Jim Spradlin ’82 is being honored with the Distinguished Service Award. He serves on the Illinois College Board of Trustees, and supports alumni engagement and fundraising efforts as chair of the development committee. Spradlin is an important proponent of IC’s agribusiness program and a representative of Illinois College in the agriculture industry. Spradlin recently retired as CEO of GROWMARK after a 40-year career with the organization. He and his wife Lisbeth Enz Spradlin ’83 are Lifetime Members of the Illinois College Society.

Robert H’18 and Erin Thomson are being honored with the Friend of the College Award. They are Lifetime Members of the Illinois College Society and are long-standing members of the IC community. Bobby served the Illinois College Board of Trustees with distinction for 14 years. A Jacksonville native, Bobby has fond memories of time spent on campus with his grandfather, William L. Fay ’35. The Thomsons established the William L. Fay Endowed Memorial Scholarship to honor Bobby’s grandfather, who was passionate about education and conservation.

Jenny Barker-Devine, professor of history and department chair, is being awarded the Faculty Ambassador honor. Barker-Devine’s work as a teacher, mentor and recruiter has increased student engagement in the majors and programs in her department, which include history, political science, religion and philosophy. Barker-Devine joined the Illinois College faculty in 2008.

Schinequa L. Brazier ’14 is being honored with the Young Alumna Award. She is founder and CEO of Leapling Radiant Body Care, an all-natural beauty startup. Her young business is growing and garnering attention — she was recently featured in Voyage ATL. Brazier finds joy in helping her customers resolve skincare issues and embrace “the beauty of their natural skin” with safe, handmade, small-batch, non-toxic products.

Joshua Hicks ’18 is being honored with the Young Alumnus Award. Hicks is a substitute teacher and coach in Florida, and was interviewed in a New York Times story about substitute teachers in the pandemic. He has written and self-published two books, “Opinionated: A Millennial’s Memoir” and “College Uncensored,” and he hosts “Opinionated the Podcast.” He is also president and co-founder of Exit 1 Productions, a film company based in Miami-Dade County.