ICCTA Certificate of Merit

2005 Recipients

Barbara Barton
Kris Howard
Dr. Richard Kolze
Former trustees
William Rainey Harper College

With their combined 55 years of service on the William Rainey Harper College Board of Trustees, these three Certificate of Merit recipients epitomize the concept of "teamwork."

BARBARA BARTON

Barton served both her board and her state association with honor and graciousness.

As ICCTA's president during 1991 - 1992, Barbara Barton focused her efforts on enhancing trustee development and participation. Committee chairs were trained in presentation skills. A seminar was delivered locally to trustee in three locations. The association even tackled a bylaws review and a realignment of its nine regions.


Former Harper trustees Dr. Richard Kolze, Kris Howard, and Barbara Barton accept their ICCTA Certificates of Merit.
Former Harper trustees Dr. Richard Kolze
(left), Kris Howard, and Barbara Barton accept
their Certificates of Merit, as ICCTA
president Albert D. Tyson III presides.

Legislative advocacy was another Barton legacy. She helped establish the "Breakfast with legislators" as part of Harper College's government relations program and developed a lobbying handbook as a member of the ICCTA state relations committee.

"The more we tell our story, the more it will be heard," she once said. Her children are living proof: all six attended community colleges before transferring to four-year universities.


KRIS HOWARD

Even before her election to the Harper College board in 1981, Kris Howard volunteered as a goodwill ambassador by campaigning for the 1965 referendum that established the school.

She has since worked with all four of Harper's presidents to expand college enrollment, course offerings and campus facilities.

"I think Harper has trained half of the people in the Northwest suburbs in how to use a computer," she jokes.

In addition to serving at least one term each as board chair, vice chair, secretary, and ICCTA representative, Howard was the trustee liaison to the Harper College Foundation. In 2000 she was awarded the Lt. Governor's Illinois Woman Achievement Award, in part for her work establishing Harper's Women's History Month Committee.


DR. RICHARD KOLZE

Dick Kolze's experience as a school superintendent gave him a unique perspective as a member of the Harper College Board of Trustees.

After 20 years as superintendent of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, Kolze continued his service to education by completing 12 years on the Harper board. He took a vital interest in the work of the board's technology committee, insuring that technology would be integral to harper's strategic direction. He also served as a member of the campus master planning and construction committee.

As board chair from 1997 to 2001, Kolze led the college's search for a new president and was a strong proponent of technology. Citing technology's ability to transform the teaching and learning experience, he led Harper's successful efforts to pass an $88 million referendum for a new science, health careers and emerging technology center.

For additional information on ICCTA's Certificate of Merit, please contact Kim Villanueva at 1-800-454-2282, ext. 1.