February 26, 2026 | WALLS 102 - Part 15

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IVCC Foundation celebrates 50 years of student support with gala event

The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation will celebrate 50 years of supporting students and academic programs with a night of dinner and entertainment on Friday, March 27, at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle.Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by presentations at 6 p.m., along with a live auction, buffet dinner, music and dancing. Silent auctions and raffles will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Guys on the Radio DJ Service, with Rediger Auction Service of Wyanet as auctioneer.Since its establishment in 1976 through a $100,000 bequest from Helen Taylor of Peru, a retired elementary teacher, the Foundation has led fundraising and financial support for innovative programs and services and encouraged generous community and alumni donors.Scholarships have provided financial support and reduced the burden for thousands of students so they can achieve their educational dreams. A total of $377,000 was awarded to 327 students for the 2025-2026 school year.For students like James Hutton, these scholarships are life-changing. Following an injury, Hutton found it difficult to find funding to enter the EMS field.“The Foundation helped me afford to attend,” Hutton said. “Which in turn helps me, helps you, your friends, and your family. So, by helping one, you have helped many.”The Foundation invites the community to help change the lives of students.Reservations are $75 per guest or $500 for a table of eight and will be accepted by mail or online at www.ivcc.edu/goldencelebration through March 13. Donations will also be accepted through the website.For more information, contact Tracy Beattie, Executive Director of the IVCC Foundation, at tracy_beattie@ivcc.edu or 815-224-0550.

Ready, set, nom: IVCC hosts 20th Annual Edible Car Contest

Food was flying down the track on Wednesday afternoon at the 20th Annual Edible Car Contest at Illinois Valley Community College.More than 200 participants from Illinois Valley junior high and high schools, the IVCC student body and members of the IVCC community created 78 cars that were judged and raced in the gymnasium at the main Oglesby campus. “This event began back in 2006 as a creative way to celebrate National Engineering Week,” IVCC Dean of Workforce Development Rebecca Zamora said. “What started as a fun idea has become a community tradition that we are proud to continue.”Participants filled the IVCC gymnasium bleachers for an afternoon of entertaining racing, pizza and trivia.“We just want the students to find some joy in design and creativity, and maybe find something that sparks their scientific interest,” IVCC Adult Education Specialist Kara Eisert said. “We were just looking to entertain the students and make sure they have a good time so that it continues to be an event that they want to do every year.”Every item used by the participants to make the car must be edible. However this requirement led to a few participants who chose to eat their engineering product by the end of the contest.Students from nine different schools participated in the contest, highlighting National Engineering Week.“The projects you complete in the classrooms every day are building real workforce skills,” Zamora said, addressing the assembled students. “The future needs thinkers like you. Your future does not begin when you step onto a college campus, it begins in the classrooms you are sitting in right now.”There were 11 categories that participants could be rewarded for that the judges were evaluating.Best Middle School Car went to JFK School Bus of John F. Kennedy Elementary School, with Monster Mash of Putnam County Junior High taking second place.Best High School Car went to Spongemobile, and The Whale took second place. Both cars were from La Salle-Peru High School.Best IVCC Student Car went to Chica’s Cupcake, and The Sandwich took second place.Best IVCC Community Car went to Big Wheel Dream, and Donut Drifter took second place.In the creativity category, Spongemobile won, and Unidentified Flying Orange took second place. Both cars were from La Salle-Peru High School.In the detail category, Monster Mash of Putnam County Junior High won, and La Carcacha of DePue High School took second place.In the most nutritious category, The Tomator Nator of DePue High School won, and The Viper of Paw Paw Junior/Senior High School took second place.In the sweetest car category, Monster Mash of Putnam County Junior High won, and Sugar Rush of DePue High School took second place.In the judge’s call category, Bubby of Waltham Elementary School won, and Big Wheel Dream of La Salle-Peru High School took second place.In the design category, Unidentified Flying Orange of La Salle-Peru High School won, and Candy Land of JFK Elementary School took second place.The award for fastest car went to Marshmallow Madness of Putnam County Junior High, making it down the track in just .88 seconds.“We were so excited to have the students. We loved seeing the designs and all of the hard work that went into the edible cars,” Zamora said. “We hope the students leave inspired to keep learning, dreaming and creating. We encourage them to keep asking questions, trying new things and collaborating.”IVCC’s Making Industry Meaningful In College project and the Workforce Development division sponsored the contest.on

Ottawa City Council reestablishes insurance committee with union, employee representation

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IVCC Foundation celebrates 50 years of student support with gala event

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Ready, set, nom: IVCC hosts 20th Annual Edible Car Contest

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Ottawa City Council reestablishes insurance committee with union, employee representation

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IVCC Foundation celebrates 50 years of student support with gala event

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Ready, set, nom: IVCC hosts 20th Annual Edible Car Contest

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IVCC Foundation celebrates 50 years of student support with gala event

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The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation will celebrate 50 years of supporting students and academic programs with a night of dinner and entertainment on Friday, March 27, at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle.

Ottawa City Council reestablishes insurance committee with union, employee representation

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The committee is to ensure the benefits are administered effectively, equitably, and in a fiscally responsible manner, and assist in making insurance policy recommendations.

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