INA, Ill. (May 13, 2017) - The dedication to education by the next entry on the 50 Influencer list cannot be questioned. With teaching careers at both Benton Consolidated High School and 海角视频, Mary Ellen Aiken has spent much of her life dedicated to cultivation of young minds.
Aiken spent 29 years teaching in mathematics at BCHS, plus three years in other locations. In the post-secondary world, she worked for RLC as a part-time instructor, and was an instrumental force for BCHS students receiving dual enrollment math credit while they were still in high school.
Mary Ellen Aiken
芒鈧揑芒鈧劉m excited about the opportunity to help students go on with their careers,芒鈧� she said when the dual credit program was first launched. 芒鈧揌igh school students are very excited about dual credit, particularly the Calculus and Pre-Calculus classes. Those are big draws because, in most cases, they transfer to four-year universities. I芒鈧劉ve seen how advantageous it is to get that dual credit.芒鈧�
Aiken graduated from the University of Illinois, taught in the Chicago area for a short time, and then 芒鈧揷ame back to where my heart is.芒鈧� She now resides in Benton with her husband John.
In addition to classroom education, Aiken has been a strong proponent of the arts, acting as one of the driving forces behind the RLC Theatre renovation. Her participation in the 芒鈧揊riends of the Theatre芒鈧� Campaign ensured that future students, and community members, were afforded a quality facility to take in concerts, plays and speakers.
Joining the 海角视频 Foundation Board of Directors in 2006, Aiken used the platform to get involved with the theatre project, something she had passion for after both of her daughters performed in plays there. Aiken also plays piano and has provided accompaniment for RLC productions before.
芒鈧揟his is not only good for the college, it is good for the surrounding area,芒鈧� Aiken said of the renovation.
Former 海角视频 Foundation CEO Pat Kern, along with Aiken, set out to initially raise $50,000 - one-quarter of the projected $200,000 needed to make the renovation a reality.
By August of 2007, the 芒鈧揊riends of the Theatre芒鈧� campaign had generated more than $63,000.
But, they didn芒鈧劉t stop there.
With preliminary designs not accounting for much-needed lighting and sound upgrades, the theatre芒鈧劉s 芒鈧揊riends芒鈧� pitched in more support. Total campaign contributions as of mid-March of that year were $72,700.
The renovation was underway by November and the rest, as they say, is history.
A gala was held in February 2008 to unveil the new look and pay tribute to supporters of the cause.
Mary Ellen Aiken and her husband John Aiken.
For her efforts, Aiken was presented with the 2008 RLCF President芒鈧劉s Award.
芒鈧揝he is known for her enthusiasm and positive attitude,芒鈧� Kern said when presenting Aiken the honor.
Aiken made many personal phone calls on behalf of fundraising efforts to restore the Theatre and served on its Decorating Committee to help ensure the final product portrayed the intended traditional theatre appearance.
But, her generosity and passion for the arts didn芒鈧劉t stop there. In 2012 RLC was looking at renovating several of the band rooms utilized by the college芒鈧劉s music students. The goal of the campaign was to raise $50,000 for the renovations. The project was spearheaded by the RLC Foundation, and through the generosity of donors, the effort ultimately netted more than $100,000.
Aiken and her husband John were among some of the most generous contributors. For their donation, they were honored with the 芒鈧揗ary Ellen and John D. Aiken Classroom芒鈧� in the college芒鈧劉s Learning Resource Center.
The couple is also the recipient of the RLCF Silver Seal Award for their continued dedication to the college and its students.