ICCTA Meritorious Service Award

2005 Recipient


The Hon. Denny Jacobs
State senator
Illinois Senate

Denny Jacobs' commitment to higher education -- and especially community colleges – never wavered during his 18 years in the Illinois Senate.

From the very beginning of his legislative career (1987 - 2005), he sponsored and passed many of the major policy initiatives and appropriations bills for the state's community college system.

As sponsor of the "equity tax," he created a pathway to millions of dollars in new funding for the Illinois community college system. He also passed the Industrial Jobs Training Act, allowing colleges to issue bonds to pay for training new workers.

The Hon. Denny Jacobs accepts his ICCTA Meritorious Service Award.

Retired state senator Denny Jacobs accepts his ICCTA Meritorious Service Award.

An early supporter of Black Hawk College's "2+2" articulation program with Western Illinois University, Jacobs was one of the strongest advocates of accessible and affordable education for residents in west central Illinois.

"Denny Jacobs understood that quality education is the key to Illinois' economic prosperity, "says Trustees Association executive director Mike Monaghan.