The first community college in the country was established in Joliet in 1901. Since that time, the state’s system has grown exponentially. Today, there are 48 community colleges located throughout the 39 college districts.

Illinois’ well-established network of community colleges has meant more and more students are choosing them over traditional four-year universities. More than 65 percent of Illinois’ higher education students attend a community college, including many returning students and working parents. The flexibility and affordability offered to students is a major impetus for students choosing community colleges. The average community college student pays only $3,500 per year in tuition and fees – an amount much less than traditional four-year institutions.

As the nation’s economy has evolved from a reliance on manufacturing to a more service-based economy, Illinois’ community colleges have been at the forefront of adapting their programs to better equip students for our modern economy.

Learn more:
Illinois Community College Board  
Community Colleges in Illinois
Illinois Community College Facts

Actress Marlee Matlin, known to many for her Academy-Award winning performance in “Children of a Lesser God,” was born in Morton Grove in 1965.

From a young age, Matlin had a passion for acting, starring in theater productions when she was just 7 years old. She gained attention during her role in the play “Children of a Lesser God,” which led to her casting in the movie version. Matlin won an Oscar for her work, becoming the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar. 

Even with the loss of most of her hearing as an infant, Matlin never let her disability define her or get in her way. In 1995, she testified in front of Congress in support of a proposal to mandate the installation of closed captioning technology on all new televisions, something she has also traveled the globe in supporting.

Matlin was the keynote speaker at the Disability Awareness Cultural Dinner at Illinois State University last night, speaking in front of a sold-out audience about the importance of inclusion and acceptance of all people.

In addition to her philanthropic work, Matlin has starred in numerous movies and television shows, including “Dancing with the Stars,” “The L Word,” “CSI: New York” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Learn more:
Marlee Matlin – IMDb Profile
Marlee Matlin – Official Website

Once home to an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Mississippian Native Americans, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville is one of only eight United Nations cultural World Heritage sites in the United States.

The area once included over 100 mounds, with the largest, Monks Mound, at nearly 100 feet tall. The grounds also included a circle of wooden poles known as Woodhenge, used as a solar calendar, and a series of plazas used for public gatherings and festivities.

While many of the original mounds no longer stand, others have stood the test of time, including Monks Mound with stairs allowing visitors a view from the top. The Cahokian Interpretive Center gives visitors insight into what life was like for the Mississippian culture and includes many artifacts excavated from around the site.

Learn more:
Cahokia Mounds - State Historic Site
World Heritage List - Cahokia Mounds
Sacred Destinations

Chicago’s impressive skyline has garnered much attention ever since the iconic Home Insurance Building was constructed in 1885, becoming widely recognized as the world’s first skyscraper. Today, Chicago ranks second in North America behind only New York City in the number of skyscrapers, defined as any building that reaches 150 meters.

A recent study of residential high-rises also ranks Chicago at the top. Chicago is home to seven of the United States’ 12 tallest residential buildings – more than any other U.S. city. Several high-profile Chicago buildings, including the Trump Tower, John Hancock Center and the 900 North Michigan building were rated high on the list.

A recent building boom in and around the Loop will only increase these impressive numbers in the future.

Learn more:
How Chicago invented the skyscraper
Live, Up in the Sky! (Chicago Magazine)

Not only is Illinois ranked third in net electricity generation in the United States, but it is also a leader in the Midwest for crude oil refining capacity.

Illinois’ central location and energy-generating infrastructure makes us a vital hub for crude oil and natural gas moving throughout North America, with over a dozen interstate natural gas pipelines, two natural gas market centers, several petroleum and petroleum product pipelines and an oil port.

In 2013, Illinois ranked first in the nation in generating capacity and net electricity generation from nuclear power. The power generated from Illinois alone accounted for over 12 percent of the nation’s nuclear power.

Learn more:
U.S. Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy