A faculty office in Illinois Valley Community College’s Dr. Alfred E. Wisgoski Agricultural Education Center will be named in honor of Dr. Jerome and Katherine Corcoran, who contributed $10,000 in support of the new building.
Dr. Corcoran’s career at IVCC spanned 33 years, including 15 years as President before he retired in 2023. In addition to initiating planning for the Agricultural Education Center, Corcoran’s administration also spearheaded other campus expansion projects.
Dr. Corcoran said his donation supports IVCC’s mission to respond to its community’s needs. In a district where farming is a leading industry, prospective students once went elsewhere to pursue a major in agriculture.
“It had been a long time since we offered many classes in agriculture. We decided to develop a program and hired a top-notch coordinator to help it ‘take flight.’ We went from two agriculture courses and marginal facilities to 22 courses and 70 students annually,” Dr Corcoran said.
The facility will provide new opportunities for students who “will be able to walk out of the classroom and see exactly what they are studying and its relevance by having a laboratory in the middle of corn and soybean fields,” Dr. Corcoran continued. He applauded Dr. Morris and her staff for supporting and expanding the agriculture program, adding “that is why Katherine and I are so happy to support this important fundraising activity.”
In accepting the gift, IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris noted, “This building would not be happening if not for Dr. Corcoran’s leadership. He and Katherine have been tremendous supporters of the College, the Foundation, and the Agriculture programs. I think it is very fitting that their names will be a permanent part of our outstanding facility.”
The new building will help redefine the IVCC Agriculture program, outfitting the College to train and upskill agriculture workers and aid in the development of new technology and sustainable practices. Equipped with leading-edge innovation labs and technology, the 10,250-square-foot building puts students at the heart of the College’s 153-acre farm of test plots and cropland.
The $7.6 million capital project is made possible by community support and public grants, including $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration and $240,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Currently, the Ag Forward campaign has brought in more than $1.6 million in support of naming opportunities.
The building also features conference rooms, flexible classroom space, and room for a future greenhouse, and is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2027. Dr. Alfred E. Wisgoski, for whom the building is named, was the longest serving president in the College’s history and his investment in the project is a tribute to his legacy.
To learn more about the Dr. Alfred E. Wisgoski Agricultural Education Center and the IVCC Foundation fundraising effort, Ag Forward, visit www.ivcc.edu/agforward or contact Executive Director of the Foundation Tracy Beattie at 815-224-0550.
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