The Kishwaukee College Foundation awarded $99,978 in program enhancement funds to Kishwaukee College departments for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Foundation has various program enhancement funds established by the generosity of donors for specific purposes. Funds support many needs, including educational support for instructors, new equipment, and student testing services.
The following program enhancement funds have been awarded this year:
Evelina Jose Cichy Fund
Honoring Evelina Cichy and her many years of service at Kishwaukee College, the fund helps pay for fees associated with Illinois High School Diploma tests.
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, outstanding student awards and resource software.
Jobe-Lewis Fund
Suzanne K. Lewis established the 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 supports staff professional development and new program supplies.
Jenkins Presidential Endowment
The fund supports and enhances the activities of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society.
Yvonne A. Johnson Endowment for Community Education
This fund benefits the programmatic needs of the Fine Arts, Communications, Science and Horticulture programs. This year, funds support the Horticulture program through technology supplies for plant identification and labeling for plant sales.
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 display materials and diversity promotional posters.
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 portable drafting tables.
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 helps cover costs for staff attendance at national conferences, technology for the Radiologic Technology program, and student retention activities.
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 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 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (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 kish.edu/foundationfunds.