Oakton staffer receives prestigious Living Diversity Award
Teresa O'Sullivan, manager of the Access and Disability Resource Center at Oakton Community College, was recognized with the college's Living Diversity Award.
The accolade celebrates the idea of "creating a college environment of equity, inclusion, care, compassion and respect for people of diverse backgrounds and abilities."
Inspired by the college's Diversity Council, the award is given to a person who supports people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Recipients are selected based on the demonstration of commitment and sustained contributions to this goal.
In her role at the college, O'Sullivan ensures that students with diverse abilities have equal access and inclusion, which she says is her passion.
"Teresa continuously goes above and beyond her expected job responsibilities to put forth ideas and execute plans of action that advance social justice and equity across our educational community," says Oakton President Joianne Smith.
"Her daily efforts to foster respect for all makes her truly deserving of the Living Diversity Award."
The award comes with a $1,500 monetary stipend sponsored by the Oakton Community College Educational Foundation.
• Howard Schultz, North Suburban YMCA president and chief executive officer, announced his decision to retire, concluding his tenure effective April 30, 2020. Schultz has served the Northbrook YMCA location for 13 years.
Schultz is recognized as one of the top Y executives in the nation, not only for growing the size and scope of the Y, but for leading and expanding efforts that transform the lives of those who need the Y the most.
Under Schultz's leadership, the North Suburban YMCA grew from a $2 million operation to $4 million and has been highly recognized and awarded by the community, including receiving 31 Northshore Choice Awards over the last three years, six Make it Better and "Best" awards in the last two years, and being named the 2013 Small Business of the Year by the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce.
Most recently, Schultz received the Illini Chief Club Award from the Illinois Statewide Alliance of YMCAs as the top CEO in Illinois.
• Alan Heatherington, Chicago Master Singers' music director of 31 years, will retire from his position with the chorus after its 2019-2020 season and summer 2020 performance tour in France and Switzerland.
Heatherington built his career in the Chicago area over the past 50 years as a choral and orchestral conductor, violinist, concertmaster and educator. While leading Chicago Master Singers since 1989, he also served as music director of the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2015 and the Lake Forest Symphony from 2000 to 2013.
Returning to a calling he pursued early in his life, Heatherington was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in 2017. A desire to devote himself fully to his work as the pastor of a new and growing congregation, Grace Anglican Fellowship in Lake Forest, led to his decision to leave Chicago Master Singers.
Under Heatherington's leadership, Chicago Master Singers achieved international recognition as one of the Chicago area's leading choral ensembles.
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