2024 Nominees

Tijuana Beal
Tijuana is the Unit Director of the Boys & Girls Club of BloomingtonNormal. She earned an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from HCC and was a previous Heartland scholarship recipient.

Melissa Donovan
Melissa is the owner of CPG Printing & Graphics in Bloomington. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from HCC and went on to Lincoln College to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Melissa Jewett
Melissa, of Bloomington, is an Administrator at Ft. Jesse Imaging Center & Gale Keeran Center for Women. Melissa earned an Associate of Arts degree from HCC and went on to earn a technical degree in radiology from the Bloomington-Normal School of Radiology. Melissa also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Lincoln College.

Benedicte Ngeno
Benedicte, of Bloomington,earned an Associate of Science degree from HCC before going on to study at ISU. Benedicte became a registered nurse, and is employed by Advocate Health Care as a registered nurse.
Benedicte was nominated along with her husband, Jacob.

Jacob Ngeno
Jacob, of Bloomington, earned an Associate of Science degree from HCC before going on to study at ISU. Jacob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in medical laboratory of science, and is currently employed at OSF as a medical
laboratory scientist.
Jacob was nominated along with his wife, Benedicte.

Simran (Sim) Sandhu
Simran, of Normal, is the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Illinois Farm Bureau. Simran earned an Associate of Science degree from HCC and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in economics at ISU. Simran holds various additional certifications and licenses.

Adam Rader
Adam, of Normal, both took courses at HCC and are employed by Rader Family Farms. The Raders’ work supports 4-H and FFA programs in schools across McLean County.
Adam was nominated along with his brother, Arin.

Arin Rader
Arin, of Normal, both took courses at HCC and are employed by Rader Family Farms. The Raders’ work supports 4-H and FFA programs in schools across McLean County.
Arin was nominated along with his brother, Adam.

Bailey Wilkinson
Bailey, of Plainfield, is a business intelligence analyst at COUNTRY Financial. Bailey earned an Associate of Engineering Science degree in mechanical engineering. Bailey went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree at ISU and then a master’s in data analytics from Western Governors University.