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 02
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The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
ARI STOTLE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editor's Note 01
New Student Orientation 02
Welcome Week 03 Faculty Spotlight 04
05 Fun in the Community 07 Gallery 08 Upcoming Events 09 About WVC 11 Together We Win
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Readers,
Readers,
We are well underway here on campus! This month, our students have already experienced Move-in Day, New Student Orientation, and the first day of our 2022 Fall Semester. Our international students are perfecting their English, athletes have started training, and several campus events are introducing students to new friends, clubs, and experiences. There are some new things on campus as well: our Physical Therapy Assistant classes have started for the first time in WVC History and we are breaking in our brand new student lounge! Whew, that is a lot considering students have not been on campus longer than a month. While putting this issue together we realized how much has happened in the past month; from the end of the summer quiet to the loud controlled chaos that comes with back to school. In this issue, we want to inform you of what has happened this past month, but we also want to share a bit about our institutional roots and some things happening in the coming weeks! I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter as much as I did making it.
So far, Wabash Valley College (WVC) students have had lots of opportunities to get involved with their campus and hang out with each other at student events. It’s a blast for me to go to these events as a writer and a student. I love going to game nights with my friends! I am incredibly grateful that WVC now has an amazing lounge where all students can relax and entertain themselves. I found it important to highlight the endless possibilities with the lounge in this issue. On a personal note, I helped with some of the planning for the lounge with the Student Senate. It was a challenging but fun planning process. Seeing the final product feels like a dream. I am the president of two clubs at WVC and a member of many others, so I was busy at work at “Find Your Tribe.” My clubs were successful in gathering interest from other students, and I’m hoping for full club meetings in the future! All in all, WVC has provided many opportunities for its students this year. As a student, I feel like I am living up to my potential and having a lot of fun here at WVC. Continue reading for more awesome content! Peace! Maggee Bleyer
Read on!
Jonathan Leach
View from the Valley 02 NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
Our orientation for new students consisted of many moving parts and several sessions, but all revolved around one theme: "What do students need to know before they step foot on campus? " With this idea in mind, our WVC Orientation Committee came up with a few different sessions to best assist our students. Students had the chance to hear about the resources and programs offered here on campus: free tutoring, TRIO, FRESH, academic accommodations, disability services, and more. Students were also encouraged to get connected by attending local and campus events, games, or by joining a tribe. Our Student Success Committee gave a long list of tips to help students succeed during their time at WVC, such as: how to read course schedules, meeting with Financial Aid advisors, setting up payment plans, the importance of communicating any issues inhibiting attendance or performance, following WVC social media accounts, signing up for the IECC Alert System, navigating Canvas, and checking their email. In addition, students received a campus tour, found their classes, met instructors, and received advice from returning students. In the afternoon, students received free lunch, bottled water, and Dairy Dee ice cream. However, The highlight of the day was the number of community partners that showed up to demonstrate how they can serve our students. The community booths provided information about services and resources available in the area to assist with finances, "Our whole job is to help you succeed while you are here on campus. Then, it is your job to take all this knowledge, and succeed wherever you choose to go- whether that's straight into the workforce or on to a university." Tabby Niduaza Director of the Academic Success Center
internship and job opportunities, mental/physical health, and more. Members from local churches, businesses, and organizations even handed out free school supplies, snacks, and pantry items. Before dismissal, students had the chance to win local restaurant and grocery store gift cards; two students even went home with $250 gift certificates to the Campus Bookstore! All, however, received a free WVC t-shirt to wear at any home Warrior games. By the end of the day we spoke to over 200 new students; even more exciting, 21 states and 13 countries were represented! We understand not all of our students will retain every bit of information from Orientation, nor can we expect them to apply it; it was A LOT of information. However, our theme "What do students need to know before they step foot on campus?" was present throughout the day, and will continue to be around them as they make their way through their time here at WVC. Our new students will know whom they can turn to. They will know the faculty and staff that showed up and continue to show up every day, with smiling faces and encouraging words. If students learned one thing from New Student Orientation, we hope it was that if they ever need help, or just want to chat, we are here.
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WELCOME WEEK The first day of school can be filled with many emotions: anticipation, fear, excitement, anxiety, and even apathy. To help students with their first day of school jitters, the Student Success Committee came up with "Welcome Week". This year, free doughnuts brightened up the morning trudging for those with early class times. Over 7o students were greeted with a breakfast treat upon arrival. The first week of class also included "Tech Time", where students could stop in the Bauer Media Center and receive digital assistance. The most common problems involved the Canvas login/app, email, and online books. Some classes were even dismissed early asking students to head over to the library for additional tech support. Shout out to IT for their patience and behind-the-scenes work!
WVC students now have a chill place to hang out whenever they need a break from the college-hustle life. To kick off the new school year, the lounge has held indoor and outdoor game nights, video game tournaments, karaoke, and movie nights. Volleyball, cornhole, UNO, ping pong, and frisbee are among the many activities taking place in our newly renovated space! We concluded our Welcome Week events with Find Your Tribe; an annual event for students to sign up for clubs that align with their interests and career goals. Returning student leaders shared information about their group and also passed out plenty of snacks. Students were even given the opportunity to enroll in a course to help kickstart WVC Intramural sports! Free pizza, free popcorn, free shirts, volleyball, and tricycle races were also available for students to enjoy. Since the fall of 2021, staff and faculty have created Welcome Week events in an effort to be more accessible during the first week of each semester. This year, Welcome Week strived to provide a space for students to bring their questions and for students to engage with staff and campus life. Overall, the goal is for students to see our campus as a warm, welcoming, and fun environment.
Welcome Week also introduced our new Student Lounge. Thanks to the Student Senate and donating sponsors,
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” This quote from Benjamin Franklin is Jill Winter’s teaching philosophy. Winter is the Communications Assistant Professor, Communications Discipline Facilitator, and the FRESH Faculty Sponsor at Wabash Valley College (WVC). Winter also played a role in helping the Student Senate design, plan, and establish WVC’s new lounge. Winter grew up in Olney, IL, and attended Richland County High School. After high school, she went to Olney Central College and transferred to Eastern Illinois University (EIU) for undergraduate and graduate school. From there, she earned her Master of Arts in Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communications. In 2002, Winter began teaching part-time for IECC. At that time, she was employed as the full-time District Recruiter. In 2004, she moved to a full-time teaching position at WVC. Some of the classes Winter teaches include Composition 1, Writing for Media, Interpersonal Communication, and Speech. Winter follows different philosophies for her teaching. “I want students to enjoy themselves in class,” Winter stated. “I want to create a fun learning environment. However, I also require students to work diligently and meet expectations.” Winter utilizes various teaching styles throughout different courses, projects, and materials that she teaches. "At times,” Winter explained, “I represent the stereotypical teacher in front of the class with a screen behind her. Other times, I share personal information as an example. I am most content when my students are at the front of the classroom and I am the listener." Many figures in Winter's life inspired her teaching skills and to become a teacher herself. One, for example, was her mother. Winter regards her mother as the greatest influence on her career choice. Her mother taught young students (mainly first and second grade) for more than 40 years. "Her value in
“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin
education and the pride in her work affected me,” Winter said.
Another inspiration for her career dates back to her time at EIU when Winter was given the opportunity to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She anticipated doing more assistant-like work, but her supervisor allowed her to do much more. “I taught Speech; I did not assist,” Winter stated. “It felt like a good fit . . . like maybe I was supposed to become a teacher.” Besides teaching, Winter runs FRESH, a free on-campus grocery store for college students. In her free time, Winter enjoys listening to music, attending concerts and festivals, antiquing, thrifting, designing, and decorating. Her favorite designer is Amber Lewis. Winter describes Lewis’s spaces as moody and distinctive. She creates an intimate setting with color, texture, and the juxtaposition of old and new.
Editor’s Note: Personally, Ms. Winter has taught me how to become more assertive and helped me fall in love with my confidence. I always recommend my friends to take her classes!
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FUN IN THE COMM UNITY
Mt. Carmel recently celebrated four days of summer fun with their annual county fair, Ag Days. Ag Days takes on many forms of fair fun, such as carnival rides, fair food, vendors, special events, games, concerts, and other features. Ag Days dates its origins all the way back to 1961. Originally, Ag Days (once called Ag Product Days) was a two-day steak dinner that the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce and the Wabash County Farm Bureau (also partnered with the state of Illinois) created to support agriculture in the community. AUTHOR: MAGGEE BLEYER
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For the remainder of the three evenings of Ag Days, bands played at Merchants Park. The Perry Case Band, Smoke Rings, and The Duke Boys were this year’s musical entertainment. The Perry Case Band played a variety of Christian songs and engaged the crowd with worship. The Smoke rings rocked out to their original songs and covered classic rock bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and other iconic bands. The Duke Boys performed music in the doo-wop genre and engaged with each other with dancing and playful acts. Overall, each band performed in a diverse range of music that gave each concert a unique feel. The community of Mt. Carmel held different events and celebrated their summer together during Ag Days. Whether it was riding the Scrambler or drinking a lemon shake-up, everyone who attended Ag Days found ways to have fun in the summer heat.
Because the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau were promoting agricultural products and trying to engage the community with its agriculture, the name Ag Days was born. With more festivities being added over the years, Ag Days transformed into a street carnival. To celebrate their own individual roots tied into Ag Days, the Chamber of Commerce serves their famous Lemon Shake-Ups and the Farm Bureau has a pork burger/porkchop stand. Ag Days, being presented more as a street carnival rather than being held in an open field, gives Mt. Carmel a unique advantage that sets them apart from county fairs. Ag Days also has free entertainment, free admission, and free parking due to the community event being held on a city street. For the first day, the Chamber held the Little Miss Ag Days event. Lexi Holder, a first-grader, won the title of 2022 Little Miss Ag Days. The second runner-up was first-grader Temperance Wagner and the first runner-up was first-grader Milliana Stoner.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
October 5, 2022
September 21, 2022
Lady Warriors Volleyball vs. Lincoln Trail
A representative from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale will be sharing campus and program information in the theatre lobby from 8-11am.
Diesel Days
October 8, 2022
Lady Warriors Soccer vs Mineral Area College
September 23, 2022
Lady Warriors Softball vs. Olney Central College & Lincoln Trail College
Lady Warriors Soccer vs. Lewis and Clark
October 12, 2022
September 28, 2022
Lady Warriors Volleyball vs. Kaskaskia
October 17, 2022
Lady Warriors Volleyball vs. Lake Land College
September 29, 2022
Lady Warriors Volleyball vs. J0hn A. Logan
Lady Warriors Soccer vs. University of Southern Indiana
October 4, 2022
Lady Warriors Soccer vs. Indian Hills Community College
Be sure to follow us on social media for any changes in the schedule and to find out about Student Lounge events!
No Class: Closed for IECC District Workshop
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ABOUT WVC
In 1959 the Board of Education of District #348 approved a resolution for providing a junior college in the Mount Carmel district. A referendum held on December 10, 1960 passed, three-to-one, establishing a junior college – Wabash Valley College. Our original office space (the Little Brick School building) was literally moved by the first Dean of the College, Ernest F. Anderson and the first secretary, Louise Acree. This temporary office space was packed up and set down in WVC's first home, at Bluff Cottage, in only fifteen minutes on Aug. 1, 1961. The first semester in the fall of 1961, offered 23 different courses from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.. 14 classes were held in Bluff Cottage and 11 in the Mt. Carmel High School.
Our first international student attended WVC in the spring semester of 1961, Farid Elias from Syria.
October 23, 1962, WVC Student Council met for the first time and selected our school colors, Red and White. WVC’s first athletic team, a basketball team, was named Viscounts in 1962. The name, referring to a noble status, was often mispronounced by fans and not easily used. In 1966, The WVC Viscounts became the WVC Warriors. WVC’s first yearbook, the “Oubache,” was published at Bluff Cottage during the 1962-63 academic year. The name, “Oubache,” is of Native American derivation; “Wabash" meaning "shining white" or "water over white stones, referring to a river.
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Our first commencement was held on June 2, 1963 with 18 graduates, each receiving an Associates of Arts. On July 14, 1964, more space was needed and ground was broken for the first building, Main Hall. Classes were first held on the new campus in the fall semester of 1965. At this time, 263 full-time students and 525 part-time enrolled, increasing enrollment by 100%. On July 1, 1969, Wabash Valley College became a part of the Junior College District #529, along with Olney Central College; Lincoln Trail College and Frontier Community College were added later. In October 1973, Wabash Valley held its first performance, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" to celebrate the opening of the new Brubeck Arts Center and Learning Resource Center. Today, WVC sits on 120 acres with over a dozen buildings and facilities featuring a scenic lake and wood pathways. WVC is uniquely part of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges district which serves 12 counties; including LTC, OCC, and FCC campuses. This allows students to obtain various certificates and degrees while taking classes offered on each of our four campuses. WVC houses: award-winning radio and tv stations (89.1 and News 15), 7 outstanding athletic teams, 2 highly ranked club teams, 14 programs of study, 3 transfer degrees, and 27 certificates. To learn more about Wabash Valley College's history, current happenings, and future goals check out our social media or visit our website at https://www.iecc.edu/wvc/about/history-wvc
We at WVC are able to provide excellence and accessibility in education, undertake innovative endeavors, dedicate ourselves to student learning, and enhance higher education's role in public life because of our donors. The leadership, volunteer support, experience, financial contributions, and knowledge of WVC Alumni have laid a foundation for our students-past, present, and future. Many have contributed generously by mentoring students, presenting to classes, attending programs and events, and donating resources; all of which are essential to our growth and continued success here at Wabash Valley College. The Wabash Valley College students, faculty, and staff, are justifiably proud of this institution and hold that legacy in hand with a profound sense of stewardship. We want to continually say thank you to our community partners, alumni, and donors; thank you for all you do to support our mission. Individuals interested in donating to the WVC Foundation may contact the Wabash Valley College Administration/Foundation building at 618-262-8641. We know education neither starts, nor ends, with us. We also recognize that we are a stepping stone for many people in pursuit of their educational and career goals. WVC is proud and honored to serve students who choose to start with us. With this in mind, we are inviting our alumni to share a bit about their educational and career journey. Beginning next month, The View from the Valley would like to recognize our Wabash Valley College alumni and their outstanding achievements. If you would like to share your story, contact us at: 618-263-5033 or leachj@iecc.edu.
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TOGETHER
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WE WIN
VIEW FROM THE VALLEY
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