Parkland College Foundation

09/14/2026

It was wonderful to welcome members of the Parkland College Foundation President’s Circle for our annual Recognition Breakfast last week.

The morning gave us an opportunity to hear from President Pam Lau about initiatives underway across Parkland College, share examples of what philanthropy is making possible for our students and community, and celebrate the relationships that make that work possible.

We were also proud to present two inaugural awards: the Community Impact Award to the Rotary Club of Champaign, recognizing 40 years of partnership and scholarship support for Parkland students, and the Carl R. Meyer Philanthropic Leadership Award to Greg Lykins, recognizing more than two decades of generosity, advocacy, and relationship building on behalf of Parkland.

Thank you to our President’s Circle members for the many ways you invest in Parkland and the students we serve. We’re grateful to have you as part of our community.

Enjoy a few highlights from the morning!

08/12/2026

There are not enough words to express our appreciation for all Sandy has done for Parkland College and the Parkland College Foundation. Thank you, Sandy, for your incredible commitment to our students and our community. You make us ! 💚

🎉 From member of Parkland College's very first class to trailblazing nurse, educator, administrator, volunteer, and philanthropist, Sandy Reifsteck’s story is a remarkable testament to the power of engaging the community in learning.
As president of Parkland’s first Parkland College Health Professions nursing class, a Distinguished Alumnus, and the first woman to serve on the Parkland College Foundation Board, Sandy has spent decades making a difference in healthcare while giving back to future generations through the Reifsteck Family Scholarship.

💚 Thank you, Sandy, for your leadership, generosity, and lifelong commitment to Parkland students and our community. We're to add this story to our 60 year legacy. Read Sandy's inspiring story at https://bit.ly/3UrlaMg 🐍

07/28/2026

The Women of Impact community came together to celebrate the collective difference they make for Parkland College students through scholarships. Every conversation, connection, and act of generosity helps create opportunities for students to achieve their goals.

A special thank you to Holly Birch Photography for generously capturing the evening and helping us preserve these memorable moments. Take a look back at this year's celebration!

07/27/2026

Thank you Henderson Family!

For the Henderson family, Parkland College isn’t just a campus, it’s home. 💚
Triss Henderson first came to Parkland as a student more than 30 years ago. Since then, Parkland has shaped her education, career, family, and lifelong connections. Her husband, Andy, has worked across campus for 15 years, and their children, Ava and Cole, grew up exploring Parkland through Bring Your Kids to Work Day, College for Kids, campus jobs, and Parkland College Community Education. 🌎

This year, the family celebrated a full-circle moment when Ava graduated with honors and Triss and Andy presented her diploma on stage. 🥹

As Parkland celebrates 60 years, stories like the Hendersons’ remind us what the promise of Parkland is all about: opportunity, belonging, and generations of community. 🐍

Read more at parkland.edu/60years. 🗞️

07/19/2026

Thank you to our Foundation board who approved using Creating Impact funds to purchase new servers for the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College. This “where the need is greatest” project is how our donors help Parkland and our community thrive.

The Board of Trustees approved a $186,000 purchase Wednesday for th...

06/16/2026

As we gather tonight for the 2026 Parkland College Foundation Women of Impact Scholarship Celebration, we are reminded that every scholarship awarded is made possible by individuals and organizations who believe in the transformative power of education.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our Success Sponsors for their commitment to Parkland College students:
RedFire CPA LLC
Littlefield Group: Keller Williams Realty, TREC
Downtown Development Group
Spitfire Chicken
MH CPA PLLC
Starcrest Cleaners
Elevated Events
Divine Consign of Illinois
Tamala's Therapeutic Massage

Thank you for helping us invest in dreams, remove barriers, and create lasting impact through the Women of Impact Scholarship program.

To learn more about Women of Impact or to support scholarships please visit www.parkland.edu/WomenofImpact

06/16/2026

We're just hours away from the 2026 Parkland College Foundation Women of Impact Scholarship Celebration!

Tonight, community members, alumni, donors, and friends of Parkland College will come together to celebrate the remarkable students pursuing their educational goals and to help select this year's scholarship recipients.

As we prepare to welcome our guests, we want to thank our sponsors for believing in the power of education and investing in the future of Parkland College students.

Please join us in thanking:
That's What She Said
Busey Bank
Christie Clinic
Henneman Engineering Inc
Pavlov Media
Altrusa International of Champaign-Urbana, IL, Inc.
Michaels' Catering
The Main Scoop Ice Cream

Your support is helping students overcome barriers, pursue their dreams, and create brighter futures for themselves, their families, and our community.

We are grateful for every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and attendee who has helped Women of Impact continue to grow and make an even greater impact each year.

To learn more about Women of Impact or to make a gift to support scholarships visit www.parkland.edu/WomenofImpact

06/16/2026

Tonight 2026 the Parkland College Foundation Women of Impact Scholarship Celebration takes place at Parkland College. We are looking forward to an inspiring evening of celebrating students, hearing powerful stories, and awarding life-changing scholarships.

A special thank you to our Parkland College Foundation Premier Partners. Your commitment to Parkland College is creating opportunities, opening doors, and helping students throughout our community pursue their educational dreams.

Please join us in recognizing and thanking our generous partners:
Gibson Area Hospital
Mid Illinois Concrete & Excavation, Inc.
U of I Community Credit Union
Heartland Coca-Cola
Illinois American Water
Meyer Capel, A Professional Corporation
FedEx
Black & Company Industrial and Safety

To learn more about Women of Impact or to make a gift to support scholarships please visit www.parkland.edu/WomenofImpact

06/11/2026

What an incredible evening celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact at the 2026 Parkland College Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year Banquet presented by Cozad Asset Management, Inc.!

Congratulations to Linda Davis Ballard and Courtney McKay, owners of Art Mart, on being named this year's V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year recipients. Their vision, leadership, and commitment to our community continue to inspire and strengthen Central Illinois.

We were also honored to recognize Marc Chagnon for his outstanding dedication to Parkland's CobraVenture program. Through his leadership, countless students have gained valuable entrepreneurial experience, confidence, and the opportunity to turn ideas into action.

For 15 years, the Entrepreneur of the Year program has celebrated exceptional business leaders while supporting entrepreneurship education at Parkland College. Because of our generous sponsors, donors, and attendees, programs like CobraVenture continue to prepare the next generation of innovators and community leaders.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Cozad Asset Management, and all of our sponsors for making this event possible.

05/28/2026

We are less than a week away from the 2026 Parkland College Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year Banquet, presented by Cozad Asset Management, Inc., and we are incredibly grateful for the generous sponsors helping make this special evening possible as we honor Courtney McKay and Linda Davis Ballard, owners of Art Mart, with the V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Please join us in recognizing and thanking our Venture Capital, Enterprise, Vision and Start Up Sponsors for their continued investment in future leaders and in strengthening our community:

Robert & Sondra Libman
Hickory Point Bank
Rick & Jeanene Stephens
Champaign Ford City & Illini Nissan
Busey Bank
Tom & Erin Tracy Family
MH CPA PLLC
BankChampaign, NA
Bodine Electric Company
Old National Bank
The Atkins Group
Taylor Studios
Carl R. Meyer Family