OGLESBY – The Illinois Valley Community College board announced Thursday that Dr. Holly Novak, a 1974 IVCC graduate formerly of Ottawa, is the college’s nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumnus Award. Novak is a cardiologist in Springfield and leading IVCC Foundation benefactor. She will be the keynote speaker at the college’s May 14 commencement, the first ever held outdoors by the college.
The board also held a moment of silence for former Streator mayor Jimmie Lansford who passed away last month. Lansford was an IVCC trustee for eight years including two terms as chair and in 2016 was the commencement speaker. Lansford was also inducted into the IVCC Hall of Fame. Board chair Everett Solon said Lansford was “one of the college’s biggest supporters.”
