Chris Landsdown Award

The Chris Landsdown award is presented to a student in the TRIO Student Support Services program who represents and exemplifies the determination and spirit of the program participants. The receipient of the award is honored at the college's Spring Awards Ceremony.

To be considered for this award, a student must be active TRIO SSS program. The amount of participation in program activities, the student's attitude, determination, perseverance, and ability to overcome obstacles are a few of the characteristics a student must possess to be considered for this award.

2008 Chris Landsdown Award Winner
Heidi Hartman

     Carl Sandburg College student Heidi Hartman received the Chris Landsdown award. Hartman, who is originally from Quincy, now lives in Monmouth and attends CSC part-time. She works full-time as a direct support person at Hawthorne Terrace in Galesburg. She quit high school, but earned her GED when she was 15 years old. After taking some time off from education, she came to Carl Sandburg College when she was 18.

     "I was lost when I came to college," she says. So she joined the TRIO SSS program for the support they offer. "Nobody in my entire family has ever attended college before and half of them didn't even graduate from high school. As you can imagine, I thought I was going to feel lost and confused. TRIO helped me fee confident in myself.

     "The staff for TRIO provided me with all the information I needed to get started. The TRIO program has helped me know the classes I need and information about those classes. It's helped me gain knowledge about transferring, and when it's time for me to transfer, the staff will help me look into which colleges best fit my needs as well as being able to visit that college." 

      Hartman is a student in the honors program, a program designed for exceptional students.

     "The TRIO program overall has provided me with the love and support like that of a second family," Hartman says. "There is no better program that I could suggest for a newcomer to college than TRIO."

2007 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Matthew Wheaton of Galesburg received the eighth annual Chris Landsdown award.  The award is presented to a student in the TRIO Student Support Services program who represents and exemplifies the determination and spirit of the program participants.  Wheaton was honored at the college's Spring Awards Ceremony on April 27.

Matt is a Galesburg High School graduate and a CSC graduate in 2001 with an AAS in Computer Information Systems.  He came back to CSC to complete his AA degree before transferring on to major in Marketing. Matt has been extremely active in the TRIO SSS program by participating in the Leadership Practices course, attending activities, and helping market the annual community volunteer project.  He is an honor student who also serves as the Vice President and Treasurer of the CSC Psychology Club, has been published in the Charger, The Paper, and Phizzogs, and is a self proclaimed avid CSC sports fan.

2006 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Paige Rohweder is a non-traditional student who lives in Oneida with her husband Jeff and their two children, Kyle and Autumn.  Paige will graduate with honors with an Associate in Arts degree this summer and then will transfer to Knox College in the fall to pursue a bachelor's degree in Psychology while also attending CSC to complete her foreign language requirement. 

Paige has been extremely active in the TRIO SSS program by serving on our student committee and heading up our student volunteer project of gathering personal care supplies for our soldiers serving overseas.  Paige has also been active in Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and currently serves as the Student Representative to the Board of Trustees and will continue that service next year.  She is also a member of our Art Club and Drama Club. Her awards and honors include the All Illinois Academic Team, Delta Si Omega National Honor Society, National Dean's List, and she is a member of the honors program here at CSC.

2005 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Louann Beardsley is a non-traditional student who lives outside of Galesburg with her finance Bryan Rice.  Louann is pursuing a Marketing/Mid-Management degree and has plans to complete her Associate in Arts degree at CSC before transferring to a university to obtain a Bachelors degree in Psychology.  Louann was employed at Butler Manufacturing Company for 12 years and had started taking classes at Carl Sandburg College before she was laid off.  After her employment at Butler ended, Louann became a full-time student at CSC and joined the TRIO SSS program in the fall of 2003.   Louann also works as a seasonal employee at Kirlin's Hallmark at Sandburg Mall.

Louann has been extremely active with the TRIO SSS program by attending our cultural events, Student Success Seminars, workshops, and coming in for academic advising and tutoring. 

"I cried when they first told me I would receive the award.  TRIO has helped me a lot.  They have been very good to me.  For an out-of-work person my age, it is a benefit to belong to TRIO.  I may not have made the adjustment if not for them".  (quote from Louann taken from an article in the Register Mail)

2004 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Melody Gilbert is a non-traditional student who lives in Galesburg with her husband and their three children.  Melody completed her an Associate in Arts degree in the Spring 2006 and transferred to Knox College to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching.  Melody worked as a teacher's aide at Ruhl's Farm School which educates approximately 20 kids with an individual based curriculum.  Melody's own three children, ages 16, 14, & 10 also attended the school. From her experience with the Ruhl Farm School, Melody decided to return to college to complete her education in hopes of one day becoming a teacher herself.  Melody was also employed by the Galesburg Post & Knoxville Journal as a desktop publisher.

"Receiving the Landsdown Award is an honor.  It is an honor to think they felt that I stood out enough and achieved what they feel are the attributes to receive the award.  It has given me a boost."  (quote from Melody taken from an article in the Register Mail)

2003 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Michael Montgomery is a non-traditional student who found himself without a job in 2002 and faced with an uncertain future.  For many years, Mike had the goal of earning a college degree.  After working in the oil fields of Oklahoma, owing his own businesses and working in factories, the opportunity to attend college presented itself and Mike made the decision to pursue his life-long goal.  Mike is also a single father raising two children and still manages to maintain a high grade point average to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the college's academic honor society.  Mike completed his Associate in Applied Science degree as a Computer Networking Specialist in the Spring of 2004

"Most students here have drive and determination.  I see many others struggling and doing whatever it takes to succeed.  The staff here is incredible.  They want you to succeed and it is apparent."  (quote from Mike taken from an article in The Paper.)

2002 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Brett Whipple had just started his 24^th year as an employee of the Abingdon Pottery when that facility closed.  He consequently entered classes at CSC and found them challenging.  Through determination and hard work, Brett became a role model for other non-traditional students with his positive outlook, enthusiasm, and ability to succeed.  His wife Jackie, serves as a CSC instructor and his daughter Devin, was once in a 4-H group lead by Chris Landsdown.

"The award means quite a bit to me.  I knew Chris Landsdown since my daughter was in grade school - she was my daughters 4-H leader and our daughters played ball against each other."  (quote from Brett taken from an article in the Register Mail)

2001 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Connie Hormann is a non-traditional student who lives in Galesburg with her family.  Connie exhibits the same determination is facing the difficult decisions and time demands that sometimes stand in the way of an education.  In addition to attending Carl Sandburg College, Connie is a single mother of five children.  Her positive outlook and enthusiam is the tradmark of a successful student.

2000 Chris Landsdown Award Winner

Janice Ostrom was the receipient of the first Chris Landsdown Award. Janice lived in Knoxville with her family and moved to Carbondale to attend Southern Illinois University.