Online Press Room

Discover how to create a beautiful perennial garden, learn unique ways to grow vegetables, herb gardens, and tropical plants, and much more at Gardenfest 2009 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at McHenry County College. Pam Duthie, owner and president of The Gifted Gardener, a landscape design and consulting firm specializing in perennial gardens, will present a keynote address titled "What Gardeners Do When They Can't Plant." Lunch is included in the cost: $40 public (event ID: NCC S61 001) and $15 students (event ID: NCC S61 002).

Lisa Beyer of Spring Grove was recently named to the first team all-region for Region IV Division II women's basketball, which qualifies her as a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American nominee. Beyer was recognized as one of the best players on the team by head coach Pam Mason.

Four McHenry County College men's basketball players were recently designated Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) All-Conference. The number 18 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) individual scoring leader, Jake Listebarger, of Harvard, was selected by the ISCC to the First Team All-Conference. Steve Breitenstein and Mike Saris, both of Crystal Lake; and Dionte Mucker, of Louisville, Kentucky were named to the Second Team All-Conference.

The McHenry County College Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) will host an informational seminar on "Legal Murder: Exposing Flaws and Injustices in the Death Penalty" at 7 p.m. April 8 in the college's conference center. The event will feature Jeremy Schroeder, executive director of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (ICADP) and Gary Gauger, a wrongfully convicted McHenry County resident. The event is free and open to the public.

Let McHenry County College's Continuing Education Department help you renew your body and mind with informative and enjoyable personal development classes about health and wellness including stress relief with Power of Now or Meditation; toning facial muscles with Facercise; and relaxing neck and shoulder muscles with Chair Massage.

For those who want to learn more about wills and trusts, how to stage a home for sale or how to sell an item of eBay, the Continuing Education Department at McHenry County College is offering unique classes that will give people the knowledge to make wise decisions regarding money and home topics.

McHenry County College's Corporate and Continuing Education Department is offering introductory Welding Boot Camp classes beginning in April. The introductory Welding Boot Camp program is a 40-hour course designed to provide students with a basic understanding of and hands-on experience in the welding profession. Classes are available on Saturday mornings, Monday/Wednesday evenings, or Tuesday/Thursday mornings.

Find your rhythm the enjoyable way with a variety of dance classes for all ages through McHenry County College's Continuing Education Department. No experience is required. Classes include Rock the Reception that starts April 1; Belly Dancing - Beginning that starts April 2 and two Ballroom Dance classes; one for Beginners and one for Intermediate, which both start April 3.

McHenry County College received a $3,000 American Heritage Preservation grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), that will allow the College to preserve a community treasure of fine art prints created by such famous artists as Andy Warhol, Leonard Baskin, and Mauricio Lasansky. The grant will fund the installation of light filters and humidity data loggers in the college's library, where the works are displayed for the public to enjoy. MCC received one of 53 grants nationwide, out of a total of 202 applications.

Crystal Lake Bank & Trust recently pledged $25,000 ($5,000 a year for five years) to the MCC Promise scholarship. In doing so, Crystal Lake Bank & Trust has now paved the way for other businesses to invest in the community where their customers live and work.

McHenry County College's Office of Adult Education is seeking volunteer literacy tutors to teach reading or English as a Second Language. Prospective volunteers are asked to observe a literacy class first, and then to attend one of the orientation sessions that are held throughout the year. The next volunteer orientation is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 6 in Building A, Room 368.

Six McHenry County College full-time faculty members just completed a three-year probationary period and received tenure status this week. While faculty members benefit from job security at MCC for the rest of their careers, students benefit from the depth of knowledge, teaching excellence, personal qualities and commitment to service these instructors bring to the college. The newly tenured MCC faculty and the areas they teach include James Blaz, health and fitness education; Judi Cameron, anthropology; Doug Goostree, fire science; Robert Herrmann, mathematics; Jill Stonecliffe, healthcare-nursing; Elaine Whalen-Pedersen, health and fitness education.

McHenry County College, in conjunction with the Kids and College program, will be offering American College Testing (ACT) Prep classes during spring break, from 1-5 p.m. Monday, March 23 through Thursday, March 26. This four-day comprehensive class aims to improve student ACT scores using the Barron's ACT Assessment book. Each class section focuses on specific subject matter including math, science, reading and English. Cost of the class is $165.

Three candidates are running for election to fill two vacancies on the McHenry County College Board of Trustees in the April 7 consolidated election. The following candidates will be placed on the ballot: Ron Parrish of Woodstock, Mary Miller and John Darger, both of Crystal Lake.

Learn how to improve your story writing skills, sell your work and get advice from published authors with classes offered this spring by the Continuing Education Department at McHenry County College. The classes include: Plot is a Four-Letter Word from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 21, Make Money Freelancing: How to Write and Sell Your Work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 4, and Ask the Authors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center of McHenry County College will host "Marketing a Culture: Creating Customer Loyalty from the Inside-Out," presented by internationally recognized branding expert Ken Schmidt from 8-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 7 at the Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry. An MCC alumni, Schmidt is one of the most in-demand speakers and communications consultants in America. Schmidt's expertise in corporate positioning, media relations and branding were responsible for one of the best branding resurgence of all time-the reimaging of Harley-Davidson.

The Board of Trustees of McHenry County College and Dr. Walt Packard wish to mutually announce that Dr. Packard will be stepping down as the College's President and assuming the position of President Emeritus effective February 26, 2009.

The cast and crew of McHenry County College's production of the dark, zany comedy, "Reckless," will dedicate the rest of their performances to the memory of two MCC theater students, Josh Jacobson of McHenry and Jacob VanderPal of Hebron. The two students died after a car accident Friday night, March 6. The March 12 performance of "Reckless" has been cancelled. Performances will continue as scheduled at 7:30 p.m. March 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. Tickets previously purchased for March 7 or March 12 will be honored at any other performance.

The following students were named to the President's List for Fall 2008 semester at McHenry County College. Students who earned a grade point average of 3.75 to 4.0 were awarded the honor.

The following students were named to the President's List for Fall 2008 semester at McHenry County College. Students who earned a grade point average of 3.75 to 4.0 were awarded the honor.

The following students were named to the Dean's List for Fall 2008 semester at McHenry County College. Students who earned a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.74 were awarded the honor.

"Caring for Ourselves: Women's Health, Wealth and Well Being" is the theme for this year's celebration of women's history month at McHenry County College. A variety of events/programs are planned and all are open to the public. Included in the event lineup are a Women's Care Faire featuring a variety of wellness, healthcare and finance professionals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 and the college's fourth annual Women's Film Festival from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15. A book discussion on the popular novel, "Twilight;" and a women's poetry festival are also featured.

The Continuing Education Department at McHenry County College will offer a Facercise™ class from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 14 to help people improve the look and tone of facial muscles with strengthening exercises. Another section is offered for April 23 from 7-9 p.m. Cost of either section is $69.

What are the challenges of managing workers aged 20 to 70? Teacher and author Connie Fuller will discuss how this wide diversity of ages affects today's workplace during the ABC Breakfast series at McHenry County College from 7:30-8:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 25. Her presentation, "Age Matters—Honoring Generations at Work," will address what sets each group apart, what brings them together, and what motivates each generation. She will also present a workshop, "Bridging the Generations," from 9-10:30 a.m. in room B166-167.

The Retired Adult Program (RAP) at McHenry County College will offer a class on the works of William Shakespeare. The Shakespeare for Adults class is designed to be stimulating and thought provoking and will focus on Shakespeare's overall career.

The McHenry County College Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) will observe the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War will feature "The Personal Cost of War: Viewpoints from Former Soldiers," a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in the college's conference center. In addition, the student peace group will also exhibit "Eyes Wide Open," The American Friends Service Committee's highly acclaimed combat boot display on March 10 and 11 in the Commons Area.

McHenry County College will host the 2009 Midwest Strength and Conditioning Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Saturday, March 14 that will feature mini workshops on cutting edge workout programs, latest research in fitness training, and power training for everyday lift.

McHenry County College's Corporate and Continuing Education Department is offering introductory Welding Boot Camp classes beginning January 5, 2009 in Woodstock. Additional classes begin throughout the spring. The introductory Welding Boot Camp program is a 40-hour course designed to provide students with a basic understanding of and hands-on experience in the welding profession. Training will include instruction in basic welding technology and terminology, blueprint reading, basic math used in the welding trade, basic welding skills and plant safety. Challenging exercises hone the student's skill level. Graduates of the welding boot camp are eligible for resume assistance, interview training and job search assistance. The fee for each course is $1,000.

The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College will present the zany, dark comedy "Reckless" by Craig Lucas and directed by Dan Scott. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on March 5-7, 12-14, and 19-21 in the Black Box Theatre, Room D167 at the college, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. Tickets are $7 for students, faculty/staff, seniors and alumni and $14 for general public.

A special concert of Irish music and dance will be featured at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at McHenry County College in the conference center, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. The musicians include Pat Gaughan and L.J. Slavin who will perform favorite Irish songs, ballads and instrumental tunes. The McNulty Irish Dancers will perform traditional Irish jigs, reels and hornpipes, both in soft shoe and hard shoe. The concert is free and open to the public.

Explore career or job opportunities in the healthcare field at a Health Career Information Session at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at McHenry County College's Bersted Lecture Hall, Room A240. Degree and non-degree options will be explored, including nursing (certified nurse assistant, licensed practical nurse and registered nurse), physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, dental hygiene, medical imaging/x-ray technician, and many others. Free and open to the public. Reservations are required by calling (815) 479-7565.