How the Women's Club of Inverness and Harper College are connected
Long before breaking ground in 1967 to construct the Palatine campus of Harper College, Jessalyn Nicklas was an advocate of bringing higher education to the area and was quoted as saying, "we had to overcome the idea that this was just an extension of high school and not needed in this area."
Nicklas's vision caught on with local chambers, schools, superintendents, Rotary clubs and women's clubs. As we know it, Harper College is a gem of opportunity serving a multitude of communities in the Northwest suburbs.
A tireless proponent of community support for cultural and educational activities, Nicklas served as a college trustee from 1965-1979 and is considered a co-founder. Her input into the naming the new college was integral. William Rainey Harper was the first president of the University of Chicago and known as the father of the national community college movement.
Nicklas was elected the first president of the Women's Club of Inverness in 1965, and a memorial scholarship has been dedicated to her legacy. Women's Club of Inverness continues to champion philanthropic activities through community, scholarship and service.
Women's Club of Inverness members and guests will meet the morning of Feb. 13, on the campus of Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, to explore features of our local community college including the new Northwest Community Healthcare Outpatient Care Center and renovated Health and Recreation Wellness Center, which opened in fall 2019.
"This partnership is a real-life example of how three community-minded organizations like Harper College, Northwest Community Healthcare and Palatine Park District can pool their ideas, missions and resources to bring about more than three times the benefit for our community," says Stephen Scogna, president and CEO of Northwest Community Healthcare.
"An inter-government agreement was finalized in 2013 between Harper and the Palatine Park District, allowing the park district to manage, operate and schedule the newly renovated swimming pool located in the Wellness Center adjacent to the Outpatient Care Center. The Palatine Park District manages all fitness, health and wellness programs for noncredit hour continuing education through Harper. The renovation of the pool is, in itself, a great asset to the community," said Mike Clark, Palatine Parks director.
Wellness Center activities can be found in Palatine Park District catalog or online.
For information about the WCI meeting Feb. 13, at Harper College, visit womensclubofinverness.com or contact Jennifer DeFranco at WCI.vicepres@gmail.com.
On April 8, the Women's Club of Inverness will host a luncheon fundraising event with entertainment, "The Greatest Show, A Day of Cirque and Song," at Meridian Banquets in Rolling Meadows.
The Women's Club of Inverness is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization following a philanthropic mission for more than 50 years.