Kankakee Community College is proud to announce the recipient of the John Fulton Distinguished Alumni Award for 2024. This honor recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions of alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.
A 2012 KCC graduate, Eric Peterson, CEO and founder of Project Headspace and Timing received the John Fulton Distinguished Alumnus Award on April 18. He has also been nominated by the KCC Foundation for the 2024 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumni Award.
Peterson has achieved many personal and professional achievements, including awards such as Hometown Hero, Nonprofit of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and more. As a veteran, Peterson faced personal challenges, including PTSD and substance abuse. Instead of succumbing to despair, he founded Project Headspace and Timing. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit promotes positive mental health practices to U.S. military veterans by working to unify them with their communities, nature, and themselves. The organization’s impactful initiatives, such as the Spartan Shield Veteran Advocacy Program and Troops on Trails, highlight Peterson's commitment to positive engagement and mental health practices for veterans. Despite facing personal obstacles, including the suicide of a teammate and death of his mother, Peterson remains dedicated to advocating for veterans, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and community support. His journey of self-discovery has not only transformed his life but also illuminated the struggles faced by veterans.
If you know a KCC graduate who has achieved success and distinction in their field, performed humanitarian service to benefit society, supported education and community colleges, and who has overcome life’s obstacles, please contact the KCC Alumni Relations office and share their story at https://foundation.kcc.edu/alumni/.
For the second time, Allie Kohl of Herscher has been selected to receive a Coca-Cola academic scholarship.
In 2023, Kohl received a $1,000 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship. This year, she has earned $1,500 as a Gold Scholar on Coca-Cola’s 2024 Academic Team. The award stems from Kohl’s score in the All-USA Academic Team competition.
Kohl is an Early College program student at Kankakee Community College. She is taking KCC courses during her junior and senior years at Herscher High School. In May, Kohl will graduate from both KCC and high school. At KCC, Kohl is taking general education courses. She plans to transfer to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais to study social work.
“Allie’s drive for academic success at such a young age is inspiring,” said Jaclyn Montemayer, co-advisor for KCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students. Kohl is president of the chapter.
“I am highly honored to have been awarded a second Coca-Cola academic scholarship,” Kohl said. “To be named a Gold Scholar on Coca-Cola’s 2024 Academic Team is an accomplishment I am immensely proud of. It's moments like these that reaffirm the significance of my hard work and keep me committed to continuing my academic journey with passion and determination.”
Out of 2,200 applicants, only 50 were chosen as Gold Scholars. Fifty Silver Scholars and 50 Bronze Scholars were also chosen. They received scholarships of $1,250 and $1,000, respectively.
In addition to being president of KCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Kohl is also president of KCC’s Psychology Club. At Herscher High School, she is Student Council executive board secretary, Student Council class co-secretary, and a member of Students Against Sexual Harassment. Kohl is a member of the Kankakee County Swine Youth Team and Cabery Specials 4-H Club. She also volunteers with Clove Alliance and Harbor House.
“The Coca-Cola Academic Team recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society,” according to online information from Phi Theta Kappa.
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The honor society has more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.kcc.edu/student-resources/clubs/#phi-theta-kappa.
On Monday, April 8, STEM Club members traveled to Vincennes, Indiana, for the solar eclipse.
"We experienced four and a half minutes of totality!" said club advisor Michael Caparula.
KCC students in the picture are (left to right), Morgan Krause, Amanda Paulauskis, Nigel Mills, Jaxon Miller, and Michael Miramontes..
Photo credit: Caparula.
The next vice president for academic affairs at Kankakee Community College has more than 20 years of experience as a higher education administrator.
Beginning May 20, Dr. Quincy Rose-Sewell will become KCC’s chief academic officer, responsible for administering the college’s credit and non-credit instruction and workforce development programs. She will be responsible for the management of educational curriculum and assigned academic support services throughout the college.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to work alongside Dr. Rose-Sewell,” said Dr. Michael Boyd, KCC’s president. “She comes to KCC very well-prepared, and I’m confident that she will help KCC maintain our current momentum and meet the goals established in our Strategic Plan.
“We’re working on a lot of great initiatives right now, and I know she’ll help us move forward,” Boyd continued. “I also know that she is going to bring new ideas to KCC’s academic enterprise, and the college is ready to get behind her great ideas as we work together to enhance quality of life through learning.”
Rose-Sewell is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. Most recently, she was vice president of academic support and instruction at Pueblo Community College in Colorado.
“I am looking forward to serving and leading our academic team to support the vision of the president in KCC’s crucial role in providing affordable education and creating pathways to family-sustaining careers,” Rose-Sewell said. “By developing, engaging and nurturing relationships within our community and with our workforce partners, as a team we have an opportunity to collaborate to support innovation and reimagine education with student access, success, professional and personal growth at the forefront for all who seek a quality education. This is indeed an exciting time to serve on the KCC team where our current and new initiatives will certainly catapult us to the next level! “
Rose-Sewell has served as assistant vice president for academic affairs at Baltimore City Community College and dean of the College of Education at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. She also has held leadership and instructional positions at Grambling State University in Louisiana and Tusculum University in Tennessee.
“Dr. Rose-Sewell will be a great addition to our community, and I know she’s excited to get involved and make an impact,” Boyd said.
Rose-Sewell has two degrees from Delaware State University, a bachelor’s degree in primary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She has a doctorate in innovation and leadership, with a concentration in organizational leadership, from Wilmington University in Delaware.
Within the next few months, she and her husband, Rodney, are planning to move to the Kankakee area from Colorado.
The current vice president, Sheri Cagle, will retire from KCC on June 30. Cagle has worked at KCC full-time since 2007, in faculty and administrative roles.