Heartland President Cornille receives ICCTA Advocacy Award

The Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) has named Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille as recipient of the 2025 Advocacy Award. 

The ICCTA Executive Committee created this special award in 2006 to honor dedicated leadership in advocating for the needs of students and the Illinois community college system. 

This year, in addition to leading Heartland Community College in his role as president, Dr. Cornille served as Chair of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents. The Council meets on a monthly basis to discuss common problems of concern and issues in community college education. The Council works closely with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. 

Under his leadership, the Council successfully pursued legislation to refine dual credit, ensuring that community colleges are considered the default providers for these courses. The legislation better ensures that dual credit students will receive high-quality instruction and strengthens the value of credits earned for transfer.  

"It is an honor to receive the 2025 Advocacy Award. This is a recognition of collective efforts not only of the college but also for our entire community in championing accessible and equitable education," said Dr. Cornille. "Access to a college education has never been more important in today's economy. Community colleges play a unique and vital role to create pathways for success, in many cases providing the only access for adult education, high school equivalency, and ESL opportunities in a community. These stepping stones have to be available for a community to thrive." 

Dr. Cornille was presented with the Advocacy Award at the organization’s annual awards banquet on Friday, June 6, held at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, Illinois.