Alumni | North Central College

Another banner year for devoted alumna

For some 25 years, Caroline Smith ’69 Lewis has volunteered to construct national championship banners for North Central College's athletic department.

A stream of red and white national championship banners in the Residence Hall/Recreation Center grows steadily, thanks to the talents of North Central’s student-athletes, their coaches and Caroline Smith ’69 Lewis. The Naperville resident donates her time, talent and materials to construct the banners.

“One thing I won’t do is buy any of the materials ahead of time,” she says. “If I were to have it on hand, they might not win. I only buy what I need after Al (Carius) calls me to say they won.”

Hill Harper MLK Week keynote address at North Central changed to 5 p.m. Jan. 21

Keynote talk by Hill Harper on Jan. 21 has been changed to 5 p.m. as College celebrates the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with week of activities.

The time of the North Central College Martin Luther King Jr. Week keynote address by author and actor Hill Harper has been changed to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21.

Harper’s talk was scheduled for 7 p.m., but President Barack Obama has asked him to attend a post-inauguration event that evening in Washington, D.C. In August, Obama appointed Harper to a key administration post on the president’s three-member Cancer Panel, which is responsible for monitoring the development and execution of the activities of the National Cancer Program.

North Central alumnus is guest speaker at annual MLK Week Prayer Breakfast

Dr. Karl Brooks ’90 will be keynote speaker Monday, Jan. 21, at North Central College’s annual MLK Week Prayer Breakfast.

North Central College hosts its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week Prayer Breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in the Fireside Lounge and Banquet Hall on the second floor of the Harold and Eva White Activities Center, 325 E. Benton Ave.

Dr. Karl Brooks ’90, former North Central College associate dean of students and current dean of student success at Joliet Junior College, will be the keynote speaker.

North Central’s SEA Conference teaches entrepreneurs the business of arts

North Central College’s 13th annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference Feb. 22-23 helps aspiring artists become successful entrepreneurs.

North Central College’s 13th annual Self Employment in the Arts (SEA) Conference Feb. 22-23 will help aspiring artists learn to become successful entrepreneurs.

The SEA Conference provides educational resources to help aspiring artists gain entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed to establish and maintain careers as independent artists. The conference features performances, workshops, panel discussions and other activities tailored to actors, filmmakers, musicians, painters, sculptors, writers and other artists.

North Central College, City of Naperville partner to turn eyesore into park

Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel and President Hal Wilde "break ground."

North Central College and the City of Naperville are partnering to convert a downtown eyesore into a public park.

The College is purchasing the property at 420 S. Washington Street, a vacant one-story commercial building adjacent to the Naperville Riverwalk. The city will demolish the building, and the College intends to develop the property as a park and additional entryway to campus.

North Central College opens Sesquicentennial Walkway, new pedestrian thoroughfare

North Central College’s new Sesquicentennial Walkway is open to foot traffic and will serve as a new pedestrian thoroughfare through campus.

North Central College’s new Sesquicentennial Walkway is open to foot traffic and will serve as a new pedestrian thoroughfare through the heart of campus.

The Sesquicentennial Walkway is a 16-foot-wide path extending between Jefferson and Benton avenues and located in a former alleyway between Brainard and Loomis streets.

“The walkway was widened and rebuilt so it becomes the main north-south thoroughfare through campus,” says Mike Hudson, North Central College’s assistant vice president for business operations.

Ninety-plus member Concert Winds presents Instrumental Invitational Festival

Concert Winds, directed by Professor of Music Lawrence Van Oyen

North Central College’s Concert Winds hosts the annual Instrumental Invitational Festival with Plainfield East High School Wind Ensemble Tuesday, Nov. 13.

North Central College’s Concert Winds, directed by Professor of Music and Director of Bands Lawrence Van Oyen, will host the annual Instrumental Invitational Festival at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Wentz Concert Hall.

The annual event features the 92-member Concert Winds and local high school ensembles. This year’s guest band is the Plainfield East High School Wind Ensemble, directed by David Lesniak ’99, who has served as an applied faculty member at North Central.

North Central College exhibit opening Nov. 16 highlights artwork by military veterans

"Intrusive Thoughts" by Erica Slone, three-tour Iraq veteran

Artwork by eight military veterans is featured in the exhibit “In War” Nov. 16 through Jan. 6 in Schoenherr Gallery at North Central College.

Artwork by military veterans is featured in the exhibit “In War” Nov. 16 through Jan. 6 at North Central College.

The exhibit is free and open to the public in the College’s Schoenherr Gallery at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. A reception with artists will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; complimentary refreshments will be served. The exhibit is sponsored by JP Morgan and the College’s Yellow Ribbon Program.

Connelly, House congratulate North Central President Harold Wilde for leadership

The Illinois House of Representatives congratulates retiring North Central President Harold R. Wilde for his nearly 22 years of leadership.

The Illinois House of Representatives congratulates retiring North Central College President Harold R. Wilde for his nearly 22 years of leadership at the school.

The resolution sponsored by state Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) commemorates Wilde’s tenure as the ninth president in the College’s 151-year history. Wilde retires on Dec. 31 and will be succeeded by Dr. Troy D. Hammond. The resolution was adopted by the 97th General Assembly, and Connelly presented a copy of the resolution to Wilde Oct. 27 during the College’s Riverwalk Gateway dedication.

Jeremy Gudauskas among North Central presenters at leadership summit

Jeremy Gudauskas ’99, associate dean of students

North Central College alumni and staff give presentations at local leadership summit about becoming effective leaders in today’s fast-paced world.

North Central College alumni and staff were guest speakers at the Echelon Leadership Summit, a one-day, community-driven leadership event held at the Northern Illinois University Naperville campus on Oct. 31. The leadership summit focused on six different tracks of interest—new leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, organizations and more—with the goal of exploring new approaches to becoming effective leaders in today’s fast-paced world.