LITCHFIELD, Ill. – Litchfield Community School District #12 is the 2024 Community Partner Award winner for University of Illinois Extension in Montgomery County. The school district was selected for its support of Illinois Extension’s new program, iDream/iCreate. The iDream program is for grades K, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. It aims to build a ready workforce of young adults who can connect their passions, interests, and skills through comprehensive dreaming/goal setting and action activities through exploration and connection with dreams and goals, journaling, personal inventories, SMART goals, and vision board development. The iCreate program is for grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Its purpose is to build entrepreneurial mindsets through activities that support a culture of innovation, branding, and impact through buying local, increasing teamwork and presentation skills, social entrepreneurship and community, making an impact, developing soft skills, and learning to market yourself creatively to stand out from the crowd.

The iDream/iCreate program is facilitated through local community leaders who network with students, share stories of success and failure, and encourage a culture of setting goals and having an entrepreneurial mindset. We started this program in 2020 and just completed another successful year. To date, we have had over 18 community leaders volunteer 720 hours of time to impact students through their words and actions. An essential part of the program is to bring in community leaders and entrepreneurs to help teach the lessons, allowing students to get to know adults in their community who constantly dream, set goals, and possess strong entrepreneurial traits. “Litchfield has proactively sought ways to bolster their student’s skill sets and workforce opportunities by partnering with Extension. We are proud to have such an involved, supportive, and engaging partner. I like to stay connected to the program and enjoy working with area youth, so I coordinate the program and participate as a community leader by teaching two classes,” said Valerie Belusko, Extension community and economic development educator.

Program volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year:

1st grade: Dr. Amy Mullins – Litchfield Chiropractic Care
2nd grade: Rhonda Reener – Litchfield National Bank
3rd grade: Megan Stewart – Dometic & House of Glow
4th grade: Jennifer Helgen – Lily Pad Learning Center
5th grade: Mike Flemming – Litchfield National Bank
6th grade: Valerie Belusko – Illinois Extension
7th grade: Jimmy Gorowski – Ameriprise Financial
8th grade: Valerie Belusko – Illinois Extension
9th grade: Rachael Wujek – Litchfield Family Practice
10th grade: Beth Cherry – Evergreen Place
11th grade: Adam Ortega – Landscaper and minister 
12th grade: Jessie Blackburn – Lincoln Land Community College

University of Illinois Extension serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties are exceptionally proud to provide this award to Litchfield School District 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: (left to right) Dr. David Lett, Career and Technical Education coordinator (retired); Abby Carlson, Litchfield High School assistant principal; Valerie Belusko, Illinois Extension community and economic development educator; Dr. Gregg, Litchfield superintendent (retired); and Juletta Ellis, South Central Illinois coordinator.