Professor emerita Donna Irvin was inducted Sept. 7 into the Black Hawk College East Foundation Wall of Fame.
More than 140 people attended the ceremony at Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island. View photos from the event on Facebook.
The Wall of Fame represents individuals and organizations that have made Black Hawk College East Campus the quality higher education institution it is today.
During her 27 years as a faculty member and equestrian coach, Donna and her colleagues grew the equine program from seven students and 30 horse stalls in 1990, to 60 students and nearly 100 horse stalls in the most recent expansion completed this year.
She started the BHC equestrian team in 1998, after the college joined the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, eventually growing her competitive teams to 55 students with 16 Regional Championships, three Semifinal Championships, and more than 25 National and Reserve National riders.
Donna and her fellow faculty members changed the lives of hundreds of students over the years. Read more at Black Hawk College East Foundation Wall of Fame.
To honor Donna for her outstanding career and contributions to higher education, the foundation established the new, endowed Donna Irvin Equine Scholarship.
More than $57,500 has been raised for the scholarship in cash and pledges.
Event sponsors –
Gold (lead sponsors)
Steve, Tammy and Adam Herbster
State Bank of Toulon
Silver (lead sponsors)
Lanny & Carolyn Anderson
Anonymous
Bruce & Mj Hart and Daniel & Natalie Connolly
Drew & Alissa, Terry & Sarah Cotton
Bekah Irish & Matt George
Verlin & Joan Jackson Foundation
John H. Best & Sons, Inc./Best Barn Solutions
Tomiyama Family
Bronze
Dan & Liz Breedlove
Ryan & Chelcei Butler
Callahan Ranch
Joe & Kerry Gensini
Jeff Greaves Performance Horses
Jeffry & Katherine Hawes
The McMahon Family
Violet Miroyan Family
Danielle Neisendorf
Runnin-West Productions LLC
Sarah Schobert
Sharon Camarillo Horsemanship & Barrel Racing
Stevens Veterinary Clinic, LLC
Union Federal Savings & Loan
Patty Varner
The Weld Group LLC
Friend
Ross Adden & Justine Gay Adden
Dr. John Anderson
Dr. MeeCee Baker
Michael W. Baker
Rhonda Ballard
Janene Blodgett & Lou Lourdeau
Dawn Bush
Julie Leenders Catton
Sam Cordes
Chris & Kelly Craig
David Dyer
Liz Haben & Marc Snarr
Ashley Hansen
Carla Hillman
Dan & Deanna Hoge
Ken & Terrie Irish
Ray & Lisa Jacobs
Amanda Love-Ellis
Dr. Amy Maxeiner
Mb Performance Horses
Alex Miller
Dr. Jennifer Miller
Miller Veterinary Service
Marcinda Mitchell, DVM (Sunlight Farm)
Beca Nix
Peoples National Bank of Kewanee
Rafter C. Productions (Sharon Camarillo & Debbie Wood Matthews)
Reinsman Equestrian
David Sherrard
Toni Smith
Steve & Sandy Spivey
Kathy Tingleaf
Chuck & Laurie Weaver
Wade Werkheiser
Jon & Jane Wolf
Kat Zelnio Performance Horses