Congratulations to the 2025 Galesburg-Augusta Inspirational Alumni Award winners, Joyce Henson, Jill Goodrich, Rodney Smith and the late Steven Erickson. Pictured (left to right) is Lena Erickson, wife of the late Steven Erickson, Kahlan Erickson, daughter of the late Steven Erickson, Joyce Henson and Rodney Smith. Kahlan is holding a photograph of Jill Goodrich.
By Bruce Rolfe
While they embarked on different careers, the message Galesburg-Augusta Inspirational alumni Award Recipients told G-A students and the audience at an awards ceremony April 18, had the same theme.
Their experience attending G-A Community Schools had an impact on their lives, and they reminded students accomplishing great things is within their reach.
Joyce Henson, Jill Goodrich, Rodney Smith, and the late Steven Erickson were the 2025 inductees.
Goodrich was unable to attend the ceremony. Erickson’s wife, Lena, and daughter Kahlan, accepted his award.
A 1973 graduate of G-A, Joyce Henson earned her degree at Adrian College. She began a 28-year career in the banking industry, rising to the position of Senior Vice President in the Trust Department.
While they embarked on different careers, the message Galesburg-Augusta Inspirational alumni Award Recipients told G-A students and the audience at an awards ceremony April 18, had the same theme.
Their experience attending G-A Community Schools had an impact on their lives, and they reminded students accomplishing great things is within their reach.
Joyce Henson, Jill Goodrich, Rodney Smith, and the late Steven Erickson were the 2025 inductees.
Goodrich was unable to attend the ceremony. Erickson’s wife, Lena, and daughter Kahlan, accepted his award.
A 1973 graduate of G-A, Joyce Henson earned her degree at Adrian College. She began a 28-year career in the banking industry, rising to the position of Senior Vice President in the Trust Department.
Henson said a music teacher and band director at G-A made a lasting impact by teaching life long lessons.
“My time at G-A changed me, not just in academics, but in charactor. Team work, effort and integrity. Even though I grew up in a small community, I always felt the G-A staff and the community here taught me and instilled values that prepared me to face the world,” said Henson.
Besides enjoying a long and successful career in the banking industry, Henson has been involved in her community, primarily with her church. She was the choir director, helped organize Bible School programs, held various offices in the church and helped out with other church related events. She’s assisted with many other activities such as birthday celebrations at Laurels, and she continues to help G-A students at all levels, She is currently the president for the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation as it provides scholarship opportunities for students.
While some view G-A as a smaller school district, she encouraged students to think big and not be afraid to make a difference.
“You don’t have to graduate from a huge school to thrive. What matters are the values you carry and the person you become. The world is just waiting for people like you. People ready to make a difference,” said Henson.
A 1992 G-A graduate, Jill Goodrich received a B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. in Business from the University of Phoenix. From 1999-2003, Goodrich was a financial analyst for First Data Corporation in Atlanta. From 2009-2013, while living in Amsterdam, Netherlands, she was an English second language teacher. Since 2002, Goodrich has been president and CEO of Xukor, a nationwide provider of employment screening and background checks.
Since 2016, Goodrich has served as the president & CEO of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, Georgia, which was reorganized under her direction and includes an active International Women’s division.
Retired G-A teacher and GAIAA Board member Ardis Cook delivered Goodrich’s speech.
Goodrich said her involvement with 4-H and having horses to take care of taught her leadership, discipline, determination, hard work and responsibility, which she said are transferable life skills she carried through her life and led to her personal success.
She said marching in an award winning band under Jan Edgerton and playing in the band at the Silverdome when the Ram football team played in the 1990 State Finals football game were some special memories.
She encouraged the G-A students to believe in themselves.
“One of the things that I would like to share with you, is you can do anything you set your mind to. Once you figure out what you want, take action by setting goals and work hard to make it happen. You don’t need to be perfect. Just do it. Show up and show out. Be involved in community events and activities because that’s how you build your network.
Your network is your net worth. When you’re looking for career advice, your first job or housing, you have so many people at G-A who want to help you. Your teachers, coaches,
counselors, family. They all want to see you succeed. They see the potential of your abilities and talents that you may not even recognize yourself. But it’s important to apply
yourself so that you can show up as your best self,” Cook read from Goodrich’s prepared statement.
“Don’t get stuck or fall into the trap that you can’t make it in the world because you’re from Galesburg-Augusta. You can make it, because you are from Galesburg-Augusta,” adds Goodrich in her statement.
Rodney Smith, a 1969 graduate of G-A, told the students and audience about the lines of work he has been in, going all the way back to when he worked in agriculture, playing for blues and rock bands as a musician, working at the paper mill in Parchment, and working at IBM where he enjoyed a very successful career.
Smith worked at Brown Paper Mill while putting himself through college at WMU. His B.A. was in economics and his master’s degree was in Computer Science. While at IBM, he held positions of increasing responsibility such as chief technology officer and chief strategist and vice president for emerging technologies. In 2003 he was awarded the designation of becoming an IBM Fellow, the highest honor achievable at IBM. In 2007, Rod received the WMU Alumni Excellence Award.
While working for IBM, Smith collaborated with the U.S. women’s cycling pursuit team to solve the problem of quickly accessing data about their performances ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. Smith’s 35 years at IBM made him a well-recognized technical leader. According to WMU News, “Smith enjoys a sustained record of achievement in the software business due to his ability to identify key emerging technologies well before they become mainstream.”
Smith and his wife Dr. Leslie Joyce are strong advocates for STEM and have established a Graduate Fellows fund at North Carolina State. He has been a mentor for WMU graduates working at IBM and for Georgia Tech students.
At G-A, Smith serves on the Board for the G-A Foundation. He recently developed an automated method for students to apply for scholarships and teachers to apply for grants.
He emphasized to the G-A students in attendance the importance of believing in themselves.
“When you start a career, think about where you want to be in the next three years. Recognize you’re valid and do not underestimate your ability, achievement and potential,” said Smith, who credits a special teacher at G-A for making a difference in his life.
Steven Erickson passed away in 2018. While his life was cut short, he left quite an imprint
Following his graduation from G-A in 2002, Erickson attended Ferris State University where he received a B.S. in Secondary Education. There, he met his wife Lena and together they shared the joy of a daughter, Kahlan.
Erickson loved the G-A School District and enjoyed his experience at the Sherman Lake YMCA camp.
Lena has shared that Steven “spent his life serving G-A schools” and the entire community. He served as a substitute teacher and was always willing to help or be a listening ear. He served an integral role in shaping and creating an alternative education program at G-A. He worked passionately to help struggling students to obtain their diplomas. “He accepted anyone and helped them with anything he could,” said his wife.
“When I learned about the Inspirational Alumni Award, Steve was at the top of my mind as someone who brought honor to G-A and was an inspiration to the type of life I want to live. Steve was overflowing with G-A pride and loved his community with every ounce. He was such a charactor but most of all, just a really good kind human. I was blessed to have had him in my life,” said his wife Lena.
“He loved this school system and the students in it. If he were here today he would encourage you to not give up on anything and live your life with kindness to both yourself and others,” adds Steven’s daughter Kahlan.
During the summers his focus was the Sherman Lake YMCA where he worked for 15 years, at one point creating curriculum for some of their programming.
Lorrie Syverson, who hired Erickson at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp in Augusta in 2003, said he was one of the most influential hires she has ever had.
She said Erickson quickly became a role model for staff and campers.
“I remember him coming to me the very first summer and saying, we need something special for those kids who don’t quite fit in,” recalled Syverson.
So he put together a creative writing seminar. The kids wrote their pieces and illustrated their work. He turned them into a book, had it published and the campers were able to take home a memory from their experience at the camp.
“My time at G-A changed me, not just in academics, but in charactor. Team work, effort and integrity. Even though I grew up in a small community, I always felt the G-A staff and the community here taught me and instilled values that prepared me to face the world,” said Henson.
Besides enjoying a long and successful career in the banking industry, Henson has been involved in her community, primarily with her church. She was the choir director, helped organize Bible School programs, held various offices in the church and helped out with other church related events. She’s assisted with many other activities such as birthday celebrations at Laurels, and she continues to help G-A students at all levels, She is currently the president for the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation as it provides scholarship opportunities for students.
While some view G-A as a smaller school district, she encouraged students to think big and not be afraid to make a difference.
“You don’t have to graduate from a huge school to thrive. What matters are the values you carry and the person you become. The world is just waiting for people like you. People ready to make a difference,” said Henson.
A 1992 G-A graduate, Jill Goodrich received a B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. in Business from the University of Phoenix. From 1999-2003, Goodrich was a financial analyst for First Data Corporation in Atlanta. From 2009-2013, while living in Amsterdam, Netherlands, she was an English second language teacher. Since 2002, Goodrich has been president and CEO of Xukor, a nationwide provider of employment screening and background checks.
Since 2016, Goodrich has served as the president & CEO of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, Georgia, which was reorganized under her direction and includes an active International Women’s division.
Retired G-A teacher and GAIAA Board member Ardis Cook delivered Goodrich’s speech.
Goodrich said her involvement with 4-H and having horses to take care of taught her leadership, discipline, determination, hard work and responsibility, which she said are transferable life skills she carried through her life and led to her personal success.
She said marching in an award winning band under Jan Edgerton and playing in the band at the Silverdome when the Ram football team played in the 1990 State Finals football game were some special memories.
She encouraged the G-A students to believe in themselves.
“One of the things that I would like to share with you, is you can do anything you set your mind to. Once you figure out what you want, take action by setting goals and work hard to make it happen. You don’t need to be perfect. Just do it. Show up and show out. Be involved in community events and activities because that’s how you build your network.
Your network is your net worth. When you’re looking for career advice, your first job or housing, you have so many people at G-A who want to help you. Your teachers, coaches,
counselors, family. They all want to see you succeed. They see the potential of your abilities and talents that you may not even recognize yourself. But it’s important to apply
yourself so that you can show up as your best self,” Cook read from Goodrich’s prepared statement.
“Don’t get stuck or fall into the trap that you can’t make it in the world because you’re from Galesburg-Augusta. You can make it, because you are from Galesburg-Augusta,” adds Goodrich in her statement.
Rodney Smith, a 1969 graduate of G-A, told the students and audience about the lines of work he has been in, going all the way back to when he worked in agriculture, playing for blues and rock bands as a musician, working at the paper mill in Parchment, and working at IBM where he enjoyed a very successful career.
Smith worked at Brown Paper Mill while putting himself through college at WMU. His B.A. was in economics and his master’s degree was in Computer Science. While at IBM, he held positions of increasing responsibility such as chief technology officer and chief strategist and vice president for emerging technologies. In 2003 he was awarded the designation of becoming an IBM Fellow, the highest honor achievable at IBM. In 2007, Rod received the WMU Alumni Excellence Award.
While working for IBM, Smith collaborated with the U.S. women’s cycling pursuit team to solve the problem of quickly accessing data about their performances ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. Smith’s 35 years at IBM made him a well-recognized technical leader. According to WMU News, “Smith enjoys a sustained record of achievement in the software business due to his ability to identify key emerging technologies well before they become mainstream.”
Smith and his wife Dr. Leslie Joyce are strong advocates for STEM and have established a Graduate Fellows fund at North Carolina State. He has been a mentor for WMU graduates working at IBM and for Georgia Tech students.
At G-A, Smith serves on the Board for the G-A Foundation. He recently developed an automated method for students to apply for scholarships and teachers to apply for grants.
He emphasized to the G-A students in attendance the importance of believing in themselves.
“When you start a career, think about where you want to be in the next three years. Recognize you’re valid and do not underestimate your ability, achievement and potential,” said Smith, who credits a special teacher at G-A for making a difference in his life.
Steven Erickson passed away in 2018. While his life was cut short, he left quite an imprint
Following his graduation from G-A in 2002, Erickson attended Ferris State University where he received a B.S. in Secondary Education. There, he met his wife Lena and together they shared the joy of a daughter, Kahlan.
Erickson loved the G-A School District and enjoyed his experience at the Sherman Lake YMCA camp.
Lena has shared that Steven “spent his life serving G-A schools” and the entire community. He served as a substitute teacher and was always willing to help or be a listening ear. He served an integral role in shaping and creating an alternative education program at G-A. He worked passionately to help struggling students to obtain their diplomas. “He accepted anyone and helped them with anything he could,” said his wife.
“When I learned about the Inspirational Alumni Award, Steve was at the top of my mind as someone who brought honor to G-A and was an inspiration to the type of life I want to live. Steve was overflowing with G-A pride and loved his community with every ounce. He was such a charactor but most of all, just a really good kind human. I was blessed to have had him in my life,” said his wife Lena.
“He loved this school system and the students in it. If he were here today he would encourage you to not give up on anything and live your life with kindness to both yourself and others,” adds Steven’s daughter Kahlan.
During the summers his focus was the Sherman Lake YMCA where he worked for 15 years, at one point creating curriculum for some of their programming.
Lorrie Syverson, who hired Erickson at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp in Augusta in 2003, said he was one of the most influential hires she has ever had.
She said Erickson quickly became a role model for staff and campers.
“I remember him coming to me the very first summer and saying, we need something special for those kids who don’t quite fit in,” recalled Syverson.
So he put together a creative writing seminar. The kids wrote their pieces and illustrated their work. He turned them into a book, had it published and the campers were able to take home a memory from their experience at the camp.
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