40th Anniversary Event to Celebrate Alumni Bell Oct. 1
 Honor JJC's history and heritage by attending the 40th anniversary rededication of the alumni bell on Oct. 1. The entire JJC community is invited to participate.
Thursday, Oct. 1, Noon: Honor JJC's history and heritage at the bell tower outside the D-Building.
Join in the 40th anniversary rededication of the alumni bell and get a free t-shirt after attending the event. Free popcorn will also be available.
Friday, Oct. 2: Wear your bell t-shirt
Wear your JJC bell t-shirt Friday and get discounts from the bookstore and the cafeteria.
* 20% off clothing, backpacks and insignia items at the bookstore (see the bookstore for details)
* Free small coffee or free small fountain drink with any purchase over $2 from the cafeteria
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Reception for Vice President Haynes Sept. 29
 A reception will be held for Vice President of Academic Affairs Dennis Haynes on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. in J-0006 on the Main Campus.
Haynes' last day at JJC is Sept. 30. He is leaving to take a faculty post at National-Louis University, where he will be an assistant professor in the Community College Leadership Program at the Chicago campus.
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Culinary Professors, Students Cruise Experience Raises Scholarship Money
Chefs Mike McGreal and Kyle Richardson went on a two-week European cruise with several of their students this summer, traveling to Venice, Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Dubrovnik Croatia, Sicily, Barcelona, and three Greek islands.
Though the trip provided a valuable externship experience for their culinary students, it was also an opportunity to raise funds for student scholarships.
McGreal and Richardson, who had both been tapped to do cooking demos as guest chefs on the ship, opted to donate their salaries earned there to give to the student scholarship fund.
McGreal said it's important for faculty to bring real world experience, education and training into the classroom, in addition to giving students the opportunity to experience the true customs, cultures and cuisines of other countries first hand.
"It's one thing to taste a cultural dish, but it is completely different experience to be in that region of the world, seeing the person make the dish and tasting all the local ingredients that make it so special," McGreal said. "For this reason, we started taking students to other countries over 10 years ago, and the excitement of seeing them experience these new sights, sounds and tastes is inspiring to me as an educator."
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Horticulture Students Complete Service Project
 
Above are the before and after shots of the courtyard next to the Early Childhood Center. Students replanted plants that would have been affected by campus center construction in the courtyard. (Photos by Jeff Fisher)
JJC students in new faculty member Greg Pierceall's landscape construction and horticulture classes participated in a campus service project earlier this month to move the existing plant collection--which would have been affected by construction for the new campus center--to the courtyard at the Early Childhood Center (ECC).
Pierceall said rather than see the plants go to waste, he wanted to move them to the ECC courtyard to create a garden for the children to spend time in.
The ECC courtyard is an enclosed eastern exposure next to the B-Building. The added benefit, Pierceall said, is that the project served as a hands-on experience for his students, helping them to define the problem, consider different strategies and ultimately implement ideas.
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AQIP Action Project Update
As part of the college's accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, JJC has submitted updates on the college's three current action projects.
Action projects provide institutions the opportunity to focus on key improvement initiatives, while at the same time providing evidence of quality and continuous improvement. JJC's current action projects are:
1. Participation in the HLC Assessment Academy
2. Improvement of underprepared and at-risk student success rates
3. Creating a sustainable campus through becoming more responsible to our environment
Colleges and universities that receive accreditation through the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) are required to work on at least three action projects on three year cycles and submit annual updates to the Higher Learning Commission.
For more information, visit the JJC AQIP Action Project Web site or contact Roxanne Munch, department chair of English and World Languages and AQIP liaison, at ext. 6663 or rmunch@jjc.edu. |
Free Music Faculty Recital Oct. 11
 The Fine Arts Department will present a free faculty recital by Dr. Thomas Liley, saxophone, and Dr. Daniela Broderick, piano, performing music of Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Davis, Ibert, and Bernstein on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. The recital, part of the college's ongoing Musica Viva Series, will be held in the Fine Arts Theatre on the college's Main Campus. Dr. Liley, a Yamaha Performing Artist of classical saxophone, has performed throughout the United States and in China, Canada, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia in solo and chamber music recitals and as a soloist with such well-known conductors as Karel Husa, Sir Vivian Dunn, David Gregory, and James Barnes. He recently performed, lectured, and taught at the Hong Kong International Saxophone Symposium. A former member of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. Dr. Broderick has performed throughout the United States, including performances at the Cathedral Concert Series in Joliet and Saturdays with Brahms Series in Colorado and performed as a collaborative pianist at the World Saxophone Congress XV in Bangkok, Thailand, in the summer of 2009. She has received awards in several competitions, including a solo performance with the Rio de Janeiro Federal University Orchestra. She is an assistant professor of music at JJC.
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Alumni Spotlight: Paul Wandtke
It's a Monday morning 10 a.m. A tired Paul Wandtke answers his phone after a grueling night behind his drum kit playing with his band, The Sammus Theory.
For Wandtke this day starts in Groveport, Ohio with a morning interview and ends playing a show in Columbus.
"I've always wanted to be able to make a living as a touring musician," says Wandtke, of Romeoville.
And now that he's performing across the country with his band, Wandtke is doing just that.
However, his path toward stardom was not clearly paved. The decision to attend Joliet Junior College pursuing an associate in arts was one of spontaneity for Wandtke.
"Receiving an education in the arts wasn't always the plan, I just decided to go for it," he recounts.
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Neil Simon's "God's Favorite" Oct. 1-4
The Fine Arts Department will present "God's Favorite" by Neil Simon Oct. 1 through Oct. 4 in the Fine Arts Theatre on the Main Campus.
Performances on Thursday, Oct. 1, through Saturday, Oct. 3, begin at 8 p.m. The performance on Sunday, Oct. 4, is at 2 p.m.
In "God's Favorite," Simon achieves the unlikely accomplishment of writing a funny play based on the book of Job. The play transfers the scene to a Long Island mansion inhabited by a pious, God-fearing tycoon and his family: a long-suffering wife, a prodigal son and a pair of kooky twins. One night, a messenger from God (with a big G on his sweatshirt) arrives and, as in the original story, offers all manner of temptations to compel him to renounce God.
The production of God's Favorite is directed by long time staff member Nicki Blowers. Cast members include James Jagos and Paige Hutchinson of Joliet, Mark Parker of Wilmington, Kyle Wynn of Morris, Nathan Borowski of Mokena, Travis Cisco and Cynthia Y. Cooper of Crest Hill, and Taylor Murphy of Braidwood. The production is stage managed by David Laurich of Joliet, who will be assisted by Bailey Dunbar of Braceville and Aaron Curry of Plainfield.
Ticket prices are $8 for the general public; $5 for senior citizens; and $3 for JJC students with additional discounts available for non-JJC students and JJC staff.
Reservations can be made by calling ext. 2200.
As part of the college's ongoing community service project, audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the production where they may be exchanged for items at the concession table. All contributions will be donated to area shelters.
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Faculty/Staff Judges Sought for Battle of the Bands
The JJC Student Government is looking for faculty/staff judges for its Battle of the Bands event on Friday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Contact Adam Heidenreich for more information or to volunteer at ext. 2770 or aheidenr@jjc.edu.
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Wordeater Seeking Submissions for Dec. Issue
Wordeater, the college's creative arts print magazine and e-zine, is seeking submissions for its December print and e-zine issues.
Submissions are due Oct. 17.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 For the month of October, employees of JJC will be going Passionately Pink for the Cure to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. Participating is simple. Just wear pink (item of clothing) on every Friday throughout the month of October and make a donation of $5 or more to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To make a donation, contact any of the following representatives on campus: Tracy Theard, Institutional Advancement and Research Office, ext. 2352; Kelly Rogers, Human Resources, ext. 6626; Debbie Halley, North Campus, ext. 7702; Griselda Martinez, Grundy Campus, (815) 942-1552; or Debra Alberts, City Center Campus, ext. 1210. |
Friday Night Dinner Series Sept. 25
Come out to the Renaissance Center every Friday and enjoy a great dinner prepared by JJC students. Dinner is served from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This week's menu includes ricotta and cannelloni, shellfish bisque, grilled rack of lamb, sautéed sole with a tarragon crust, grilled duck breast, and more.
View the full menu.
Call (815) 280-1404 for reservations. Walk-ins are welcome.
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Latin America Cuisine and Wine Event Oct. 9
Chef Tim Bucci and his student chefs will host a five-course Latin America authentic cuisine and wine dinner on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Renaissance Center.
Starting with cocktails and appetizers served on the patio from 6 to 6:45 p.m., diners will appreciate the elegant, relaxing, and intimate atmosphere. The sit-down gourmet dinner will be served in the Renaissance Center dining room.
Each course will be accompanied by a different wine specifically chosen to enhance the flavors and aromas of the Latin cuisine.
Cost to attend is $55 per person. For reservations, call ext. 1404 or e-mail sstockwe@jjc.edu.
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Faculty/Staff Non-Fiction Book Club Begins in October
Starting in October, the JJC librarians will host a non-fiction book club for faculty and staff. The club is scheduled to meet once a month, on either a Wednesday or Friday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
A list of titles, ranging from the intellectual to the celebrity-driven, are now available in an online survey.
Those interested in participating are encouraged to take the survey to vote for six titles to be read through the year, as well as their preference in what day the club meets.
Deadline to complete the survey is Monday, Sept. 28.
For more information, contact Susan Prokopeak at sprokope@jjc.edu or Andrew Lenaghan alenagha@jjc.edu.
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Faculty, Staff Recognition
* Congratulations to Chef Mike McGreal, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management department chair, who will be a guest chef with Food Network TV celebrity chef Michael Smith for the Taste Our Island Roving Feast during the Food Network and Prince Edward Island Fall Food Festival www.fallflavours.ca Sept. 29 - Oct. 4. While there, McGreal will also give a presentation to the Culinary School of Canada. * Congratulations to Culinary Arts Professor and Chef Kyle Richardson, who was inducted into the American Culinary Federation's Academy of Chefs. This is the prestigious honor society of the ACF and represents the highest standards of professionalism in the organization, society and industry.
Want to send recognition information about a JJC faculty or staff member? E-mail communications@jjc.edu.
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