Endorsement: Hill, Kelley, Robb for Harper College board

Community colleges are among the crown jewels of suburban resources, and William Rainey Harper College in Palatine shines bright in the mix.

Its curriculum is vast and geared toward diverse needs - for recent high school graduates looking to build toward a four-year degree, for adults looking to advance or change careers, for people of all ages who just enjoy the enrichment of lifelong learning and for much more. Its facilities are first-rate, its teachers dedicated and highly qualified, its leadership resourceful, innovative and energetic. The disruption of COVID-19 put unforeseeable pressures on all these qualities during the past year, and the school responded with creativity, compassion and commitment.

Institutions do not reach such levels of success without visionary and passionate leadership, and the three incumbents seeking re-election to Harper's Board of Trustees are prime representatives of these qualities.

In a sense, it is easy to recommend re-election of Diane G. Hill, William F. Kelley and Nancy N. Robb to a board that has done much to secure Harper's achievements. All are accomplished leaders in their own right - Hill, of Inverness, a speech pathologist, retired lecturer from Northwestern University and board member at Northwest Community Hospital, among other accomplishments; Kelley, of Schaumburg, an attorney whose civic leadership credentials include having served as director of the Association of Community College Trustees, president of the Illinois Community College Trustee Association, president of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and more; and Robb, of Inverness, a retired superintendent of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, WINGS Leadership Council member, co-founder and president of Excel Beyond 211 and more.

And all three are engaged, vigorous contributors in their roles on the Harper College board who demonstrate infectious enthusiasm for the college and admirable commitment to its mission.

Newcomer Kelly Dittmann, of North Barrington, does, however, complicate the decision for voters. For, she, too, exhibits a passion for the school and an appealing record of service, ranging from board memberships on the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Central Homeless Shelter to leadership roles with the United Way and more. She would fit well into the composition of the Harper board.

Only three positions are available, however, and the experience and deep level of involvement of each of the three incumbents are too rich to pass up. If she is not elected, we hope Dittmann will remain active in college affairs and perhaps build toward a more prominent leadership role, but for this election, we heartily recommend voters retain Hill, Kelley and Robb. They are endorsed.