KCC students, the student trustee, and members of the Student Advisory Council volunteered for United Way’s Day of Action April 22 and cleaned up at Jeffers Park in Kankakee.
It was on Earth Day — a fitting time to take action to help the environment.
Thank you for making a difference in the community! KCC’s volunteers showed how small local efforts can have a meaningful impact.
The volunteers are (left to right): Charmane Mitchell, Kendra Souligne, Jen Garrett, Brandon Evans, Maurice Sullivan, Grace Kibbons, Marcella Lomartire, and Robert Rogers.
Kankakee Community College is one of 21 small community colleges across the nation with a gold ranking in the 2025 Guide to Military Friendly Schools, published in conjunction with “G.I. Jobs” magazine.
KCC has had 27 veterans enroll during the 2024-25 school year, according to the college’s Office of Financial Aid. Among these veterans, 18 are utilizing Veteran’s Administration Education benefits.
“We are proud to serve veterans, and to be designated as a Military Friendly® School,” said Megan Ponton, assistant director of financial aid at KCC. “The college is dedicated to supporting veterans and active-duty military personnel, alongside their families, in their transition to higher education. We facilitate access to federal and state VA educational benefits and financial aid. We also provide comprehensive assistance tailored to individual academic, professional, and personal aspirations.”
Throughout Illinois, there are only 13 community colleges which achieved a Military Friendly® designation this year. Community colleges were categorized as “small” or “large.” A total of 232 community colleges earned the Military Friendly designation.
KCC is also a Military Spouse Friendly School.
“Military Friendly is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of military partnerships for Military Friendly. “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.”
According to Military Friendly, methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings combined the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, degree advancement or transfer, and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
The 2025-26 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at MilitaryFriendly.com/schools.
More information about KCC’s educational benefits for military veterans, spouses and dependents, is at www.kcc.edu/veterans. Community members and prospective students can request information at veterans.kcc.edu, email finaid@kcc.edu, or phone 815-802-8550.
(The graduate photo above is Mary Pruitt of Kankakee, at KCC’s 2024 commencement ceremony. Pruitt, a veteran who served in the U.S. Army, was a member of the KCC Veterans Association.)
Military-friendly attributes of Kankakee Community College
About Military Friendly Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data -driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
More than 350 students will receive degrees and certificates at the 56th annual Kankakee Community College commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17 in the George H. Ryan Gymnasium in the college’s Activities Building.
The speaker at KCC’s ceremony will be Melvina Calvin-Edwards, Ed.D. Calvin-Edwards is a sergeant on the Kankakee Police Department and assistant professor/program coordinator of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice programs at KCC. Passionate about providing students with a hands-on, immersive learning experience in law enforcement, Calvin-Edwards has 19 years of experience as an instructor at KCC and as a police officer. After attending KCC, Calvin-Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais; a master’s degree from Governors State University in University Park; and a doctorate from Olivet Nazarene University.
Calvin-Edwards also will be recognized as KCC’s Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member for the 2024-25 academic year. Calvin-Edwards brings a real-world approach to the classroom, using simulations, mock crime scenes, student presentations, and the MILO (Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives) Simulation Lab to help students develop confidence, leadership and investigative skills.
Sherry Kinzler, will be recognized as the Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member. Kinzler returned to college at age 50 to earn a master’s degree, fulfilling her dream of bringing American Sign Language courses to KCC. Students say her sign-language classes are not only educational, but also energizing and welcoming spaces where growth is celebrated.
Charli Palmateer will be honored as a member of the All-Illinois Academic Team, a special recognition based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community. Palmateer is earning an Associate in Arts degree and will transfer to Governors State University.
The recipient of the John M. Fulton Distinguished Alumni Award is Yamei Rohlfs, who earned a GED from KCC and an associate degree in 2019. Rohlfs then earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration at Western Governors University; and a master’s degree, from the same university. Rohlfs is an intake case management supervisor for Banyan Treatment Center. Her family hosts international students and works to place other students with host families. Rohlfs also serves as an alderwoman in her community.
The ceremony will stream live on commencement.kcc.edu. Social media users can use #KCCgrad2025 to congratulate graduates.
The ceremony will last about 90 minutes.
For guests needing assistance or special accommodations, entry will begin at 8:45 a.m. General seating is from 9-9:55 a.m. Guests are asked not to bring balloons and other large items that could obstruct the view of others. The college also will have overflow rooms with live streams of the ceremony.
KCC is located at 100 College Drive in Kankakee, south of downtown Kankakee.
After 21 years of service on the Kankakee Community College Board of Trustees, Pat Martin retired from the board after the April 15 meeting.
Martin joined the board in October 2004, and was board chair from 2018 to 2021.
“Pat’s contributions to KCC have been pivotal in its progress,” said the current board chair, Bill Orr. “His leadership, wisdom, and genuine passion for students have guided this college through both opportunity and challenge.”
During his tenure, Martin was a driving force behind KCC’s growth, advocating for major capital projects including the North and South Extension Centers, the Manufacturing & Industrial Technology Center, and the Advanced Technology Education Center. He also supported renovations to the Miner Memorial Library, Industrial Technology Center, and the Hammes Bookstore, ensuring modern, student-centered learning environments.
A respected communicator and community ambassador, Martin worked to strengthen the college’s governance, mentor board members, and guided the hiring of two college presidents.
“Pat’s influence will be felt for years to come,” said KCC President Dr. Michael Boyd. “His commitment to collaborative leadership and student success helped KCC weather tough times, including a statewide budget impasse and a global pandemic.”
Before his final board meeting, a reception to honor Martin was held at KCC.
“Serving on the board has been an honor,” said Martin. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I’m confident the college will continue to thrive and inspire future generations.”
Martin will be succeeded by Eric Peterson, chief executive officer and founder of Project Headspace and Timing, a non-profit that assists veterans. He is also superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County. Peterson has a paramedic degree from KCC and received the John M. Fulton Distinguished Alumni award from the KCC Foundation in 2024. He is a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan, and he has also worked as a paramedic and a private investigator.
“As a proud 2012 KCC graduate, it’s an honor to return in this role,” Peterson said. “I’m excited to give back to the college that helped shape my path and to support future student success.”
Peterson resides in Manteno with his wife Ashley and daughters Lilly and Cece.
