Connections is published by the Moraine Valley Foundation for alumni and friends
of Moraine Valley Community College. Send inquiries, comments and addresses to
the Foundation Office.
I am so pleased and proud to share with you all of the exciting things that have
been happening at Moraine Valley. Our expansion program has been completed,
transforming outdated facilities into functional student service centers and
classrooms, and adding a new conference center and science hall. Our newest
facility, the Southwest Education Center in Tinley Park which opened in October,
is the college’s first LEED-certified building. And last, but certainly not
least, the new Gateway at the entrance makes for a wonderful welcome to campus.
Know that as our alumni, business partners and community members, you always
welcome on campus, and encouraged to visit. Stop by to use our library, Health
Fitness Center or walking trails; enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment
at our Fine and Performing Arts Center, or take classes to earn a degree or
nurture a long-time interest.
Thank you for the continued support that helps us maintain a vital, growing
presence in the community. At Moraine Valley, we truly are changing lives for a
changing world.
Dear old friends and new,
as president of the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation, I want to
welcome you to the first Connections newsletter of 2011. For Moraine Valley
alums who are receiving this newsletter for the first time, I am glad you have
chosen to reconnect with the college.
This edition of Connections is based on a survey of what alums wanted to learn
about Moraine Valley.
If you have thoughts or ideas about what we should include in future
Connections, please e-mail the
Foundation
or visit the college’s
alumni website.
Thank you for your support as we help Moraine Valley provide each and every
student with an exceptional education.
Kevin Kenealy (c/o 2006) is a recent Moraine Valley graduate who went on to earn a
bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. Now a published author,
Kevin came back to campus to provide a presentation to current Moraine Valley
students whom he told should be “going for your dreams, not dreaming for your
goal.”
Read more about what motivates Kevin.
Career direction inspired by Moraine Valley instructor
Bob Budnik(c/o 1977) wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, which isn’t too
uncommon for teenagers. What he did know for sure was that he wanted a college
education, but being part of a large family meant there wasn’t any extra money
to go away to school.
“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I enrolled in business classes at
Moraine Valley taught by (now former) professor Doug Gehrke. I took all of his
classes and he really opened my eyes to working in the business world,” Bob
said. Bob credits his professor and Moraine Valley with being his inspiration.
Upon graduation, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from
Benedictine University. Today he is co-owner of an educational Internet company
(livetext.com) he helped to develop. “I really started with nothing, but I
learned at Moraine Valley you can determine your own direction and be what you
want to be.”
The Southwest Education Center now open in Tinley Park is the college’s first
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building and, as
such, is recognized for its environmental practices in the areas of energy and
water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and overall sustainability. Learn
more about how the Southwest
Education Center is meeting today’s needs without compromising tomorrow’s.
If you’re a local business owner or someone in need of a job or wanting to make
a career change, mark your calendar for the Spring Job and Internship Fair
Thursday, March 24, from 2-5 p.m., at the Moraine Business and Conference
Center.
Sponsored by the Moraine Valley Job Resource Center, the semi-annual event links
well-prepared students, alumni and community members with local businesses and
organizations in need of quality employees. For more information on the fair and
to register your business as a participant, visit the
Job Resource Center today!
We already knew that Moraine Valley alumni have been out making a difference in
the world.
Now, they’re making a big difference a little closer to home.
Thanks to the support and generosity of some alumni, a new scholarship has been
created—one that is giving Michelle Mackessy a chance to earn her degree.
As the sole provider for her and her daughter, Michelle has been
saving every penny and stretching every dollar and knows that getting a college
degree will provide the skills she needs to move forward with her new career
plans.
Thanks to the Moraine Valley Alumni Scholarship, Michelle’s future is looking
very bright. “I am extremely grateful to all of the donors for this scholarship.
It has lifted some of the financial burden and it’s allowing me to concentrate
on my education and career goals. Moraine Valley is a great institution that has
produced many successful alumni and I aspire to follow in the tradition,”
Michelle said.
Moraine Valley invites you to our Fine and Performing Arts Center—a center
filled with music, dance, theater, and art for all ages. Each season, we offer a
spectacular line up of quality entertainment from nationally acclaimed musicians
and thespians to culturally rich performances, children’s programming, fine art
exhibitions, and much more.
Moraine Valley is committed to providing a comprehensive range of learning
opportunities that include new and enhanced classes for personal and professional Green
development, cooking with chefs at popular local
restaurants, courses for our 50+ population, and classes that will have you
creating beautiful backyard landscapes,
keeping fit, and so much more.
Take a look at the
noncredit classes that can enrich your life. Enroll today! It’s
easy. The tough part is choosing which one to take first!
Connections is published by the Moraine Valley Foundation for alumni and friends
of Moraine Valley Community College. Send inquiries, comments and addresses to
the
Foundation Office.
Dear old friends and new,
as president of the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation, I want to
welcome you to the first Connections newsletter of 2011. For Moraine Valley
alums who are receiving this newsletter for the first time, I am glad you have
chosen to reconnect with the college. 
The Southwest Education Center now open in Tinley Park is the college’s first
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building and, as
such, is recognized for its environmental practices in the areas of energy and
water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and overall sustainability. Learn
more about how the 
If you’re a local business owner or someone in need of a job or wanting to make
a career change, mark your calendar for the Spring Job and Internship Fair
Thursday, March 24, from 2-5 p.m., at the Moraine Business and Conference
Center.
