Jan M. Peterson Renaissance Scholarship established at IVCC

OGLESBY — The Jan M. Peterson Renaissance Scholarship has been established at Illinois Valley Community College in memory of the former IVCC industrial arts instructor. An anonymous donor recently contributed $25,000 to the IVCC Foundation to create the scholarship for students pursuing vocational studies.

Peterson died Oct. 22 at age 77 in Cody, Wyo. A graduate of LaSalle-Peru Township High School, he lived in Peru the majority of his life. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial education from Illinois State University.

Peterson taught three years at L-P and five years at Purdue University. He first taught at IVCC in 1976 and then full-time from 1995 to 2006 as basic manufacturing/tool and die instructor.

A gifted machinist, Peterson was also an award-winning wildlife sculptor. He lived his last 10 years in Wyoming near the mountains he loved.

His brother, Lyle Glen Peterson, was a longtime industrial arts instructor at Streator High School and their father, Norman, taught industrial arts at IVCC predecessor LPO Junior College for 25 years until his death in 1966. Aside from Lyle, Jan is survived by sister, Gail Peterson Kozel of Peru.

“This scholarship means a lot to Gail and myself,” said Lyle. “It is a great legacy for my brother and a great opportunity for young students.”

The $750 scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall.

To qualify, students must be registered in one of the following certificate or degree programs: Certified Production Technician (CPT), engineering technology, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), industrial maintenance, electrician, machinist tool and die making, manufacturing technology, process operations, welding or renewable energy.

To create a scholarship, contact Fran Brolley at 815-224-0466 or fran_brolley@ivcc.edu.