Thomas Mulherin, Senior Vice President in Investments with Stifel Financial, has been named to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation Board. As a member of the board, Mulherin will support the Foundation’s efforts to secure gifts for special educational and cultural activities that are not part of the college budget.

Within his newly appointed role, Mulherin brings decades of financial experience to the Foundation Board. Not only is he currently the Senior Vice President in Investments with Stifel Financial, but Mulherin has spent 25 years working specifically as a Retail Investment Advisor. He specializes in helping clients achieve their financial goals through financial planning and portfolio management.

In addition to his financial career, Mulherin furthered his experiences by serving on St. John’s Lutheran School Board of Education, along with being the President of said board. Currently, Mulherin serves on the St. John’s Lutheran Church Estate Committee. Alongside serving on community boards, Mulherin is a supporter of the local charity, Joshua’s Great Things. This charity raises money to fund pediatric brain cancer research as well as helping families with basic needs while taking care of a child in treatment.

Mulherin was born and raised in the Waterloo and Red Bud area, where he now resides with his wife and children. And given Mulherin’s background and experience within the local community, he is thrilled to be able to serve on SWIC’s Foundation Board where he can continue to help those around him.

Dr. Elizabeth Johns, DNP, AGACNP-BC, PM-BC, Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor of Nursing at Maryville University, has been named to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation Board. As a member of the board, Dr. Johns will support the Foundation’s efforts to secure gifts for special educational and cultural activities that are not part of the college budget.

In her new role, Dr. Johns brings decades of clinical and higher education experience to the Foundation Board. She has been serving her community in a myriad of ways through healthcare. Not only is Dr. Johns an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, but she also currently practices as an Inpatient Oncology/Hematology Nurse Practitioner at Washington University Siteman Cancer Center in Shiloh.

Dr. Johns is an alumnus of SWIC, having completed two years of her undergraduate work before transferring to Deaconess College of Nursing to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dr. Johns received her Adult/Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree from St. Louis University and went on to Maryville University to receive her Doctorate in Nursing Practice.

Given her chosen field, Dr. Johns is thrilled to be able to serve on the Foundation Board and continue to make a positive impact on the local community.

One of the world’s finest, longest-running live musical variety stage shows of its kind returns to Metro East Saturday, November 19^th.

The Tamburitzans will return for the popular Southwestern Illinois College Foundation annual student scholarship fundraiser. The internationally renowned troupe performs at the Edwardsville High School Performance Theater stage, 6161 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville, at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:15 p.m.

The talented young artists, from Duquesne University, clad in elaborate costumes, will celebrate and share international cultural heritages through the universal languages of music and dance.

For more than 30 years, individuals from both Illinois and Missouri have enjoyed this group’s annual performance. Show proceeds benefit the John N. and Diana Bellcoff Memorial Tamburitzans scholarships for students attending the SWIC Sam Wolf Granite City Campus.

Founded in 1937, the Tamburitzans got their name from a stringed folk instrument called the tamburitza that is predominant in the music of Balkan cultures. The troupe is based in Pittsburgh, Penn., but dazzles both domestic and international audiences with its traveling performances.

Tickets are $20 for adults and must be purchased in advance.
For tickets, call Norma Bellcoff at 618-978-1522. For credit card purchases visit Thankyou.swic.edu or call 618-235-2700, ext. 5518.

Jeanne M. Dalman, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking and Operations for the First National Bank of Waterloo, has been named to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation Board. As a board member, she will support the Foundation’s efforts to secure gifts for special educational and cultural activities that are not part of the college budget.

Dalman brings decades of experience in financial management to the Foundation Board. As an graduate of SWIC, then named Belleville Area College, with an Associate Degree in Business Administration, Dalman is thrilled to be able to serve on the board and support the college that provided her with a great education that prepared her for so many opportunities as she began her career. With many years of banking experience and several years of serving in the public sector as St. Clair County Deputy Clerk, she is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to the SWIC Foundation Board.

She will serve through 2030.

For more information about the Foundation, visit swic.edu/foundation.

Wealth management advisor Samuel Hanger of O’Fallon has been named to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation Board. As a board member, he will support the Foundation’s efforts to provide special educational and cultural activities that are not part of the college budget.

Hanger is a graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia and has been working in the financial industry since 2013. He started his career off as an intern with Archford Capital Strategies in Swansea. From there, he became a financial services representative for Scottrade in St. Louis. Hanger returned to Archford Capital Strategies in 2015 and currently works there as a wealth management advisor.

He holds a Certified Financial Planner certificate; is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary; and holds his Series 7, 66, 63 and life insurance licenses. Hanger is a member of the Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club of St. Louis and the Mizzou Alumni Association. He is also working towards his Chartered Financial Consultant designation.

For more information about the SWIC Foundation and supporting programs at the college, contact the SWIC Foundation Executive Director Rena Thoele at 618-235-2700, ext. 5647, or rena.thoele@swic.edu.

Furthering Southwestern Illinois College’s tree diversification efforts and sustainability goals, Homefield Energy is donating 20 trees to the school to assist with replacing trees lost due to the spread of the emerald ash borer and Dutch elm disease. SWIC President Nick Mance, along with college staff and students, local officials, and representatives from Homefield Energy will commemorate the donation with a ceremonial tree planting.

The Ceremonial Tree Planting will take place Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 12:45 p.m. at the SWIC Belleville Campus Information Sciences Building, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221

“Southwestern Illinois College has a long tradition of supporting the environment from our arboretum to our LEED Gold Certified Liberal Arts Complex,” said SWIC President Nick Mance. “A donation from Homefield Energy to purchase trees only enhances our beautiful campus and furthers our “green” initiatives.”

The donated trees – including willow, magnolia, oak, red bud, pine, dogwood, and maple, among other species – will further diversify the school’s tree population.

“As a company, we take pride in helping the communities and organizations we serve meet their sustainability goals,” said Caroline Atkins, Homefield Energy community affairs manager. “Trees have numerous ecological benefits, but they also strengthen, grow, and beautify our communities. We hope these trees will have a lasting impact and further enhance the quality of life for SWIC students, faculty, and alumni.” 

Since 2002, Homefield Energy, and its sister companies, have provided nearly 300,000 trees to various partner communities. The donated trees have helped generate environmental savings and health benefits for municipalities and residents valued at approximately $37 million annually during the life of these trees.

Interested in donating additional trees to SWIC? Trees can be donated to the college by contacting the SWIC Foundation at Foundation@swic.edu or 618-235-2700, ext. 5215.