The Kishwaukee College Foundation awarded $75,377 in program enhancement funds to Kishwaukee College departments for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Foundation has a variety of program enhancement funds established by the generosity of donors for specific purposes. Funds support various needs, including educational support for instructors, new equipment, and testing services for students.
The following program enhancement funds have been awarded this year:
Evelina Jose Cichy Fund
The fund was established to honor Evelina Cichy and her many years of service to Kishwaukee College. The fund helps pay for fees associated with the Illinois High School Diploma test.
John & Barbara Dant Memorial Fund
The fund provides financial support for the needs of the math and English departments. This year, funds support faculty professional development activities and outstanding student awards for English and math.
Jobe-Lewis Fund
Suzanne K. Lewis established this fund to honor her mother, Doris V. Lewis, who obtained a nursing degree. Suzanne wished to honor her mother by helping support others who chose the nursing field. This year, the fund will support farm rescue training, student achievement awards and program events for students.
Jenkins Presidential Endowment
The fund supports the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society to further enhance its activities.
Yvonne A. Johnson Endowment for Community Education
This fund is used for programmatic needs for the Fine Arts, Communications, Science, and Horticulture programs. This year, the fund supports the replacement and repair of kilns, an art display for students and events within the Art Department.
Leifheit Literacy Endowment
The Leifheit Literacy Endowment supports the adult and family literacy programs at Kishwaukee College. It provides students with testing supplies and support to obtain their Illinois High School Diploma.
Library Endowment Fund
This fund supports the operations of the Kishwaukee College Library. This year, the fund helped purchase informational posters and light therapy lamps for the study rooms.
Lifelong Learning Endowment
Honoring the retirement of Judy Krajewski, former Dean of Community Education & Services, this fund was established to ensure a legacy of lifelong learning for future generations by increasing access to community education opportunities through scholarships in non-credit courses.
Matteson Horticulture Fund
The fund supports the programmatic needs of the Horticulture Department. This year, funds helped purchase an automated seeding machine.
Terry & Sherrie Martin Health & Science Endowment
The fund was born out of a deep commitment to education and strong faith in the values of Kishwaukee College. The endowment supports program enhancements for the Allied Health or Science programs. This year, the endowment helped provide equipment for the radiologic technology program, upgrades on microscopes and support for students with online lab kits.
Terry & Sherrie Martin PTK Endowment
The endowment supports the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Hallmark Award, a student scholarship. Terry Martin was a long-time advisor of the Kish’s PTK chapter.
Robert L. “Smitty” Smith Assistantship
The assistantship fund was established to honor Robert L. Smith, a highly regarded faculty member in the science department during Kishwaukee College’s early years from 1968 to 1975. The fund supports student assistantships in STEM departments. Students assist faculty in research projects and lab development.
For more information on Program Enhancements, contact the Kishwaukee College Foundation at 815-825-9803 or visit www.kish.edu/foundationfunds.