Monday, October 13, 2008 10:12 PM CDT
Local residents to receive EIU alumni awards
By the JG/T-C
editorial@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Three Charleston residents are among four alumni of Eastern Illinois University who will receive special awards as part of the homecoming activities.
In addition to the Distinguished Alumni Awards, the university also presents an award to a young alumnus who graduated less than five years ago; an alumni service award and two awards to educators.
Dorothy Bennett, Jim Erdmann and Anthony Pleasant, all of Charleston, will be honored this weekend.
Outstanding Young Alumnus
Anthony Pleasant ’06 (geography) recently became a recipient of a Coles County “20 under 40” Award, sponsored by the Charleston Times-Courier/Mattoon Journal Gazette in recognition of 20 people younger than 40 who make a significant difference in their community. He serves as vice president of Coles Together, where he was instrumental in promoting Mattoon as the site for the revolutionary FutureGen energy project. Before joining Coles Together, he worked at the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission as an assistant planner.
Pleasant earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from EIU, where he was the recipient of several scholarships and academic honors. He currently volunteers as a member of the strategic planning committee for EIU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, coaches co-ed youth soccer in Charleston, and also volunteered as a teacher for the Junior Achievement program. The Robinson native and his wife, Kate, reside in Charleston.
Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award
Former EIU football player Jim Erdmann ’59, ’61 (physical education) has been a volunteer in support of EIU’s athletic department for decades. A past president of the Panther Club, he has also received the department’s Glen Hesler Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon volunteers. In addition to volunteering as a clock operator at football and basketball games for more than 20 years, Erdmann also assists with numerous golf outings and has chaired the committee which spearheads the department’s annual Spring Fling event — generating funds in support of Eastern’s student-athletes — four times in the past six years. A member of the EI Club’s hall of fame committee and a three-time past president of the Panther Club, he was inducted into the hall of fame as a friend of athletics. Erdmann and his wife, Judy, as well as their children, Teri and Rob, reside in Charleston.
Distinguished Educator
The principal at Pleasant Plains Middle School in Springfield, John Marsaglia ’76 was named the 2006 Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association. He has been active in education-related organizations throughout his career — including serving on several boards — while also serving as a presenter at numerous conferences. In 1992, he won a contest sponsored by “America’s Funniest Home Videos” based on “What crazy things principals do to promote reading.” Marsaglia later earned a master’s degree from Sangamon State in educational administration. He serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield in the teacher education program.
Distinguished Educator
An art teacher at schools in Paris and Charleston since 1989, Dorothy Bennett ’74, ’80 (studio art, metalsmithing/sculpture) received the 2002 Illinois Elementary Art Educator of the Year award from the Illinois Art Education Association, and was recently honored by being named the recipient of the same award in 2008. She also received the 2006 Distinguished Service in the Profession of Art Education award from the IAEA. In 1994, she was awarded the Outstanding Service/Illinois Art Teacher of the Year by Eastern Illinois University’s Art Department at the annual Media and Methods Conference.
Bennett obtained her teacher certification in art in 1988 and certification in English and language arts in 1993. An adjunct instructor in art education at Eastern, she is also director of the university’s Summer Art School for high school students, and serves on the Tarble Arts Center’s advisory board. Bennett serves on the Illinois Art Association’s board of directors, and is a regular workshop presenter at both the Illinois Art Association and National Art Association conferences.
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