CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Moms Association honored individuals and one group, and elected board members during Moms Weekend festivities April 8-10 at the University of Illinois.
Patricia Heinecke, of Golden, Ill., received the fourth annual Amelia Alpiner Stern Mom of the Year award, which honors the support, encouragement and inspiration that moms provide.
Heinecke, nominated by her daughter, Kimberly, a junior, received an engraved plaque.
In her nomination essay, Kimberly describes her mother’s inspiration, encouragement and selflessness that embodies the spirit of the award.
“Through all of the difficult times, she has kept herself together and made sure that our family was held together,” Kimberly wrote. “She also reminds me that I can pursue my dreams at any age.”
Mary Kolman, of Hot Springs, Va., and Dawn Diekhoff, of Canton, Ill., were honored as finalists.
Also honored during Moms Weekend were James Allen and Tholani Hlongwa who were named the undergraduate and graduate recipients, respectively, of the Moms Association’s 2011 Humanitarian Awards.
The annual award is given to people who have developed innovative approaches to community service work and have translated their ideas into practical results. They also were at the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs’ Student Leadership Awards ceremony April 16.
Each recipient received $250. A matching donation will be made to a charity or organization of their choice on their behalf.
Allen, a senior in molecular and cellular biology from Chicago, has demonstrated leadership in developing neuroscience outreach programs in Champaign-Urbana. He has worked on Project NEURON, a collaboration between the College of Education and the Neuroscience Program to develop neuroscience curriculum for high school classrooms. His enthusiasm and perseverance have been instrumental in developing programming for the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club in Champaign. On campus, Allen also developed a Neuroscience Student Organization. Known as the “visionary” in this club, he encourages other students to become active in educational outreach.
Hlongwa, of KwaZulu-Natal Province, Durban, South Africa, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction in the College of Education, is passionate about helping children of international parents succeed in the U.S. school system. Working through the university’s Family and Graduate Housing Program and the Urbana School District, she organized workshops to help the international students and scholars who are parents better understand the American school system. Hlongwa also has served as a representative for the Center for African Studies for several school outreach events at the U. of I.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters was given the Illini Spirit Award, created to provide financial support to programs and projects that contribute to the safety, health, development and achievement of U. of I. students.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinates the after-school mentoring project for Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, transporting children identified as at-risk to campus once a week for social and academic support.
The group became a registered student organization during the 2006-07 school year.
During the annual meeting of the Moms Association on April 9, Sarah Lee, of Mount Vernon, Ill., was elected president of the board.
The other newly elected executive board members and their offices:
EAST MOLINE – Darlene Teijido, director
EAST PEORIA – Annette McMorrow, director
EVERGREEN PARK – Bonzell Merritt, director
MARION – Sue Trammel, vice president of projects and sales
NAPERVILLE – Caroline Senetar, vice president of Moms Weekend and awards
PEORIA – Tomi Backlund, immediate past president
SAVOY – Elaine Wrinkle, treasurer
SOUTH HOLLAND – Angie James, director
SPRINGFIELD – Sherrie Gary, vice president of parent outreach
WILMINGTON – Brenda Craig-Cherveny, vice president of communication and secretary
More information about the Moms Association is available online or the Parent Programs Office at 217-333-7063.
The Moms Association, established in 1923, is believed to be one of the nation’s longest-serving parent organizations. The association supports programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of the university community and serves as the parent liaison to the campus.
