Clark State Community College will host the 54th annual Charter Night on Tuesday, February 16 at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, 275 South Limestone Street in Springfield. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:15 p.m. The theme for the event is “I ‘Heart’ Clark State.”
“Charter Night will be fun, festive and uplifting,” said Clark State President Dr. Jo Alice Blondin. “A true celebration of the excellence demonstrated by our Board, faculty, staff and students.”
For the first time, Charter Night will be emceed by Clark State students. Jacob Glover and Sunja Richardson will do the honors.
Glover, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is studying Social Services at Clark State and plans to transfer to Wright State University to complete his bachelor’s degree. He said at first he was uncertain what his role as emcee would be, but upon learning more about Charter Night, he found his purpose. “It’s a great chance for me to be of service and share my brand of enthusiasm with and for some really great educators,” Glover said. “To say that I’ve been blessed since enrolling at Clark State would be an understatement. It has been a wonderful learning experience.”
Licensed cosmetologist and cosmetology instructor Sunja Richardson from Trotwood, Ohio, has lived in several locations across the United States, but she said, “Something much larger than myself kept bringing me back to Ohio.” In 2013 Richardson decided to return to college and pursue an Associate of Science transfer degree at Clark State. She plans to transfer to a four-year college and pursue a career as an intervention specialist.
“This event is a celebration of where Clark State has come from and where it is today,” said Richardson. “Attendees should expect to be engaged and have a good time celebrating fellow staff and faculty, as well as paying homage to the people who helped Clark State get to where is it now.”
Adding an element of entertainment to the evening, Clark State STEM Programming Manager Kanesha Hall will perform with her band Tru-Luv during the social hour. “We play a variety of music specializing in jazz, soul and funk,” said Hall who plays bass. Her mother Gwen Hall is lead soloist; and her father Chris Hall is lead guitarist. The Hall family has a long history of musical talent including world renowned jazz musician Johnny Lytle. “The most special part about being in a band with my parents is celebrating the shared musical talent connecting us to prior generations where the familial musicianship began,” said Hall.
Four newly designated Trustee Emeriti will also be honored at Charter Night. The Clark State Board of Trustees recently voted to grant Trustee Emeritus status to Cathy Balas, Alicia Sweet Hupp, Than Johnson and Fred Leventhal; all served as agents of change and growth for the College during their tenures on the Board.
In addition to honoring Professional Excellence Award recipients, who will be named that evening, the College will recognize faculty and staff for milestones of service to Clark State.
Five Years
Rahme Ashour
Aimee Belanger-Haas
Karlton Clayborne
Brendan Greaney
Randall Green
Kara Jackson
Natalie Johnson
Cynthia Lehmkuhle
Kim Martin
Steve Nowka
Diana Seaman
Dr. Cort Schneider
Kristin Skiles
Dr. Charles Strecker
Antoinette Yancey
Ten Years
Christopher Bays
Carin Burr
Dr. Edward Busher
Scott Dawson
Cecilia Kennedy
Theresa Lauricella
Diane Roux
Fifteen Years
Lori Common
Stephanie Gaston
Pam Healy
Deborah Peairs
Patricia Shafer
Gregory Teets
Carrie Weinstiger
Bonnie Young
Twenty-Five Years
Jim Anderson
Laurie Means
Kent Thomas
Thirty Years
Marylu Shobe