Alumni Masthead
Brick photo
December 2012

Greetings!

The Holiday season is here with festive lights and shopping lists.  For those hard-to-buy-for on your list, why not present them with a certificate for a commemorative brick to be placed in the courtyard of our beautiful new library in the spring.  Contact Alumni Relations or visit our website for more information. elgin.edu/eccalumni

We have chosen our 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, and will celebrate her accomplishments at the Founders' Day Brunch on January 27, 2013.  Please visit the ECC Foundation's website, elgin.edu/eccfoundation to reserve your seat at the alumni table and join us in support of our 2013 Distinguished Alumnus.
 
Enjoy the newsletter and don't forget to "Tell Us Your Story!"

 

Warm regards,

Diane Stredde

Alumni Relations Coordinator   

2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award to be given at the Founders' Day Brunch

 

The 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes the accomplishments of notable ECC alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their chosen profession and made a positive impact on their community.  

  

This year's recipient will be awarded at the Founders' Day Brunch entitled "Some Dreams Just Need a Little Help," to be held on Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in the University Business Center (Building E).   

  

This year, we are putting together alumni tables in support of our Distinguished Alumnus.  Please join us as we celebrate one of our own by reserving your seat online at elgin.edu/eccfoundation by selecting the Founders' Day Brunch link near the bottom of the page.  Tickets are $75 per person and include a champagne reception and a spectacular menu.  Be sure to indicate that you would like to be seated at the alumni table.  You may also make your reservations by calling the Foundation's office at 847-214-7377.  


Additional awards being presented are Friend of the Foundation, Friend of Education, and Lasting Impact Awards.   

  

   
At Alumni Sports Day, Camaraderie and  Athleticism Are the Big Winners

Coach Hinkley
Former ECC Coach
Jim Hinkley is back
 to coach the alumni
basketball team. 

 

     The ECC Alumni Association and the ECC Athletic Department hosted the third annual Alumni Sports Day on Saturday, October 13, 2012. Alumni from across Chicagoland came to campus to participate in the events pitting alumni against current players.  

      Women's soccer joined the games this year with an alumni force playing the current team. The rain didn't stop them as they charged onto the field for a fast-paced game. It was a great show of friendly rivalry.    

      At the ECC Events Center, the women's basketball game ran neck and neck as alumnae challenged the current team.   

     Next up, male grads took on current members of the ECC basketball team in spirited action up and down the court.  Wrapping up the day's events, a friendly game of men's basketball was held for those who love to play at a slower pace.

 

Here are some highlights from the event:

       The Men's basketball alumni team had a mini reunion with

L-R.  Ryan Willing, nephew of Scott Burnett '92, are all smiles after playing against each other in the Men's Basketball Alumni vs. Current players game. 

former ECC basketball coach Jim Hinkley who returned to coach the alumni men.  Jim is retiring from coaching this year and several alums came to see him and reminisce about playing under his direction in the 1980's and early 1990's.  

     During the game, Coach Hinkley led the alumni with skill and grace as they kept ahead of the current team until near the end of the game when the current team took the lead to win the match. 

     Scott Burnett, his wife, and their two sons came all the way from Michigan to participate in this year's event.  Scott played for Coach Hinkley back in the 1990's and was looking forward to playing for him one more time before he retired. He is currently coaching Jacob's High School's basketball team.  Scott even had special shirts made for his boys that said "Spartan, Jr." with dad's #12 on the front and Burnett on the back. 
     Scott's nephew, Ryan Willing, who currently plays for ECC, wanted to play against his Uncle Scott in the alumni game.  Ryan's mom, Missy Donnavan, was out of town and cut her trip short to come back and see the game. She is a professional photographer and took the photos used in this article.

 

Here's what the game meant to one of the alums who drove from Bloomington, IL to participate in the event.     

  

    "My name is Alyssa Howard. I am an Alumni ECC soccer player. I played at ECC from 2010-2012. Soccer at ECC was an amazing experience for me and one that gave me so many great memories and a lot of new friends. Even though I am away at ISU, I still stay in contact with a few of the girls on the team and still feel a part of the team when I come home and visit.  

     When Jamie Shaw, ECC Women's Soccer coach, announced that there was going to be an Alumni game, I definitely jumped on it and wanted to participate in it to play against my former teammates.   

     I have been to a few of the practices and a game for the women's team so I was able to get to know some of the new players too, which also made playing in the game a lot of fun.   

     In the end they did beat us, but we all walked off the field with smiles on our faces because  the two things all of us had in common are that one, we either represent or have represented ECC and two, we all just got to play the sport we love and had fun doing so. The Alumni game was definitely worth a two hour drive home and I would do it again in a heart beat."    

 

This popular event continues to grow each year and plans are already in the works for next year's event.  Alumni interested in participating next year can contact the ECC Alumni Association.

 

Please call the ECC Alumni Associaton if you have any questions, want to get involved, enrich your life, or need assistance.

 

Sincerely,

 

Diane Stredde 

Alumni Relations Coordinator  

ECC Alumni Association

1700 Spartan Drive

SRC 166A 

Elgin, IL 60123

 

847-214-7746

[email protected]

elgin.edu/eccalumni 

   

ECC's Mission:

"To improve people's lives through learning"

   

 

Join Our Mailing List!
Graduation and Holiday Gift Ideas
alumni giftsNeed some ideas for that someone who has everything? 

The ECC Bookstore has the following ECC Alumni gifts:
  • Sweat Shirts;
  • Commuter Mugs;  
  • Beautiful Alumni Gift Sets; and
  • Alumni Picture Frames

Stop by the bookstore soon for best selection.   

 

Proceeds from alumni gift sales go to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. 

 

  

Tell Us Your Story!
If you or someone you know has attended ECC,  visit our website  elgin.edu/eccalumni and Tell Us your Story!

We would love to hear what you have been doing since you left ECC and celebrate your successes!
FACULTY FUN FACTS!
1.  Did you know that all faculty, except one,  in the Dental Assisting Program are ECC Alumni? Kimberly Plate is a graduate of our own dental program and is now the director.  Congratulate her and the faculty the next time you see them!
 
2.  Faculty often have a profound positive effect on our students and alum's lives without even knowing it. Retired faculty member James Craig will have a brick dedicated to him for changing an alum's life for the better on the first day of class by saying "I don't care what side of the tracks you live on, you are all equal here."
 
Would you like to give back to students at ECC?

The Workforce Transitions Department located in Building K of the campus, is a division that works with at risk youth and the unemployed in our area that are attending Elgin Community College at this time. 

 

The department is looking for graduates of ECC to come back and participate on employer panels, present on your chosen career areas or present on a variety of other topics that may be beneficial  to the students they are currently working with in the community.

 

If you are interested or would like to learn more about the programming their department offers and to see how your strengths may fit their needs please contact Workforce Transitions at 847-214-6901. 

 

2012 Distinguished Alumnus, Sandro Miller to Receive Honorary Degree
     Sandro Miller will be attending our graduation ceremonies to be held on December 14, 2012, where he will receive an Associate of Fine Arts Degree Honorus Causa
for his outstanding accomplishments in the field of photography and films.  Congratulations!
     Visit Sandro's Website to see a portfolio of his work.

 

ECC Alumni Tours

Last Tuesday of the Month 

Alumni Tour Tuesdays  

The Last Tuesday  

of every month 

7:00 P.M.   

UBC Lobby  

 

Due to the holiday, December's tour will be held December 18, 2012

 

  Join one of our Tuesday tours while we take a look around, reminisce and witness the amazing progress.

 

Please RSVP to ECC Alumni Association at 847-214-7746 or [email protected]