Released - April 29, 2010

Eureka College names alumni award winners

Awards given alumni weekend

Eureka College presented its annual alumni awards at a dinner held April 24 during alumni weekend.

Recipients are Annette Dyar Sherman of Eureka, Elizabeth Johann Rebmann of Tremont, Steve Kirk of Springfield and Christine Bonati Bollwinkle of Peoria.

Sherman received the Alumni Award of Merit for lifetime excellence in one’s profession, service to community and alma mater and for how one’s life exemplifies the benefits of a liberal arts education.

Sherman graduated from Eureka College in 1941. She received a degree in library science from the University of Illinois and was a librarian at New York Public Library and Miami-Dade Public Library. She worked for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. She takes classes and attends events at Eureka College, and she was a member of the college’s Alumni Board.

Rebmann received the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award for professional achievement and community service.  

Rebmann graduated from Eureka College in 1981. She received a master’s degree in counseling from Bradley University and has taught school for more than 25 years. She has been a teacher, coach and director of theater productions at Morton High School for 16 years and is vice president of the Morton Education Association. She was a trustee at Alpha Park Library, Bartonville, and is a grand line ambassador for The Grottoes of North America organization, which raises funds to open a library at the Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, and for dentistry services for children there. Rebmann’s ancestors include two presidents of Eureka College.

Kirk graduated from Eureka College in 1987. He received the Alumni Board President’s Award for Service for dedication of time and effort for the advancement of Eureka College.

Kirk is an audit manager with the State of Illinois. He has been a member of the college’s Alumni Board for five years and served two years as its president. He is an alumni representative to the college’s Board of Trustees finance and alumni committees. He is a member of the choir and president of the administrative board at First United Methodist Church, Springfield, and a youth basketball coach.

Christine Bonati Bollwinkle of Peoria was named an honorary alumna of Eureka College for extraordinary service and efforts toward the advancement of the college, its students and its mission. In 2008, Bollwinkle gave $1 million to build the Bonati Fitness Center, which is named for her late husband, Ronald Bonati, who attended Eureka College. The funds also endow four scholarships.

“It is the great pleasure of the Eureka College Alumni Board to publicly recognize these special individuals for their successes, professional accomplishments and heartfelt support of our alma mater,” said Alumni Board President April McClure Stewart of Eureka, who presented some of the awards.  

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318