Alumni | North Central College

North Central College establishes the Shaun Wild Memorial Fund

North Central College and family and friends of 2011 alumnus Shaun Wild have established the Shaun Wild Memorial Fund to honor his life and memory.

North Central College and family and friends of 2011 alumnus Shaun Wild, who died on Feb. 4, 2012, have established the Shaun Wild Memorial Fund to honor Shaun’s life and memory.

At North Central, Shaun majored in elementary education with minors in history and social studies, was president of the Student Leaders Association of Teacher Educators, a member of the student-athlete honor society and football team. After graduation, he taught second grade at Spring Brook Elementary School in Naperville.

Rafeal "Ray" Williams '95 honored with African-American Image Award

North Central College alumnus Rafeal “Ray” Williams '95 has been honored with the African-American Male Image Award from the Knights of Peter Claver.

Feb. 28, 2012—North Central College alumnus Rafeal “Ray” Williams, class of 1995, has been honored with the African-American Male Image Award from the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary in Chicago.

“This is such an honor for me and our family, and I am humbled that the board of directors finds my contributions to society deserving of this honor,” Williams says. “This honor is a direct reflection of those around me in my development.”

Alumna wins Elementary School Principal of the Year award

North Central College alumna Kimberly Lisanby-Barber is named the 2012-2013 Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association.

Kimberly Lisanby-Barber, a 1977 graduate of North Central College and principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Spring Valley, has been named the 2012-2013 Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association (IPA).

The award recognizes elementary school principals who have demonstrated a positive impact on their students and learning community. Horace Mann and the IPA announced the award in February.

Local restaurant will donate portion of Friday sales to scholarship fund

A local restaurant will donate 15 percent of its sales Friday to a scholarship fund created in honor of North Central College alumnus Shaun Wild.

Buffalo Wings & Rings, located at 1279 Rickert Drive, near 75th Street in Naperville, will donate 15 percent of the entire day's sales to the Shaun Wild Memorial Scholarship fund.

Wild taught second grade at Spring Brook Elementary School in Naperville. He graduated from the College in December and died Feb. 4 during a violent incident at a Naperville establishment.

Alumna Kristy (Kunert ’95) Sandberg named to high school hall of fame

North Central College alumna Kristy (Kunert ’95) Sandberg has been inducted into the Orion High School Hall of Fame in her hometown.

Eric Ilich ’04 named football coach at Hoffman Estates High School

North Central College alumnus Eric Ilich ’04 has been named football coach at Hoffman Estates High School, the Daily Herald reports.

Ilich, who majored in physical education K-12 at North Central, has been an assistant football coach at Bartlett High School. Prior to being the North Central Cardinals' quarterback in 2004, he was quarterback for the first two years of Naperville’s Neuqua Valley High School in 1998-1999.

North Central College’s Jan Fitzsimmons honored by education professionals

Educator Janis Fitzsimmons is being honored by peers for helping prepare young teachers to pursue careers serving children in high-need schools.

Feb. 21, 2012—North Central College educator Janis Fitzsimmons is being honored by peers for her achievements in helping prepare young teachers to pursue careers serving children in high-need schools.

Fitzsimmons will receive recognition April 16 during the annual Honoring the Profession gala hosted by School of Education at Dominican University. The gala recognizes a select group of educators who continue to serve students and young people in the United States through the education profession.

Campus Coffee to feature Japan-North Central connection

North Central College Professors Fukumi Matsubara and Jack Shindler

Special Feb. 21 Campus Coffee to showcase North Central’s rich history and longtime connections with Japan, including authentic food, attire.

The College will host a special Campus Coffee on Feb. 21 that will focus on the rich history and longtime connections between Japan and North Central College.

Faculty and staff who attend the Campus Coffee on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in Smith Hall, will enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine, interaction with students from Japan and those learning Japanese, and learning about the College’s connection with Japan.

President Wilde announces retirement after 21 years

North Central College President Harold (Hal) Wilde will retire at the end of the 2012 calendar year.

North Central College President Harold (Hal) Wilde will retire at the end of the 2012 calendar year, after nearly 22 years at the helm of the 3,000-student private comprehensive liberal arts college in Naperville, Illinois. Wilde, only the ninth president in the history of the 150-year-old institution, announced his plans to the College’s Board of Trustees on Friday morning.

Organizational communication degree leads to executive post with ComEd

ComEd has named North Central College alumna Tracie Morris ’02 vice president for human resources.

ComEd has named North Central College alumna Tracie Morris ’02 vice president for human resources, a key appointment to the company’s senior leadership team.

Morris earned her degree in organizational communication and previously served as vice president of human resources for DeVry Inc. Before joining DeVry, she served as director of human resources Operations for ComEd and earlier served as director of human resources for Exelon Generation, a unit of Exelon Corp. She began her career with Exelon in 2002 as a manager of human resources at the LaSalle Nuclear Power Station.