Former Willowbrook teacher earns Outstanding Alumni Award

On Oct. 7, former Willowbrook staff member Brian Elliott received the School of Business and Technology Outstanding Alumni Award from Wayne State College during Homecoming at the Outstanding Alumni Awards Banquet.

Elliott taught in the Industry and Technology Department at Willowbrook for 28 years.

Laura M. Robinett, Director of Alumni Relations with Wayne State Foundation, said the Outstanding Alumni Award recipients are chosen by each of the four schools at Wayne State College. The School of Business and Technology chose Elliott to receive this award based on his success and dedication to his chosen field, as well as his excellent representation of Wayne State College as an institution that values academic excellence, student success and regional service.

Elliott graduated cum lade from Wayne State College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial technology education. He earned his Master of Science degree in education in 1979. Elliott retired in 2011 after a distinguished career as an automotive instructor at the high school and college levels. He prepared his students for competitions at the regional, state and national levels, and his teams won 50 state and regional championships. They also earned high rankings at the national level.

Throughout his career, Elliott earned many awards, including:

• Illinois Automotive Teacher of the Year by Valvoline Oil Company in 1989
• Most Inspirational Teacher Award from Western Illinois University in 1999
• Lake Park High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004