Elaine Melby Receives JALC Foundation Legacy Award

Published on December 5, 2022

Elaine Melby was honored with the John A. Logan College Foundation Legacy Award at the Annual Meeting this week.  Melby served on the Foundation board for 30 years, chaired countless committees, and served as President of the Foundation two times.  As President, she organized and led the Foundation’s capital campaign in the 1990s.  Elaine has been a passionate supporter of the Foundation’s mission financially and through her volunteer work.  “I worked with the Foundation for many years, but at some point, along the way, the Foundation became a part of me.  I saw how lives were changed because of the opportunities provided.  Education is so powerful, and I truly believe in the work we do at the John A. Logan College Foundation,” said Melby.

Elaine recently established a $25-thousand-dollar endowment in memory of her parents, who, despite their desire to attend college, never had access to higher education.  She was the first one in her family to complete her college education.  They always instilled in her the importance of education. The Edward W. and Lillian L. Hill Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a student who works hard and has a dream to attend college but can’t because of financial constraints. Staci Shafer serves as the college’s Asst. Vice President of Advancement & Executive Director of the Foundation, she says no one is more deserving of this award than Elaine Melby.  “Elaine has been a champion for the Foundation for three decades.  We will forever be inspired by her efforts to provide opportunities to students.”

Melby now serves as an emeritus member of the Foundation Board.