Joliet Junior College (JJC) is one of eight U.S. colleges and universities that are 2023-2024 recipients of the National Wildlife Federation EcoLeaders program, funded by Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom’s College and University Grant Program.
JJC’s grant award is $8,500 and primarily will be used to conduct research on threatened or endangered species on the main campus and includes a survey of the prairie and fen on the main campus.
“I was extremely happy to find out we received the grant award, especially because, out of the schools to be awarded the grant funding, JJC was the only community college,” said Cheryl Heeneman, JJC biology professor and natural areas committee chair.
“Our overreaching goal for this project is to confirm the presence of endangered species on the JJC campus, like the Hine’s emerald dragonfly. If successful, this would encourage land protection and other resources, which could be used to monitor and enhance our unique natural areas.”
JJC’s natural sciences department is working on the project, with the help of students Max Battles and Wyatt Miller and recent alumna Ash Klinder. The research is expected to continue through September.
“This work aligns well with the mission of JJC,” Henneman noted. “The project is providing learning opportunities to a small group of students. In sharing the project and objective with others, we are building community and demonstrating a commitment to stewardship over our natural spaces.”