ICCTA Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award


2017 Nominees

Richard A. "Dick" Cheney
Danville Area Community College

Richard A. "Dick" Cheney is unique in his role as a trustee of Danville Area Community College. Beginning in 1949, he has been student, faculty member, coach, administrator, and board member at DACC. Cheney was one of the first full-time faculty members to be hired by pioneering DACC president Mary Miller in 1966, and the first coach to bring a national tournament to the college in 1971. In 24 years of trusteeship, he has served as a guiding influence and advocate for initiatives stretching from funding referendums to implementation of "green" sustainability programs. His wisdom, experience, and history with DACC give him a distinctive perspective on matters of budget and legislative relations. In addition, Cheney's five ICCTA Trustee Education Awards are indicative of his desire to remain current with issues affecting the nation's community colleges.

Richard J. Frey
Kankakee Community College

Richard J. Frey was employed at Kankakee Community College for 31 years, serving in multiple roles and retiring in June 2000 as the dean of adult and community education. He was instrumental in establishing many of KCC's early programs; however, he is most recognized for his efforts and commitment to adult education programs, including GED, ESL and literacy initiatives. Through his leadership and determination, thousands of Kankakee-area residents have been served. Frey was elected to the KCC board in 2001, where he again has assumed a leadership role and has been most active with the legislative issues surrounding higher education and specifically community colleges. At the state level, he is completing his second term as chair of ICCTA's South Suburban Region.

Mike Sullivan
Lake Land College

Mike Sullivan has been a Lake Land College trustee for 30 years - a milestone few college trustees attain. In addition to three terms as board chair, he has served on ICCTA's Legislative Committee for more than 25 years (including two years as chair) and was elected to one term as ICCTA President. His dedicated, visionary leadership and can-do spirit have been instrumental in helping Lake Land become a premier community college and in promoting state-wide postsecondary education policies for the benefit of all students. His previous accolades include Lake Land's Distinguished Alumni and Golden Apple awards; he is also a six-time recipient of ICCTA's Trustee Education Award. Sullivan is currently director of manufacturing projects for the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges system. "This is the community's college, and I devote my time and efforts to let others know this," he says.