The Waubonsee Distinguished Contributor Award is designed to honor individuals, groups of individuals or organizations who have made outstanding contributions or given exemplary support to Waubonsee Community College.
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The award shall be given to a nominee who meets the following criteria:
- The nominee has supported an area of the general operation of the college in either a personal or professional capacity that has contributed to the overall growth and expansion of the college’s mission.
- The nominee has contributed to the institution in a way which has enhanced a program, the operation and/or future development of the college which went beyond the ordinary and such results would probably not have occurred without the nominee’s special efforts.
- The nominee is recognized by the college staff, community residents and officials, or community college leaders as having made an extraordinary commitment to promote the college and its mission.
- The nominee shall not be a current employee of the college.
Past Recipients (1984-2023)
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Tim Tremain, President of MTH Pumps |
| 2022 | Dr. Diane Homan, Medical Director, Health Care Service Corporation and Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Member, Scholarship Committee Chair |
| 2021 | Kane County Health Department |
| 2020 | Angelo Kleronomos, Owner, Property Concepts, Inc. |
| 2019 | Dr. Gina Santori, Waubonsee Foundation Board of Directors |
| 2018 | Jerry Rich, President, Rich Harvest Farms and Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Member |
| 2017 | Richard “Shorty” W. Dickson, Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees, Chair |
| 2016 | Oswego Fire Protection District |
| 2015 | Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), Volunteers, Waubonsee Community College in partnership with the Center for Economic Progress, Aurora |
| 2014 | Andrew Faville, President & CEO, Falex Corporation, and Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Member/Investment Committee Chair |
| 2013 | Bernie Looney, Retired VALEES Director |
| 2012 | Michael Ochsenschlager, Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Secretary |
| 2011 | Penelope “Penny” Cameron, Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board President |
| 2010 | Susan M. Kiley Memorial Scholarship Fund and Oswegoland Optimist Club (Margie Kiley, Jerry Kiley, Trustees of the Susan M. Kiley Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Board of Directors of the Optimist Club of Oswegoland) |
| 2009 | William Roberts, Former Mayor, City of Plano |
| 2008 | The Dunham Fund |
| 2007 | William C. Murphy, Of Counsel, Kinnally, Flaherty, Krentz and Loran P.C., and Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Member |
| 2006 | Roger Griffin, Technical Training Instructor, Nissan Corporate |
| 2005 | Award Rescinded |
| 2004 | Richard Feltes, Vice President and Co-Owner, Feltes Sand and Gravel Company, and Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Former President |
| 2003 | Honorary Co-Chairs of the Friends of Waubonsee (William Skoglund, Jack Barto, Ed Bonifas, Kevin Burns, Phil Bus, Penny Cameron, Juventino Cano, Linda Chapa La Via, Tom Cross, Rey Cruz, Suzanne Deuchler, Joe Diedrich, Lynn Dubajic, Rev. David Engbarth, Jean Gaines, Theodia Gillespie, Scheketa Hart-Burns, Kay Hatcher, Steve Hatcher, Dale Hornyan-Toftoy, Sherman Jenkins, David Krahn, Chris Lauzen, Patricia Reid Lindner, Mike McCoy, Marilyn Michelini, Sean Michels, Robert Mitchler, Kimberly Moss-Dobbins, Jerry Palmer, Ed Petka, Arthur Prochaska, Richard Randall, William Roberts, Mark Ruby, Colleen Ruddy, Jeff Schielke, Tim Schmitz, David Stover, Tom Thomas, Bob Vaughan, Craig Weber, Dr. James Willey, David Wirsing) |
| 2002 | Noel Ryan, President, Mitutoyo America Corporation |
| 2001 | L.D. “Joe” Porter, Human Resources Manager, Wheel Loaders and Excavators Division, Caterpillar, and former member of the Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board |
| 1998 | Janet Bodie, Waubonsee Community College Board Chair/Member |
| 1997 | Original/Founding Waubonsee Board of Trustees 1966-1967 (Dale Von Ohlen, Lucile Gustafson, Evar Erickson, Ruby Collins Sweigart, George Akerlow, Thomas Redd, John Nickels) |
| 1996 | Robert Sundlof, Jr., Robert Sundlof, Sr., Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Members |
| 1995 | David Pierce, Mayor, City of Aurora |
| 1994 | Justice John Nickels, Founding Trustee of Waubonsee Community College |
| 1989 | William J. Ball, M.D. |
| 1988 | John A. Sizer, Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board Member |
| 1987 | Evar Erickson, Founding Trustee of Waubonsee Community College |
| 1986 | Ruby Collins Sweigart, Founding Trustee of Waubonsee Community College |
| 1984 | Dr. Lucile Gustafson, Founding Trustee of Waubonsee Community College |
Contact
Development Office
Sugar Grove Campus
Dickson Center, 2nd Floor
(630) 466-2316
foundation@waubonsee.edu
