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Volume 61 | Issue 7| March 26, 2026
Student voices drive discussion with U.S. Rep By Abigail Beckcom IV Leader Staff
U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood visited the IVCC campus March 23 for a small campus tour and conversation with students, with a special focus on the college’s agriculture program and facilities. This visit included a look at the new Ag building under construction, which has drawn a lot of attention for its role in preparing students for careers in agriculture. During his visit, IVCC students were able to ask U.S. Rep. LaHood questions that mattered to them. This discussion was student-driven, with LaHood, a Peoria Republican, prepared to answer a wide range of topics brought up on the spot.
Funding Education
When LaHood was asked if he supported continued fund-
In this issue: PAGE 2: International students access services. PAGE 4: Women’s History takes center stage. PAGE 6: Theater Department plans spring show.
ing for the Project Success TRIO program and how he would show his advocacy for it, he answered, “I’m absolutely supportive of that program and whether that’s specifically advocating publicly with my voice or secondly, writing advocacy letters with the other colleagues that I work with on behalf of that program.” Not only would he advocate for those services, but he said he would also continue to advocate for programs that help students gain greater access to education, including Pell Grants. “I think we actually need to add more to that [Pell Grant Funding] to adjust for inflation because I think the more Pell funding we have, I think improves the access to students,” LaHood stated. “I think it’s a wise investment of federal dollars, and I think it pays a lot of dividends.” See ‘LaHood’ Page 3
IV Leader photo/Abigail Beckcom
CAMPUS TOUR IVCC president Tracy Morris leads U.S. Rep. Darrin LaHood on a tour of the campus with a stop at the new agriculture facility that is under construction just south of the main campus.
Students prepare for Study Abroad By Danica Scoma IV Leader Staff Writer
As most IVCC students pack their bags for summer break, some are preparing their passports. Through Illinois Valley Community College’s study abroad program, students are trading classrooms in Illinois for cultural immersion thousands of miles away. During the upcoming summer semester, a record six students will travel to Austria, Costa Rica, France, Ireland and Spain. For students like McKinzie Tarbox, who will be studying abroad in Costa Rica this summer, the opportunity feels especially meaningful.
“As a first-generation student, I didn’t even know studying abroad was an option at first,” she said. Leading the program is study abroad coordinator Amanda Cook Fesperman, who has seen significant growth in both participation and campus interest. Since taking on the role, she said the program has expanded rapidly, with this summer marking a record number of students traveling abroad — more than were sent in the two decades between 2001 and 2021 combined. Fesperman said one of the most rewarding aspects of this year’s group is its diversity. The group includes non-traditional and neurodiverse students, as well
as individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, something she actively strives to achieve each year. Her goal, Fesperman said, is to “get as many students studying abroad as possible… so people can experience the world somewhere else, because it does change you.” Expanding access has been a key priority through classroom visits, informational meetings, and campus outreach. She added that the program’s growth has extended beyond students, with faculty and staff also showing increased interest in participating in traveling abroad. See ‘Study Abroad’ Page 3