Thunderbolts minor league baseball team is working with the Kids’ Club.

Another perk is being part of a winning season. The Windy City Thunderbolts baseball team, which plays at the Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, in September won the 2007 Championship of the Frontier League. “It was an exciting season,” she said, noting that in addition to numerous tasks to keep the season running smoothly, she was charged with coordinating the tryouts for singing the national anthem.

“The people who came to try out were anywhere from 8 to 65 years old. It’s great to get local people, and they’re happy they are selected to sing for two to four games. It’s a fun process. Our (baseball) players critique the singers—like American Idol,” she said.

A December 2006 graduate of Lewis University, Joanna majored in public relations with a minor in marketing, and was fortunate to land a job so quickly—she started five days after graduation— and so close to home, something that was important to her even when she was choosing a college.

“I decided to attend Moraine Valley because it was close to home. It also was a great way to save money and get the geneds out of the way,” she said. “What I really liked about Moraine was that it was so hands-on and the teachers knew my name, as compared to a big university. At Moraine, it’s not like you’re a Social Security number in a grade book,” she said.

For the past 13 years, the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation’s gala fundraising event has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for the college’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. This year’s Starry, Starry Night sponsored by PepsiAmericas, will be Saturday, April 12, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center, and promises to provide an evening of great food, decadent desserts and exciting entertainment.

Starry, Starry Night features a special performance of “The Men and Their Music” by the legendary Chicago entertainer Ron Hawking, in the Dorothy Menker Theater. The program celebrates the greatest male vocalists of all time–featuring a live orchestra, back-up vocalists and a repertoire of iconic numbers from music legends such as Frankie Valli, Bobby Darin, Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocelli, and others.

Tickets for Starry, Starry Night 2008 are $100 per person. Proceeds benefit the Fine and Performing Arts Center, which provides a showcase for performances, a catalyst for budding artists, and a resource for all who love the arts. Support provided by the Moraine Valley Foundation helps keep ticket prices affordable.

The Starry, Starry Night committee is seeking business sponsorships to underwrite the fundraising gala. Sponsorships help offset the fixed costs associated with the annual gala. “There is no better way to enhance a corporate image and communicate a strong  sense of teamwork with the college and its community,” said Sue Linn, Foundation executive director.

This year’s committee, chaired by Noreen Ligino-Kubinksi, community affairs manager for Comcast, includes Barry Gaw, Broker Associate, RE/MAX “10”, Oak Lawn; Debra Piscola, director of Corporate and Government Affairs for Comcast; Dick Post, president and broker/owner of R.M. Post Realtors; Maureen Ryan, trustee, Moraine Valley Community College Board of Trustees; Dennis Shannon, vice president of Rapid Displays; and Carolyn Viverito, community volunteer.

To purchase tickets or for information on business sponsorships, contact Christine Bennett, Foundation coordinator, at (708) 974-5740 or bennettc@morainevalley.edu.

Student-Athletes Celebrate Diverse
Backgrounds

Moraine Valley athletes are competing across the globe and earning some valuable experience while in the international arena.

Thanks in part to contributions from the Moraine Valley Foundation, over the course of the past few years, the men’s soccer team hosted the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) men’s soccer team and competed in the World Interuniversity championships in Rotterdam, Holland. The women’s volleyball team participated in the World Interuniversity championships in Dublin, Ireland, and the women’s soccer team hosted a women’s soccer team from Germany, while both teams conducted an international coaching clinic.

“Our involvement in international competition is an important aspect of the college’s mission,” said Bill Finn, director of Athletics. “Moraine Valley’s faculty and staff take pride in preparing our students for the future and experiences such as these are invaluable to that process.”

Moraine Valley starting lineup vs. University of Karlsruhe (Germany) at the 2005 World Interuniversity Championships in Rotterdam.

Members of a soccer team from Germany participated in
exhibition games at Moraine Valley.

As part of the International Sports Exchange Initiative, the men’s soccer team has traveled to several European countries and hosted players from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Whether it's been 10, 20 or even 35 years since you completed classes, a certificate program or an associate's degree at Moraine Valley—we welcome the opportunity to reconnect with you.

Alumni involvement enables us to enhance the Moraine Valley experience for current and future students in so many ways. Serve as a mentor, volunteer on an advisory committee or assist in developing internship opportunities—the possibilities are endless—and rewarding.

We value you as alumni and invite you to reconnect with us.