October 2007

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 Linnn

Message from the President
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it seems appropriate to take a moment to express my gratitude. Moraine Valley is fortunate to have so much to be thankful for— dedicated and professional faculty and staff, wonderful students and alumni, and a community that has supported our college for four decades, all of which have helped to shape our past and will help to guide our future.

Thank you to everyone for all you do for the college, our students and the community. We value your continued participation and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Vernon O. Crawley
College President

Forensics Team Places in National Tournament

The Moraine Valley Forensics team knows when to “speak up”—and they did just that at the 2007 Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Tournament, taking third place nationally. More than 500 individuals competed from more than 70 schools.

Individually, eight students represented Moraine Valley at the national tournament with six students earning medals. Students winning medals included Elvia Anguiano, of Blue Island, who earned bronze medals in Poetry and for Informative Speaking; Patrick Cooper, of Oak Lawn, who earned a gold in Prose Interpretation and silver medals in Duo-Interpretation with Amanda Goodyear of Hometown, and in Dramatic Interpretation; Goodyear, who earned a gold in Prose Interpretation and a silver in Duo-Interpretation; Jacqueline Lill, of Alsip, who earned a bronze in Persuasive Speaking and a bronze in Prose Interpretation; Jaclyn Quintana, of Alsip, who earned a silver in Speech to Entertain; and Billy Walsh, of Burbank, who earned a bronze in Oral Interpretation. Jairus Bellamy and Andy Perez, both of Palos Heights, also competed.

This season, the team went undefeated in Illinois competitions, including earning first place at the Illinois state tournament. Moraine Valley’s forensics (competitive speech) team has quickly become a national force in its seven-year existence. Last year, the team won first place and was awarded a gold medal at the national tournament in Kansas City and took third in nationals in Philadelphia in 2005. Many of the students have been offered scholarships by forensics programs at Bradley University, Northern Illinois University and Illinois State University. Krista Appelquist is the director of Forensics and is assisted by coaches John Nash and Michael Shannon.

From the Foundation President

The Moraine Valley Community College Foundation was founded in 1982 to ensure that higher education is accessible to residents in the southwest area, and to help Moraine Valley remain among the nation’s leading community colleges. As the fundraising arm of the college, the Foundation is a separate 501(c)3 tax exempt organization that provides funding for student and college needs not otherwise covered by tuition and tax revenues.

This past academic year brought tremendous growth and change to Moraine Valley. The planning and design phase of the campus expansion project is concluding, and ground-breaking should take place this fall. During this same time, private gifts to the Foundation provided support for student scholarships, college programs, Fine and Performing Arts Center programming, equipment purchases, and the creation of a student emergency fund.

On behalf of the Foundation, I want to thank all of the individual and corporate donors for your past support. I hope you will consider future gifts, as well. Your generous support ensures that Moraine Valley Community College continues to be a resource for individuals seeking to build a brighter future through education.

David Heide

The Gift That Keeps Giving

A gift to the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation scholarship fund demonstrates your belief in the college and its mission, and that education can improve people’s lives.

Students at Moraine Valley who receive scholarships are as diverse as they are extraordinary—from the traditional student right out of high school to the adult returning to college after many years. Some seek degrees while others seek job skills. In every case, a scholarship award makes a significant difference in their lives. For example, one recent scholarship recipient, a returning adult student, used her scholarship to gain new job skills, secure a well- paying job in her field and increase her family’s earning capacity significantly. She would not have had the opportunity to attend school without the scholarship you so generously help us provide.

Included in this issue is the story of Dana Elitzer, the 2007 recipient of the Matthew P. Walsh Leadership Scholarship. Dana’s story on page 5 provides an inspirational example of how a scholarship not only supports a student’s immediate goals, but can be used to set the stage for helping other students achieve their goals.

As you review your year-end tax planning, we hope you will consider a contribution to the foundation’s scholarship fund. Scholarship contributions can be tailored to match both donor interests and student needs. For more information about the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation scholarship program, contact the Foundation Office at (708) 974-5740 or www.morainevalley.edu/foundation.

Scholarships represent an easy but important way to invest in the future of our community.

• Second largest community college in Illinois
• Nearly 48,000 students enrolled annually
• Top 8 percent in the nation among community colleges in degrees conferred
• 100 percent of recently surveyed transfer graduates would recommend Moraine Valley
• 93 percent of recently surveyed graduates employed or continuing their education
• Average age of credit students is 27; average age of noncredit students is 40
• 109 degree and certificate programs; 140 online courses
• More than 1,200 current Moraine Valley students already have a bachelor’s, master’s, first professional or doctoral degree.

Moraine Valley Grad’s Career Takes a Stormy Path

It’s been said that in everyone’s life a little rain must fall. For Jim Purpura, it’s been more than just a little rain—it’s been hurricanes, tornadoes and flash flooding. But this Moraine Valley graduate isn’t complaining.

Watching for threatening weather conditions is not only a passion, it’s his job as the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service office in San Diego, Calif.

Jim vividly recalls April 21, 1967. Just shy of his 12th birthday, the Oak Lawn native and his siblings were watching a Red Cross program on tornado safety when the skies darkened, lights flickered and a warning interrupted the TV program. Their home was struck by the approaching tornado, but they survived because they knew exactly what to do, thanks to their newly acquired knowledge. “That tornado safety program made a big impression on me,” Jim said.

So much so, that after graduating from Moraine Valley in 1975, Jim went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Northern Illinois University. He started his forecaster career with the National Weather Service office in Chicago, where he issued severe weather warnings and aviation forecasts for all Chicagoland airports. Shortly after, he moved to the NWS office in Norman, Okla., where he was the first warning coordination meteorologist in the National Weather Service. “Norman was the first weather office to use the new Doppler radar service,” Jim said. “It was a very exciting time.”

While in Norman, Jim had an opportunity to experience the Hollywood scene when he worked with the cast and crew of the Oscar-nominated major motion picture Twister to help ensure authenticity in the weather office segments. His tenure in Oklahoma also earned his office a gold medal from the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1999 for providing ample notice to residents in the path of a violent tornado. “We were credited for saving lives because we were able to give people more than an hour’s notice,” Jim said. A southerly move to Corpus Christi, Texas, proved to be another stormy trail. While serving as the director of this office, the Lone Star state was the victim of two tropical storms, a hurricane and record rainfall. “It was a very active time there, to say the least.”.

“You think of sunny California and it’s hard to imagine bad weather, but we have a lot of potentially hazardous conditions,” Jim said, referring to the San Diego area where he has been working since 2003. “It’s difficult to convince people here the weather could be a threat. That’s been challenging.”

“The idea of teaching people weather safety has always been very important to me. You could say it’s been a passion."

And—a bit of an irony for a man who had a childhood fear of thunderstorms.

Create a Win-Win Situation with a Planned Gift

Interested in providing permanent financial support for the programs and services of the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation? Consider a planned gift. Your planned gift will ensure stability and continuity for Moraine Valley while providing you with significant financial benefits, including substantial tax deductions.

There are many ways planned giving strategies can be applied to support Moraine Valley while helping you to achieve your financial goals. One is a bequest naming the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation as primary or partial beneficiary in a will, which can reduce or eliminate estate taxes while not affecting your current financial situation. This type of planned gift creates a win-win situation for the donor and for the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation.

Planned giving options come in many shapes and sizes. Check with your accountant, tax attorney or other tax adviser for information about which planned giving strategy will be most advantageous for your situation.

We would be happy to talk with you about gifts you may be considering. Feel free to contact the Foundation Office at (708) 974-5740 or www.morainevalley.edu/foundation.

From Moraine Valley to McLean County
Graduate serves, protects in diverse careers

Bob Freitag has been called a lot of names since his days as a student at Moraine Valley, but he's honored to be called each and every one of them.

There's Lawyer Bob, Judge Bob, Major Bob, Fireman Bob, Race Car Bob, and Farmer Bob. These are more than just career titles; they're terms of endearment for a man who has a passion for each of the roles he has taken on in life.

Although his current main job is that of associate circuit court judge in a five-county area in central Illinois, Bob concurrently serves as an officer in the Army Reserves, a volunteer firefighter/EMT in his hometown, and co-owner of a midget race car team, all while maintaining a seven-acre horse, goat and cattle farm at his place of residence.

Upon completion of his associate's degree at Moraine Valley in 1981, Bob went on to Illinois State University where he earned a degree in political science. “I am convinced Moraine Valley provided a solid base for my later successes at ISU,” he said. “The classes were all taught by competent faculty, and I believe they equaled, if not exceeded, the quality of teaching and learning I would have had at a four-year institution, mostly because of the small class size and resultant direct contact with the instructors.”

His early career days include years as a public defender and assistant state's attorney before being appointed to the bench, where since 2000 he has overseen cases involving divorces, civil matters, narcotics, gangs, violent crimes, and sexual abuse against children. "This has been very difficult, very draining; but it has been very rewarding," Bob said.

Another rewarding move has been Bob's work for the Army Reserves. "My father served in the Army. When he was sick, I made a promise to him that I would join. He died while I was in law school and because I was busy with my family and job, it took me 12 years to fulfill that promise, but I did."

Bob was called to active duty in 2004 and stationed for a year in Wisconsin when he got the call to Iraq to oversee one of the units he trained. "I left for Iraq on the 4th of July—very fitting to leave on Independence Day," he said. His yearlong tour of duty as a major in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps included overseeing the treatment of detainees, including Saddam Hussein, at Abu Ghraib, Baghdad's correctional facility. “That was the longest year of my life, but I am very proud that I served,” he said. Although Bob was not assigned to combat, he was the target of frequent attacks. "I traveled a lot by ground and anytime you travel by ground there's combat. At Abu Ghraib we were shelled once or twice a week. With the help of his family back home, Bob spearheaded a project to collect items like clothing, school supplies and toys for the children who came to visit detainees at the facility. “These children lived in absolutely awful conditions,” he said.

Also following in his father's footsteps (his dad was a firefighter in Worth), Bob serves as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician in Carlock, a small community in central Illinois where he lives with his wife and two children. His co-ownership of a midget race car team called Car 54 brings him and his family to the raceway on Saturday nights. "This has been especially fun because it's something my son and I have been doing together since he was young."

All of his careers have been rewarding—both professionally and personally, and he is especially honored to serve time on the bench. "I love my job," he said. "Being a judge is the best job a lawyer could have."

Scholarship Recipient Overcomes Life's
Tragedies

Dana Elitzer never stopped believing she could do whatever she wanted to do—no matter what adversity she faced—if she set goals.

Named this year's recipient of the Matthew P. Walsh Leadership Scholarship, Dana has dramatically overturned the tragedies in her life by setting goals and working hard to reach them.

Dana's father lost his battle with cancer when she was just 7 years old, leaving her mom to raise three children alone. “It was rough,” Dana said. "We grew up on welfare, but we never knew we were poor. My mom managed to give us everything we needed spiritually. We laughed a lot, cried together, and there was always time for a hug."

Dana's world was shattered again when her mom died suddenly while she was a junior in high school. "The teachers at Andrew (High School in Tinley Park) adopted me in their hearts, tutored me, and gave me hope. They were a true source of inspiration," she said. With guidance from her teachers, Dana was able to keep on track. She became involved at school and consistently raised her grade point average.

Dana is a sophomore at Moraine Valley and plans to attend Governors State University to earn a bachelor's degree. She also would like to continue on to earn a master's degree and pursue a career in special education.

"These past years would have been even more difficult if I did not set goals," Dana said. "I dream of being a special education teacher so I can encourage those who are 'different' to turn their differences into a strength that motivates them to achieve whatever they want.

"I feel like such a lucky person. My biggest fear was what if I don't have the money to attend school. It is hard worrying about working to pay the bills and trying to study. This Moraine Valley scholarship means I can focus more on my studies."

Share a Favorite Memory

We’re compiling stories from current and past students, faculty and staff, and from community members about their experiences with or at Moraine Valley. Do you have a favorite memory you’d like to share? Or, perhaps you’d like to congratulate the college on its 40th anniversary. Submissions are for the college’s 40th anniversary Web site.

We’d love to hear from you!
www.morainevalley.edu/40

Her Eye for Color Brings out the Best at Home

For many, it’s their job to make sure people are happy and having a good time when they go out. For Beverly Ceko, it’s her job to make sure people are happy when they are home.

As a designer and manager for the Walter E. Smithe store in Orland Park, Beverly sees to it that her clients absolutely love the end results of her work. “I have a very good eye for color. It’s what I do best,” she said. Beverly started her position at the Orland Park store on a parttime basis and soon realized she would need more education to get more from her career. But she wasn’t sure she could take on the additional expense.

My oldest son was going to college,” she said. “His high school counselor told me I was in the best possible situation—single parent, children in college—to receive some assistance for me to go back to college.”

She heeded the counselor’s advice and after exploring several options, chose Moraine Valley.

“The Returning Woman Program was great. I started classes with other women who were in the same situation as me,” she said. “I was working part-time then, and the people at Walter E. Smithe were very good about changing my hours to accommodate my classes.”

“I went into Moraine Valley not knowing what to expect, but they offered so much help. I came out a much more rounded individual and had more confidence,” she said. Beverly graduated with honors and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at National- Louis University.

Soon afterwards, she was made general manager overseeing a staff of nearly two dozen designers. “I do believe my education and new confidence level put me in a better light for the promotion,” she said.

“I really enjoy what I do. I’m constantly working on new projects with new people, and I want them all to be happy at home."

Brain Injury Doesn’t Deter Former
Student Trustee

It's nothing new for Moraine Valley graduate and former Student Trustee Brian Kelly to want to be involved and make a difference. People who know Brian know that when he set his mind to something, he would do whatever it took to make it happen.

The same holds true with his current efforts to raise awareness for mental health, a mission that’s especially close to his heart. Brian’s high-profile campaign has brought him to the offices of the Surgeon General, and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He and his dad, Mick, even have spoken to Oprah Winfrey’s staff about his cause.

And what is it Brian wants? To have the United States Postal Service issue a stamp commemorating mental health, a request that was backed up with more than 42,000 letters collected by dedicated family members and friends who affectionately called themselves “Brian’s Brigade.” The good news is that the U.S. Postal Service in January 2004 approved the stamp for consideration. The reality of it is that three years later the stamp is still in the consideration phase.

In December 2001, Brian suffered near fatal injuries, including extensive trauma to the brain, when the car he was driving was struck by a library bookmobile. The road to recovery has been long and hard, but thanks to a supportive group of family and friends, and an exemplary brain injury facility in Omaha, Brian is making progress. And, he’s keeping busy.

Prior to his brain injury, Brian was establishing quite a name for himself in the world of politics. He served as a member of former President Bill Clinton’s Advance team, was a paid staffer who oversaw the media logistics for the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign, and was hired as a researcher for NBC News in New York.

His political aspirations may have been cut short, but not his aspirations to continue to keep active and help others. Brian’s family since has created the Muldowney Foundation to provide financial assistance to agencies that promote mental health awareness and rehabilitation. The foundation also helps victims of traumatic brain injuries attend the Brain Injury Association of Illinois summer camps, one of which Brian attended.

The Ronald McDonald House and the Immanuel Hospital in Omaha are the newest recipients of Brian’s good-will gestures. In addition to volunteering at the hospital, he collects pop can tabs that he donates to the Ronald McDonald Charities. So far, his collection has topped the 120,000 mark, and he plans to keep it going.

“I like to keep busy,” Brian said. “Like my days at Moraine Valley.

I loved it. I really got involved. I never sat by and did nothing.” Some things never change.

The Foundation is pleased to introduce Katie Maier and Dick Post as the newest members of its Board of Directors. Katie is ComEd's external affairs manager for the southwest suburbs. During her tenure with the utility company, which began in 1982, she has supervised account managers, coordinated the Deep Tunnel project and managed business relationships with more than 30 major health industry organizations. She earned an associate degree from Richard J. Daley Junior College in Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Saint Xavier University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in marketing from Loyola University Chicago.

Dick is the president and broker/owner of R. M. Post Realtors, a firm that began serving the southwest Chicagoland area in 1973. He is past president of a local board of realtors, of the Home Builders Association, the Century 21 and ERA Broker's Council for Chicagoland, and past treasurer of the Metro Southwest Alliance. Dick is the vice chairman of the Economic Development Commission for the Village of Tinley Park; a director of the Oak Park Avenue Mainstreet Association also in Tinley Park; and an active supporter of local and regional charitable organizations.

Thank you all!

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.

• Enjoy excellent entertainment at the Fine and Performing Arts Center
• Utilize the library’s vast resources
• Feel great by joining the Health Fitness Center
• Enroll in courses to develop your skills or pursue a new interest
• Serve as a student mentor or on an advisory board
• And more!

Send all inquiries, comments and address changes to:
Moraine Valley Community College
Foundation Office, Rm. B240
9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills, IL 60465-0937
or alumni@morainevalley.edu