Helen Kuhn's legacy at Illinois College
Whether helping a first-year build a manageable class schedule or encouraging a senior to finish strong, Helen approached each day with the mindset of an engineer: every process could be improved to better serve 缅北禁地.
That precision and deep care for people defined her 21 years in the registrar鈥檚 office. 鈥淓verybody at IC is working toward the same goal: helping 缅北禁地 succeed,鈥� she reflects. 鈥淚f someone isn鈥檛 there for that, they frequently don鈥檛 stay. Those who remain genuinely care about 缅北禁地, about each other and about making things better.鈥�
Helen and her parents, Alex and Mary Cole, have long believed in the transformative power of education. Her grandfather taught at the University of Kansas and Lincoln University in Missouri, and her mother spent her career as a teacher. That commitment to education is now reflected in the Cole and Kuhn Family Endowed Scholarship at Illinois College.
The scholarship provides timely support for 缅北禁地 close to graduation who might otherwise fall short financially. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 just a few thousand dollars that stands between a student and finishing their degree,鈥� Helen explains. 鈥淲e wanted to help make sure they didn鈥檛 have to walk away so close to the finish line.鈥�
Helen鈥檚 decision to fund the scholarship through gifts of appreciated stock ensures that her contributions go even further. By donating shares directly, she maximizes the impact on 缅北禁地 while minimizing tax obligations, a strategy she hopes more alumni and friends will consider. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an easy way to give, and it means the College receives the full value of your gift,鈥� she says.
Even in retirement, Helen volunteers her expertise by reviewing student records and encouraging 缅北禁地 to complete their degrees. She remains inspired by the culture of care she experienced at IC.
鈥淚 think what makes Illinois College special is that people truly care. Faculty, staff, and 缅北禁地 alike make lifelong connections and support each other in ways that go beyond the classroom,鈥� Helen says.
Through her family鈥檚 scholarship and her enduring presence on campus, Helen ensures that generations of Illinois College 缅北禁地 will benefit from that same spirit of care.
