The Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership honored its 2008 graduates with a reception in Chicago on December 4^th. 

The cocktails & hors d'oeuvres graduation event was held at the Jenner & Block offices on the 40^th floor of the IBM building in Chicago. Among the Class of 2008 is Yorkville resident Robyn Sutcliff, who is the Kendall County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) Treasurer and Yorkville Alderman, Ward 3. On hand to honor the IWIL Class of 2008 were IWIL board members Loretta Durbin, Dawn Clark Netsch (former IL Comptroller), Linda Chapa LaVia (State Rep. 83rd), Lisa Madigan (Attorney General), and Barbara Brown (Circuit Clerk of Randolph County). Others honoring the graduates were Sen. Richard Durbin, Jesse White (IL Secretary of State), Jan Schakowsky (IL 9 Congresswoman), Tammy Duckworth (Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs), Alex Arroyo (Aurora Democrats Chairman), Elizabeth Penesis (14^th Congressional District Democratic State Central Committeewoman & former IWIL graduate), Valerie Burd (Mayor of Yorkville), Mary Schneider, and Kendall County Democrats Chuck Sutcliff (KCDCC Chairman & Bristol 6 Precinct Committeeman), Kelly Pfarrer (KCDCC Secretary & Bristol 11 Precinct Committeeman), William Pfarrer (KCDCC Sgt. at Arms), and Robyn’s mom Peg and brother Mike. 

The KCDW thanks the IWIL for their support of Democratic women in politics, and for including Robyn in the class of 2008. The IWIL has many more applicants than spots available each year and acceptance into their program is an honor. Congratulations to Robyn. Kendall County Democratic women are well represented by her. IWIL is an educational (501[C][4]) organization that exists to encourage and train women to become effective leaders in Illinois government and politics. To learn more about IWIL visit http://www.iwilinfo.org/.