News from DACC
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker will visit Danville Area Community College on Wednesday, October 4, to pay tribute to the late State Senator Scott Bennett during the Memorial Tree Dedication ceremony at 11:00 am. The ceremony will take place on the lawn south of Prairie Hall. Additional speakers include former colleagues and members of the Senator’s family. The public is welcome.
During his time in office, Senator Bennett was a great friend to community colleges, and DACC in particular. DACC President Stephen Nacco can recall countless occasions when Senator Bennett participated in campus activities over the years. “He helped dedicate Jacobs Hall and Hegeler Hall. He established a fund for student scholarships. He’s been the keynote speaker for our PTK honor society. He hosted a number of town-hall meetings on campus. He led our students in campaigns to donate valentines for veterans as well as a campaign to donate books and dictionaries for inmates in the Danville Correctional Center. He’s been an enormous advocate for Illinois colleges as the chair of the State’s Higher Education Committee and a wonderful friend.”
As DACC Board Chair Dave Harby recalls, “Over the past seven years, Senator Bennett made every effort he could to attend major events at DACC. He was always a welcome presence and staunch supporter of our students.”
Betty Seidel had been Senator Bennett’s legislative aide and is currently the aide to Senator Paul Faraci. In recognizing Senator Bennett’s longstanding love for DACC, she and Senator Faraci wholly endorsed the idea of dedicating a tree on the campus. Senator Faraci has been instrumental in facilitating event details with Senator Bennett’s family and friends in Springfield.
