Harper renames building Duchossois Family Educational Center
Kim Duchossois believes in the power of lifelong learning. And over the past few years, she has become a valued donor to Harper College and an ambassador on behalf of Harper's work.
“Harper helps empower people to elevate their socioeconomic status, their productivity and their overall well-being,” Duchossois said. “I firmly believe that.”
To recognize her generous support, which cumulatively totals more than $1 million, Building D will be known as the Duchossois Family Educational Center. The college board unanimously approved the recommendation at its November board meeting.
“The generous support Kim Duchossois has demonstrated will have a long-lasting impact on Harper College's ability to increase access to quality, affordable education that improves lives and helps build a vibrant community for residents and businesses,” said Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Laura Brown.
One of Harper's original six buildings, Building D reopened last year after a renovation transformed the 1969-era structure into a state-of-the-art learning environment.
It houses general classrooms, lecture halls, the temporary library and labs for English as a Second Language, World Languages and American Sign Language. Its centerpiece is the popular Beaubien Family Rotunda, which creates an inviting place for students to meet and study.
Duchossois, a Barrington-area philanthropist and chairman of The Duchossois Family Foundation, has been instrumental in providing funding for Harper's Angel Grant program, which helps both students and community members advance their emerging and active businesses.
She was inspired to get involved with Harper's entrepreneurship program by the pioneering business incubator curriculum that Barrington High School rolled out several years ago.
“Entrepreneurship programs help build confidence, they help develop executive function and they build leadership,” Duchossois said. “They can be an incredible boost to our economy.”
She also supports the Harper College Promise Scholarship Program, which provides students in Districts 211, 214 and 220 with two years of tuition at Harper — if they meet specified attendance, scholarship and service requirements while in high school.
Duchossois said she was blindsided by the renaming, but found it “a tremendous honor and something to be proud of.
“Harper is an invaluable asset to the community, and I believe there's never been a more critical time to utilize its potential,” she said. “If we can serve as an endorsement for all the wonderful things happening, then I'm on board with that.”