Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. John Swalec '56, M.S. '58, Ph.D. '75
President emeritus for Waubonsee Community College; Cuba, Illinois
John Swalec’s career in education and athletics began at Illinois State. The standout student-athlete earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at ISU that helped launch a career in teaching and coaching. He later returned to campus to earn a doctorate and went on to become president of Waubonsee Community College.
Swalec guided the community college in Sugar Grove through unprecedented growth from 1981 to 2001. The college grew by more than 50% and added additional campuses in Aurora and Plano. Fifty new instructional programs were established under his leadership. His legacy at Waubonsee lives on through the John J. Swalec, Jr. President’s Achievement Award scholarship.
In total, Swalec held administrative roles at four community colleges. He also served on the Illinois Community College Board.
His expertise was highly sought after. Swalec was appointed to leadership roles on the Illinois Department of Registration and Education Blue Ribbon Committee, and the advisory board for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
His excellence was recognized frequently. Swalec earned Illinois State University’s Alumni Association Achievement Award in 1987. He was inducted into Illinois State’s College of Education Hall of Fame in 1997 and Waubonsee Community College’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Swalec owns an equally impressive athletics resume. He was a standout wrestler and track and field athlete at Illinois State, and he was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame in 1983. He served as University High School’s first wrestling coach, coached at several other northern Illinois high schools, and later guided Joliet Junior College to a National Junior College Athletics Association national championship. He served as chair of the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference for 12 years. Swalec’s work in athletics earned him induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 4 Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Margaret (Menne) Swalec ’58, remain engaged with Illinois State University. The husband and wife, who met and married during their time at Illinois State, are members of the President’s Circle and were recognized as Illinois State’s Homecoming alumni royalty in 2018.