Harper to honor outgoing president with pavilion naming

Harper College's board of trustees will vote Wednesday night to dedicate the school's outdoor pavilion in honor of retiring college President Ken Ender and his wife.

The Drs. Kenneth and Catherine Ender Pavilion will be named for the couple in recognition of their donations of more than $185,000 to the Harper College Promise Scholarship Program and the Educational Foundation over the past decade while Ken Ender has been president. Also during that time, the foundation's endowment value has increased from $5.4 million to $23.1 million, which college officials say is due in large part to Ender's commitment to philanthropic efforts in the community.

He's planning to step down as president when his contract expires in June.

The pavilion, located on the north side of the school's Palatine campus, is where graduation takes place every spring. A dedication celebration is planned with the Enders April 17.