Heartland Community College
1500 West Raab Road
Normal, Illinois 61761-9446
Phone: 309-268-8000

ONLINE DISCOVER NEWSLETTERS

Heartland Community College
1500 West Raab Road
Normal, Illinois 61761-9446
Phone: 309-268-8000

It has been the season of ribbon for the Heartland Community College Foundation Board. We have cut ribbons to open the new Agriculture Complex, the Advanced Manufacturing Center, and new Student Center facilities on campus. But ribbons are more than just ornamental strips to showcase a new space. They are symbolic of the connections that exist and tie together Heartland and the community it serves.

The Heartland Community College Foundation strengthened current connections and found new ones across our community. We are honored to partner with the McLean County Farm Bureau, GROWMARK, Precision Planting, the Illinois Soybean Association, State Farm, Compeer Financial, HALO Solar, and many other organizations.

We saw individuals connect past generations to the future with support from the Funk family, the Dobski family, Alan Bedell and Deanna Frautschi, the Penn family, the Woodruff-Feicke family, the Styczynski family, Dr. Sandra Hupp, and the Chadwick-Walter family. Their gifts created learning opportunities that will enrich the lives of thousands of students for years to come.  

In total, we saw our local district pledge over $12 million in support of projects and scholarships at Heartland in the past year. We feel honored and humbled to be entrusted with these gifts and have made sure they are impacting our students in meaningful ways.

But the ribbon that has always connected the Foundation to the College is scholarships. This year alone, the Foundation was able to award over $750,000 in scholarship support for a variety of degree and certificate programs, HALO scholarships, and the student emergency fund. Each dollar helped keep students moving forward toward their goals.

While the projects and programs the Foundation supports will change with time and College needs, one constant will always be a focus on our students. We appreciate everyone who supported the Foundation this year and in years past. We value the spirit of philanthropy that connects us all. As a past scholarship recipient, a Heartland alumnus, and the first Heartland alumni to chair the HCC Foundation, I personally know the difference it makes.

Respectfully,

Melissa Marx
Chair, Heartland Community College Foundation Board

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDATION CHAIR

Jerome and Frances Maddox
Jerome and Frances have contributed to the Hero House initiative by Habitat for Humanity and were pivotal in dedicating a Fallen Hero Wall honoring nine Central Illinois soldiers who lost their lives in combat. Through Jerome's leadership as president of the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois, he has been instrumental in establishing a robust mentoring program across the region. Their commitment to our community extends further as they both serve as board members of the Illinois Community Prairie Foundation.

Steve and Patty McManus 
Steve and Patty McManus are dedicated community leaders whose philanthropic efforts and active involvement have left a lasting impact on various charitable organizations and initiatives. Steve served as a past chair of the Heartland Community College Foundation and initiated the inaugural Major Gifts Campaign, which raised over $7 million for scholarships. He has also taken on significant community roles, co-chairing the Civil Justice Reform Group and Milestones Early Learning Center. Patty serves as chair of the Bloomington Normal Junior Women’s Club and actively contributes to various local charities and initiatives, showcasing her commitment to community welfare.

Ed Rust
Ed Rust's extensive contributions to education and leadership are evident through his service on the Boards of America’s Promise Alliance and the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership. Ed's dedication to education and workforce development was recognized through his receipt of the Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and the Order of Lincoln, the state's highest honor for a living individual in business. Under his stewardship as CEO, State Farm emerged as one of the largest private contributors to education, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to supporting educational initiatives since 1990.

Faye Freeman-Smith
Faye Freeman-Smith established the Heartland Community College Counseling Center in 2011 when she served as the College’s Director of Student Mental Health Counseling Services and held an active role on the Mental Health Advisory Board for the McLean County Health Department. Faye's membership on the Distance Counseling Advisory Board has been instrumental in crafting guidelines for tele-mental health, a critical endeavor both before and during the pandemic, especially in supporting the mental well-being of young adults. She is also a recipient of the Multicultural Leadership Program Servant Leadership Award and was recognized in 2017 with the YWCA Women of Distinction award.

Rob Widmer
Rob Widmer has built a remarkable and motivating career in higher education spanning four decades, with a significant portion—22 years—dedicated to Heartland Community College. Notably, he served as president for five years, during which he navigated the institution through financial hardships stemming from the Illinois budget impasse. His leadership was pivotal in steering Heartland through these challenges while also spearheading a new strategic planning process, fortifying the College's reputation as a vital community asset. Rob’s tenure saw significant advancements, including the development of Heartland's current main campus in Normal. He continues to serve the community as chair of the Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation Board.

The President’s Medallion award exemplifies the College’s aim to enrich the community by recognizing those who share this mission and live it out through exemplary service, philanthropy, and dedication to advancing opportunities in education.

The following seven individuals were honored at the Elevate Heartland event on May 31, 2024, with a President’s Medallion:

In 2024, Heartland Community College recognized seven individuals for their integral role in expanding the College, serving its students, and paving educational pathways for the larger community.

PRESIDENT'S MEDALLION

Sim Sandhu ('14), Heartland Community College Foundation Board

FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTS

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

- Sim Sandhu -

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDATION CHAIR

It has been the season of ribbon for the Heartland Community College Foundation Board. We have cut ribbons to open the new Agriculture Complex, the Advanced Manufacturing Center, and new Student Center facilities on campus. But ribbons are more than just ornamental strips to showcase a new space. They are symbolic of the connections that exist and tie together Heartland and the community it serves.

The Heartland Community College Foundation strengthened current connections and found new ones across our community. We are honored to partner with the McLean County Farm Bureau, GROWMARK, Precision Planting, the Illinois Soybean Association, State Farm, Compeer Financial, HALO Solar, and many other organizations.

We saw individuals connect past generations to the future with support from the Funk family, the Dobski family, Alan Bedell and Deanna Frautschi, the Penn family, the Woodruff-Feicke family, the Styczynski family, Dr. Sandra Hupp, and the Chadwick-Walter family. Their gifts created learning opportunities that will enrich the lives of thousands of students for years to come.  

In total, we saw our local district pledge over $12 million in support of projects and scholarships at Heartland in the past year. We feel honored and humbled to be entrusted with these gifts and have made sure they are impacting our students in meaningful ways.

But the ribbon that has always connected the Foundation to the College is scholarships. This year alone, the Foundation was able to award over $750,000 in scholarship support for a variety of degree and certificate programs, HALO scholarships, and the student emergency fund. Each dollar helped keep students moving forward toward their goals.

While the projects and programs the Foundation supports will change with time and College needs, one constant will always be a focus on our students. We appreciate everyone who supported the Foundation this year and in years past. We value the spirit of philanthropy that connects us all. As a past scholarship recipient, a Heartland alumnus, and the first Heartland alumni to chair the HCC Foundation, I personally know the difference it makes.

Respectfully,

Melissa Marx
Chair, Heartland Community College Foundation Board

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Sim Sandhu ('14), Heartland Community College Foundation Board

"Heartland turned out to be the step forward I always needed..."

Sim Sandhu knows there is more than one pathway toward accomplishing a goal.

As Director of Strategy and Innovation at the Illinois Farm Bureau, Sim oversees teams that handle business analytics, enterprise data, employee services, and research and innovation. 

As he describes it, the teams he leads have the purpose of ensuring employees at the Illinois Farm Bureau can be successful in

That path led to studies in computer science and economics, which led to a somewhat unexpected entry into agribusiness via the Illinois Farm Bureau. As his family did in India, he now works in the agriculture industry. It’s something he most likely wouldn’t have guessed when he started his career pathway.

Sim credits Heartland's faculty and students for helping him make progress with his college experience and find the comfort zone to take his next academic steps.

"Community colleges are perfect melting pots of the areas they serve and have no biases about what may lead a student to them. The pressure to be a good student is certainly there as it would be at any institution, but the resources and supports to achieve one's goals are often more accessible and personalized," said Sim.

Sim has been giving back to the community as a member of the Heartland Community College Foundation Board.

Inspired by the notion of helping students find a position to succeed, he has established scholarships with both the Heartland Foundation and the IAA Foundation to assist minority students who want to work in agriculture. 

"As it stands today, the agricultural industry is not very representative of the world it feeds and it is going to continue to have bigger and bigger challenges to address to ensure we can feed our growing world. To do so effectively, I believe you need to have a more representative population supporting the industry to ensure the diverse perspectives needed for innovation are available," Sim said. "My hope is these scholarships help individuals who may not have seen a future in ag for themselves or were put off by barriers within it can see the opportunity to make a difference within it, and feel more confident about their potential place in the industry."

Sim Sandhu knows there is more than one pathway toward accomplishing a goal.

As Director of Strategy and Innovation at the Illinois Farm Bureau, Sim oversees teams that handle business analytics, enterprise data, employee services, and research and innovation. 

As he describes it, the teams he leads have the purpose of ensuring employees at the Illinois Farm Bureau can be successful in their roles, often by looking at ways staff can be empowered by change. They use data in decision-making, which often requires the "measure-check-adjust" method.

He may not have known it at the time, but his education pathway was informed by some of that same methodology.

The son of immigrants who came to the U.S. in the early 80s, Sim's family moved from Tulsa to St. Louis, to Central Illinois, as his father followed opportunities as an engineer. They landed in the small town of Goodfield, IL, when he was a pre-teen, as his father found a long-term position with Caterpillar. It was a winding path for the Sandhu family, who came from a farming background in India.

Sim came to Heartland Community College in 2013. He had started at Illinois State University, but things weren't clicking for him.

"After already being at ISU and struggling greatly there, (I) decided to 'take a step back' and go to Heartland while I figured things out," he says. "Heartland turned out to be the step forward I always needed and after graduating with my associate degree, I went back to ISU but this time with a plan, purpose, and confidence in the path I was on from then forward."

That path led to studies in computer science and economics, which led to a somewhat unexpected entry into agribusiness via the Illinois Farm Bureau. As his family did in India, he now works in the agriculture industry. It’s something he most likely wouldn’t have guessed when he started his career pathway.

Sim credits Heartland's faculty and students for helping him make progress with his college experience and find the comfort zone to take his next academic steps.

"Community colleges are perfect melting pots of the areas they serve and have no biases about what may lead a student to them. The pressure to be a good student is certainly there as it would be at any institution, but the resources and supports to achieve one's goals are often more accessible and personalized," said Sim.

Sim has been giving back to the community as a member of the Heartland Community College Foundation Board.

Inspired by the notion of helping students find a position to succeed, he has established scholarships with both the Heartland Foundation and the IAA Foundation to assist minority students who want to work in agriculture. 

"As it stands today, the agricultural industry is not very representative of the world it feeds and it is going to continue to have bigger and bigger challenges to address to ensure we can feed our growing world. To do so effectively, I believe you need to have a more representative population supporting the industry to ensure the diverse perspectives needed for innovation are available," Sim said. "My hope is these scholarships help individuals who may not have seen a future in ag for themselves or were put off by barriers within it can see the opportunity to make a difference within it, and feel more confident about their potential place in the industry."

In 2024, Heartland Community College recognized seven individuals for their integral role in expanding the College, serving its students, and paving educational pathways for the larger community.

The President’s Medallion award exemplifies the College’s aim to enrich the community by recognizing those who share this mission and live it out through exemplary service, philanthropy, and dedication to advancing opportunities in education.

The following seven individuals were honored at the Elevate Heartland event on May 31, 2024, with a President’s Medallion:

PRESIDENT'S MEDALLION

Rob Widmer
Rob Widmer has built a remarkable and motivating career in higher education spanning four decades, with a significant portion—22 years—dedicated to Heartland Community College. Notably, he served as president for five years, during which he navigated the institution through financial hardships stemming from the Illinois budget impasse. His leadership was pivotal in steering Heartland through these challenges while also spearheading a new strategic planning process, fortifying the College's reputation as a vital community asset. Rob’s tenure saw significant advancements, including the development of Heartland's current main campus in Normal. He continues to serve the community as chair of the Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation Board.

Jerome and Frances Maddox
Jerome and Frances have contributed to the Hero House initiative by Habitat for Humanity and were pivotal in dedicating a Fallen Hero Wall honoring nine Central Illinois soldiers who lost their lives in combat. Through Jerome's leadership as president of the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois, he has been instrumental in establishing a robust mentoring program across the region. Their commitment to our community extends further as they both serve as board members of the Illinois Community Prairie Foundation.

Steve and Patty McManus 
Steve and Patty McManus are dedicated community leaders whose philanthropic efforts and active involvement have left a lasting impact on various charitable organizations and initiatives. Steve served as a past chair of the Heartland Community College Foundation and initiated the inaugural Major Gifts Campaign, which raised over $7 million for scholarships. He has also taken on significant community roles, co-chairing the Civil Justice Reform Group and Milestones Early Learning Center. Patty serves as chair of the Bloomington Normal Junior Women’s Club and actively contributes to various local charities and initiatives, showcasing her commitment to community welfare.

Ed Rust
Ed Rust's extensive contributions to education and leadership are evident through his service on the Boards of America’s Promise Alliance and the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership. Ed's dedication to education and workforce development was recognized through his receipt of the Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and the Order of Lincoln, the state's highest honor for a living individual in business. Under his stewardship as CEO, State Farm emerged as one of the largest private contributors to education, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to supporting educational initiatives since 1990.

Faye Freeman-Smith
Faye Freeman-Smith established the Heartland Community College Counseling Center in 2011 when she served as the College’s Director of Student Mental Health Counseling Services and held an active role on the Mental Health Advisory Board for the McLean County Health Department. Faye's membership on the Distance Counseling Advisory Board has been instrumental in crafting guidelines for tele-mental health, a critical endeavor both before and during the pandemic, especially in supporting the mental well-being of young adults. She is also a recipient of the Multicultural Leadership Program Servant Leadership Award and was recognized in 2017 with the YWCA Women of Distinction award.

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FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTS

their roles, often by looking at ways staff can be empowered by change. They use data in decision-making, which often requires the "measure-check-adjust" method.

He may not have known it at the time, but his education pathway was informed by some of that same methodology.

The son of immigrants who came to the U.S. in the early 80s, Sim's family moved from Tulsa to St. Louis, to Central Illinois, as his father followed opportunities as an engineer. They landed in the small town of Goodfield, IL, when he was a pre-teen, as his father found a long-term position with Caterpillar. It was a winding path for the Sandhu family, who came from a farming background in India.

Sim came to Heartland Community College in 2013. He had started at Illinois State University, but things weren't clicking for him.

"After already being at ISU and struggling greatly there, (I) decided to 'take a step back' and go to Heartland while I figured things out," he says. "Heartland turned out to be the step forward I always needed and after graduating with my associate degree, I went back to ISU but this time with a plan, purpose, and confidence in the path I was on from then forward."