A former Black Hawk College trustee was recently honored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) at its 2023 Award Banquet.
Jon Looney served on the BHC Board of Trustees from April 2017 to April of 2023. He was vice-chair of the BHC Board of Trustees from April 2019-May-2021 and the board’s ICCTA representative from April 2019-April of 2023.
On June 2, he received several awards, among them, the ICCTA President’s Award, given at the sole discretion of the current ICCTA president, Dr. Maureen Dunne. The award celebrates an unsung hero who has supported ICCTA and community colleges.
Looney served in various capacities with ICCTA board, including acting as president, vice president and treasurer in years past. His committee work included chair of the nominating committee, chair of the executive committee and chair on public relations.
In November 2022, the ICCTA Board of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Looney for his two years of service as ICCTA’s 49th president.
“Under President Looney’s guidance, the Trustees Association successfully navigated two leadership transitions and the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining a positive, future-oriented focus on ‘the road ahead,’” the resolution states. “President Looney stands as a model of public service who brought honor to his home institution, Black Hawk College, through his statewide leadership.”
In addition, Looney received an ICCTA lifetime membership and joins the list of fellow lifetime member trustees Dorothy Beck, Tim Black, David Emerick, Donna Frye, and the late Evelyn Phillips and Steve Spivey.
Looney was also the recipient of the Trustee Education Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the area of professional development. Recipients have participated in 15 or more ICCTA seminars. The award was the second time Looney had received the honor.
