ROCKFORD

VanVleet joins up for fan fest on June 22

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) has partnered with sports tourism brand ambassador and NBA star point guard Fred VanVleet to produce the 2018 FVV Fan Fest on Friday, June 22, in downtown Rockford at the UW Health Sports Factory.

The FVV Fan Fest is the official opening community celebration for the 2018 FVV Summer Camp, which will be led by VanVleet on June 23-24 at UWHSF. 

All ages are welcome to the Fan Fest and encouraged to take part in an interactive community experience. The evening’s festivities will include shooting stations, three point and dunk contests, bouncy houses, live T-shirt screenings, and more.

Admission to the FVV Fan Fest is $5 and tickets can be purchased at the door or at gorockford.com/FVV.

All net proceeds from the 2018 FVV Fan Fest benefit the RACVB Charitable Foundation and will be redirected to Rockford Park District sports programs and/or projects in need. 

WISCONSIN

Major reconstruction of Interstates 39/90

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is overseeing a major reconstruction and expansion project in south-central Wisconsin. The I-39/90 Expansion Project extends approximately 45 miles along Interstate 39/90 from the Illinois state line to the US 12/18 interchange near Madison.

• Built in the early 1960s, all of the 11 interchanges along the corridor have outdated design features that contribute to safety concerns.
• With no corrective action, all sections of I-39/90 are expected to operate at unacceptable levels of service, meaning unstable traffic flow and stop-and-go conditions.
• In order to address those safety and congestion concerns, WisDOT is reconstructing and expanding I-39/90 from four to six lanes; 8econfiguring 11 interchanges; and 8xpanding the Interstate to eight lanes (four lanes in each direction), from WIS 11 (Avalon Rd.) north to the WIS 26 interchange, to accommodate projected traffic increases.

The I-39/90 Expansion Project began in 2015 and the mainline project is currently anticipated to be completed in 2021. This does not include the I-39/90 and US 12/18 (Beltline) interchange, which is currently undergoing environmental analysis.

ROCKFORD

RU welcomes new dean of students

Rockford University President Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Randy Worden, D.Min., as Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.

He will have direct responsibility for the assistant dean of students, residence life, career services, Title IX, student activities and the health, wellness, and counseling center at the University.  

Most recently, Dr. Worden served as vice president and dean of student life at Fresno Pacific University since 2008 and has more than 25 years of professional student development experience.  He has also served at Northwest Christian University, Houston Baptist University, California Baptist University and Azusa Pacific University. 

During his career, Dr. Worden  has spent time as a career counselor, campus pastor, director of residence life and in other senior administrative roles related to student development and leadership. He has a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Seattle Pacific University, a master’s in education in student development from Azusa Pacific University and his doctorate of ministry in leadership from George Fox University.

A search committee vetted more than 45 applicants received from a national search before eventually narrowing their options down to three finalists. Campus visits for all candidates were conducted in late April. Worden will be relocating from California and assume his duties at Rockford University by July 1, 2018, which is the start of the 2018-2019 academic year.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–