ICCTA Outstanding Part-Time


Faculty Member Award
2010 Recipient

Ronald B. Kowalczyk
Elgin Community College

Ron Kowalczyk has a true commitment to Elgin Community College's mission, which is "to improve people's lives through learning."

In addition to his full-time law practice, he often teaches three classes a semester in order to accommodate his students' desire to learn about the paralegal profession.

He even developed a summer course on the rules of evidence after students came to him with this specific request.

Two years ago, Kowalczyk worked with his students to form a mock trial team.

Ronald B. Kowalczyk (right) accepts ICCTA's 2010 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member Award from ICCTA vice president Harby.
Ronald B. Kowalczyk (right) of Elgin Community College
accepts ICCTA's 2010 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty
Member Award from ICCTA vice president David Harby.

With only one season under its belt, the team traveled to Boston to compete in Harvard University's Crimson Classic Tournament. Elgin didn't win, but they shocked the tournament by beating Yale University and Villanova University.

"My students are extremely hardworking, inquisitive and diligent individuals who have a genuine interest in the law and a sincere desire to learn," Kowalczyk says. "This is truly what drives me to succeed and fuels my passion for teaching. There is nothing more rewarding than inspiring an eager student in his or her first semester and watching him or her grow into a disciplined, independent professional by the final semester in the program. Empowerment through education, perseverance and discipline is the key to a lifetime of success."