CLC Board Member Richard A. Anderson wins statewide college trustees' award

Richard A. Anderson of Grayslake, a 40-year member of the College of Lake County Board of Trustees, has been named one of two 2014 recipients of the prestigious Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award, presented by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA).

ICCTA is an organization engaged in legislative advocacy and professional development for college boards. Anderson received the award at the organization's annual banquet in Springfield on June 6. Jody Wadhwa, a trustee from Oakton Community College, was the other award recipient.

"This award recognizes the leadership Rich Anderson has provided among trustees in Illinois, and it also is a great honor for the College of Lake County," said CLC President Jerry Weber.

In presenting the award, ICCTA President Bob Johnson said that as a parent, an Army veteran and a community college graduate, Anderson brings a unique perspective to his role as a trustee.

"Rich also played a key role in creating the University Center of Lake County, which provides CLC graduates with a seamless transition to baccalaureate education. At the state level, Rich was elected by his peers to serve as president of ICCTA from 2001-2002. During his term in office, he initiated the first economic impact study of the Illinois system. He also successfully lobbied for a statewide task force on community college funding. Rich's influence is still as vital as ever. He has published articles on trusteeship and board governance and regularly presents workshops on trustee orientation and leadership skills at ICCTA and national conferences," Johnson said.

Anderson was first elected to the CLC Board of Trustees in 1974, while attending the college as a full-time student, and he has served continuously on the board since then. After studying at CLC, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University and a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School. In 1998, he was named an outstanding alumnus of Northeastern Illinois University. Anderson has a law practice in Grayslake and is a member of the Illinois, Wisconsin, Chicago and Lake County bar associations.

In addition, to receiving the Hartstein Award, Anderson also received ICCTA's 40-year service award. In addition, the organization nominated him for the Association of Community College Trustees' 2014 Central Region Trustee Leadership Award.

"The Hartstein Award is a wonderful honor," Anderson said. "Getting it brought back a flood of memories about the early days of the ICCTA and the early days of CLC. I am so proud of what both have achieved in support of the community college mission."

The Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award, established in 1992, recognizes extraordinary board service and leadership by an Illinois community college trustee. Ray Hartstein was the founding chair of Oakton Community College and a two-term ICCTA president.