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Champaign. She is bringing some terrific experience, not the least of which is eight years as a
teacher at a middle school in Chicago. Her assignment will be largely focused on our Teacher
Quality Enhancement Grant Program, and we are hoping to involve Jori in our P-16 work.
“Next is Perry Hill, who has earned a B.A. in Social Science at Eastern Illinois University
and a Master’s in Educational Administration also from Eastern. He is a third-year doctoral
student in Educational Administration at SIU Carbondale and has done some impressive work,
especially the work he did directing an EIU program that targeted underrepresented students from
East St. Louis High School and involving them in summer enrichment and readiness programs.
He brings both wonderful intelligence and great passion to that endeavor. His internship will
focus on having a look at our website to help us determine how it might be more user friendly by
students and their families. He is also going to be working with Terry Nunn and the grants staff
on our HECA activity this summer.”
5. Report on the 2004 Annual Collegiate Artist Competition
Ms. Meisner-Bertauski said, “We as state agencies work with schools, colleges, and
universities on a broad scale, rarely seeing the faces of those whom we ultimately serve. But the
Annual Collegiate Artists Competition changed that. It was a wonderful event that enabled us to
touch the lives of individual students, to create new opportunities, and to unite in a common goal
with the Governor, other state agencies, and our educational institutions.
“It began as a mere idea, germ of a thought that arose during an agency staff meeting,
that blended with the creative minds of George Atkinson and Michael Dunbar of the Illinois Art-in-
Architecture program, that transformed into a vision -- a vision of a statewide competition for
undergraduate artists. We did not know exactly what it would look like; we knew what we
wanted it to be, what we hoped it would be -- an outstanding opportunity for visual arts students
to be recognized. After over a year of planning, the inaugural Collegiate Artists Competition
Awards ceremony was held at ISU University Galleries.
“Those who shared in the vision of this event with IBHE were the Office of the
Governor, the Illinois Community College Board, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges
and Universities, and the Capital Development Board. Many others shared the vision and
provided financial contributions for the event. These included universities and colleges,
corporations and businesses, and individual donors, all of whom are listed in the award catalog.
“The competition was divided into eight artistic categories: drawing, painting, ceramics,
glass, electronic media, photography, fiber, prints, and sculpture in four collegiate divisions. Two
hundred and sixty students, submitting over 700 pieces, entered the competition. Of these, 38
pieces were chosen as finalists. Next year, building upon the tremendous success of this year’s
competition, we anticipate twice as many entries.
“Serving as juror for the inaugural competition was Michael Dunbar, coordinator of the
Illinois Art-in-Architecture program at the Capital Development Board. Michael is a nationally
known sculptor whose work graces the campuses of several of our Illinois colleges. Because he
believes so strongly in this event, Michael donated his time as juror.
“Of the 38 finalists, the top four were honored with purchase awards. Dalila Perez of
Morton College, received the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities award
from Dave Tretter, president of FIICU.
