Office of the President

John A. Logan College has announced a $300,000 gift from the FDC Foundation and longtime supporter Frank Cluck to establish the Frank and Dorothy Cluck Endowed Scholarship, a fund designed to provide ongoing financial support and emergency assistance for students.

College officials said the endowment, created through the John A. Logan College Foundation, reflects a continued commitment to student success and expanded educational opportunities in Southern Illinois.

The Frank and Dorothy Cluck Endowed Scholarship will support multiple initiatives, including the Mama & Papa C. Scholarships, which assist two incoming freshmen from Carterville High School and two returning sophomores. The endowment will also fund the Frank D. Cluck Senior Technology Scholarships for students pursuing careers in technology or trade programs, as well as the John A. Logan College Student Emergency Fund, which helps students facing unexpected financial hardships remain enrolled.

Frank Cluck and the FDC Foundation have been long-time supporters of John A. Logan College, providing sustained funding for the Mama & Papa C. Scholarships and the Frank D. Cluck Senior Scholarship. The foundation has also made consistent annual contributions to the student emergency fund, aiding students during times of financial difficulty.

“This generous commitment from the FDC Foundation reflects a strong belief in the mission of John A. Logan College and the success of its students,” said Dr. Kirk Overstreet, JALC President. “This endowment will create lasting opportunities and provide meaningful support for students for generations to come.”

Representatives from the FDC Foundation visited the college on March 25 to present a check and celebrate the partnership alongside members of the John A. Logan College Foundation and College leadership.

College officials said the establishment of the endowed scholarship ensures the Cluck family’s legacy of supporting students will continue well into the future.

“This gift represents more than financial support; it represents opportunity, stability, and hope for our students,” said Staci Shafer, Assistant Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the JALC Foundation. “The Cluck family and the FDC Foundation have demonstrated an incredible commitment to student success at John A. Logan College, and this endowment ensures their impact will continue to change lives for years to come.”

The John A. Logan College Foundation supports student success by providing scholarships, enhancing educational opportunities, and funding initiatives that benefit students and the college community.

The FDC Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2008 by members of the Cluck family, supports charitable initiatives across the United States, with a focus on health, education, and housing.

Frank Cluck hopes the endowment will benefit generations of John A. Logan College students. “It is my hope that our endowment will bring joy and happiness to future generations,” said Cluck. “Giving courage and support to those students also gives us hope for the future.”

The Kemper CPA Group, LLP of Marion, has delivered a clean financial audit report to the Board of Trustees of John A. Logan College, affirming the institution’s strong financial management and accountability.

The independent audit reported no negative findings related to the management of the College’s funds or of its administration of large federal grant programs.  This confirms that the college has effectively accounted for and utilized funds entrusted to it by federal, state, and local governmental bodies.

The audit, which evaluates financial statements and internal controls, determined that John A. Logan College maintains strong financial reporting practices and compliance procedures. The findings verify that the college’s management of public funds is both accurate and responsible.

Finance Committee Chair and Trustee Dr. Glenn Poshard praised the results, calling the report one of the strongest in his tenure.

“In my time on the Board of Trustees, we have had outstanding audit reports, but this is by far the best report we have received,” Poshard said. “This is outstanding news for our community’s residents.”

The report also highlighted the college’s commitment to maintaining robust internal financial controls, including systems designed to ensure accuracy and reduce the risk of error.

JALC Vice President for Business Services and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Susan LaPanne credited multiple campus teams for their role in the successful audit.

“The key to this and other clean audits we’ve received is the comprehensive system of controls we have in place, from daily operations to monthly and yearly reviews,” said LaPanne. “This is not only reflective of our finances, but also of the record-keeping in business services, student affairs, financial aid, and the bursar’s office.

The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2025 audit report during its monthly meeting on March 25.

With two major campus construction projects underway and a third scheduled to begin later this year, faculty and staff are sometimes adjusting plans by the hour to ensure students continue receiving the level of service they expect at the Carterville campus. Despite temporary inconveniences, College officials recently announced a 4.2 percent increase in enrollment compared with spring 2025.

The growth has College President Dr. Kirk Overstreet optimistic about the future and the long-term benefits the projects will bring to students and employees alike.

“We broke ground on our new Career and Technical Education facility in August, which meant that our HVAC program had to move to our Annex facility, the former Shawnee Library Building, at the start of the fall semester, and they never missed a beat,” Overstreet said. “We then got word in October that construction could begin on Logan Hall, which is a complete remodel of our front entrance and student services. This affected admissions, advisement, and all our student services during a hectic period, but everyone has taken it in stride and found ways to continue serving students.”

Construction activity prompted additional, unplanned relocations earlier this year following the removal of a support beam near the former Information Booth. On Jan. 21, the College suspended operations to allow engineers to evaluate the structure.

“We had to remove a support beam at the entrance, and upon removal, we discovered that the beam was connected to other support beams throughout the building,” said Jeremy Sargent, assistant vice president for construction and facilities management. “Out of caution, we suspended operations, and a structural engineer evaluated the beams and found that there was no issue and the buildings were secure, but it did result in temporarily relocating some offices and suspending use of the Brewer Gymnasium for a period of time.”

The temporary closure of the Brewer Gymnasium has led to the relocation of the final six home men’s and women’s basketball games of the season.

According to Athletic Director Greg Starrick, the teams have been practicing at local high schools and have played their remaining home contests at neutral sites hosted by area community colleges.

“I am grateful for the support we have received from our colleagues at other community colleges and for how our players have responded as they prepare for the postseason,” said Starrick.

Several campus offices have also been temporarily relocated because of construction. Admissions is now located in E122; Athletics is in Logan Fitness; the JALC Foundation is in F112; the Poshard Foundation is in E121; Conferences and Events is in F110; Social Media and Digital Marketing is in C204; Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications is in E146; and Testing Services is in C259. Additionally, the College Information Booth and Switch Board have moved to the East Entrance near the Coffee Shop.

To help students, employees, and visitors navigate the changes, the College has launched a Campus Improvements and Construction Updates page at https://www.jalc.edu/campus-improvements-and-construction-updates/

The page provides updated campus maps, office relocations, and ongoing construction updates.

“It would be easy to say, ‘pardon our dust’ as we relocate offices, classrooms, and travel routes, but we want to minimize these inconveniences as much as possible,” Overstreet said. “We want to be transparent and keep everyone informed during this phase. While this is a temporary inconvenience, the state-of-the-art facilities will benefit future students in ways we can’t even begin to explain. I apologize for the adjustments we’re making now, but I am beyond excited for what the final outcome will be.”