Matteson Business Owner Honored at Prairie State College

recently honored Craig Stern, owner of Rogers Enterprises, Inc. in Matteson, IL with the 2011 Michael R. Monteleone Community Service Award.

The award is given annually to a community member in the PSC district who has contributed in an extraordinary way to education through community service as either a volunteer or a community leader.

Stern was honored for his work with the South Campus of the Glenwood School for Boys and Girls (Glenwood), a community supported non-profit boarding school for the area’s economically and socially disadvantaged children. Glenwood offers its students a comprehensive residential, education, and life-skills program in a structured and nurturing environment.

Stern served as chairman of the Glenwood South Campus Board of Directors from its inception in 1996 until 2010, when he was appointed chairman of the Glenwood Board of Trustees. During his tenure, he has been a champion for the admission of girls to the school, which began in 2001. He also was instrumental in expanding the high school opportunities for Glenwood students, including the college preparatory curriculum offered by Marian Catholic High School.

Stern also was a coach for Flossmoor Baseball for more than 20 years, where Samuel Banks, president of Glenwood, who nominated Stern for the award, said “he was a coach, a leader, a confidant, and sometimes even a shoulder to cry on for his players.”

“For more than 20 years, [Stern’s] impact on the education of children at Glenwood School and his coaching and mentoring of young people in the community have made a difference in the lives of hundreds,” Banks added.

When accepting the award at a recent PSC board meeting, Stern said, “Thank you to the students who are a credit to Glenwood School and to the community. This is very meaningful because I believe all kids deserve a chance. I appreciate all that Glenwood School and Prairie State College do for Education.”

- Submitted by Jennifer Stoner and Andrea Small