“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” ― Louisa May Alcott
Announcements
(notes provided by the crafty and courageous Barb Lintner)
A report on our Chilean student, Antonia Rivera, is that she and her family had to evacuate due to the recent earthquake in Chile, but are okay with no damage to their home.
Champaign Central Interact Club is sponsoring a 5K run on Saturday, October 24th at 9:00am at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Crisis Nursery. The club is seeking cash and product donations. Sponsorships are due October 9.
Betsy Barringer on behalf of her family presented a gift of an additional Shelterbox this year to Gary Olsen in memory of Larry Barringer, a former member of CU Sunrise.
Program
Tom Ramage, President of Parkland College, spoke to us about the community college, the new facilities just completed at the campus in west Champaign, and current budget concerns.
Parkland was founded in 1966 in downtown Champaign with 1338 students; today it serves 21,000 credit students, and 4,000 non-credit students. It has become a premier community college serving 300,000 students since its inception and offering 120 degree certificate programs to students in a 3,000 square mile area of central Illinois.
Parkland is the number one feeder school for the University of Illinois. Engineering students who transfer to the university do as well or better than those who start as freshmen at the U of I. Parkland students who have concurrent enrollments with the university have their courses accepted by other universities as well. Parkland led the nation in online students from 2000 to 2010.
One third of area high school graduates in the top 10% of their classes get full-ride scholarships to Parkland. In 2011, 10,000 Parkland students had academic deficits. The college meets students where they are and helps them graduate and earn their degrees.
At present there are 250 foreign students; 116 are from China and are enrolled in Parkland’s Institute for Aviation due to the huge growth in air transportation in that country.
Parkland has business connections with many large companies such as Microsoft and Kraft but also with smaller central Illinois businesses. The college’s customer service training helps keep our community viable.
The recent $92 million expansion includes six new facilities, one of which is a new student services building. One quarter million square feet have been added. The work will continue for 3 to 4 years to complete the remodeling process.
Tuition is up 6 % this year at $140.50 per credit hour. The three sources of revenue for the college are area local taxes; the state (40% in 1970, 20% in 2003 and only a 9% credit hour equalization reimbursement this year); and grants, scholarships, and foundation funds.
Tom invited us to share our thoughts, suggestions and questions with him in person or by email. In response to several questions he envisioned the future to include more sustainability, biotech, and medical support nursing and x ray technician programs at the college.
—
| Sept 24th | Oct 1st | Oct 8th | Oct 15th | |
| Introductions | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson | Jeff Van Buren |
| Invocation | Paul Conforti | Molly Delaney | Ata Durukan | Diana Dummitt |
| Greeters | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson | Jeff Van Buren |
| Keith Brandau | Alan Chalifoux | Neal Chamberlain | Paul Conforti | |
| Song Leader | Harold Adams | Laura Auteberry | Oktay Baran | Keith Brandau |
| Notetaker | Chamberlain | Perry | Penwell | Hodson |
| Rotary Minute | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson | Jeff Van Buren | Cary Woolard |
—
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
September 24th – Tyra Perry, new Head Coach of Women’s Softball, UIUC
October 1st – Christine Catanzarite, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Illinois
October 8th – Jessica DeYoung, Director of the C-U Special Recreation Program
October 15th – Sue Grey from United Way of Champaign County will discuss their new Family Emergency Shelters
October 22nd – Mike DeLorenzo, Associate Chancellor, UIUC, will discuss Willard Airport
October 29th – TBD
November 5th – TBD
November 12th – TBD
November 19th – TBD
November 26th – Thanksgiving, no meeting
December 3rd – TBD
