CARLINVILLE, Ill. – Carlinville Intermediate School is the 2025 Community Partner Award winner for University of Illinois Extension in Macoupin County. CIS has partnered with Extension for over ten years with the 4-H Health Jam program. Over the years, the program has evolved to meet the needs of the students and rebranded to Health Rocks, but the overall goal remains the same: to educate youth and provide needed information to help youth lead a healthier lifestyle. “The school is committed to teaching wellness and is a valuable partner that provides the platform for Extension to share knowledge with fifth-grade students at the school,” said Kate Harding, 4-H youth development program coordinator.
University of Illinois Extension serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties are exceptionally proud to provide this award to Tim Johnson, physical education teacher, and the staff of Carlinville Intermediate in recognition and gratitude for their service to Extension. “Illinois Extension relies on strong community partnerships in all aspects of our work. From providing facilities or volunteers that assist with programming to offering financial support or exposure to new audiences, Extension staff and volunteers are grateful and appreciative of each of our community partners and the support they provide,” said Sara Marten, Extension county director.
This award is sponsored by the Extension Council of University of Illinois Extension, serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties. The council recognizes a community partner throughout our four counties each year. Extension Council is a volunteer board that serves in an advisory role cooperating with Extension staff in planning, promoting, developing, implementing, evaluating, and financing an Extension program designed to meet the needs, interests, and resources of the local communities.
Photo Caption: Kate Harding presenting Carlinville Intermediate with the 2025 Community Partner Award for Macoupin County. Back row (left to right) Principal Roy Kulenkamp, Kate Harding, and PE Teacher Tim Johnson. Front row (left to right): Emelia Daggett, Eva Heller, Lillian Dickison, and Phoebe Foiles
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.