Gov. Pritzker to attend late Sen. Bennett tree dedication

Oct. 2—DANVILLE — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will visit Danville Area Community College on Wednesday, Oct. 4 to pay tribute to the late state Sen. Scott Bennett during a Memorial Tree Dedication ceremony in Bennett's honor.

The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on the lawn south of Prairie Hall.

Pritzker will be one of the speakers, along with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon; Sen. Tom Bennett, Scott's uncle; and Scott's brother, Rob.

The public is welcome.

Bennett, 45, died unexpectedly in December 2022 due to complications from a brain tumor.

During his time in office, Bennett was a great friend to community colleges, and DACC in particular.

DACC President Stephen Nacco can recall countless occasions when Bennett participated in campus activities over the years.

"He helped dedicate Jacobs Hall and Hegeler Hall. He established a fund for student scholarships. He's been the keynote speaker for our PTK honor society. He hosted a number of town-hall meetings on campus. He led our students in campaigns to donate valentines for veterans as well as a campaign to donate books and dictionaries for inmates in the Danville Correctional Center. He's been an enormous advocate for Illinois colleges as the chair of the State's Higher Education Committee and a wonderful friend," Nacco stated through a press release.

As DACC Board Chair Dave Harby recalled, "Over the past seven years, Sen. Bennett made every effort he could to attend major events at DACC. He was always a welcome presence and staunch supporter of our students."

Betty Seidel had been Bennett's legislative aide and is currently the aide to Sen. Paul Faraci. In recognizing Bennett's longstanding love for DACC, she and Sen. Faraci wholly endorsed the idea of dedicating a tree on the campus. Faraci has been instrumental in facilitating event details with Senator Bennett's family and friends in Springfield.