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Oakton Honors Graduate Receives Illinois Habitat Hero Award

John Bendewald

(Nov. 16, 2015) Oakton Community College alumnus John Bendewald is a Habitat for Humanity Illinois Hero. Bendewald received the Marketing/Public Awareness Volunteer Award at the Habitat for Humanity Illinois Conference in Springfield on Saturday, Nov. 14.

“I was both honored and humbled to receive the Habitat Hero Award,” Bendewald said. “It was nice to be awarded for my work, but it also reminded me—as I have been reminded so many times in these past months— that the project is much bigger than just me.”

The bicycling enthusiast, a Glenbrook North High School graduate, received the honor for his recent 1,000-mile-long trek on his hybrid mountain-road bike that took him from northern Illinois through western Wisconsin, all the way to Duluth, Minn., before finishing in his hometown of Wheeling. During the trip, Bendewald raised money and awareness for Oakton’s Habitat for Humanity Club and Habitat affiliates by putting on magic shows at each stop.

His three-week project, which ended in mid-June, fulfilled the requirements needed to complete honors contracts he had with four spring semester courses at Oakton: Psychology of Personal Growth, Social Problems, Fundamentals of Acting, and Digital Photography.

Habitat for Humanity Lake County Executive Director Julie Donovan, who nominated Bendewald, said he was well deserving of the award for his incredible endurance.

“John rode in wind, rain, and chilly weather through smooth asphalt, rocky paths, and up many hills,” she said. “In each city he was welcomed by Habitat and presented his magic show to hundreds of people. Each night, he stayed with a local affiliate, sometimes in someone’s house, at a hotel, or even in a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center.”

Bendewald, now a psychology major at Cornell College (Iowa), also served as the keynote presenter at the state conference, appropriately themed, “Magic for Habitat.”

“It's surreal to look back and realize that this time last year I was still dreaming about biking 1,000 miles, wondering if it was even possible. It was a journey of profound personal growth, but also one that touched the lives of many people,” Bendewald said.

Marvin Bornschlegl, advisor to Oakton’s Habitat chapter, served as Bendewald’s volunteer-activity “coach” for the 1,000-mile journey and is extremely proud of his recent accomplishments.

“John’s project was an amazingly powerful way to form connections with other students and Habitat affiliates,” Bornschlegl said. “For him to receive state recognition only further validates his work.”

“Going into community college, I never could have imagined the opportunities Oakton would provide me,” Bendewald said. “The 1,000 Miles project never could have happened without the resources I found at that school, not to mention the amazing teachers, friends, and faculty.”

 

Alumni Profile

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Paul Johnson developed a passion for psychology at Oakton. Now he wears two hats - Professor of student development and Professor of psychology.