Included in the group of graduates were a set of twins, a husband and wife, and a parent and child, according to IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. The commencement ceremony also included an unusual twist as one student was proposed to after she crossed the stage to accept her diploma.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) spoke to the graduates in the keynote address about decisions and responsibility.

Sophomore graduate Megan Winkler, who plans to attend Illinois State University in the fall, read her winning essay in the Paul Simon Essay Contest about how IVCC changed her life. Winkler cited her experiences as a manager for the volleyball team and a trip to Washington, D.C., with the women’s basketball team as experiences that brought new friendships and expanded her horizons.

The nursing pinning ceremony preceded the commencement. In addition, GED graduation was May 20.

“It’s been an honor to be the head coach at IVCC,” said Pinter. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The relationships I have built with players, faculty, staff, administration – everyone who has helped and supported me along the way and been involved with our student athletes – has been outstanding.”

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran said, “I want to thank Eric for his leadership. His players were good students, were supportive of other IVCC teams, were effective fundraisers, helped renovate their own field and actively supported community projects.”

Corcoran said the process to fill the vacancy has begun and the position will be posted soon at www.ivcc.edu/hr<http://www.ivcc.edu/hr>.

The 31-year-old Pinter, an IVCC graduate and former Eagle player, will explore options for a full-time coaching position.

“My vision for the program was to try to get us back to the level of play that helped us win regional titles in the past,” said Pinter. “We have gradually been building toward that destination.

“The first two graduating classes involved in our program helped build a foundation for the following year’s team to achieve success,” said Pinter. “We are on the right track to building the program I had envisioned. I am only sorry I will not be able to see it come to pass.

“The players in our program now are well-respected, have good GPAs and are always eager to volunteer in the community. Of the 22 players on this year’s roster, 16 come from in-district schools.

“I have enjoyed my time here and have been happy to give back to an institution that helped me through my collegiate career,” said Pinter. “The experience helped me grow as a coach and as a person.”

Pinter thanked Athletic Director Tommy Canale, Associate Vice President for Student Services Tracy Morris and Corcoran “for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”

He also credited athletic department administrative assistant Sue Harding and his assistant coach Tim Trevier “for all his support and assistance over the past three years” and “all the young men who have come through the program and of course the families of those young men for all their support.

“This was a wonderful experience,” he added. “I wish the baseball program, athletics, and everyone well in the future.”

All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served. If students are curious about the Honors Program, coordinator Nora Villarreal said this event is a great chance to see the program in action.

In other highlights from the semester:

• New members accepted were Shane Stearns, Elizabeth Frizol, Rebecca Sabo, Leah Kuhn, Yameria Church, Missy Nink, Emma Crockett, Josh Doerle, Alexandria Braboy, Marissa MacKenzie and Anthony Catalanello.
• Yameira Church was awarded the Spring Entrance Essay Scholarship ($500). Each new member is automatically eligible for this award; essays were judged by Professors Delores Robinson and Kimberly Radek.
• The Honors Program offers other scholarships for achievements in Community Involvement, Campus Leadership, and Experiential Learning, the three pillars of the program. These scholarships will be awarded later in the year.
• Three members of the program, Nora Burch, Jennifer Wick, and Ashley Gonzalez, recently spoke at the Academic Honors Banquet as Honors Program representatives, and all three will complete the program this semester. They will all receive the designation of Honors Scholar on their transcripts.
• Current Honors courses in progress: Honors Orientation (HON 1001), taught by Professor Adam Oldaker; Honors Sociology (SOC 1000-75), taught by Professor Jared Olesen, and Honors Portfolio (HON 1002), taught by Professor Villarreal. A new course, Honors Project, will be rolled in fall 2013 and be led by Professors Oldaker and Villarreal.
• About 40 members, faculty, and family attended the spring field trip to see Julius Caesar at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Members also had a chance to explore, shop, and eat at Navy Pier. A trip to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is planned for the summer.
• The Honors Program is  accepting new applications for the fall 2013 semester. Anyone interested can contact Nora Villarreal for more information (224-0331, office A-308; nora_villarreal@ivcc.edu). Some benefits of the program include scholarships, tuition waivers, career guidance, resume boosters, enriched course work, field trips, recognition at graduation and on transcripts, personal exploration, and transfer opportunities.

More information is available at www.ivcc.edu/honors.

Kinzinger represents the 16^th Congressional District and serves as the Republican Deputy Whip. He also serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and is a pilot in the Air National Guard.

Sophomore graduate Megan Winkler of Toluca will read her winning Paul Simon Essay, “How IVCC Has Changed My Life,” the IVCC Wind Ensemble, conducted by Gene Montgomery, will perform and student Andrew Loebach of Peru will sing the national anthem.

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran will welcome graduates and confer their certificates and degrees, Interim Vice President for Learning and Student Development Lori Scroggs will present the class of 2013, 2012-13 student trustee Britney Burkart of Peru will present the invocation and 2013-14 student trustee Taylor Gunia of La Salle will present the benediction.

Approximately 200 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony. For information, visit www.ivcc.edu/commencement or call Associate Vice President for Student Services Tracy Morris at (815) 224-0393. The ceremony will be live-streamed at www.ivcc.edu/commencement.

After 22 years of honorable service in the United States Army, Martin is attending IVCC to become a social worker.  The California native wanted to keep doing what he loves to do.  “Social work just makes sense,” Martin said, “I volunteer at PADS and help out at my church.  I just love helping people.”

At the age of 19, Martin left home for life as an infantryman in the Army.  However, the Army was not his first choice.  “I actually went in to one-up my friend who joined the Army.  So I went into the Marine recruiting office to do just that.  When I showed up, no one was there.  Then I started to walk out and the Army recruiter stopped me and in 1989, I left for boot camp.”

With many stops along the way to IVCC, Martin landed all across the globe.  Starting in Germany and making his way to Southwest Asia, Kentucky, Korea, back to Kentucky, Tennessee, back to Kentucky again, Atlanta, Ohio and finally ending up in Peru.

His career path in the Army changed when Martin become a recruiter.  It takes a unique person to be a recruiter, but Martin was up for the task.  After his first three years of being a recruiter, he won three yearly rewards as top recruiter in the state.  With those accolades under his belt, he become a full time recruiter and was asked to do special assignments in the recruiting field.  He was asked to attend other recruiting facilities and fix the problems they were having with finding new recruits.  Martin referred to this task as a “head hunting job.”

With 19 years of service under his belt, Martin landed his final recruiting gig in Peru during 2008.  During this time he grew fond of the area and even fonder of his fiancée, Janet.  In 2011 he retired honorably as a Sergeant First Class and now Martin attends IVCC while residing in Granville.  When asked: “Why IVCC, why this area?” he says “I enjoy it here.  I haven’t been back to California in about 7-8 years.  This is home now.  IVCC just makes sense.  I get paid to go and it’s close to home.  It is where I want to be.”

2013 initiates into Sigma Delta Mu are Georgia I. Farris, Teirra M. Fulkerson, Alexander M. Groh, Amy J. Lester, Stacey M. Mounce, Carlie K. Quinn, Blake M. Slutz and Shawna M. Wilcox.

The meeting included recognition of outgoing WLO officer Teirra Fulkerson and installation of officers for next year.

Officers are Teirra Fulkerson, program executive; Alexander Groh, membership executive; and Blake Slutz, communication executive.

Sigma Delta Mu is the National Spanish Honor Society for students in community colleges.
IVCC’s Zeta of Illinois Chapter was chartered in 2006. Anna Marie Pietrolonardo is adviser.

The five students who attended are Carlos Alvarado, Ali Braboy, Blake Slutz, Marissa Mackenzie, and Max Halm.

PAWAC is a subsidiary organization of the World Affairs Councils of America and The Foreign Policy Association.
The conference, which is held every spring, focuses on a global topic, bringing in experts to provide insights to and answer questions from conference participants.
This year’s topic was “Is the Arab Spring Turning to Winter?”

At issue was what caused the Arab Spring to occur, why it was successful in some countries, and not in others, and what it might mean for the future of democracy in North Africa and The Middle East.

Speakers included professors of political science and economics who specialize in the region.

There is no fee to apply for graduation, but there is a one-page form to complete.  This form is available in Admissions and Records (Room C-211) and on the college website.
If you are unsure as to whether or not you are eligible at this time for a degree or certificate, you are advised to speak with a counselor.  A counselor can review your records to determine if you have all of the requirements to graduate.  Another option to determine your eligibility is to review your degree audit on your personal WebAdvisor account.

In addition, students who have the requirements fulfilled for one of the certificates on the way toward an Associate in Applied Science degree may apply for graduation for that certificate.

For information, contact Karen Gregorich in Admissions at 815-224-0444.

Individual award winners, by hometown, included:
Grand Ridge: Bryer Lehr, second, sports column.
La Moille: Jessie Winchel, third and honorable mention, freehand cartoon.
La Salle: Matt Gerding, third, editorial; second, news.
Lostant: Ericka Smith, first, sports news.
Magnolia: Laura Roberts, third, photo spread.
Marseilles: Joe Frye, first, sports column.
Ottawa: Joe Frye, first, sports column; Jacob Montgomery, second, photo spread; and Saralyn Simpson, honorable mention, news.
Oglesby: Mickey Young, column.
Princeton: Katie Millard, arts.
Mendota: Josh Dillon, first, sports feature; first, single photo; third, sports photo; second, sports news.
Tonica: Ben Hallock, second, single photo.
Utica Township: Kyle Russell, first, column; first, sports photo.

Hoye, a trained emergency medical technician, stepped up to lend medical aid to a woman who was close to slipping into a diabetic coma.
While Hoye, the PTK vice president of fellowship, and other PTK officers were waiting for another session to start, Hoye noticed a fellow PTK member from the Kansas State region assisting a female student from one of the Iowa PTK chapters. Hoye quickly lent his assistance and located a medical dog tag on the student’s neck, which outlined her medical conditions.

“We both worked on her SAMPLE history (Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past History, Last Oral Intake and Events Prior),” Hoye said.
“We found her pulse to be 72 bpm but erratic. She was cold and clammy and sweating profusely and claimed that it was her upper stomach area that was having a pain on a scale of 9-10.”
As the student became unresponsive, paramedics finally arrived with a blood glucose meter, and a reading revealed that the student’s blood sugar had reached 482, which is almost high enough to send a person into a diabetic coma, according to Hoye.

Because Hoye and the Kansas State EMT had done so much of the preparatory work, paramedics were able to do an immediate transport on the patient to a local hospital, and Hoye learned later that the patient had stabilized and was recovering.
IVCC’s PTK advisor LeeAnn Johnson is working to secure local and regional recognition for Hoye for his life-saving efforts at the convention.