By Bruce Rolfe
Many graduates leave the area to start their careers, families or for other opportunities.
However a Galesburg woman has chosen to make an impact in her community by remaining home.
Joyce Henson, one of four recipients of the Galesburg-Augusta Inspirational Alumni Award at a ceremony April 18 at G-A High School, was active in the community during a 28-year career in the banking industry and continues to be a positive influence today.
A 1973 graduate of G-A, Henson beams with maroon and gold pride.
Her support for the community and G-A School District has been on full display for many years.
She graduated from Adrian College with a music degree and intended to be a teacher in the late 1970s. However at the time, teacher cuts were common due to budget challenges in many school districts. So she started working in the banking industry at a local bank that has had four names over the years - First National Bank, First of America, National City Bank and PNC.
She ascended to the position of senior vice president in the Trust Department.
When she was working, Henson assisted several G-A graduates who sought work at the bank, including “a couple who ended up being full time employees and are still there today.”
Over the course of a 28-year career in the banking industry, she maintained a desire to be 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.
After she retired, she wanted to devote more time helping out the G-A School District and getting involved in the community she grew up in.
“I’m all about supporting schools. It’s so important to let our kids know that people care about them,” said Henson.
She’s helped out with birthday celebrations at the Laurels assisted living home. During the pandemic, she made over 1,000 masks for students, and medical offices that required a mask. Periodically, she also makes quilted lap robes for the cancer center.
She continues to help G-A students at all levels and she’s been ambitious when it comes to helping teachers as well.
She’s helped G-A seniors write college essays and has been a regular volunteer helping students in the lower grades. She is currently a reading buddy, working on reading skills
with two kindergarten and two first grade students once a week.
Each fall, for approximately the last 10 years (except during covid), Henson has worked with students in the first grade making apple sauce.
She said the project started when the students helped her make apple pies in Mrs. Rekis’ class before she switched to making apple sauce for all first grade classes.
She is currently the president for the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation that provides scholarship opportunities for students and classroom grant opportunities for teachers. Working in the trust department and with non-profit organizations in her banking career made Henson a great resource to offer some valuable insight to the G-A Community Schools Foundation.
She’s very happy how the foundation has grown with fund raising events, noting the G-A Schools Foundation is expected to award approximately $38,000 in scholarships for students this year. She adds approximately $10,000 of the Foundation money awarded each year is for classroom grants that allows teachers to bring projects into the classroom that benefit students.
Henson said the teachers and experiences she had at G-A had a positive impact on her, and she sees many of those same qualities today.
“The teachers really care about the kids. They do so much stuff in their classrooms to make it fun and make it a good learning environment. I totally enjoyed my time in school,” said the long time Galesburg resident who resides in the house she grew up in.
She has attended G-A football and basketball games since she was very young, recalling she enjoyed supporting her cousins who played multiple sports at G-A. She continues to show support today, attending by G-A athletic and musical events often.
Her mother Barbara, was a teacher in the Comstock School District and her father Ralph, was a G-A School Board member for many years.
Many graduates leave the area to start their careers, families or for other opportunities.
However a Galesburg woman has chosen to make an impact in her community by remaining home.
Joyce Henson, one of four recipients of the Galesburg-Augusta Inspirational Alumni Award at a ceremony April 18 at G-A High School, was active in the community during a 28-year career in the banking industry and continues to be a positive influence today.
A 1973 graduate of G-A, Henson beams with maroon and gold pride.
Her support for the community and G-A School District has been on full display for many years.
She graduated from Adrian College with a music degree and intended to be a teacher in the late 1970s. However at the time, teacher cuts were common due to budget challenges in many school districts. So she started working in the banking industry at a local bank that has had four names over the years - First National Bank, First of America, National City Bank and PNC.
She ascended to the position of senior vice president in the Trust Department.
When she was working, Henson assisted several G-A graduates who sought work at the bank, including “a couple who ended up being full time employees and are still there today.”
Over the course of a 28-year career in the banking industry, she maintained a desire to be 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.
After she retired, she wanted to devote more time helping out the G-A School District and getting involved in the community she grew up in.
“I’m all about supporting schools. It’s so important to let our kids know that people care about them,” said Henson.
She’s helped out with birthday celebrations at the Laurels assisted living home. During the pandemic, she made over 1,000 masks for students, and medical offices that required a mask. Periodically, she also makes quilted lap robes for the cancer center.
She continues to help G-A students at all levels and she’s been ambitious when it comes to helping teachers as well.
She’s helped G-A seniors write college essays and has been a regular volunteer helping students in the lower grades. She is currently a reading buddy, working on reading skills
with two kindergarten and two first grade students once a week.
Each fall, for approximately the last 10 years (except during covid), Henson has worked with students in the first grade making apple sauce.
She said the project started when the students helped her make apple pies in Mrs. Rekis’ class before she switched to making apple sauce for all first grade classes.
She is currently the president for the Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Foundation that provides scholarship opportunities for students and classroom grant opportunities for teachers. Working in the trust department and with non-profit organizations in her banking career made Henson a great resource to offer some valuable insight to the G-A Community Schools Foundation.
She’s very happy how the foundation has grown with fund raising events, noting the G-A Schools Foundation is expected to award approximately $38,000 in scholarships for students this year. She adds approximately $10,000 of the Foundation money awarded each year is for classroom grants that allows teachers to bring projects into the classroom that benefit students.
Henson said the teachers and experiences she had at G-A had a positive impact on her, and she sees many of those same qualities today.
“The teachers really care about the kids. They do so much stuff in their classrooms to make it fun and make it a good learning environment. I totally enjoyed my time in school,” said the long time Galesburg resident who resides in the house she grew up in.
She has attended G-A football and basketball games since she was very young, recalling she enjoyed supporting her cousins who played multiple sports at G-A. She continues to show support today, attending by G-A athletic and musical events often.
Her mother Barbara, was a teacher in the Comstock School District and her father Ralph, was a G-A School Board member for many years.
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