David Chicoine

David Chicoine, University of Illinois vice president for economic development and corporate relations, has been awarded the 2001 Illinois 4-H Alumni Award for serving as a role model for youth.

Chicoine was honored during the 4-H Day award reception at the U of I Urbana/Champaign campus on Nov. 10. The award recognizes 4-H alumni whose contributions to society exemplify leadership, success in their careers and worthy community service.

Chicoine was reared on a farm in South Dakota. He graduated from South Dakota State University in 1969, received a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Delaware in 1971, a Master’s degree in economics from Western Illinois University in 1978 and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the U of I in 1979.

After earning his doctorate degree, Chicoine joined the U of I faculty as assistant professor and Extension economist, later becoming head of the Department of Agricultural Economics in 1988. In 1996, he was appointed dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

This year Chicoine was named university vice president for economic development and corporate relations. In this position, he is the university senior officer on economic development issues and lead adviser to the president.

Chicoine is the co-author or co-editor of four books and more than 100 academic journal articles, book chapters, reports and circulars. He served as a consultant and advisor on taxes, farmland property tax assessments and other public finance issues to members of the Illinois General Assembly. In 1999 he accompanied Governor George H. Ryan on a trip to Cuba and was a member of the trade delegation to South Africa led by Governor Ryan that same year.

He is a recipient of numerous national, state and university awards, and serves on several committees, including the University of Illinois Research Park Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the John Warner Bank, and the Foundation Finance Committee for Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Philip Francis

Illinois 4-H has selected Philip Francis, chairman, president and CEO of PETsMART, as a recipient of the 2001 4-H Alumni Award for serving as a role model for youth.

Francis was honored during the 4-H Day reception at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign campus, Nov. 10. The annual state award credits 4-H alumni whose contributions to society exemplify leadership, success in their careers and worthy community service.

Francis joined the Wesley 4-H Hustlers club in Will County, Illinois, in 1956. During his nine years as club member, he participated in cattle, swine, sheep and chicken projects and public speaking programs, and served as a livestock judge, junior leader and club president.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at the University of Illinois in 1968, and later earned an M.B.A. in marketing and management at Indiana University in 1971. He started his career at Eisner Food Stores in Champaign, and after 10 years, joined Jewel Food Stores in Melrose Park as vice president and general manager.

In 1985, Francis moved to Columbus, Ohio, serving as chief operating officer for Cardinal Foods. He later became president of Shaw’s Supermarkets in Norwell, Mass.

His community service efforts have spanned his career, with service to the United Way and various food banks. He also served as a 4-H leader in Mahomet and Naperville, Ill., and is active in church leadership and the Young President’s Organization.

As CEO of PETsMART, Francis relies on the skills and perspective he gained through 4-H. He credits his 4-H involvement for broadening his experiences, developing leadership and communication skills and forging in him a strong sense of community involvement.

Francis and his wife, Nita, reside in Phoenix, Ariz. They have four children.

Judith Hevrdejs

Illinois 4-H has awarded Judith Hevrdejs, journalist for the Chicago Tribune Tempo section, the 2001 4-H Alumni Award for serving as a role model for youth.

Hevrdejs was honored on 4-H Day, Nov. 10, at an awards reception at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana campus. The award recognizes 4-H alumni whose contributions to society exemplify leadership, success in their careers and worthy community service.

Hevrdejs joined the Sequoit Suzies 4-H Club in her hometown, Antioch, to participate in baking, sewing, flower arranging and photography projects. She later started a 4-H club for boys and called them the Sequoit Warriors. During her years in 4-H, she attended leadership camps and the National 4-H Congress in Chicago and developed expertise in giving food demonstrations.

She later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in home economics journalism. During her college years, she started a cooking column for college students in the Daily Illini newspaper.

In 1973, Hevrdejs joined the Chicago Daily News as an assistant to the food editor, writing stories about food, answering reader questions and drawing on her 4-H experience to help them solve their cooking problems.

When the Chicago Daily News folded in 1978, Hevrdejs joined the Chicago Tribune to write about food and restaurants, launching a restaurant-review column titled "Cheap Eats."

Several years later she relocated to Mexico City to edit a daily feature section for the Mexico City News and provided a live cooking demonstration show for a Mexico City TV station.

Since 1986, Hevrdejs has continued her career as journalist in the Chicago area, first as a free-lance journalist, and later as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. She currently reports on food, restaurants, personalities and social issues.

Throughout her career, Hevrdejs has volunteered to teach high school and college students. She spent several years as a volunteer with the Su Casa refugee center, tutoring and mentoring Central American refugees. Since her years in 4-H, Hevrdejs has encouraged others to "make the best better."

Douglas Wilson

Douglas Wilson, president of Douglas Wilson, Ltd., in New York, artist and interior designer, has been awarded the 2001 Illinois 4-H Alumni award for serving as a role model for youth.

Wilson was honored on 4-H Day, Nov. 10, on the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana campus during an awards reception. The award recognizes 4-H alumni whose contributions to society exemplify leadership, success in their careers and worthy community service.

The interior designer was raised in Broadlands in Central Illinois and attended the University of Illinois to study voice. Drawing on his background in theatrical arts, Wilson uses an artistic flair with paint, tinted plaster, colored pencils and unusual found objects to design indoor and outdoor spaces.

His public projects have included the French Decorator Showhouse, the Cancer Research Institute Showhouse, and the Showcase Home for the Millennium in New York. He has worked with leading designers Albert Hadley and Alexa Hampton.

Currently, Wilson is a designer for the new cable design show "Trading Spaces" on The Learning Channel. In the program, neighbors switch homes for 48 hours and redesign one room of the neighbor’s house, using a budget of $1,000.

Wilson’s work has been featured in national publications including Elle Décor, House & Garden, Homestyle, Design Times, and House Beautiful.