Introduction to Speech added to offerings 

John Wood Community College will offer structured classes at its Mt. Sterling Education Center during the upcoming summer season for area students to complete general education courses. The center is located at 108 North Capitol Street in Mt. Sterling.

The full eight-week summer term runs June 11 to August 3, with classes meeting Mondays through Thursdays. The courses to be offered in a classroom setting are Introduction to Speech, United States History I and Music Appreciation.

JWCC will also offer the following open learning courses: Basic Writing, Writing Skills, Rhetoric and Composition, Basic Arithmetic & Prealgebra, Elementary & Intermediate Algebra, Business Computations, Elementary Statistics, College Algebra and Trigonmetry.

A number of online courses are also available this summer, ranging from Accounting to Sociology. These offerings vary according to four or eight-week time schedules. For more information, visit jwcc.edu/courses.

Students who have an approved academic plan may register online at www.jwcc.edu.

Students who want to take a class at JWCC this summer to transfer back to their primary college are encouraged to talk with the academic advisor of their institution to see which JWCC courses best fit into their plan.

Summer registration is currently underway. For registration information, call JWCC’s Mt. Sterling Education Center at 217.773.2002.

John Wood Community College will host a job and career fair on Thursday, April 19, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Student Activity Center on the Quincy campus, located at 1301 S. 48^th Street.  The event is open to the public and is free of charge.

A total of 26 area businesses with career opportunities available will be in attendance. Those seeking employment are encouraged to bring a résumé and dress for on-the-spot interviews. The following businesses will be present: Blessing Health System, Chaddock, Consolidated Machine & Welding, DD Homes, Dot Foods, Douglas Community Services, Golden Good Shepherd Home, Gully Transportation, Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, Herald-Whig, JBS, John Wood Community College, Knapheide, Levering Regional Healthcare Center, Lexington Square and Dave’s Place, Mark Twain Casino, Northwest Correctional Facility, Northwestern Mutual, Preferred Family Healthcare, Quincy Medical Group, Quincy Workforce, Sharkey Transportation, Sunset Home, Sydenstricker, Transitions of Western Illinois and Willow Care Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.

The job and career fair is presented by WGEM, the Herald-Whig and JWCC.

Introduction to Speech added to offerings 

John Wood Community College will offer a variety of structured classes at its Southeast Education Center (SEC) during the upcoming summer season for area students to complete general education courses. The SEC is located on U.S. 54, 2 miles north of Pittsfield.

The full eight-week summer term runs June 11 to August 3, with classes meeting Mondays through Thursdays. Among the courses offered will be American Government, Human Anatomy/Physiology, Introduction to Speech, United States History I and Music Appreciation.

JWCC will offer the following open learning courses at the SEC: Introduction to Psychology, Human Relations in the Workplace and Developmental Psychology. 

The SEC will also offer structured classes that are part of the Certified Nursing Assistant certificate program, from June 11 to August 3. Those classes include Fundamentals for Nursing Assistants, Basic Patient Care Skills and Nursing Assistant Practicum.

Students who have an approved academic plan may register online at www.jwcc.edu or meet with an advisor on a walk-in basis. 

Students who want to take a class at JWCC this summer to transfer back to their primary college are encouraged to talk with the academic advisor of their institution to see which JWCC courses best fit into their plan.

A number of online courses are also available this summer, ranging from Accounting to Sociology. These offerings vary according to four or eight-week time schedules. For more information, visit jwcc.edu/courses.

Summer registration is currently underway. For registration information, call JWCC’s Southeast Education Center at 217.285.5319.

Students interested in getting a head start on becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) will have that opportunity this summer. John Wood Community College will offer classroom CNA courses during the summer semester at its Quincy Campus and the Southeast Education Center (SEC) in Pittsfield.

The 8-week program will run at the Quincy campus from June 11 to August 3, Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There are an additional six days of clinical, scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

In Pittsfield, the classes will run Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with some clinical days running 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information about Certified Nursing Assistant program visit www.jwcc.edu/academics/degrees/nursing-cna/ or call 217.641.4334.

Program to be Offered at the Workforce and Development Center as Part of Summer JDub Academy

John Wood Community College will offer, in conjunction with JDub Academy, Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Summer STEM Camp, a program focused on manufacturing processes and skills. The camp will be held June 25-29 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day, and is open to boys and girls ages 12-16. Students will be taught welding, fungineering, prototype to production skills, CAD software and CAD 3-D printer operation. The tuition fee will be $100 for the weeklong camp, and scholarships will be available.

JDub Academy is a unique program that offers children hands-on academic and enrichment workshops on a college campus. Although many other classes are offered at the JWCC’s Mt. Sterling and Pittsfield Education Centers and Quincy campus, the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Summer STEM Camp will only be offered at the Workforce Development Center in Quincy.

Limited spots are available for this camp and students will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration begins on May 1. For more information and to register, visit www.jwcc.edu/jdubacademy or call 217.641.4941.   

Audiences will be treated to vocal and instrumental selections performed by talented area students at John Wood Community College’s Fine Arts Department Spring Music Concert on Friday, May 4, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the Mary Ellen Orr Auditorium on the Quincy campus.

JWCC’s Choir, Band, and Vocal Show Ensemble will perform a showcase of pieces and staged scenes from musicals such as Dear Evan Hansen and Les Miserables. Pop hits by the likes of Charlie Puth, Christina Perri, and Billy Joel will also be performed as well as choir selections from around the world, including India, Africa and Germany.  Admission is $5.00 for adults. Students are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the event will support JWCC music group tours.

The vocal show ensemble and choir are under the direction of Dr. Steven Soebbing, JWCC music and theatre instructor, and the band is under the direction of Adam Stombres. 

John Wood Community College Heath Center Art Gallery will feature artwork created by this year’s visual art students. Selected works will be on display and priced affordably for sale, giving area art enthusiasts an opportunity to invest in artwork by local students. The exhibit will be on display from April 23 to May 25 in the Heath Center Art Gallery during the College’s normal operating hours.

“The community has really responded to seeing our students’ artwork and several pieces are purchased every year,” said Addie Seabarkrob, JWCC fine arts instructor. “It gives our students a sense of accomplishment to see their classwork on display and purchased by community members.”

The JWCC Advancement Office receives 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale to enhance the arts education program at JWCC.  The individual students receive the remainder of the proceeds. 

The pieces will be diverse in media and approach. Media will include paintings, drawings, monotypes and mixed-media created by JWCC students in the past year. This year’s show will be judged by Ann Miller Titus, president of the Quincy Art Center Board and fiber artist.  

The exhibit is located in the lower level of the Heath Fine Arts and Community Education Center located on the Quincy campus at 48^th and Harrison.

The John Wood Community College Board of Trustees, meeting in Quincy Wednesday evening April 18, did not increase the base tuition rate for the next academic year and heard an update on the College’s Mt. Sterling and Southeast Education Centers.

The current in-district base tuition rate of $142 per credit hour for classroom instruction will remain the same for the 2018-19 academic year.  JWCC has held tuition flat two other times in nearly 20 years, in 1999 and 2013.

“Even though John Wood already provides a great educational value, we are making an effort to hold the line on tuition to be as accessible and affordable as possible,” Michael Elbe,  JWCC president said.  

 For the first time in several years, a $3 increase to the institutional student support fee was approved by Trustees.  The fee supports student life activities, clubs and organizations, student transportation, JWCC’s Student Activity Center and all athletic programs.

 In other business, Diane Vose, JWCC manager of regional centers, gave a special report on the College’s Mt. Sterling and Southeast Education Centers. She shared that both facilities have experienced increased enrollment from Spring 2017 to Spring 2018.  The Mt. Sterling Education Center served 47 students last spring who enrolled in 306 credit hours and in the current spring semester 62 students are taking 386 credit hours. 

 More students are also attending JWCC’s new Southeast Education Center (SEC) that opened two miles north of Pittsfield in August of 2017.  This spring 78 students are enrolled in 395 credit hours at the SEC compared to last spring when 58 students took 297 credit hours at the previous location on West Washington Street in Pittsfield. 

 Both facilities offer residents of their respective regions the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree using a combination of classroom, open learning and online courses.  The centers also provide business and industry training, college classes for high school students, on-site registration, academic advising, FAFSA filing, tuition bill payment for JWCC students, college placement testing for JWCC and other universities, career services, GED classes and personal enrichment classes.  Additionally, JWCC hosts Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offices in each center to coordinate volunteer services for Brown and Pike counties.  The SEC additionally offers Certified Nursing Assistant and Truck Driver training.

“The value of our regional centers cannot be overstated,” Vose shared.  “Our centers provide greater access to affordable education and support services right in residents’ backyards. Communities within the John Wood district have distinct needs for education and training and we work hard to tie those needs to our programs and services.”

The Board also held its annual reorganizational meeting and election of officers.  

Trustees voted to elect Larry Fischer of Quincy as chair; Diane Ary of Quincy as vice chair and Jerry Hagmeier of Quincy as secretary.  Trustees also voted to have Jim Gay of Rockport, Fischer and Ary to serve as the Board’s executive committee.  As chair, Fischer appointed trustees to the following Board committees:  Finance and Audit: Andy Sprague of Kinderhook and Bob Rhea of Camp Point; Curriculum: Hagmeier and Don Hess of Quincy. Fischer appointed Hagmeier as the Board’s representative to the Illinois Community College Trustees (ICCTA) Association.

Madeline Davis of Camp Point, Illinois, was selected by JWCC’s student body and took the Oath of Office as the College’s Student Trustee for 2018-19.  Trustees recognized outgoing Student Trustee Clayton Thompson of Mendon, Illinois, who served from 2017-18.

In other business, the Board:

Authorized submission of a $228,328 to the Illinois Community College Board to provide instruction and support services for adult learners to obtain knowledge and skills for employment and self-sufficiency.

Authorized submission of a $10,000-$20,000 grant application to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for work-study and internship activities with local businesses.  

Accepted a $22,705 proposal from Kiefer Specialty Flooring for carpet tiles to cover the gym floor for special events. 

 The next regular meeting of the Board will be held Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at the JWCC campus in Quincy. #041818

Kassing Lumber Company and William Durall are recognized for their volunteerism 

The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presented 25 Illinoisans and 5 businesses with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award during a special reception at the Old State Capitol. 

The awards recognize volunteers and volunteer programs that have made a difference in Illinois and highlights the importance of volunteerism and community service. This year marks the third time that the Business Volunteer Engagement Awards will be presented for the commission’s five service regions.

In the West Central region, Kassing Lumber Company of Mt. Sterling was honored for the service to Adams, Brown and Pike Counties RSVP and William Durall of Pittsfield was honored for service to John Wood Community College’s Southeast Education Center. 

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40-member (25 voting and 15 non-voting) bipartisan board appointed by the governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state.

Reneé Waters of Golden Good Shepherd Home of Golden has been named John Wood Community College and Community Health Care Agencies Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) of the Year for 2018.

Reneé received the award during a luncheon held Friday at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center. 

The event was co-sponsored by JWCC and Community Health Care Agencies that recognized 11 area CNAs nominated for the honor. Lynn Niewohner, director of the West Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, served as emcee.  This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the local CNA of the Year celebration. The theme for the celebration is "Angels of Healthcare.”

CNAs provide personal assistance with a wide array of daily activities and also strive to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of those for whom they care every day.

“The CNA of the Year recognition award was established to honor local Certified Nurse Assistants, our ‘Angels of Health Care’, for their contributions to the care and well being of the ill and the elderly,” said Dr. Laura Routh, Administrative Chair for Health Sciences.  “Successful CNAs are those individuals who are compassionate, caring and flexible, and understand that each individual in their care has unique needs and personalities.  As a front-line care giver, CNAs develop very special relationships with those in their care. There is a great deal of pride and deep satisfaction that comes from knowing they make a difference each day in the lives of others.”

As the 2018 JWCC/Community CNA of the Year, Waters received a plaque, $300 and a variety of gifts donated by local businesses.  A traveling plaque will hang in Golden Good Shepherd Home during the coming year and her name will be added to the JWCC CNA plaque.

In addition to the CNA of the Year award, there were two new subcategories that were awarded for 2018. Most Compassionate Essay was presented to Mary Freeman of Barry Community Care Center, and Best Interview was presented to Jennifer Cantrell of Sunset Home.

Each of the other 10 nominees received a small cash prize and gifts donated by local businesses. The nominees were as follows:

• Mary Freeman, nominated by Barry Community Care Center
• Andrea Kerkhoff, nominated by Blessing Hospital
• Ashley Sill, nominated by Good Samaritan Home
• Dalton Pritchett, nominated by Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care
• Judy Patterson, nominated by the Illinois Veterans’ Home
• Ashley Anderson, nominated by Liberty Village
• Connie Grawe, nominated by North Adams Home
• Connie Allison, nominated by St. Vincent’s Home
• Jennifer Cantrell, nominated by Sunset Home
• Linda Bennett, nominated by Supportive Living for Seniors

"Employment opportunities for CNAs are excellent throughout the region," Routh said. "Earning a CNA certificate from John Wood Community College and becoming a part of the rapidly growing healthcare industry can be done in one eight-week session. Classes are available in both daytime and evening sessions, and start at several points throughout the year.”

More information about upcoming CNA classes and career opportunities can be found at www.jwcc.edu/academics/degrees/nursing-cna/ or by calling 217-641-4334.

JWCC to Offer Introduction to Health Careers for Area High School Students

John Wood Community College will offer a program for high school students interested in careers in the healthcare field. Introduction to Health Careers will provide students an opportunity to interact with various area healthcare professionals and learn about their roles in the healthcare system, job demands, potential salaries, programs of study leading to health careers and advice for choosing classes. Students will also take part in hands-on activities. 

The program is presented in partnership with Southern Illinois University-School of Medicine and other local healthcare providers. Laura Kessel will be the instructor. The class is open to students in grades 9-12 and will be available at three of JWCC’s locations: 

Quincy campus on Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days. Cost is $50. The campus is located at 1301 S. 48^thStreet.

Southeast Education Center on Tuesday, June 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost is $30. The SEC is located two miles north of Pittsfield on Hwy 54.

Mt. Sterling Educational Center on Friday, June 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost is $30. The center is located at 108 North Capitol in Mt. Sterling.

For more information on this program, contact JWCC at 217.641.4941 or email nzulauf@jwcc.edu.

John Wood Community College visual art students from the advanced drawing class recently completed a two-panel mural that will be installed at the Quincy Mall. The mural will be installed in the north hallway towards the community rooms, and will be available for viewing on May 12.  

Addie Seabarkrob, JWCC assistant professor of fine arts, was approached by Sgt. David Krum of the Army Recruiting Center and Michael Jenkins, Quincy Mall property manager, to have her students create a mural that would honor first responders. The art class worked with JWCC emergency services instructors Tom Bentley and Dennis Bingheim and JWCC security officer Sam Tedrow to develop ideas and provide input on the designs. Two of the designs were chosen to create the final mural.

Students who participated on the mural were Nick Berry, Michelle Greusel, Emily Hedberg, Erin Heiden, Nevin McNally, Sue Miller, Aislynn Sommers and Jill Thomas, all of Quincy, and Jacob Morrison and Noah Stull, both of Fowler. 

JWCC visual art students have completed other murals for the Blessing Cancer Center, Curtis Creek Retirement Village, Salem Church and JWCC’s Heath Gallery and Music Department. Students also have collaborated on mini-mural projects displayed at JWCC’s Quincy campus and regional centers. If an organization is interested in participating in a similar project, contact Seabarkrob at 217.641.4997 or aseabarkrob@jwcc.edu.

Job Link Use Has Increased 75 Percent in Two Years 

John Wood Community College’s Career Services Center centralizes resources for students and community members searching for employment.  

One of its most popular resources is Job Link, a virtual connector between students and community members searching for work and employers looking for individuals seeking to improve their skill set at JWCC.  In the last two years, the service has experienced a 75 percent increase in users.

In 2016, 350 employers and 500 job seekers used Job Link. Today, 682 employers and 810 job seekers use the career search tool. 

Students or community members who sign up for Job Link can list the categories or positions of interest to them while employers can post openings at jwcc.edu/job-link.  As positions match individuals’ interests, a job notification is automatically emailed when posted by an employer. 

On an average day, more than 107 positions are listed with JWCC’s Job Link.  Employers often post openings that can be linked to the programs offered at the College to target students currently pursuing certificates or degrees in specific areas. Many businesses are looking for electricians, computer-aided designers, logistics technicians, accountants, machinists, nurses, or sales representatives. 

Major area employers who most actively use Job Link include Blessing Health System, Dot Foods, Niemann Foods, Gates Air and Chaddock, among others. 

“Job Link is just one more service we are pleased to offer to help regional employers find qualified employees with the skills to grow their business,” Dick Tabb JWCC career services center administrative specialist said.  “For our students, it offers a direct connection to openings in their academic major or technical program.  Jobs literally appear in their email inbox.”

The center offers complimentary job search, mock interview and résumé review services for students and community members.  JWCC Career Services professionals also provide assistance at the College’s Mt. Sterling and Southeast Education Center near Pittsfield on a monthly basis.

More information on JWCC’s Job Link is available from Tabb at dtabb@jwcc.edu or 217.641.4974.

Students of John Wood Community College’s Alpha Tau Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recently attended the annual PTK convention in Kansas City, Mo. This year marks the 100^th year of PTK, which recognizes academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. 

JWCC PTK students and Jennifer Grindtaff, languages/literature/humanities instructor and PTK advisor, attended educational forums and meetings, listened to world-renowned speakers and celebrated a year of high achievement.

Monica Taft was presented to the convention as a Leaders of Promise scholar, which was awarded to her in October of last year. Taft, a sophomore at JWCC and resident of Quincy, plans to pursue her education through the master’s degree level.

JWCC President Michael Elbe was awarded PTK’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, PTK’s most prestigious award for college presidents. JWCC’s chapter nominated Elbe for his contribution to student success and support of PTK. President Elbe and his wife, Gerese, attended the convention to receive the honor.

John Wood Community College has extended its GED and adult literacy classes through June at the Southeast Education Center. The classes are offered through the JWCC Adult Education program, which helps students prepare for the high school equivalency GED test. The program also provides assistance with career planning and job skills.

Classes meet in Pittsfield from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the SEC, located at 39637 260^th Street, 2 miles north of Pittsfield on Highway 54.

Classes are free but students are required to attend an orientation session prior to beginning class. Financial assistance with testing fees may be available. To register, contact Monica Foster, manager of adult education, at 217.641.4962.  More information is available at www.jwcc.edu/ged.

Fifty-two students were inducted into John Wood Community College’s Alpha Tau Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society during a formal ceremony Thursday, April 26. 

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recognizes and encourages scholarship among students at two-year colleges.  Inductees must have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree work, have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and be currently enrolled at JWCC. 

Chapter President Elizabeth Ohnemus provided the welcome to the program, JWCC President Michael Elbe presented the keynote, and Jennifer Grindstaff, PTK advisor, installed the new officers.  Also participating in the program were Monica Taft (vice-president) and Emily Moore (treasurer).

JWCC students inducted during the ceremony were as follows: 

Augusta: Alyssa Kerker 

Barry: Diana Harris, Shelbie Hubbard 

Camp Point: Madeline Davis, Brianna Hildebrand, Lynnea Janssen 

Coatsburg: Logan Keppner 

Fowler: Alyson Genenbacher, Madelyn Heinecke 

Hull: Lauren Smith 

Liberty: Autumn Buckley, Katlyn Roberts, Reed Tate, Dylan Mast

Mendon: Adam Donley, Haley Miller

Mt. Sterling: Riley Smith

New Salem: Breanna Kelley

Paloma: Matthew Winkeljohn

Perry: Melissa Treadway

Pittsfield: Charlenia Bay, Jason Bryant

Pleasant Hill: Delaynie Robinson 

Quincy: Austin Bargen, Ashley Cadwell, Taylor Clark-Stotts, Emily Dreier, Kalah Elliott, Emily Hoebing, Nicholas Hun, Shelby Lacroix, Karen McIntosh, Kelly Obert, Madison Orr, Kyra Percy, Mackenzie Patrick, Sarah Peters, Sabryn Sandstrom, Taylor Scarbrough, Emma Taylor, Nicholas Veile, Hannah Ward, Rachel Wolter 

Ursa: McKenna East

West Point: Heaven Rice

Augusta, Mo.: Emily Brinkmann

Hannibal, Mo.: Hieu Hoang

Kahoka, Mo.: Tressa Campbell

Monroe City, Mo.: Lindsy Deming, Sheila Thomas 

Palmyra, Mo.: Carley Lovelace

Saverton, Mo.: Kelly Maisel

Passion of Jehanne recently performed at the University of Georgia   

Dr. Steven Soebbing, instructor of music and theatre at John Wood Community College, wrote the libretto and lyrics for the one-person opera, Passion of Jehanne, (The Girl Called Joan) based on text adapted from the 1449 transcripts of St. Joan of Arc’s trial of condemnation. Garrett Hope is the opera’s composer. 

Soebbing was invited to assist during the final week of production for the Passion of Jehanne recently performed by Rachel Eve Holmes at the University of Georgia.  The opera has also been performed elsewhere across the country. 

Soebbing joined the College in 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and music from University of Notre Dame, as well as a master’s degree in music and a doctor of musical arts from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Soebbing serves on the Muddy River Opera Board, Quincy Civic Music Association Board and is on the Illinois Articulation Initiative Humanities panel.  In addition to teaching, Soebbing performs in a variety of recitals and operas across the country.

John Wood Community College is sponsoring an event to benefit the College for Life (CFL) program. Paint the Town will be held on Friday, June 1, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Town & Country Suites in Quincy. 

The painting party will give participants a chance to paint a personalized canvas with Cheryl Schutte, instructor from the Paint Pad. Appetizers will be offered in addition to a cash bar. Participants may paint or choose to socialize based on their preference. 

JWCC created the CFL program last summer to provide opportunities to students 18 years and older with developmental and learning disabilities to go to college. The program’s mission is to help students with developmental and intellectual disabilities gain skills, knowledge and confidence for increased contribution to the greater community as coworkers, friends and neighbors.

Cost to attend is $50 per person, and all proceeds from the event will benefit the CFL. The event venue is sponsored by Blessing Health System. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to make reservations, contact Barb Woodyard, administrative assistant to the JWCC Community Foundation, at 217.641.4105 or email woodyard@jwcc.edu.

Works by John Wood Community College’s visual arts students were recently judged by Ann Miller Titus, president of the Quincy Art Center Board and fiber artist. The pieces are part of the seventh annual student “Show and Sell” spring exhibit, which is available for viewing at JWCC’s Heath Center Art Gallery through May 25. The gallery is open during the College’s normal operating hours.

Titus remarked on the works, “I began by looking for story. I am interested in how we communicate visually and the pieces that stood out to me suggested narratives, messages, and points of view. I found myself wishing that I could speak to each artist to discover the context for the work and to compare my perceptions with what the artists intended to communicate. I also found myself drawn to works that included a bit of surprise and a touch of the unexpected.” 

Presentations were made to the following:

Honorable Mention, Abigail Stickling of Taylor, Mo., for Patacsil

Honorable Mention, Jamie Sowell of Quincy, for Portrait

Honorable Mention, Jill Thomas of Quincy, for City Life

Honorable Mention, Emily Hedberg of Quincy, for c2

Honorable Mention, Michelle Greusel of Quincy, for Jill

Honor Award, Emily Hedberg, Serenity  

Honor Award, Nevin McNally of Quincy, Benny Eating a Flower  

Honor Award, Jill Thomas, City Flip  

Honor Award, Aislynn Sommers of Quincy, Noah  

Best of Show, Nevin McNally, Lordy Nordy

The JWCC Advancement Office receives 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale to enhance the arts education program at JWCC.  The individual students receive the remainder of the proceeds. 

The exhibit is located in the lower level of the Heath Fine Arts and Community Education Center located on the Quincy campus at 48^th and Harrison.

MACOMB/QUINCY, IL -- For many years, Western Illinois University and John Wood Community College (JWCC) have partnered through dual enrollment and other programs to offer area students outstanding educational opportunities. In 2008, the two schools signed a new agreement to offer WIU's Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree program to JWCC students, and today (May 1), the institutions renewed that agreement, which allows John Wood students maximum transferability from all associate degrees to WIU's BGS program.

According to Jeff Hancks, executive director of distance learning, international studies and outreach, students can transfer up to 80 semester hours of credit from JWCC to the BGS degree program and can complete BGS degree requirements through online and independent study courses. The partnership provides place bound John Wood students an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree from a quality public institution, Hancks added.

"The BGS program is individualized and flexible. Our continued partnership with John Wood allows students to finish their associate degree at JWCC, and have a seamless transfer to Western to obtain their bachelor's degree, while remaining in the Quincy area," Hancks explained. "John Wood students will also have the benefits of Western's innovative Cost Guarantee program, which means that a John Wood student who earns his or her associate degree in spring 2018 and transfers to Western for the fall 2018 semester will lock in Western's tuition and fees rate."

The Bachelor of General Studies program (originally called Board of Governors program) was created in 1972 to serve adult students who are unable to attend a traditional college program due to family, work or community obligations. Rather than requiring a specific major, the program allows the student to design her or his program to meet individual educational goals. Students may also be eligible for academic credit for college-level learning that was done in a non-collegiate setting, such as the military or on-the-job training.

“The renewal of this agreement is a great opportunity for all students, especially our adult students,” JWCC Vice President for Instruction Dr. Laurel Klinkenberg said. “A key benefit of this partnership is that students who need to stay in this community for their careers and families have the opportunity to earn a four-year degree from WIU without being required to relocate. An added benefit is that students may design and complete a personalized program of study in collaboration with a WIU advisor.”

For more information on the JWCC/WIU partnership, contact Hancks at  (309) 298-1929 or Andrew Happekotte, director of advising and retention, at 217.641.4346 or ahappekotte@jwcc.edu