Press Release Archive
For more information about any of the press releases below, contact Jennifer Stoner, executive director of communications and marketing, at (708) 709-3949 or Tina Saigh, communications and marketing specialist at (708) 709-7801.
FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS OFFERED FREE AT PSC
[released 1/31/12] Submitting a completed and accurate Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first and most important step in obtaining financial aid. By completing the FAFSA in the spring, students will be able to meet the required financial aid deadlines. Prairie State College (PSC) is hosting two workshops to help students and parents file the FAFSA online. The workshops are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, and 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, at the college’s main campus at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights.
The workshop is free and open to the public, and advanced registration is requested by calling (708) 709-3735, or by completing the registration form online at prairiestate.edu/finaid/workshops.html. Assistance also is available in Spanish.
In order to complete the FAFSA, applicants will need to provide a completed or estimated 2011 tax information (parent’s and student’s 1040, 1040A, and/or 1040EZ federal tax applications and W-2 forms); the student’s driver’s license and social security number; the parent’s social security number and date of birth; records of untaxed income (welfare, social security, AFDC/ADC, or veterans benefits); current bank statements; current mortgage information for properties other than the family’s principal residence; records of businesses, farm (if not the family’s principal residence), and assets (stocks, bonds, and other investments); and a calculator.
For more information on the FAFSA workshops at PSC, contact the college’s Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs at (708) 709-3735.
PSC PRESENTING 24th ANNUAL JAZZ FEST FEB. 17
[released 1/30/12] Some of the nation’s top jazz artists will perform at Prairie State College’s (PSC) 24th annual Jazz Fest at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, in the auditorium of the college, located at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.
Featured musicians include Chicago trumpeter Orbert Davis, drummer Ernie Adams, and bassist Larry Gray, as well as New Orleans saxophonist Ed Petersen and PSC’s professor of music, Valerie Nicholson, on piano.
Ticket prices are $15 for general admission. Students and senior citizens tickets are $10 each. Tickets are available in advance in the PSC Business Office Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets also can be purchased at the door on the evening of the concert.
The third annual Howard Luckey Excellence in Jazz Leadership Award also will be presented. The award goes to a community member who has provided extensive and consistent support of jazz through teaching, performing, or organizing in a spirit of humility and community. The award was established in memory of Howard Luckey, a PSC social science faculty member who passed away in 2010.
“Howard was a long time supporter of the Jazz Festival and music education,” said Nicholson. “He understood the importance of the arts in people’s lives and the impact they have on intellectual, creative, and emotional growth.”
The Friday performance is part of the annual two-day festival hosted by PSC, which also includes instrumental clinics led by the featured artists. The clinics are for local junior high and high school jazz musicians. It is an opportunity for students to receive instruction in technique and performance from the jazz masters.
“This year's concert is going to be fantastic, as usual,” said Adjunct Professor Robert Calhoon, who coordinated the fest. “We are so fortunate that some of that some of the finest and busiest jazz musicians in the country take time out of their schedules to come to Prairie State, work with students for two very full days, and then hang out and play a concert on Friday night.”
Those who attend the evening concert also can enjoy the Christopher Art Gallery exhibit, “Presence-Absence,” a two-person show featuring paintings by Sergio Gomez and Mark Zlotkowski. The gallery will be open before the concert and through intermission.
For more information on the Jazz Festival, or to purchase tickets to the concert, call the college at (708) 709-3500.
PRESENCE-ABSENCE EXHIBIT TO OPEN AT PSC FEB. 6
[Released 01/25/12] The Prairie State College Foundation is hosting "Presence-Absence," a two-person show featuring paintings by Sergio Gomez and Mark Zlotkowski, from Feb. 6 through Feb. 29, at the Christopher Art
Gallery located on the Chicago Heights campus at 202 S. Halsted Street.
According to the artists, the exhibit is intended to "encourage its audience to a deeper understanding of their own visible and invisible experiences."
Gomez is the director and co-founder of 33 Collective Gallery in Chicago. In 2009, he founded VisualArtToday.com, a curated online exhibition space for international contemporary art. Gomez also is a graphic designer, illustrator, faculty member at South Suburban College, and an independent curator for the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago.
Zlotkowski was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Northwestern University. He teaches in the Department of Art and Media Design at DePaul University.
An artists' reception is being held from 4:30 to 7:30, Thursday, Feb. 9.
The Christopher Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Visits also can be made by appointment. For more information about the exhibit or to make an appointment for a visit, contact the PSC Foundation at (708) 709-3636.
PRAIRIE STATE COLLEGE ANNOUNCES BASIC FIREFIGHTER AND EMT GRADUATES
[Released 01/13/12] Prairie State College (PSC) recently held graduation ceremonies for the Basic Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs.
Graduates of the Basic Firefighter program were Christopher Blandon of Ford Heights Fire Department; Michael Carey and Nicholas Drake of Chicago Heights Fire Department; Steven Dees of Park Forest Fire Department; Michael Golden of Phoenix Fire Department; Justin Hamilton, Amy Most, and Daniel Wychocki of Crete Fire Department; Patrick Harvey, Ryan Holman, Michael Morgan, and Jason Postma of Crete Township Fire Protection District; Kurt Homberg of Kankakee Township Fire Protection District; Melissa Kelley of South Chicago Heights Fire Department; and Phil Werner of Glenwood Fire Department.
The master of ceremonies for the Basic Firefighter ceremony was Rich Atwood, program coordinator. The keynote speaker was Kevin Welsh, chief of the Glenwood Fire Department, and the student speaker was Jason Postma, of Crete Township Fire Protection District.
Graduates of the EMT program were Timothy Ackerman, Elmer H. Bausch, Patrick J. Callahan, Vincent Carter, Jr., Michael Galen, Michael R. Stowers, and Dylan Vance, of Homewood; Lauren Anderson, of Matteson; Nicholas J. Capolillo, Michael R. Crandall, III, and Brian Rimkus, of Park Forest; Dylan Cunningham, of Thornton; Melissa Garcia, of South Chicago Heights; Kyle D. Haemker and Richard J. Viktora, of Crete; Rachel Nicole Hearon, of Sauk Village; Keith Holem, of Crown Point, Ind.; Benjamin F. Hughes and Aaron E. Morris, of Richton Park; Miecsha Renee Johnson, of Lynwood; Kevin O’Donnell, of Flossmoor; Anthony Smith, of Matteson; Stefanie Ward, of Monee; and Jason Zornow, of Beecher.
Two graduates, Galen and Stowers, were named valedictorian of the graduating class for completing the EMT program with the top scores.
Mistress of ceremonies for the EMT graduation was Vanessa Scheidt, of Franciscan St. James Health, and the keynote speaker for the ceremony was Bruce Ziegle, deputy chief of the Park Forest Fire Department.
The Basic Firefighter program prepares students to become municipal firefighters and take the state fire marshal exam. The program follows the standards of the National Fire Protection Association and the Office of the State Fire Marshall.
The EMT program prepares students to take the state certification exam to obtain a license to work on an ambulance crew or in an emergency room.
For more information about the Basic Firefighter or EMT program, contact Marie Hansel, dean, health and industrial technology, director of nursing, (708) 709-3648 or mhansel@prairiestate.edu.
PSC HOSTING 'BOOTS TO BOOKS' STUDENT VETERAN ORIENTATION JAN. 11
[Released 12/12/11] Prairie State College (PSC) is hosting "Boots to Books: The transition from military life to college life," a student veteran orientation, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11, in room 1240 of the main campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.
All first-time or returning student veterans are invited to attend the event, which will include presentations by Mary Reaves, vice president of student affairs; Carissa Davis, coordinator of veterans affairs and scholarship advisor; and a representative from counseling and advising.
Attendees also will be taken on a tour of the newly established Student Veterans Center on campus, led by the Student Veterans Center Coordinator and U.S. Army Veteran Robert James.
PSC SPEECH TEAM BRINGS HOME AWARDS IN TWO TOURNAMENTS
[Released 12/15/2011] The Prairie State College (PSC) speech team competed in two tournaments in November and December, bringing home several awards.
During the Kishwaukee College tournament in November, the PSC team placed fourth of 15 teams, and individual team members also received several awards. Nadia Crawley, of Lynwood, was named tournament champion for communication analysis and won fifth place for informative speaking. Adrianna Carr, of Park Forest, won fourth place for informative speaking, and third place for poetry interpretation. Kelli Campbell, of Homewood, won fifth place for persuasive speaking. Nick Williams, of Homewood, won sixth place for persuasive speaking. Robert Roberts, of Chicago Heights, won eighth place for speech to entertain.
Crawley said of the experience, "I'm really excited about this team. We have a lot of talented students who can really take their speeches far."
The PSC team also placed sixth of 15 schools in the tournament at College of Lake County on Dec. 3. Individual awards included Williams receiving fifth place for poetry interpretation and fifth place for persuasive speaking; and Angela Parrish, of Olympia Fields, receiving sixth place for poetry interpretation. Parrish also was named tournament champion for persuasive speaking. Additional team members included Connor MacLeod and Matt Jiles, of Flossmoor; Lamar Riddle, of Richton Park; and Roberts.
Team coach Professor of Communication David Naze said, "We are very pleased to see such young and new talent do so well and represent the program the way they did. We are looking forward to competition in the spring semester."
Both teams also were coached by communication Professors Elighie Wilson and Ed Schwarz.
GENEROUS STATE GRANT ALLOWS PSC TO OFFER FREE BRIDGE TO MANUFACTURING CAREERS COURSE (New Registration Dates Added)
[Released 12/15/2011] Due to a generous $20,000 grant from the State of Illinois, Prairie State College (PSC) is offering a free class, Bridge to Manufacturing Careers, from 1 to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The course is intended to prepare students for entry-level employment or post-secondary training in the manufacturing field. Students will receive instruction, guidance, and support as they increase reading, writing, math, and technology skills; explore manufacturing careers, job requirements, and employer expectations for employment; and conduct job searches, write résumés, complete applications, and develop interviewing and workplace communication skills. It is open to students preparing for the GED® tests or those who have earned a GED® certificate or high school diploma.
After completion of the course, students will be prepared to take the GED® Exam, apply for admission for an entry level manufacturing class at PSC, or use the course completion on a résumé while searching for entry-level employment.
Registration is being held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19, and 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the Adult Training and Outreach Center on the PSC campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.
For more information about the course, contact Angioletta Maltbia, student services specialist, adult education, at (708) 709-7931 or e-mail amaltbia@prairiestate.edu.
DECOMPRESSION ART EXHIBIT OPENS AT PSC CHRISTOPHER ART GALLERY JAN. 3
[Released 12/13/2011] The Prairie State College Foundation is presenting the art exhibit "Decompression," Jan. 3 through 26, in the Christopher Art Gallery on the Chicago Heights campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St. There will be an artists' reception from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19.
Featured artists include Indiana artists Dawn Diamantopoulos and Lee Heinsen-Ligocki, and New York City artist Megan Green. The artists were challenged by the questions: How do you decompress at the end of the day? How do you resolve where your life has led you, compared to where you thought you'd be? How do you put the day away for the night?
Diamantopoulos says her series, "History Repeats," began when she wanted to rework an art book's writings into layered drawings. "The phrases were taken/adapted from that book. There wasn't a good theme line in each group, yet the lines I pulled actually relate to more areas of my life than the original writing," the stay-at-home mom/artist said.
According to Heinsen-Ligocki, a professional truck driver, her collection of drawings, "Trippin Hands," are intentionally small for portability. "The drawings reflect thoughts and experiences from hours of solitude," she said. "Each image suggests an idea, but there is an underlying message the viewer can inwardly interpret," she added.
Green's current series of photographs, "Out of Town," chronicles her travels for work, she says. "What began as a lark has almost become a necessity now when I travel. To me, it's nothing deeper than inserting myself in a space that is temporary to me - temporarily supposed to be a place of comfort, to sleep, to work, to come back to after shooting all day," she added.
The Christopher Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Visits also can be made by appointment. The gallery will be closed on Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. For more information about the exhibit or to make an appointment for a visit, contact the PSC Foundation at (708) 709-3636.
THREE NEW PIECES ADDED TO PSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES STUDENT ART COLLECTION
[Released 12/8/2011] The Prairie State College (PSC) Board of Trustees recently added three student art works to the Student Art Collection. The pieces were chosen from the May 2011 Graduating Student Exhibit and the 28th Annual Exhibition of Photographer of the Year in fall 2011.
The pieces selected were "Absence of a Memory," a painting by William Matthews III, of Matteson; "Drip," a photograph by Michael Carr, of Lansing; and "Whole in the wall hole," a photograph by Sherryl Smith, of Park Forest.
Smith, who also was this year's featured Photographer of the Year, said her interest in photography started at a young age. "I loved how photos told stories, and images explained things to me that words were never able to do," she said. "I could experience pain, joy, and sorrow, all from one paragraph."
Established in September 2008 by the Board of Trustees, the collection features student artwork, and is exhibited in prominent places throughout campus. The collection now includes 19 pieces of art.
Art Professor Paul Rinaldi said, "We are very proud of the high level work our students are creating here at PSC. The new photographs and painting are a testament to these students' creativity and personal vision."
"The Board of Trustees collection provides a wonderful opportunity for the college to collect and display such powerful works, contributing in a major way to the cultural presence in our community," he added.
MOLARO NAMED ASSOCIATE DEAN OF LIBRARY AT PSC
[Released 12/05/2011] Prairie State College (PSC) recently named Anthony Molaro associate dean of library and instructional technology. In that role, he will provide vision, leadership, and support to the faculty and staff of the library and the staff in instructional design and technology, as well as support online instruction and instructional resources using technology. He also will serve as the liaison between Academic Affairs and the office of Information Technology Resources.
Dr. Adenuga Atewologun, vice president for academic affairs, said Molaro will accelerate the speed of innovation started by his predecessor in the library and instructional technology area.
"Mr. Molaro comes to us with a proven record of pioneering the adoption of technology, such as cloud-based computing methods. He is a strong proponent of building relationships with faculty, staff, and patrons to ascertain needs and plan strategically to exceed expectations," he said.
Molaro brings to PSC a wealth of experience in libraries, research, and technology. Most recently, Molaro served as CEO of Highwood Public Library, where he was responsible for the administration of all library functions, supervised personnel, and served as the primary representative of the library in the community. He also has served as head of technical services and technology at Messenger Public Library in North Aurora, Ill, librarian and liaison to professional programs for Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich., circulation coordinator and reference librarian for Dominican University Library in River Forest, Ill, and research services assistant II for Loyola Health Science Library in Maywood, Ill.
Molaro has a master's degree in library and information science from Dominican University, and an M.B.A. and bachelor's degree from Elmhurst College. He currently is pursuing a Ph.D. degree from Dominican University. Molaro also is an adjunct instructor at Waubonsee Community College.
"Mr. Molaro's knowledge of the community college system is partly based on his own experience as a student and graduate of a community college. I am excited thinking of the potential of this appointment and what it means for our students and PSC," Atewologun added.
GENEROUS STATE GRANT ALLOWS PSC TO OFFER FREE BRIDGE TO MANUFACTURING CAREERS COURSE
[Released 12/01/11] Due to a generous $20,000 grant from the State of Illinois, Prairie State College (PSC) is offering a free class, Bridge to Manufacturing Careers, from 1 to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The course is intended to prepare students for entry-level employment or post-secondary training in the manufacturing field. Students will receive instruction, guidance, and support as they increase reading, writing, math, and technology skills; explore manufacturing careers, job requirements, and employer expectations for employment; and conduct job searches, write résumés, complete applications, and develop interviewing and workplace communication skills. It is open to students preparing for the GED® tests or those who have earned a GED® certificate or high school diploma.
After completion of the course, students will be prepared to take the GED® Exam, apply for admission for an entry level manufacturing class at PSC, or use the course completion on a résumé while searching for entry-level employment.
Registration is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5 in the Adult Training and Outreach Center located on the PSC campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.
For more information about the course, contact Angioletta Maltbia, student services specialist, adult education, at (708) 709-7931 or e-mail amaltbia@prairiestate.edu.
TURKEY OIL DRIVE AT PRAIRIE STATE COLLEGE AIMS TO TURN WASTE INTO FUEL
[Released 11/22/11] With the growing trend of deep frying turkeys for Thanksgiving, the Sustainability Center at Prairie State College (PSC) is conducting a vegetable oil collection drive to help dispose of the leftover cooking oil in an environmentally sound way by converting it into biodiesel.
The drive will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, on the PSC campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights. The drop off point will be in Parking Lot C, off of Vollmer Road, and will be marked with an oil collection drive sign.
Donors can bring used oil of any age or use, as long as it is delivered in a sealed container. In return for bringing in the oil and while supplies last, each donor will receive a free bottle of soap- a byproduct of the biodiesel conversion process.
"It's a challenge for people to figure out what to do with all that oil left over from frying a turkey, and we're happy to provide an easy way to get rid of it, and allow it to be converted to biodiesel which will be used to run a vehicle," said Beth Koprowski, sustainability coordinator at PSC.
For more information, contact Koprowski at (708) 709-7950 or bkoprowski@prairiestate.edu.
PRAIRIE STATE COLLEGE OCTOBER GRANT AWARDS EXCEED $5 MILLION
[Released 11/07/2011] In October, Prairie State College (PSC) was awarded several grants, totaling $5.1 million. The grants include several from the federal government, intended for use in the degree programs, and one from the state government, intended for use in the non-credit programs.
The U.S. Department of Education Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Program most recently awarded PSC two grants: the Academy for Student Excellence in Math and Science: Bioscience Initiative award, which will bring in $1.25 million over the next five years; and the SySTEMic Change at Prairie State College: Ensuring African American Student Success in Math and Science award, which will bring in $2.34 million over the next four years. Both grants are intended to improve the enrollment, retention, and degree completion of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
"These awards provide PSC the opportunity to meet major challenges in college and career readiness, retention, and degree completion, especially in disciplines where students need mastery of STEM subjects," said Dr. Adenuga Atewologun, vice president of academic affairs. "The grant leads to positive institutional impact, and we cannot afford to waste the opportunity. It is a unique privilege to be entrusted with the tools-highly qualified faculty, supportive college environment, and the funds-to make it so for our students and the district."
Earlier in the month, the U.S. Department of Education awarded PSC a $1.15 million TRIO grant, dispersed over the next five years, to host a Talent Search Program for the southeast region of Cook County, one of the poorest areas in the state of Illinois. The goal of the Talent Search program is to identify and help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education.
According to Shawn L. Govan, dean of student services, PSC's program will serve 500 student participants throughout PSC's target area, which includes some of the communities' most disadvantaged middle- and high-school students.
"Programming efforts are designed to encourage retention, graduation, and matriculation to the secondary and post-secondary level and beyond, in addition to providing both student participants and parents ongoing programming and educational workshops on financial literacy and the college financial aid process," she said.
The PSC non-credit programs also were recognized with $360,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for on-the-job training assistance for unemployed workers in the area.
Terri Winfree, vice president of community and economic development at PSC said, "we are absolutely thrilled to be positioned to offer assistance to the residents of our district. With the assistance of the new grant initiatives we can expand our offerings and serve a larger audience."
PSC President Dr. Eric Radtke noted the importance of the generous funding in a time of continuing economic struggle. "We are pleased to know that these federal and state agencies recognize our needs and have the confidence in our ability to take on these major initiatives," he said. "These awards will help us expand and enhance the programs and services we offer our students as other sources of funding continue to erode."
PSC EARNS ACCOLADES AT NCMPR DISTRICT CONFERENCE
[Released 11/04/2011] Prairie State College (PSC) received a Gold and two Silver Medallion Awards of Excellence at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 Conference in Detroit, Mich., last month. Members of the Communications and Marketing Department accepted the awards on behalf of PSC.
The gold award recognized PSC for various marketing items promoting the 2011 Jazz Fest. The first silver award was for the non-credit programs brochure, and the second silver award recognized the most recent high school poster promotional piece.
Jennifer Stoner, executive director of communications and marketing at PSC also was named the 2011 recipient of the Communicator of the Year for District 3 for demonstrating special leadership or ability in college communications. Stoner’s receipt of the award automatically nominates her for NCMPR’s national award, which is presented at the national conference.
Stoner, a resident of Manhattan, Ill., has been head of the Communications and Marketing department at PSC since 2007. She oversees the activities of a number of communications functions of the school, including publications, public relations, graphic design, advertising, video production, and the Web site, as well as Institutional Support Services and the Information Center.
Kristin Carrera, lead graphic designer at PSC who nominated Stoner for the award, said that Stoner deserves to be recognized for how hard she works, despite her humility about her accomplishments.
“She will be the first to tell you that it's not about her. It's about her team,” Carrera said.
But, Carrera added, Stoner’s efforts are not going by unrecognized. “It's amazing how much one person can make an impact on an institution,” she said. “There is one person who, hands down, has made a lot of changes to benefit the college, and that is Jennifer Stoner.”
PSC SPEECH TEAM BRINGS HOME THIRD PLACE HONORS
[Released 11/02/11] The Prairie State College (PSC) speech team received third place honors at a recent tournament hosted at Moraine Valley Community College. The team competed against students from 15 other schools in the region, and was coached by PSC Professors Ed Schwarz, David Naze, and Elighie Wilson.
Team members Kelli Campbell, of Homewood; Adrianna Carr, of Park Forest; LaMar Riddle, of Richton Park; Robert Roberts, of Chicago Heights; Matt Jiles, of Flossmoor; Nick Williams, of Homewood; Addison Jackson, of Oak Forest; and Connor MacLeod, of Flossmoor, also received individual awards at the event.
Campbell was named tournament champion for persuasive speaking; Carr was named tournament champion for prose interpretation and received sixth place for informative speaking; Riddle was named tournament champion for speech to entertain and received second place in poetry interpretation; Roberts received second place for speech to entertain; Jiles received fourth place for speech to entertain; Williams received fourth place for persuasive speaking; Jackson received seventh place for persuasive speaking; and MacLoed received seventh place for informative speaking.
First year team member and Gulf War veteran Jackson said “My first experience in a speech tournament was one of awe and intrigue. Initial nervousness gave way to feelings of empowerment and excitement. I had no clue that the world of speech competition would be not only a learning experience, but also one of team pride and camaraderie."
Photo caption:
Members of the Prairie State College team placing third in a speech tournament hosted by Moraine Valley Community College were (standing, from left) Nick Williams, LaMar Riddle, Connor MacLeod, Kelli Campbell, Addison Jackson, Matt Jiles, and Elizabeth Rossi, and (seated, from left) Adrianna Carr and Robert Roberts.
Jennifer Stoner
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
(708) 709-3949
jstoner@prairiestate.edu
Tina Saigh
(708)709-7801
tsaigh@prairiestate.edu