Monmouth College's newest Family of the Year has left quite a legacy at their alma mater

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (10/20/2021) — Monmouth College's history is full of individuals who have attended the school, then spread the word about their beloved alma mater to scores of others, creating a "family tree" of sorts.

A family who fits that description will be honored during Homecoming festivities at Monmouth. For their efforts to help the College - from admission to retention, and from Alumni Board service to membership in the Loyal Scots Society for regular annual giving - the Sondgeroth family have earned this year's honor as Family of the Year, which they will receive during the Alumni Impact Awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22.

Byron Sondgeroth graduated from Monmouth in 1988, and perhaps the first person he helped to attend Monmouth was his younger brother, Brock Sondgeroth '97. Brock would eventually marry his Monmouth classmate, Kimberly Marty. Brock and Kim are both longtime high school teachers in a popular in-state recruiting region for the College - Brock in Mendota and Kim in Coal City. Surely, they've suggested their alma mater to some of their students over the past quarter-century, and surely some of those students have matriculated.

Byron and his wife, Suzie, also influenced the Monmouth decision of three other Sondgeroths - their sons Blake Sondgeroth '17, Lucas Sondgeroth '20 and Reid Sondgeroth '23.

And here's where the branches of the Sondgeroths' influence on that family tree really start to sprout. After graduating, Blake worked as an admission counselor for two years, with his primary role to bring new students to Monmouth. Lucas and Reid both served as Scot Ambassadors, charged with helping prospective students learn more about the school on their campus visits.

"Blake was a great admission counselor, good at connecting with prospective students and their families but also skilled at data mining and analysis," said Vice President for Enrollment Management Kristen English.

But the Sondgeroths' effect on her department go far beyond Blake's professional duties, said English.

"Suzie and Byron have also been incredibly helpful in support of our recruitment efforts. They have been so willing to assist with recruitment events and initiatives. And, of course, Lucas and Reid were also Scot Ambassadors. We are big Sondgeroth family fans over here in admission."

"The Sondgeroth family has shown their Fighting Scot pride through not just service to Monmouth College, but through a shared mission of the College to empower students to realize their full potential and live meaningful lives through education," wrote their nominator for the award. "Their careers in education represent a noble profession."

The superintendent for the North Pekin Marquette Heights School District in Illinois, Byron has also served as a high school Spanish teacher and middle school principal.

His brother, Brock, is equally passionate about his role as an art teacher.

"I believe as a teacher it is my duty to be there for every student to guide them to better themselves in any way possible," he said. "Art is full of life lessons - to never give up, to learn from our mistakes, to push through the hard times, to love what we do, to see things in a different light, and to open our minds to the unimaginable. It is my responsibility to demonstrate these traits to the students so they know that anything is possible if you work for it."

Although Suzie is not an alumna, she worked with her husband to establish the College's Parent and Family Council, serving as liaisons to the parent community and the administration. The council plans an annual fundraising project that is intended to improve the student experience and leave a lasting impact on campus. The Sondgeroths also offer advice through meetings with senior staff, roundtable events with parents, and helping respond to parent questions on the College's Facebook page.

"Suzie is often the first to chat with a concerned parent on Facebook with useful direction and encouraging words," wrote the nominator.

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