The Wabash Valley College "View From The Valley" newsletter contains information about faculty, staff, and student accomplishments. All material is copyrighted and the property of Wabash Valley College.
VIEW FROM THE VALLEY
WABASH VALLEY COLLEGE
VOLUME 17 | ISSUE NO 04
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Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.
HELEN KELLER
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editor's Note 01
Halloween Fun Alumni Spotlight 03 04 Upcoming Events 02
05 The Arts
06 Employee Spotlight
07 Student Success 08 Gallery
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Editor’s Note
We’re now entering the “gloomier” parts of autumn-the brisk cold, the muggy skies, the bare trees-but we’re also entering the holiday season. Bring out the peppermint-flavored drinks! The holiday discounts! The Sprite Cranberry! The ongoing battle between Thanksgiving and the holiday season has begun. Personally, I’ve always associated Thanksgiving with the holiday season. My grandma’s house is usually a Christmas palooza on Thanksgiving Day. However, I am a lover of Thanksgiving- and I want to share a few “thanks.” Thank you to chai lattes for existing. Chocolate milkshakes, too. Thank you for Halloween, my favorite holiday (I totally don’t have my Halloween decor still up). Thank you for the color green, despite my bank account being drained every time I see the color (I am prone to buying anything that is dark green). In all seriousness (even though those were very serious thank-yous), I want to give thanks to my family, friends, Wabash Valley College, and the community of Mt. Carmel. I have learned so much over the past years. I enjoy the opportunities I have taken on, such as writing for View From the Valley! I am thankful for the people in my life supporting me and giving me the courage to keep pushing through life.
It's getting colder, which I hate. I always ask my wife to remind me why we live somewhere temperatures frequently plummet below 50 degrees. However, I warm up seeing the construction progress on our new campus sand volleyball courts. I think I'll look out my window and pretend I am warm on the beach. In this issue, you can see upcoming events from the Wabash Valley Arts Council. I definitely recommend attending one of the theatre performances, there is something for all ages! If you can, stick around after a performance and check out the art gallery. Recently, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting with the sculptor of the pieces featured - his creativity, process, and pieces are intriguing. Hope to see you on campus this month.
Most of all, thank you, readers, for reading my articles. I encourage you to read on!
Read on! Jonathan Leach
Peace! Maggee Bleyer
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UPCOMING EVENTS
November 11, 2022
December 03, 2022
Campus Closed-Veterans Day
Lady Warriors Basketball vs. Lincoln Trail
Warriors Basketball vs. Danville Area Community College
Warriors Basketball vs. Lincoln Trail
November 12, 2022
December 04, 2022
Christmas Cantata
Warriors Basketball vs. Harry S. Truman College
December 08, 2022
November 22, 2022
A Carpenter's Christmas featuring Lisa Rock
Lady Warriors Basketball vs. John A. Logan Warriors Basketball vs. John A. Logan
December 10, 2022
November 24-25, 2022
Lady Warriors Basketball vs. Southwestern Illinois College Warriors Basketball vs. Southwestern Illinois College
Campus Closed-Thanksgiving Break
November 26, 2022
December 18, 2022
An Evening with Josslyn Shaw
A Seussified Christmas Carol
December 01, 2022
Be sure to follow us on social media for any changes in game schedules and to find out about Student Lounge events!
Small World Christmas Program
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Mark Logsdon attended Wabash Valley College from August 1990 to May 1992. Mark, though originally from Owensboro Kentucky, decided to attend WVC solely because of its basketball program and distance from home. The close proximity between Mount Carmel and Owensboro would allow his parents to attend games with relative ease. “I did not take my last couple years of high school very seriously from a studying perspective,” Mark said, “but wanted to keep playing basketball, Wabash Valley gave me the opportunity. Even though I had a couple of 4-year schools offers out of high school, they were not where I wanted to eventually end up. I also wanted to play college ball with my best friend from my high school team, so Scott Hogg and I were able to sign and play here for 2 years.” During those two years, Mark enjoyed his Public Speaking, Business, and Statistics courses. Though he admits some of his professors may have thought he did not study at all, he enjoyed the small class sizes as they allowed him more direction and time in difficult subjects. Q: What do you remember most about your time here on campus? A: "This is a great question because it is the same thing that I enjoy the most about living back here now, the town itself. In my sophomore year, we had a great following, not so much my freshmen year as we were awful. We had a change in the coaching staff the summer of ‘91, Pat Smith came in and embraced the small town, turned the program around, had us out in front of people, spent time at the elementary, and middle schools with clinics, etc., and it showed at games with the fan base and the following as we played through the year and to the National Tournament. From the town perspective, especially coming from Owensboro with a much larger population, it resembled Rockport, IN where my dad was the high school principal. When there was a football or basketball game, the sidewalks rolled up and the town went to the game. I remember going to watch my host family’s son, Robbie Thompson, play football my freshman year and couldn’t believe the whole town was there. The same went for the high school basketball team and the following, both are very much the same today. I always thought how great it was that this town of 7500 not only followed but loved their home team. I also met my wife, Jill (Ackerman back then), as we graduated from WVC at the same time. Even though we didn’t reconnect until 6 years ago, I’ll never forget her always talking about the Aces and her love for this town. She hasn’t changed in that regard and it has helped me embrace living here today. She and her mother, Kate Ackerman, have gotten me more involved in town and with the college. I have enjoyed volunteering on the Foundation Board at WVC and look forward to seeing many more upgrades and changes on campus as well as seeing the gym getting back to being full for both the Women’s and Men’s basketball teams. I hope their season ends this year, as ours did my sophomore year, in Hutchinson, Kansas for the National Tournament. Q: Where has your education and career taken? A: "After WVC, I chose to go back to Owensboro to finish playing basketball and study at Kentucky Wesleyan College. I majored in Special Ed and Math (K-12), then later in life went back to school at Middle TN State University with a major in Business and Leadership. After KWC, I traveled to Australia and played/coached basketball in two different cities in the State of Queensland. I first played in Townsville, QLD, and then moved eight hours West of the coast to Mount Isa, QLD. I played for 3 seasons and then decided I was finished and had to grow up, so I came back to the states, moved to the Nashville, A: "For the past 22 years I have worked in the Food Manufacturing industry, based solely on Food Safety. Our company is a Turn-Key solution for companies (Tyson for example) on the daily Cleaning/Sanitizing, Quality, Labor, and Chemistry that is involved in our processes to make sure we are protecting their Brand and ours. As people often say, 'we never even think of that'. I always tell them when asked,' I want to make sure the companies that I work with that produce food products my loved ones eat, can be done so at a very safe and high-quality level.' I often mess with our kids and ask, 'who made what you are eating' and now get told, 'please stop, we are hungry.' I have worked in both the Sales and Operations departments of our company over the years and spend a lot of time now working with new and/or young leaders in the organization as well as our main Corporate Accounts. I use a lot of what I learned here at WVC still today, whether that is from my Public Speaking, relationship building, or from the competition of playing college basketball. TN area, and started my adult life." Q: "What do you do for work now?
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HALLOWEEN FUN On Halloween night, the Wabash Valley College (WVC) Student Senate held a community Trunk-or-Treat event from 5:30-8:30 P.M. The Trunk- or-Treat consisted of many on-campus groups, such as Rotaract, the WVC Cheerleaders, T.O.Y. Club, the WVC library, Student Senate, and other participating college groups. Organizations and people from the Mt. Carmel community also attended the Trunk-or-Treat. Mayor Joe Judge and his wife, the Mt. Carmel Fire Department, and the Mt. Carmel Grade School P.T.O. were some of the many groups that participated in the Trunk-or-Treat. The Student Senate presented two trophies during the event: “Best Costume” and “Best Trunk.” Freshman student Morgan Meadows won the “Best Costume” trophy for her Violet Beauregarde (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) costume. The Bass Fishers won the “Best Trunk” trophy. After the Trunk-or-Treat, the T.O.Y. Club held a Halloween party for WVC students in the student lounge. Free tacos/nachos, drinks, and candy were available. Students could sing karaoke, dance, play Ping Pong, play Cornhole, play games, or hang out and enjoy all the Halloween fun. Over 600 trick-or-treaters came to the Trunk-or-Treat event, and the WVC students enjoyed the T.O.Y. Club’s Halloween party. Overall, Halloween was a success for both WVC and the community. AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
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THE ARTS
The Wabash Valley Arts Council has many more great productions coming up this semester: An Evening with Josslyn Shaw, Seussified Christmas Carol, Christmas Cantata, and A Carpenters Christmas featuring Lisa Rock. Times, dates, descriptions, and ticket information can be found on our website at iecc.edu/wvc/student- life/arts-culture/performing-arts-series. In addition to its performing arts, the Wabash Valley Arts Council has a gallery on campus regularly stocked with beautiful art pieces. These range from professional sculptures, local photographers, paintings, and even pieces from area high school students! This semester, a noted tristate sculptor, Robert Zasadny, has allowed us to display some of his pieces. You may have seen some of his artwork permanently displayed in the Brubeck Theatre lobby, local high schools, college campuses, area hospitals, or his Santa refurbishment along US Route 41. Norman Cline's local nature photography is also on display until the end of December. These photos showcase our local waterfowl, natural landscapes, and more. Feel free to stop in during regular business hours to view their artwork in the WVC Art Gallery. The artists will also be available after each performance (mentioned above) to discuss their pieces as well as answer questions. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have THE 39 STEPS ABRIDGED, a fast- paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. This two -time Tony and Drama Desk Award Winning treat was packed with nonstop laughs. Running in the middle of October, the Wabash Valley Arts Council put on the production THE 39 STEPS ABRIDGED. Over 50 zany characters were portrayed by no more than ten actors, frequently changing character (and costume) on stage in the middle of a scene. There was an onstage murders, handcuffs, missing fingers, and some good old-fashioned romance. When I saw this production, I had honestly only planned to stay for short time, just enough time to snap some quick photos. It had been a long day, week really, and I was ready to go to bed. However, once it started, I couldn't help but stay for the whole performance I laughed the whole way through at the characters, the juxtaposition, the script, and how many times actors broke the fourth wall. I am definitely excited for their next performance!
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With his position, Eli wants to be easily approachable and always available for help. When asked about his involvement with the Radio/T.V. students, Eli answered, “This is something I’ve actually thought about pretty often. It’s really just about being exactly who you are despite being in a role where you’re “above” someone else. I was in the position that these students were in less than a year ago. I know what it’s like to not understand how to do something, which is entirely okay! I’m also still young, so there’s not really an age gap between myself and the students. Connecting with students by being who you are and not pretending to be the smartest in the room will gain you more respect in the long run. I want students to be able to learn from me, and I cannot wait to see what each of them does with the information they gain. Seeing their success in the not-so-far future is something I will take great pride in, knowing I somehow helped along the way.” Through his career path, Eli has found a deep appreciation for WVC’s Radio/T.V. program. Thanks to the program, Eli was able to explore his love for music/radio and broaden his skills in broadcasting. “The Radio TV program has given me a career path that I truly enjoy getting to do every day,” Eli expressed. “Not only have I set myself on a career path, but I’ve met incredible people along the way, several of which I now consider to be close friends. The program is unique in that you get exactly what you give. You’ll learn nothing if you put in nothing, but if you put an idea into motion and get the help of those around you to manifest that thought you had into something physical, you will reap the rewards. I’m lucky to have chosen the latter and to be surrounded by those who helped make ideas into creations. For those interested even in the slightest in communication, sports, music, reporting, journalism, etc., I highly encourage you to apply because it is way more than just a program.” Outside of Radio/T.V., Eli enjoys nature and being outside. He also likes to write about music and goes to concerts when he can. Most recently, Eli went to a Dayglow concert and wrote about his experience on www.bashradio.com. Eli’s favorite bands/artists consist of Cage the Elephant, Wallows, Dayglow, Joe P, and The Black Keys. Alternative and indie are his two favorite music genres. Eli is a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, as well as a casual fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Bulls.
Eli Grimes is the Broadcast Services Specialist at Wabash Valley College (WVC). In his position, he directs/records/edits newscasts; uploads newscasts to the News Channel 15 T.V. station and social media platforms; maintain logs/music for the college radio station, 89.1 The Bash, air-checks students, and other Radio/T.V. responsibilities. All in all, Eli is heavily involved with the WVC Radio/T.V. Program. Eli is from Albion, IL. After graduating from Edwards County High School, he attended WVC and graduated with a degree in Applied Sciences in the Radio/T.V. Digital Media program. When the Broadcast Services Specialist position opened up, Eli saw this as the perfect opportunity to continue using his skills with WVC’s Radio/T.V. program. “After graduating from WVC, and with heavy involvement with 89.1 The Bash WVJC, I started a job at 104.9 WFIW in Fairfield, IL, to further gain some experience in [the radio] field,” Eli stated. “After a little over three months in my position at WFIW, the position I now hold was accepting applications. I felt with the experience I had and the connection and familiarity with the stations during my time at WVC, I could bring a lot to the table, so to speak.” Eli loves the radio field. From the unpredictability of what song will play next to the way radio connects with its listeners, Eli has always enjoyed what radio brings to people. Now, he gets to make that special connection between radio and people a special part of his career. “On the radio side of things, I take care of music decisions regarding 89.1 The Bash, which means keeping the latest hit alternative music in our rotation while balancing a mixture of the old and new to bring a bit of everything to our listening audience,” Eli detailed. “The students within the program are also a big help when it comes to content being out over the air through air shifts and creative liners that we all collectively develop for air-play. It’s really special." EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
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The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at IECC is a federally funded program that is designed to empower students by giving them the information and tools necessary to be successful in college and beyond. The Academic Counselor at Wabash Valley College, Tayna Smith, wanted to recognize her former IECC TRIO SSS students who successfully went through the program and are achieving their career goals. Tayna said, "one day recently, I was standing in Student Services at WVC and looked around. Just within sight, there were four former students who are presently working at Wabash and not only excelling but loving what they do." There are others and she wants to celebrate them. "When someone is touched and empowered by the TRIO program, they cannot help but pay it forward," says Smith. Tayna said that on her first day of class each school year, she asks students what the word “Success” means to them and what it looks like; she has received many answers, from a wife and kids to making a lot of money. There are many others who realized their life dreams without going through college, but as an educator, she feels that many other advantages come from going to college, and a degree is only one of them! From Associates degrees to graduate degrees, these students (pictured below) are proof that not only does Wabash Valley College do an excellent job at successfully graduating its students, but TRIO Student Support Services does a wonderful job at preparing its participants for life after college. “Our mission is to provide educational services and cultural experiences to under-represented students empowering them to achieve lifelong success.” TRIO Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for $348,002 for the 2022 – 2023 program year. STUDENT SUCCESS
Back row from left to right: Tosha Baker, Business Instructor, graduated in 2007. Kelly Wagner, Administrative Assistant, graduated in 2015. Alexis (Annie) Garner, Assistant Director of TRIO Upward Bound, graduated in 2014. Ronda Hockeiger, Social Services Specialist Lead Instructor, graduated from WVC in 2009. Front Row from left to right: Shauna Waldrip, Early Childhood Education Facilitator, graduated in 2016. Hunter Collard, Administrative Assistant, graduated in 2021. Christy Morely, TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, graduated in 2017.
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