Achievements | North Central College

Women & men win CCIW cross country championships

Hall of Famers: Doug Sawyer ’84 and Brandy Valentine ’96

When North Central inducts its newest members to the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, Doug Sawyer ’84 and Brandy Valentine ’96 will be among the select group. Though he held a defensive position in men’s soccer, Sawyer still holds the school record for goals, and Valentine was a record-setting outfielder in softball.

College receives Outstanding Employer Award from disability group

North Central has been recognized with an Outstanding Employer Award by Parents Alliance Employment Project (PAEP) for hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities. The 2010 award honors the College’s efforts with Adam Swanson who has worked part time since fall 2009 as an office assistant in the Office of Community Development.

Swanson, age 23, works several hours each week and is supervised by Ken Hannah, senior program director in conference services.

WONC broadcasters win five student Silver Dome Awards

Student broadcasters who run WONC-FM 89.1 earned five awards, including two first-place prizes, at the Illinois Broadcasters Association’s 2010 student Silver Dome Awards. The first-place awards were for Best Radio Newscast and Best Radio Sports Story. Five students collaborated on the winning Best Radio Newscast: Michelle Corless ’10, Jill Howard ’10, Chris Ackerman ’11, Justin Zipser ’11 and Whitney Goodbred ’13. Ryan Piers ’11 earned the first-place award for Best Radio Sports Story.

Music educators win national award

North Central’s music education program and its student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) have been recognized by MENC with an award for outstanding growth. In the announcement to the College, MENC’s North Central president remarked, “Your dedication and commitment to the young students studying to be teachers is such a contribution to our profession. Your guidance and knowledge both inspire and mentor these young people.”

2010 Hall of Famers: Derron Bishop ’93 & Patricia Cargill ’95

Senior wins regional tennis championship

Sam Sweeney ’11 bested a field of 128 players to capture the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Singles Championship Sept. 25-28 in St. Louis. With the victory, Sweeney will compete at the United States Tennis Association/ITA National Small College Championships Oct. 14-17 in Mobile, Ala. at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center.

WONC receives state and national award nominations

On Sept. 15, the Illinois Broadcasters Association announced North Central’s student-run radio station WONC-FM 89.1 had received five nominations for the 2010 Student Silver Dome Awards. This competition is open to all colleges and universities in Illinois with radio and TV facilities. Winners will be named Oct. 8 at the Student Silver Dome Awards Banquet at Illinois State University.

WONC’s five nominations include:

Publications recognize North Central for academic excellence

U.S. News & World Report ranks North Central College as a top-20 institution in its annual list of “America’s Best Colleges.” North Central is ranked No. 19 in the Midwest among 146 “Regional Universities” that offer a full range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs. For the second straight year, U.S. News includes North Central in its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” category, ranking at No.

John Madormo wins Best Family Screenplay Synopsis

John Madormo, assistant professor of broadcast communication and general manager of WONC-FM 89.1, won first place for Best Family Screenplay Synopsis at the 2010 Reno Film Festival Synopsis Contest. His winning script is titled “Dream Machine.” The story: A dream research specialist, in an effort to help his patients suffering from recurring nightmares, has created a remarkable device—a machine that can transport them, mind and body, back into their dreams—to relive those nocturnal delights, or into those nightmares, to confront their demons.