A memorial grove of redbud and dogwood trees will once again bloom on the Olney Central College campus after being restored this spring. Erected at the entrance to the North Parking Lot, the site honors Frank C. Gibson, of Olney. The 24-year-old concrete worker was fatally injured in an accident on Sept. 7, 1972, during construction of Wattleworth Hall’s third floor. The memorial, which includes a stone monument, was established through the OCC Foundation’s Frank C. Gibson Fund.

Olney Central College Radiography student Karlie Berberich captured first place in the Illinois State Society of Radiologic Technologists’ e-poster contest. “I was so surprised when they called my name,” Berberich said. “When they said it was someone from OCC, I was wondering who it was. I had no idea it would be me.”

Olney Central College is offering three summer hybrid math courses students can complete in just 6 weeks. MTH 1105 Trigonometry will meet from 8 to 8:50 a.m. and MTH 1102 College Algebra will meet from 9 to 10:50 a.m. MTH 1103 Liberal Arts Math, which meets math requirements for graduation, will be held from 11 to 11:50 a.m. All three courses will meet Monday through Thursday, from June 6 to July 19, with Instructor Lisa Benson.

REGISTRATION FORM The Olney Central College Foundation will host its 20th annual golf outing on Friday, May 27 at the Richland Country Club in Olney.

The Olney Central College Jazz Ensemble and the combined Concert and Community Band will present their Spring Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. “We are thrilled to be performing live and in-person again for the first time since the pandemic began,” said OCC Director of Bands Wade Baker. “The students are all incredibly excited to get to perform for the community and the band is sounding really good.”

Olney Central College served as a host site for the Illinois RiverWatch Network’s Citizen Scientist training on April 2. Illinois RiverWatch is a volunteer stream monitoring program administered by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. Citizen scientist help identify potentially degraded waters and areas that may need greater protection.

Alani Frederick is serving as the new Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. A native of Akron, Ohio, Frederick comes to the district from Ivy Tech Community College at Sellersburg, Ind., where she was a nursing instructor for three years, serving the last two in a leadership role.

Join the Olney Central College Music Department for a journey through musical theater as the OCC Concert Choir and Musical Theater Workshop students present a Spring Variety Show at 7 p.m. on April 29 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Andrew Pittman said the evening’s entertainment will offer a little something for everyone with musical selections ranging from the baroque period to Broadway and a sampling of short comedies.

Conference Schedule Some of the nation’s foremost experts on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. will gather April 8-9 for a conference at Olney Central College.

The Olney Central College Theater was just a week away from opening night of Mamma Mia! in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions brought the production to a halt. “At the time, we thought we would be back in a few weeks and do the production either in the summer or fall. We never imagined it would be two years,” said Director Sherry Brauer. The cast and crew are excited to finally bring the long-anticipated musical to the Ruth Henry Stage. Performances are at 7 p.m. on March 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on March 20 and 27.