At a time when most of Galesburg’s councils, businesses and boards were run by men Ann Asplund had a seat.
Yesterday Carl Sandburg College dedicated their nursing building as the Ann Rhykerd-Asplund Nursing Building.
For years the pioneering business and community leader had supported the community college through gifts and scholarships.
CSC President Dr. Lori Sundberg calls Asplund a “trailblazer.”
“Her biggest commitment however was to education,” Sundberg says. “She believed in a college education and the power that it had. She also believed it was the ticket to a better life.”
Ann’s long time friend and a former college trustee, Leticia Shockner remembered Asplund as a witty, generous woman.
She talked about how they would meet weekly for coffee to talk about local and world politics.
She also shared how Ann loved to meet the recipients of her scholarship to learn how the scholarship had changed their life.
Her brother Charles also spoke. To his mind there couldn’t be a more fitting way to honor his sister.
Education was a passion of Ann’s he says, adding that practically everyone in the family are professors despite the fact that Ann and Charles parents never graduated the eighth grade.
When Asplund passed away in February she gave the largest gift in Carl Sandburg College’s history, $2.5 million.
