GALESBURG — Carl Sandburg College recognized the 2022 recipients of its Distinguished Alumnus Award and Pacesetter Award during its 54th annual Commencement exercises. Stacy Bainter ’00 received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Dakota Hicks ’17 received the Pacesetter Award.
After graduating from Sandburg’s nursing program, Bainter earned her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2007 and a master’s in nursing (nurse educator track) from McKendree University in 2015. In October 2016, she was inducted into McKendree’s chapter of Sigma Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She became a Sandburg adjunct instructor in 2011 for the nursing program and has been a full-time instructor since 2015.
Bainter is also the coordinator of Sandburg’s basic nursing assistant program, coordinator for the practical nursing program and nurse administrator. She also served as the health occupation teacher for the Galesburg Area Vocational Center from 2011-15. In 2021, Bainter received an Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), and she was awarded Sandburg’s Faculty Member of the Year in 2020.
Prior to her teaching career, Bainter worked as a registered nurse from 2000-13 in long-term care, holding positions of floor nurse, charge nurse, supervisor, MDS coordinator, assistant director of nursing and director of nursing.
“My life has been shaped by a community college education by providing me the opportunity to begin my nursing career with obtaining my associate degree in nursing, despite the obstacles that life threw at me during the program,” Bainter said. “I was strong and determined to push through to reach my end goal, regardless of what others thought of my success due to my challenges. The end result is bringing me back to my alma mater as an instructor and paying it forward to be the advocate for my students.”
Stacy Bainter
After completing his Associate in Arts at Sandburg in 2017, Hicks transferred to Western Illinois University, where he earned his bachelor’s in finance with highest honors, including recognition as a Business and Technology Scholar. While working on his bachelor’s, Hicks was named a Finance Departmental Scholar, also enrolled in WIU’s integrated Master of Business Administration program and became a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Prior to enrolling in college, Hicks spent six years in the Marines. He traveled to 14 countries, including a tour of duty in Afghanistan. During his time in the service, Hicks stepped in as a senior leader, advisor and operations manager to fulfill a position that typically requires 15-plus years’ experience.
While in high school, Hicks had no plans on attending college, but upon joining the Marines, he found that he thrived in leadership roles that posed challenges. After leaving the service, Hicks found himself avoiding public places and social gatherings as he learned to navigate the challenges many veterans face when returning from war. A first-generation college student, he worked to overcome his obstacles and went from being afraid to attend his college classes to graduating from Sandburg with a 4.0 grade point average.
Today, he is the owner of Wishtan HomeServices — a real estate management company — and Macomb Student Rentals. Hicks also is a past volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and has served as a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America.
Dakota Hicks
Carl Sandburg College Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients
2022 — Stacy Bainter
2021 — Tina Veal
2020 — Kiley Thomas Quinn
2019 — Darci Heap
2018 — Craig Willis
2017 — Dr. Karmen Hopkins
2016 — Robert Mason
2015 — Dr. Judy Glaser
2014 — Judge Thomas Keith
2013 — Jim Purlee
2012 — Susan Swartwout
2011 — Cynthia Kitchen
2010 — Cynthia Kiffer
2009 — Joshua Gibb
2008 — Brenda Stewart Clevidence
2007 — Bonni Smith-Skripps
2006 — Sandra Gavin
2005 — Tara Miller
2004 — Dave Burns
2003 — Dr. Lori Sundberg
2002 — Christine Baumgardner
2001 — Lannie Cation
2000 — Sharon Graham
1999 — Linda Foster
1998 — Victor Miller
1997 — Betty Thal
1996 — Rose Stockman
1995 — Larry Schwartz
1994 — Daniel Baker
1993 — Ann Murdock
1992 — Jan Lundeen
1991 — No recipient
1990 — Louis Gamage & Mary Louderman
1989 — Janice Champion
1988 — Donna Medina
1987 — Gerald Strom Jr.
1986 — John Delawder III
1985 — Russell Orwig
1984 — Daniel Bailey
1983 — Jerry Latherow
1982 — F. Dale Cozad
1981 — Maren Kay Carlson
1980 — Daniel Baker
1979 — William Campbell
Carl Sandburg College Pacesetter Award Recipients
2022 — Dakota Hicks
2021 — Cassandra Sherwin
2020 — Becca Schwieter
2019 — Kassie Karssen-Schoon
2018 — Krista Winters
2017 — Matthew Wolford
2016 — Elvith Santoyo-McNaught
2015 — Travis Nesby
2014 — Trevor Davies
2013 — Naomi Wai
2012 — Ashley Swick