Golden Apple is a leading Illinois’ based nonprofit committed to recognizing outstanding educators across the state. Last year, Peoria local and principal of Charles A. Lindbergh Middle School, Susan Malahy was awarded the 2019 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recognizes a performance in school leadership that creates a consistent and positive impact in the school where the award winner is based. Malahy was given the award for promoting a culture of acceptance and inclusion of all students and educators in the school.

Susan Malahy has been the principal of Charles A. Lindbergh Middle School for nearly six years now. She worked to increase professional development for teachers, which helped further connect with their students.

Strike a pose! Jan. 21 marks Museum Selfie Day, an opportunity to take part in history by visiting a museum and posting about it on social media with the hashtag #MuseumSelfie.

This year, we’re snapping photos at our January Museum of the Month: the Lincoln Heritage Museum in Lincoln, Illinois. The museum, which is located on the campus of Lincoln College, allows visitors to learn more about the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.

Danielle Harth from Chicago, is our Artist of The Month. Danielle began painting 12 years ago while attending college. Artists and public figures who are over-the-top and unapologetically maximize their opportuniotes inspire her. She believes everyone is an artist and everyone has the potential to manifest their unique gifts

What does being able to live and work in Illinois mean to you?

Being able to live and work and Illinois is a privilege that builds character and exposes you to the polar complexities within the United States and world. There is beauty in the differences between the affluent cities and the agricultural, rural regions. In Illinois you can be exposed to great wealth and extreme poverty. There is diversity and integration and blatant segregation.

In 1805, a man by the name of Thomas Kirkpatrick was became the original settler of the city of Edwardsville. Kirkpatrick named the newly founded city after the first and only Territorial Governor of Illinois, Ninian Edwards, who held the office for nearly a decade from 1808-1818. Less than three months after the territory of Illinois was granted statehood by the federal government, the city was officially incorporated by the State on February 23^rd, 1819. Located less than forty miles east of St. Louis, MO. Edwardsville’s population had reached a population exceeding 600 residents by 1840, less than forty years after Kirkpatrick originally settled it.

As mentioned earlier, Edwardsville was named after Illinois territorial governor Ninian Edwards, but he is not the only former governor of the now state to have ties to the city. Edwardsville has indeed produced not one, but five former governors! The list includes, Ninian Edwards, Edward Coles, John Reynolds, Thomas Ford and Charles Deneen.

Every year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the best online programs in the country. More than 1,600 programs were ranked in total, which encompass Bachelor’s programs as well as seven different fields of graduate programs, including nursing, computer information technology, criminal justice, education, business (non-MBA), MBA and engineering.

Today Illinois programs made impressive rankings in more ways than one. Out of 353 colleges, the University of Illinois-Chicago came in third for the best Bachelor’s program, moving up from fifth place last year.

In addition, Illinois was ranked number 1 in the graduate nursing category. Rush University, also located in Chicago, had the best ranking out of 183 colleges.