SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The South Suburban College (SSC) Sustainability Committee is hosting a wide range of events in recognition of National Sustainability Month. The SSC Sustainability Committee was established in 2011 to coordinate the college’s efforts in sustainability leadership within its community. All of the following events will be held at the Main Campus— 15800 S. State Street in South Holland, IL.

Oak Sapling and Compost Giveaway sponsored by the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Wednesday, October 9, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Atrium
The first 100 participants will receive an 18-inch oak sapling, planting and care instructions, along with additional information regarding the benefits of trees and one bag of MWRD Compost.

World Food Day
Wednesday, October 16, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Performing Arts Center Lobby
A “Mats for the Homeless” demonstration will be provided by Professor Millicent Collier. Plastic bags are needed to make “plarn” to weave the mats. Bags may be dropped at the Service Learning box located at Campus Police.

Movie Day: “What the Health?”
October 16, 12 noon, Lecture Hall B
This film examines the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Food Sustainability Lecture
October 16, 1:30 p.m., Lecture Hall B
Fred Carter from Black Oaks Center will lecture on food scarcity, farming sustainability, Food Deserts, and Hunger.

Campus Tree Walk
Wednesday, October 23, 2:15 p.m., Cafeteria
A guided tour will be provided by Dr. Eric Myers, faculty member in the Life Sciences Department, showcasing SSC’s hundreds of tree species on campus.

Annual Campus Clean Up Sponsored by Home Depot
Wednesday, October 23, 3:00 p.m., Cafeteria
Gloves, Water, Bags, and Pizza will be provided.

For Sustainability related questions, please contact Rebecca Garcia at (708) 596-2000, ext. 6042, or email rgarcia@ssc.edu.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– The South Suburban College Art & Design Department present an exhibition of drawings by artist Mike Benedetto in the Dulgar Gallery through the closing Artist Reception on Thursday, October 17th at 1 p.m.

Mike Benedetto is a Chicago artist who does conceptual work in various media. His work investigates the self and its relationship to identity, family, society or culture. Benedetto graduated with an MFA from The University of Chicago, a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

“Since 1996 outer turmoil has brought internal discord to the surface. Rants about world circumstances are echoes,” said Benedetto. “In this series of work, childish notions are paired with real world calamity. Violence against beauty. Innocence of the ‘what’s within the picket fence versus awareness of what’s outside?’ TV news versus the fluffy filling between the segments. Delicate technique versus very loud noise. The process is tiring, painstaking, frustrating, meditative. It makes silence. The OK is felt in the room. Somewhere in it, in certain moments.”

The public is welcome to visit the art exhibition and reception at no charge. The Dulgar Gallery is on the 1st Floor of SSC’s Main Campus. SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2300, visit www.ssc.edu/art, or email etucker@ssc.edu. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Pictured: Mike Benedetto, Bird Song, 2019, ink on paper, 9 x 12 inches.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College officially received its full accreditation for the maximum period of ten years from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Ron Kawanna, Associate Vice President of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness, delivered the news to the Board of Trustees in a presentation at the college’s September Board Meeting.

“The 10-year reaccreditation is a testament to the high level of professionalism of everyone at the college,” said Chairman Frank M. Zuccarelli. “Everyone came together and worked hard during the self‐study process, and I congratulate you.” This reaccreditation marks Zuccarelli’s fourth during his tenure serving on the Board.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region, which includes Illinois and 18 other states. HLC accreditation is a critical component for credentialing degrees and transferable college credit.

SSC’s new Executive Leadership Team led by Dr. Lynette D. Stokes, President, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, led the reaccreditation process with the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) culminating with a site visit in March. IAC confirmed in a letter to the college announcing the “maximum Reaffirmation of Accreditation of South Suburban College through fiscal year 2028.”

“It is with much enthusiasm that we announce our reaccreditation success,” said President Stokes. “A big thank you to faculty, staff and administrators who worked tirelessly to write the HLC report and provide evidence of compliance, and special thank you to our students for participating in the open forum and focus group session. We appreciate their candid conversations and recommendations of how to move SSC closer to becoming the premier institution of higher learning in the Southland community.”

HLC published information about this action on its website at www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/recent-actions.html.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois, and with an extension site in Oak Forest, serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities in addition to a wide range of academic programs to support student success.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL—South Suburban College (SSC) president, Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D., is being selected as one of five honorees for the 2019 Ignitor Award from the Professional Women’s Network (PWN). The Ignitor Award identifies individuals who overcame obstacles to climb to extraordinary heights while lighting the way for other women to follow. PWN will be promoting Dr. Stokes as an honoree throughout the month of July leading up to the event being held on Tuesday, July 30th at Glenwoodie Golf Club.

This year marks PWN’s 5th Annual Summer Soiree. In 2014, then President Barbara Karstrom introduced an event that would give PWN the opportunity to celebrate its membership and honor women who have demonstrated proudly overcoming tremendous challenges.

“We continue to honor some amazing women such as Dr. Stokes, who overcame private battles that did not hinder their drive to continue to excel and inspire,” said Doranita Tyler, PWN President who introduced the theme “Ignite Your Why” to inspire members to strive passionately to excel in their purpose. “We are excited to recognize four individuals and one nonprofit organization with the 2019 Ignitor Award.”

Dr. Stokes is the first African American female president in SSC’s 91-year history. Having worked in public service for nearly 24 years, she has served as an advocate of youth in the child welfare system, taught elementary and community college education, and worked for equal rights organizations. Dr. Stokes earned her Doctorate from Roosevelt University where she received the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award. She was also honored with the Kathy Osterman Award for Outstanding Public Service Supervision, 2014 Chicago Defender’s Women of Excellence Award, the 2018 ICBCHE Trailblazer Award and 2019 Egretha Award.

The mission of Professional Women’s Network is to help women develop their careers, enhance their businesses and mentor the next generation of women business leaders through educational programs, resource sharing and networking opportunities.
 

OAK FOREST, IL–South Suburban College (SSC) is hosting a Court Reporting Open House on Thursday, July 25, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., in Room 5190 of the college’s Oak Forest Center. The Open House will showcase this unique profession and wide-open job market, along with SSC’s program and curriculum. New this fall is an evening Court Reporting for Beginners class.

SSC is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and its Court Reporting Program is one of a few in the Chicagoland area that is certified by the National Court Reporters Association.

Court reporters use machine shorthand to capture the spoken word quickly and accurately. The use of sophisticated computer equipment has broadened the nature of the profession. SSC’s program focuses on the theory behind it all, with an emphasis on judicial reporting.

Court reporting is an interesting, challenging field that can provide a flexible work schedule with excellent income potential. Broadcast captioners, for example, can earn over $100,000 per year and may work out of their homes. There is a severe shortage of skilled reporters in the Chicago area, and courts need court reporters to record trials of all types. Reporters also provide closed captioning of live television such as the news and sporting events such as football, baseball, and basketball games to aid the hearing impaired.

To RSVP or for more information, call (708) 596-2000, ext. 3217 or email LCooke@ssc.edu Fall Registration is in progress at SSC with classes beginning August 20th. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Mike Monaghan made a special trip to the June Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of South Suburban College to acknowledge and present the ICCTA Service Award to both Vice-Chair John Daly and Trustee DeFilippo.

“The ICCTA would like to recognize and congratulate Trustees John Daly and Tony DeFilippo on their dedicated service to the Board of South Suburban College, Community College District 510, and the Illinois Community College System,” said Monaghan at the open meeting.

Daly, an Oak Forest resident, has served as a member of the SSC Board of Trustees since 1991. He became Vice-Chairman in 1994 and served as Chairman of the Presidential Search Committees. As Vice-Chair of the Board, Daly leads SSC’s ongoing efforts to improve services while maintaining a stable or reduced tax rate. DeFilippo, a Calumet City resident, works as a registered pharmacist and is responsible for the advancement of medical education and clinical trial opportunities at academic and medical centers. He serves in this capacity throughout the country. On the board level, DeFilippo serves as the SSC’s Finance Chair, a role he has filled for nearly his entire tenure while the college has collected 24 consecutive COE awards for excellence in financial reporting from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO).

Not to be outdone, the SSC Board of Trustees surprised Monaghan with an award of their own in advance of his June 30th retirement when they presented him with an Honorary Associate of Arts Degree from SSC.

“On behalf of South Suburban College and our Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Mr. Monaghan for all of the visits he has made to our campus, for all of the support he has provided to SSC and the ICCTA for the past 15 years,” said Chairman Zuccarelli. “It is our honor and privilege to bestow this rare Honorary Degree to you as we wish you the very best in your retirement.”

Michael S. Monaghan became the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s fifth executive director on January 1, 2005. As the leader of one of the nation’s premier trustee associations, Monaghan brought 40 years of experience in higher education and the legislative arena while advocating on behalf of lllinois community colleges. He previously served as ICCTA’s director of government relations from 1989 to 2004, where he developed a statewide advocacy program and organized annual Lobby Days in Springfield and Washington, D.C. He also received the Illinois Society of Association Executives’ 1998 Government Relations Award for his successful efforts to establish a state health insurance program for community college retirees. Most recently, the ICCTA renamed its Meritorious Service Award in his honor.

Monaghan added, “I am honored and humbled to receive this honorary degree. Furthermore, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to work with this Board and college regarding State issues. Truly, South Suburban College is a friend and stellar partner to the Illinois Community College System.”

Established in 1927, South Suburban College is a fully accredited, comprehensive community college with an annual student population of more than 10,000. Located in South Holland, Illinois, SSC offers over 100 educational and career pathways through associate degree, certificate and transfer programs.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–This spring, 17 South Suburban College staff, Green Club students and their families gathered together to kick off the college’s community garden clean up and to plant a special garden just for pollinators. The pollinator garden will benefit butterflies, bees and birds by providing food and nectar sources, as well as plants for butterflies to lay their eggs. The pollinator garden contains flowers and herbs, while the vegetable plots will benefit from insect pollination, which results in a more abundant fruit and vegetable yield.
The heavy jobs of weeding and digging were much more fun when families came together to make the weedy spot look gorgeous and become productive. Everyone was excited to meet each other and work together to share the tools and take over when someone else was tired. Cooperation was key to getting all 21 plots set up and ready for planting. Some people were better at digging up the grass, some people were brave and donned gloves and pulled the spiky thistles, and the kids really enjoyed saving the worms from the shovel.

“One lesson we all learned was the importance of Pollinators and that they are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day,” stated Alysia Robinette, the event’s coordinator. “Our pollinator garden includes flowering plants, water and a resting place for insects. We focused on growing native and non-invasive species with continuous blooms throughout the season and used only organic fertilizer. Families can take this knowledge home with them and plant their own pollinator gardens.”

SSC’s garden is now registered as part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. This year’s challenge asks participants to plant three pollinator-friendly plants that bloom at various times during the growing season, that is, one during the spring, one in summer, and the last in fall. That way, pollinators will have food through most of the year.

“This year’s garden is just the beginning,” added participant Joanna Tassin, SSC. “Next year we hope to add another pollinator garden!”

South Suburban College is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–Members of the Village of South Holland Education Commission visited South Suburban College’s May Meeting of the Board of Trustees to make a special award presentation to longtime college Biology instructor Gerald (G.A.) Griffith.

“The Red Tulip Award is presented annually to educators who work with South Holland students and who demonstrate outstanding service by going beyond their daily duties to effectively change student lives,” said Mike Nylen, Chairman of the Village of South Holland Education Commission. “On behalf of the Commission and the Mayor, Clerk and Trustees of the Village of South Holland, we are proud to have presented this award to such a worthy recipient as Gerald Griffith.”

Nominations are evaluated using a scoring rubric for demonstrating a high commitment toward student achievement, extending oneself beyond the classroom, exhibiting enthusiasm about teaching and caring for students, modeling appropriate behavior for students and exemplifying professionalism. The Red Tulip Award also comes with a $250 check from the Village. Griffith, an instructor at SSC since 1990, said he was honored to be recognized with his first award.

“I would like to thank the Education Commission and the Village of South Holland for this honor,” said Griffith, a South Holland resident. “I feel fortunate to have been able to work with people I enjoy personally as well as respecting their views on education. It sounds cliché but I always tell my students to do something that they love and it won’t feel like work, and that’s how I feel about teaching at South Suburban College.”

In addition to serving as a Biology instructor for 29 years, Griffith serves as Department Chair for Life Sciences and has served as President of the Faculty Union at SSC for more than 10 years.

Griffith added, “SSC has two advantages in the classroom that I think are important to student success – we have small class sizes that allow students to connect with faculty, and our faculty’s primary focus is on teaching, rather than research.”

Mr. Griffith will also be recognized at the Village of South Holland Board Meeting on June 3rd at 8:00 p.m.

South Suburban College is a community college with locations in South Holland and Oak Forest that has been providing quality, accessible education for more than 90 years. Summer and fall class registrations are currently in progress. Visit ssc.edu for more information.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– South Suburban College’s Pharmacy Technician Program has undergone a series of changes over the past academic year under the direction of new program coordinator Alfred Evans. Changes include new curriculum and delivery strategies, and most recently, the college announced its new Pharmacy Faculty Advisory Board.

The advisory board includes the following regional experts and SSC personnel:

• Dr. Laura Licari, PharmD, President, Illinois Pharmacist Association and Instructor, Roosevelt U College of Pharmacy
• Ms. Tamera M. Scott, CPhT, Certified Pharmacy Technician, University of Chicago Hospital
• Reverend Calvin Bryant, Jr., R.Ph., MBA, Pharmacy Manager, Walgreens
• Dr. Rhonda K. Davis, PharmD, President, Chicago Pharmacists Association
• Mrs. Cindy Morris, Thornwood High School Division Leader for Science/CTE
• Dr. Adrienne Reaves, Allied Health Chair, South Suburban College
• Jeffery J. Waddy, Dean of Allied Health, South Suburban College
• Mrs. Veretta Brooks, Allied Health Administrative Assistant, South Suburban College
• Mrs. Linda Bathgate, College Academic Counselor, South Suburban College
• Dr. Dectric Fletcher, MD, Adjunct Faculty, South Suburban College
• Professor Aleta Kemp, R.Ph., Adjunct Faculty, South Suburban College
• Alfred W. Evans Jr., R.Ph., MSJ, Program Coordinator, Pre-Pharmacy and Pharmacy Technician Programs, South Suburban College

“I am so thankful to have these experts committed to advising our pharmacy programs,” said Evans. “It brings SSC to the forefront in educating pharmacy technicians with the new implementation of higher standards and quality of pharmaceutical care. These highly talented professionals are committed to the community by providing quality education that focuses on the public’s health, safety and welfare in the delivery of pharmaceutical care and medication therapy.”

Since Evans arrived in 2019, he has worked to streamline the program to meet the needs of both Pharmacy Technicians and Pre-Pharmacy Transfer students more efficiently, and yet maintain all requirements of the accrediting organizations. New to the Pharmacy Technician Program is the Entry Level Pharm Tech Course, an 8-week summer offering which is the approximate time required to acquire the State of Illinois Pharmacy Technician License. Students will complete their licensure application during the course. There is also a new 16-week Advanced Level Pharm Tech Course offered in the fall and spring Semesters. The entry level and advanced level programs are guidelines established within the industry that provides technicians with either a job used as a stepping stone or a career that sustains the quality of the professions in pharmacy.

To achieve the Pharmacy Technician Certificate from SSC – a critical component to becoming hired as a pharm tech – students must complete a minimum of 39 hours including prerequisites. The Pre-Pharmacy Transfer curriculum offers a 45-hour General Education pathway and aligns course requirements differently with regional schools of pharmacy as outlined in the catalog and on the college’s website: www.ssc.edu.

SSC’s Pharmacy Technician Program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). With the growing demand for pharm techs throughout the country, the ASHP will likely be making changes to standards for training pharm techs. According to Evans, SSC is preparing to be on the cutting edge of this transition.

“Productive, knowledgeable pharm techs are needed more than ever before in the workforce,” added Evans. “It’s an exciting time for our program because we are ready with the talent and technology to provide students with rewarding careers while meeting that demand.”

For more information, please call Alfred Evans, Coordinator, Pre-Pharmacy & Pharmacy Technician Programs, at (708) 596-2000 ext. 2204, or email aevans@ssc.edu.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College (SSC), with the assistance of Career Development Systems (CDS), hosted the 12th Annual Video Competition on Thursday, April 4, 2019, in the Kindig Performing Arts Center. The competition showcases talent from high schools as well as provides tours of the college’s facilities, including the television studio, audio studio and multimedia lab.

Communication Professor John Geraci and other SSC staff welcomed high school students and their families to the event. “This year’s event was bittersweet for me,” said Geraci. “I’ll be retiring in May and I’ve been involved with this competition since it began. I’ve really enjoyed it. Over the years, a few students that have participated in this event have enrolled in my production classes. I hope they continue to choose SSC for their college education.”

Seven high schools submitted entries into the competition: Bremen, Eisenhower, Oak Forest, Richards, Shepard, Southland Prep and Thornwood. Students entered work in eight different categories: Commercial/Promo, PSA, Short Subject, Music Video, Live Multi-Camera Program, Creative Editing, News Story or Feature and News Program. The 51 entries were judged on aesthetic quality, technical quality, program design and overall effectiveness.

In addition to the student awards, high schools competed for the Regional Award of Distinction, which is determined by the highest average score per entry. Ivan Aragon, a senior at Richards High School, accepted this award on behalf of his school. His goal is to study cinematography and movie directing in college. Aragon credits his teacher, Brian Wujcik, for their overall success. “He is an amazing instructor. He did a really good job preparing us for the competition this year. This is the first time Richards has won this award, and I’m excited that our hard work paid off.”

The student awards for each category are as follows:

Commercial/Promo: First Place, “This is Shepard, We Are Astros” – Shepard; Second Place, “Locked In” – Thornwood; Third Place, “Winterfest” – Bremen.

PSA: First Place, “You Are Not Alone” – Eisenhower; Second Place, “Tell Me Your Story” – Shepard; Third Place, “Domestic Violence” – Thornwood.

Short Subject: First Place, “Unprepared” – Bremen; Second Place, “Snapped” – Eisenhower; Third Place, “Escape from LEGO City” – Richards.

Music Video: First Place, “Laundry” – Shepard; Second Place, “So Far Away” – Richards; Third Place, “Holiday Mashup” – Bremen.

Live Multi-Camera Program: First Place, “The Late Night Show” – Bremen; Second Place, “Late Show with Michael” – Oak Forest.

Creative Editing: First Place, “The Purge: Rosewood” – Thornwood; Second Place, “A.I.” – Shepard; Third Place, “Man Up” – Shepard.

News Story or Feature: First Place, “Pancake Breakfast” – Eisenhower; Second Place, “Petting Farm” – Southland Prep; Third Place, “Behind the Scenes of Stage Crew” – Eisenhower.

News Program: First Place, “Talon Newsnet Ch. 5 Q1” – Southland Prep; Second Place, “Astroworld Media 3/1/2019” – Shepard.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The South Suburban College Green Club is pleased to host a Sustainability Fair this month to celebrate Earth Week. On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, the movie “Home,” a documentary by French director Yann Arthus-Bertrand, will be shown in Lecture Hall C from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Through visually stunning footage from over fifty countries, all shot from an aerial perspective, Yann Arthus–Bertrand provides a viewpoint most have never seen. Popcorn will be provided. Afterwards, SSC Biology Faculty Eric Myers will give a lecture on sustainability and our future.

Additionally, guests are welcome to visit the college’s Atrium from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and browse the many “green” vendors. There will be an oak sapling giveaway to the first 50 customers, a free reusable bag for the first 30 customers, a book collection, glasses collection, old cellphone collection, plastic bags recycling, clothing and shoes donations, and a free seed giveaway. A recycled art gallery will be displayed in the glass case outside the library.

The Sustainability Committee was established in 2011 to coordinate SSC’s efforts in sustainability leadership within its community. Its number one goal is to educate staff and students about how to practice environmental stewardship at home and in the community.

SSC’s Main Campus is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. Visit www.ssc.edu/calendar for more information about upcoming events at SSC.