CLC earns trio of awards from the state association

It was more than business as usual at College of Lake County's recent board of trustees meeting when the Illinois Community College Trustees Association presented individuals with well-earned awards.

The first was the 2020 Business/Industry Partnership Award presented to CLC and Grainger. The award recognizes Illinois businesses who partner with the state's community colleges. In this case, Grainger, a Fortune 500 company based in Lake County and North America's leading supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, partnered with CLC to create its supply chain management program.

"Grainger impacted hundreds of students and numerous program areas at the College of Lake County through its investment of time, expertise and more than $250,000 in donations," said Jon Looney, president of ICCTA. "We are grateful for your generosity and corporate citizenship."

The second award presented shined a spotlight on one of CLC's many great faculty members. The 2020 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award was given to sociology professor John Tenuto.

This is not the only award Tenuto has received this year. He was also named the U.S. Central Region Faculty of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees and Outstanding Faculty of the Year at CLC, as voted by students.

"In many ways, teaching and learning has had to be reinvented this year and we are all pioneers, both professors and students," Tenuto said. "To get this award as we all navigate this new world has been a boost of confidence, inspiring me to continue to share sociology with students and to make education fun and relevant."

Finally, the ICCTA honored CLC board chair Dr. William M. Griffin for 25 years of service as a trustee.

"Serving on a local community college board demands countless hours of unpaid time, energy and patience," Looney said. "Since his election as a trustee in 1995, Bill has personified servant leadership."

In addition to the awards, the ICCTA also acknowledged CLC board secretary Rich Anderson, who holds the record as the longest serving trustee in the Illinois community college system with 46 years of service.

For information about the College of Lake County, visit www.clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2000.