March/April 2023 Newsletter
April is Community College Month, and we want to share your thoughts on why community college matters. Throughout the month, we will be sharing your responses on social media and PSC Announcements. Please click the link below to submit the form by April 16.
Check out upcoming events happening at Prairie State College this month! More events highlighted throughout the newsletter.
Message from Dr. Michael D. Anthony
Hello All,
We’re beginning to wind down on another outstanding school year, and I’m so thrilled about all the things we are doing to make Prairie State College a better place.
Our accomplishments this school year make me so proud to be a member of the PSC community. Valerie Moore, Dawn Sterning, and our library staff helped bring us the traveling Americans and the Holocaust exhibit from the United States National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Our students and community will benefit from this must-see exhibit and the accompanying programming we put together.
From exhibits in the art gallery to our Student Government Association events to our athletics events, our staff has worked tirelessly to help close the school year strong. Speaking of closing, commencement is coming right up. Our students have been grinding to get to this memorable day. I can’t wait to witness our students cross the PSC finish line and learn where their journeys will take them next.
I am honored to be a Pioneer.
American Association of Community Colleges Annual Conference
"Your doubt doesn’t always match up with your ability. Don’t use doubt to define what you do." - Trevor Noah
President Anthony and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Jeri Bingham attended the American Association of Community Colleges Annual Conference in Denver on April 1, where Trevor Noah was the keynote speaker.
College Updates
Congresswoman Robin Kelly Presents Prairie State College with $1 Million Grant for Dental Hygiene Program
Congresswoman Robin Kelly delivered a 1 million dollar celebratory check to Prairie State College (PSC) on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to support the advancement of the dental hygiene program. Allocated by federal community project funding secured by the U.S. Representative, the investment will be used expand and grow our program. Read full release HERE.
Jazz Fest 2023 Recap
Prairie State College hosted its 34th Annual Jazz Festival on Friday, Feb. 17. The performances were held in the Barnes & Noble Auditorium in the PSC Conference Center and featured Derek Gardner on trumpet; Darius Hampton on saxophone; Valerie Nicholson on piano; Junius Paul on bass; and Earnie Adams on drums. Thanks to all who attended and supported this annual event.
Spring Break College Tour to DC
During Spring Break, TRIO Student Support Services hosted 15 students on a trip to Washington, DC, for a 4-day college tour. Students visited the following Universities: Georgetown, Howard, Bowie State, Coppin State, and Morgan State.
During April, TRIO will offer student workshops on study skills, budgeting, and Mental Wellness. The group will also travel to two local universities (Purdue University Northwest and Saint Xavier University.)
Prairie State College Holocaust Exhibit
The Americans and the Holocaust exhibit is free and open to the public through April 27th in the Prairie State College Library. This exhibition raises challenging and important questions about this critical moment in American history. The introduction to the traveling exhibition reads: What did Americans know? What more could have been done?
The PSC Library is one of only 50 locations selected in the United States to host this traveling exhibition. There were only two locations slated to host in Illinois, and PSC is the only institution of higher education. Alongside this exhibition, we are hosting several events.
Special thanks to Russell Guldin and Dawn Sterning for their efforts to install the Holocaust Exhibit.
Women's History Month
We celebrated Women’s History Month in March by highlighting women in the PSC community. Features were shared on social media and sent via PSC Announcements. Rhonda White's story is below. Please look back at previous features if you have not had the chance.
Rhonda White is an Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator, Physical Therapist Assistant. She tells #herstory about why she chose to work in higher education, her impact on women and our students, and her dream team of influential women.
“I am all about legacy building [for my students]. I want to continue empowering women and men to do their best to be trailblazers in their fields of choice so that when they have lived their lives, they know that someone else is ready to be handed the baton.
“I hope that when other women, especially those of color, who see me, they see the possibility of success. I want my daughter and other young women of all colors and ethnicities to see that we are stronger than the world has given us credit for. I hope that my accomplishments and willingness to share what I know can provide stepping stones for their journey.”
Rhonda praised her mother as one who’s inspired her and made her own “Dream Team” of influential and inspirational women.
“Besides my mother, there are too many to name. However, if I could develop my “Dream Team”, it would be Harriet Tubman, Shirley Chisholm, Lena Horne, Vashti Murphy Mckenzie, Michelle Obama, and Ava DuVernay.”
Rhonda shared a quote from Dr. Maya Angelou that she hopes will influence women to be confident and not be afraid to become trailblazers.
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.
Human Resources
College Closures for Spring 2023:
Spring Holiday: Friday, April 7 (reopen Monday, April 10, 2023)
New Employees
Andrea McCaskill
Temporary, President's Office
amccaskill9981@prairiestate.edu
(708) 709-3659
Marie Hansel
Interim Dean, Allied Health and Emergency Services
mhansel@prairiestate.edu
(708) 709-2947, Office 2241
Transfer, Title Change, Promotions
Raquel Mergenthaler (Title Change)
Workforce and Community Services Specialist - Workforce Trades
Jodi Pedersoli (Transfer)
Executive Assistant, Finance
Office 2115
(708) 709-3504
Colleen Moody (Transfer)
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Business Office (1110)
(708) 709-7790
Departing Employees
Brittany Minor-Merriweather
Adam Kirby-Swenson
Lorena Diaz
Arthur Horton
Employee News
Seven faculty members were awarded Tenure at the February Board Meeting
Jessica Hanson
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Desiree Schierholz
Assistant Professor, Dental Hygiene
Valerie Moore
Outreach and Engagement Librarian
David Torres
Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Rhonda White
Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator, Physical Therapy Assistant
Carol Fawcett
Assistant Professor/Coordinator, Physical Therapist Assistant
Dawn Piper
Assistant Professor/Coordinator, Dental Assisting
Communications and Marketing
Faculty Members Stopped by WGN to Promote PSC!
The Office of Marketing and Communications has partnered with WGN radio to promote PSC for Open House.
Thanks to Heather Pevion, associate professor/coordinator, Surgical Technology; Dawn Piper, assistant professor/coordinator, Dental assisting; and Chad Vlietstra, associate professor/coordinator, HVAC and coordinator, Fire Science, who joined Jeri Bingham, executive director of Marketing and Communications at WGN Radio in Chicago last week to share information about PSC programs.
The commercials began airing this week! You may listen to the recording here or listen in at 720 AM on the radio or visit wgnradio.com to hear them live. The airing schedule is linked below.
Save the Date: April 17
Join the Marketing and Communications team for their first Marketing Monday, special sessions curated with PSC employees in mind. The sessions will include guest speakers, micro-lessons, presentations, and more! The first guest speakers will be members from Student Affairs who will share information and get us pumped about the upcoming Spring Open House!
Snacks and giveaways will be available for those who attend. See you there! April 17, from 11 a.m. - noon, in the Boardroom on the main campus.
Submit Your Requests to Support Services
As the spring semester nears an end, remember to submit requests in a timely manner for certificates, program books, name badges, and/or signage for year-end recognition events.
Athletics
Pack the Field Purple!
Athletics will host a baseball and softball event on Saturday, April 22 at noon.
One hundred purple shirts will be given to the first 100 fans and free hot dogs/chips/water for all fans. Both games will be held at the Pioneer Sports Complex, north of the main campus.
Softball vs. Joliet - first pitch at noon
Baseball vs. College of Lake County - first pitch at noon
Connect with PSC Athletics on social media!
Twitter - @PSCPioneers
Facebook - Prairie State College Athletics
Instagram - @prairiestatecollegeathletics
Office of Institutional Advancement and PSC Foundation
Spring 2023 Scholarship Update
The spring scholarship application opened on Monday, November 14, and as of March 22, 356 applications have been attempted and 272 applications have been submitted and reviewed. Of the applications reviewed, 164 applicants were offered tuition and/or textbook awards, 86 applicants were not eligible for awards (funded/ high EFC), and 22 applications are pending student action (update essays, textbook info). Of the reviewed applications, $65,590.46 has been offered in tuition/textbook awards and 113 textbooks have been loaned as part of the BookSHARE program at a value of $16,218.80.
For the 272 applications reviewed:
3.15 is the average GPA of qualified applicants
54% of submitted applicants have a $0 EFC or no EFC reported (no EFC could be DACA, international, reporting issues)
72% of submitted applicants are first generation college students
69% of submitted applicants were female and 31% of applicants were male (This is the first time in recent history that the percentage of males applying for scholarships was greater than 29%.)
56% Black, 17% Hispanic, 16% White, 10% unidentified, 1% Asian (.8) and American Native (.2)
Economic Forecast Breakfast – March 24, 2023
Thank you to everyone who joined the Foundation at Olympia Fields Country Club on Friday, March 24 for the annual Economic Forecast Breakfast. The guest speaker was Mr. Jason Turner, the Chief Investment Strategist for Great Lakes Advisors, a Wintrust Wealth Management Company; and the chair of the event was Foundation Director Rebecca Nagle. Special thanks to the faculty union who purchased a Scholarship Sponsorship for the event which allowed for a table of students to attend with Assistant Professor of Economics, Mike Massengill. Thanks to other student ticket donations, there were three full tables of students at the event.
Former Foundation Directors Don Ransford (30+ years) and Tim Woloszyn (12 years) were recognized for their years of service at the event.
Interim Dean Marie Hansel was presented with the Foundation’s Reach for the Stars Award for 2022. This annual award honors someone affiliated with PSC who has gone above and beyond in supporting and promoting education and affecting PSC students’ lives.
A gift basket door prize was donated by Foundation Director Sonia Gomez of Illiana Financial Credit Union (IFCU) and won by Steve Baranowski of Marquette Bank. A two-some for the upcoming Foundation Scholarship Classic Golf Outing was won by Leonard Boos of IFCU.
Rebecca Nagle, Assistant Vice President, Old Plank Trail Community Bank; Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist, Great Lakes Advisors; Deb Havighorst, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement & PSC Foundation; Dr. Michael Anthony, President
Jason Turner of Great Lakes Advisors, A Wintrust Wealth Management Company, provides his economic update and outlook to a crowd at the PSC Foundation’s annual Economic Forecast Breakfast at Olympia Fields Country Club on March 24.
Former Foundation Director Don Ransford
Former Foundation Director Tim Woloszyn
Foundation Executive Director and current Interim Dean of Allied Health & Emergency Services Marie Hansel
The Nicholas & Jacqueline Rinaldi Award in the Arts
Applications are now being accepted by the Prairie State College Foundation for the Nicholas & Jacqueline Rinaldi Award in the Arts. This merit-based award was established to recognize Prairie State College students who have distinguished themselves by producing an outstanding body of creative work in the visual arts or creative writing. Nicholas Rinaldi was a recognized poet and novelist, who, together with his wife Jacqueline, led lives devoted to teaching literature and nurturing young minds. Their thirst for learning, the arts, and culture opened pathways to extend these passions to younger generations. This award is intended to help encourage recipients to pursue their creative voices in our ever-changing world.
The application submission deadline was Monday, April 3, and the winner(s) will be announced at Humanities Day on Wednesday, April 26.
Upcoming Foundation Events:
April 17 Executive Committee Meeting, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
May 2 Board Meeting, 5 p.m., PSC Board Room or via Zoom
June 5 Scholarship Golf Outing, Idlewild Country Club
June 14 Executive Committee Meeting, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
June 21 Board Meeting, 5 p.m., PSC Board Room or via Zoom
Sept. 13 Executive Committee Meeting, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
Sept. 28 Annual Meeting, 5 p.m., PSC Board Room or Zoom
Amazon Smile
Amazon gives! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Prairie State College Foundation whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. To support the Foundation while shopping at Amazon, click below!
Upcoming Events
Ready, Set, Hunt!
Our annual Bunny Egg Hunt begins Wednesday, April 5! Colorful Eggs full of treats will be hidden around campus, including ATOC. One Golden Egg will be hidden on the main campus. If you find it, please contact Charrise Greer at cgreer1@prairiestate.edu to retrieve your prize. Happy Hunting!
Spread the Word! PSC will host its spring Open House from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22, on the Main Campus
Attendees will get the opportunity to speak with faculty and staff, learn about the admissions process and programs, including our new degree and certificate options, take lab tours, hear from various departments, and receive PSC giveaways.
Free dental care for children ages 3-17. An oral health care bag will be provided for home care. The event will be held from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Space is limited and reservations required. Call (708) 709-3707 to schedule an appointment.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. To view information from the Board of Trustees, including meeting agendas, minutes and audio/video recordings, visit Board Meetings.
Pioneer Award Recipients: February and March
Cristina Lazard
Manager, Support Services
Paul Rinaldi
Professor/Coordinator, Fine Arts
Request Intranet Updates
Please take a look at your page(s) on the Intranet and complete the Intranet Request Form below. Once received, the communications team will review your request and follow-up.
If you have any questions, please contact
Allan Scarabello at ascarabello@prairiestate.edu.
Have an Announcement?
We love good news! If you have an announcement you want to share, submit the form below, and we'll publish it in the upcoming newsletter.
Request Website Updates
The college Intranet and website fall under the Marketing and Communications Department. Please complete the Website Request Form below for updates, changes, or to request a new page on the PSC website.
Once submitted, Mike Saldaña, content/website specialist, will review your request and follow up. Small changes, such as grammatical errors, can be sent directly to msaldana4@prairiestate.edu.