By Kate Reynolds
Two Illinois Valley Community College freshmen, Ella Cherry of La Moille and Kimberly Lemier of Arlington are the first recipients of a Dean Madsen Scholarship. The scholarship honors longtime La Moille schools administrator and education advocate, Dean Madsen. It supports one career-bound and one college-bound graduate attending Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC).
Lemire is pursuing a health career at IVCC.
“It means a lot to me, and the opportunity to come to IVCC is really exciting.”
While in high school, Cherry enrolled in IVCC’s dual-credit program. Now, she is pursuing her associate degree full-time at IVCC. Though undecided about her career choice, Cherry intends to transfer to Illinois State University.
“I was honored to receive the Madsen scholarship,” she said, adding that it enables her to earn college credits close to home.
The Madsen family established the scholarship earlier this year through the La Moille District’s LIFE Foundation. Madsen, born in 1925, was 97 when he died in June 2022.