Heartland unveils Dobski Family Plaza

A new gathering space at Heartland Community College has been named for prominent community leaders and friends of the college. 

The College unveiled the Dobski Family Plaza at the annual Elevate Heartland event held on Friday, May 31.  

The Dobski Family Plaza is named for donors Bob and Julie Dobski, whose financial contribution to the project made the space possible.    

Julie Dobski is a 2021 recipient of the Heartland President’s Medallion. She is the founder and owner of Little Jewels preschool. As local entrepreneurs for more than three decades, Julie and Bob regularly illustrate the value of education by providing countless learning opportunities for their employees. Julie Dobski immensely impacted Heartland when she co-chaired in 2015 the first major gifts campaign in the College’s history, raising nearly $8 million for scholarships and programs.  

“The Dobskis are passionate advocates for our community and for education,” said Chris Downing, Executive Director of the Heartland Community College Foundation. “The naming of this space on our campus honors Bob and Julie, who have shown time and time again how they value the power of education to transform lives. Our new outdoor space is a resource for our students and welcomes community members who visit our campus.”   

The Dobski Family Plaza transforms the 30,000 square foot recreation and event space outside the entrance of the Fitness and Recreation Center on the Main Campus in Normal (1500 W. Raab Road). The space features a new patio with sun sails and renewed green space, landscaping, and pedestrian walkways. Construction on the approximately $700,000 project began in the September of 2023 with a break on work over the winter.