Skip to content
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • Falcon Portal
  • Technical Support
  • Give to SIC
  • Request Information
  • Apply Now
  • About SIC
    • ABOUT SIC

      • About SIC
      • Mission Statement
      • Academic Calendar
      • SIC Viewbook
      • Directory
      • Administration
      • Institutional Effectiveness
      • President’s Welcome
      • Connect With SIC
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES

      • Board of Trustees
      • Board Election Information
      • Board Minutes Archive
      • Board Policies
      • Contact the Board Chair
      • Public Notice
    • FACTS & HISTORY

      • Accountability
      • Facts and History
      • Financial Information
      • History
      • Legends and Lore
    • Maps & Directions

      • Maps & Directions
      • Extension Sites
      • Parking
      • District Map
  • Admissions
    • Admissions

      • Admissions
      • Transfer and Other Credit
      • Student ID Card
      • Parents Information
      • FERPA
      • Placement Testing
      • Recruiter Request
      • Future Students
      • High School Students
      • Why SIC?
  • Academics
    • Academics

      • Academic Calendar
      • Programs by Department
      • Program Curriculum Guides
      • Transfer Curriculum
      • Cooperative Agreements
      • University Partners
      • Adult Basic Education (GED)
      • Community Education
      • Library
      • Online Learning
      • Online Student Complaint Procedures
      • Faculty Handbook
      • Final Exam Schedule
    • Programs by Department

      • Applied Technology
      • Career and Technical Education
      • Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts
      • Math, Science, & Technology
      • Nursing and Allied Health
      • Workforce and Community Education
      • View All Programs by Department
      • Online Courses and Programs
  • Financial Aid
        • Financial Aid

          • Financial Aid
          • Cost of Attendance
          • Tuition & Payment
          • Student Loans
          • Student Worker Job Postings
        • Scholarships & Grants

          • Scholarships and Grants
          • Grants
          • SIC Scholarships
          • Fresh Start Scholarship
          • Foundation Scholarships
          • Outside Scholarships
        • Veteran Services

          • Veteran Services
          • Veteran Admissions
          • Federal Veteran Benefits
          • Illinois Veterans Benefits
          • Scholarships & Financial Aid
          • Resources
          • Tuition Assistance
        • Resources

          • Forms
          • Policies
          • Net Price Calculator
          • FAQ
          • Myths About Financial Aid
          • Don’t Get Scammed
  • Student Services
    • Student Services

      • Student Services
      • Academic Advising
      • Bookstore
      • Career Services
      • Disability Services
        • ADA Compliance
      • Fitness Center
      • Food Services
      • Illinois Worknet Center
      • Mental Health Wellness
      • Public Transportation
      • Records and Transcripts
      • Graduation
      • Housing Insecurity Aid
      • Recruiter Request
      • Voter Registration
      • Technology Services
      • Title III
      • Upward Bound
    • Student Success Center

      • Student Success Center
      • Perkins Services
      • Testing
      • Tutoring
    • TRiO Student Support Services

      • TRIO Student Support Services
      • What Is TRIO?
      • Program Eligibility
      • Program Services
      • Staff
      • Trio Events and Calendar
      • Student Resources
      • TRIO Director’s Page
    • Technology Services

      • Technology Services
      • Student Account Setup
      • Student Name Changes
      • Email Sync
      • Technology Policies
      • Office 365
      • O365 Account Transfer
      • Online Learning
      • Open Access Labs
      • Wireless Access
  • Campus Life
    • Athletics

      • Baseball
      • Men’s Basketball
      • Bowling Team
      • Golf
      • Women’s Softball
      • Volleyball
      • Official SIC Athletics Site
    • Competitive Teams

      • Falcon Archers
      • Clay Breakers
      • Falcons Faction of Gamers
      • Forensic Falcons
      • Model Illinois Government (MIG)
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
    • Activities, Clubs & Organizations

      • B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers and Sisters in Christ)
      • Circle K (Kiwanis) Club
      • SIC Community Chorus
      • SIC Community Jazz Band
      • SIC Concert Choir
      • Computer Organization
      • StrategIC
      • Diesel Technology Club
      • Math and Science Club
      • Nursing Club
      • Outfitter Wildlife Management Organization
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
      • Student Government
      • Theta Sigma Phi
      • Welding Organization
  • Community & Alumni
    • Community & Alumni

      • Community & Alumni
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Child Care at SIC
      • Community Education
      • Cosmetology Services
      • Children’s Activities
      • Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art
      • Outdoor Life at SIC
      • Small Business Development Center
      • Visual and Performance Art
    • SIC Foundation

      • SIC Foundation
      • Giving Levels
      • Giving Opportunities
      • Foundation Board
      • Donor Bill of Rights
      • SIC Foundation Strategic Plan
      • Privacy Policy
      • FAQ
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Contact Us
      • Community & Alumni
    • Give to SIC

      • Give to SIC
      • Giving Opportunities
        • A Gift of Life Insurance
        • A Bequest
        • Charitable Gift Annuity
        • Charitable Remainder Trust
        • Establish an Endowment
        • Estate & Planned Giving
        • Gift Acceptance Policy
        • Gift in Kind
        • Matching Gift
        • Memorial & Tribute Gift
        • Real Estate
        • Retirement Assets
      • FAQ
      • Give Now – Online Donation
      • Community & Alumni
  • Falcon Portal
  • Give to SIC
  • Technical Support
Apply Now
Request Info

SITE SEARCH

SIC>News>Southeastern Illinois College — A Year Later

All News

Alumni
Archery
Athletics
Basketball
Bowling Team
Clubs & Competitive Teams
Community Education
Esports - Falcons FoG
Events
Forensic Falcons
General
Hise Museum
Honors and Awards
MIG
MJOC-Child Study Center
Programs
SIC Foundation
Softball
Visual & Performing Arts
WISBDC

Southeastern Illinois College — A Year Later

February 26, 2013
Damage to ball fields.
Employee volunteers clean debris from the pond.
Overturned trailer in North parking lot.
One of many lost trees.
An SIC cleanup crew in the Harrisburg community.
Man-Tra-Con workers clearing debris.
Local garden clubs and friends replant at SIC.
One of Southeastern Illinois College's own associate degree nursing (ADN) graduates of May 2011, Jaylynn Ferrell, had her life taken on the morning of the leap day tornado. Ferrell had just begun her career as a registered nurse (RN) and was employed at Harrisburg Medical Center. A Foundation Scholarship has been established in Jaylynn's name to allow her to continue to contribute to the nursing profession by assisting others in achieving nursing degrees. Contact the SIC Foundation for more information. Picture from Harrisburg Medical Center's Memorial Garden.


–Repair and Replacement Work Resulting From Leap Day Tornado Almost Finished–

Less than a year ago, Southeastern Illinois College suffered considerable damage as a result of the 2012 Leap Day Tornado that devastated portions of Saline and Gallatin counties.  Nearly a year later, things are looking brighter for the college.

SIC vice president for administration and business affairs, Tim Walker, who oversees campus facilities and grounds, feels that approximately 95 percent of the recovery work has been completed.

Roofs damaged by the tornado have been repaired or replaced.  Most of the signs on campus that sustained storm damage also have been replaced. New scoreboards and bleachers on the softball and baseball fields have been installed, and new batting cages are waiting for warmer weather replacement. 

The flag pole, some guardrails, and a number of parking lot lights near the college’s main buildings have been replaced. Moreover, significant work on campus electrical systems and windows has been completed. 

Projects remaining include replacement of a semi-trailer used in the truck driver training program and replacement of the campus’ central message marque.

Following the storm, Man-Tra-Con, Corp., a southern Illinois-based company devoted to improving the economic health of the area, deployed a workforce crew to help clean debris from the campus and to re-landscape wooded areas affected by the tornado.  The project was completed in November, and outstanding results are readily seen at the northeast corner of the campus, making the area safer and more esthetically pleasing.

During December, Man-Tra-Con continued to help the college recover by awarding it a “ReLeafing” grant. The grant allowed work crews to replace wind-damaged vegetation not covered by insurance and helped beautify the campus at minimal cost to the college.

In addition, the Harrisburg Garden Club received a state grant to help with other landscaping replacements. 

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, vendors, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, volunteers, and the communities of our district for the physical work accomplished over the past twelve months. Our capstone project will be to once again fly the banners that display all of the core values that guide us in serving our students,” commented Walker. 

In remembrance of the Feb. 29 tornado, SIC’s student government will host a Leap Day Memorial Candlelight Vigil on the SIC Student Center Patio on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. This vigil is a memorial tribute to the lives lost and those affected by the Leap Day Tornado. Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg will be speaking. In the event of inclement weather, the vigil will take place on March 6.  For more information, contact Kellye Whitler at 618-252-5400, ext. 2486.

The student government has also proposed a student-sponsored tornado memorial to be part of the campus’ student center patio, which is currently under renovation.

“Southeastern suffered damage like so many others in our region, but like everyone else, we knew we had to get to work,” said SIC President Dr. Jonah Rice.

“That work was a tremendous effort by staff, volunteers, and others that accomplished more than just repairs.  It was also a healing process in the recovery effort of the devastation our area suffered.”

Rice added that “in reality, SIC has grown stronger externally as well as internally from the ordeal.  Our region has great perseverance and heart.  That will keep us moving forward in the future.”

###

Posts navigation

PREVIOUS
NEXT

START YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY AT SIC

Apply Now
SIC Campus

Tour Southeastern Illinois College

Check out our virtual tour of campus to get an inside look at all that Southeastern Illinois College has to offer. Want to see it all in person? Contact us today to visit our campus.

Visit SIC
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • 3575 College Rd.
    Harrisburg, IL  62946

  • info@sic.edu

  • 618.252.5400 / 866.338.2742

  • Maps & Directions

  • Accountability
  • Catalog
  • Consumer Information
  • Emergency/Security
  • Mission Statement
  • Library Resources
  • Accreditation
  • Academic Calendar
  • Course Schedule
  • Bookstore
  • Employment
  • Directory
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Supporting Our Veterans
Call for Art Proposals

Succeed. Inspire. Connect.

Apply Now
Request Information
Jul 7, 2025 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Career Exploration Camps for Middle Schoolers begin in Harrisburg
Jul 11, 2025 | 7:00 pm - 7:00 pm
"Annie Jr." by Jr. Falcon Productions
Jul 12, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 2:00 pm
"Annie Jr." by Jr. Falcon Productions
View All Events

© 2025 Southeastern Illinois College  |  Privacy Statement  |  Accreditation

Southeastern Illinois College