JeffStreet Senior Pastor Michael Mallick among four alumni to be inducted into the
Woodland Education Foundation Hall of Fame

 

[April 04, 2023] 

The Woodland Education Foundation of Woodland School in Streator announced four new members will be inducted into the Woodland Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees are Jan (Appel) Holmes, Kristine Metzke, Michael Mallick, and Jessica Wicks.

Jan (Appel) Holmes attended Woodland School throughout her primary education, graduating in 1977. She graduated from Illinois Valley Community College with an Associate of Arts in 1979. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Psychology from Western Illinois University in 1981; and her Master’s Degree in Human Development Counseling from the University of Illinois in Springfield in 1983. Jan is licensed through the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulations as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

Jan has been a Master’s Level Mental Health Therapist in the Bloomington/Normal, Illinois area since 1982. She has spent much of her career as a Therapist, Supervisor, and Administrator in the field of Child Welfare. Jan is the Founder of Heart Matters Counseling in Normal, Illinois. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma Informed Care, Theraplay, Shame and Vulnerability through Brene Brown, treating gambling and substance addiction, and as a Child Welfare Specialist. She is also certified as an Equine Assisted Psychotherapist (the use of horses within the context of therapy with individuals and families). Jan is certified as a trainer in both (TCI) Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and (CPI) Crisis Prevention Institute. Jan has served as an Adjunct Professor at Illinois State University teaching in the Special Education and Family and Consumer Science Departments.

For the past 6 ½ years, Jan has been self-employed in her own private practice, Jan Holmes Counseling. She Specializes in Mental Health, Addictions, and Shame Resiliency. Jan is currently enrolled in Martha Beck’s Wayfinder Certification Life Coach Training. She looks forward to being able to help a whole other population and organizations with the skills she is currently gaining.

Jan lives in Bloomington with her husband, Scott. They have three adult children, Michon, Jared, and Chad; two daughters-in-laws, Skye and Valerie; and three grandchildren, Luca, Theo, and Myla.

Jan is admired and respected by her colleagues for her passion, integrity, dedication, compassion, and commitment to help others. In addition to her amazing professional accomplishments, she treasures her relationships with her friends and family. She is never judgmental and loves unconditionally offering support and encouragement when needed. As her sister said “Everyone needs a Jan in their lives.”



Kristine (Tina) Metzke graduated from Woodland High School in 1983 and attended Parkland Community College after graduation. She received her B.S. Environmental Management with a Minor in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University. She received a Hazardous Materials Management Certificate from the University of California, Riverside. Other Certifications include Hazardous Materials Manager; ISO 14001 EMS Lead Auditor; Underground Storage Tank Operator – A, B, C; Class K Wastewater Operator-Illinois; Landfill Operator with Special Waste Endorsement-Illinois; OSHA 30-hour General Industry. Kristine was employed by Laidlaw Environmental as a Field Chemist/Project Manager in Los Angeles, CA from 1995-98; Carus Chemical, LaSalle, IL as an Environmental, Health, Safety & Security Specialist from 1998-2018; SeaWorld, Orlando, FL from 2018-2022.

Kristine’s career path has not been a straight line. She had the personal courage and strength to pursue her opportunity to move to Florida and Work at NASA. Kristine’s career change and her move to Florida are a testament to her character. Kristine has always excelled in her work and pushed the envelope by being actively involved in additional activities aimed at making things better, safer and protecting the environment as well to stretch herself and transform her career path.

She is presently employed by HSG/NASA, Kennedy Space Center, FL as Regulatory Compliance and Planning Manager. In this role, she is responsible for leading a technical group providing direct support to NASA.

Kristine and her team were involved in the recent Artemis I Moon Mission. There is so much more to it than just a rocket launch. The wastewater emitted from flushing the launch pad when a rocket takes off has to be monitored along with the wildlife species in the area both before and after launches. Kristine has been fortunate enough to assist in removing tortoises from their habitats near the launch pad to a safe location until after the launch. NASA is huge proponent of wildlife, flora and fauna and conserving these assets for generations to come.

Kristine grew up in Long Point, Illinois, the daughter of John and Lorraine Metzke. She is the youngest of three sisters, Kathy Missel (a 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee) and Karen Donnelly, a private attorney in Ottawa, Illinois.

Michael Mallick graduated from Woodland High School in 1983. He attended Lincoln Christian University from 1989 to 1993. He graduated with a BA in Christian Ministries majoring in preaching. He was ordained at the Central Church of Christ, Streator, Illinois on May 23, 1993. He attended Lincoln Christian Seminary and completed 6 hours toward a Masters and attended Johnson Christian Seminary with nine hours completed toward a Masters.

Michael has led congregations in Illinois, Florida, Oklahoma and Indiana. His churches have had from 15 parishioners to 500. Michael has impacted thousands of men and women over his three decades of service to the Lord. He has led several churches and congregations to gain financial success in becoming debt free. Michael is currently Senior Pastor at the Jeff Street Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois.

Michael shows love and kindness to all. He has mastered the art of humor and is able to connect with almost anyone making you feel special and important. This is a life skill that few are blessed with. Michael is an overcomer and he has faced each situation head-on and thrived in the process. This has allowed him to help others.

Michael currently is the vice chairman of the board for Kuki Christian Mission in Imphal, India and has traveled to Pinion, Haiti as well as Imphal, India to do mission work. Michael has completed several marathons and half marathons and multiple 5k races. He wrote a children’s book called “Puffy” in 2005 and is currently working on a second book called “Ochey.”

Michael is married to Beth (Bundy), a 1984 Woodland graduate. Michael grew up in Streator with his four siblings, Beth Glisson, Jamie Galyen, Rob Mallick and Amy Glisson, all Woodland High School graduates. Michael has two adult children Gabriella (Chris) Whitcomb and daughter Rowan; and Jonah (Morgan) Mallick.



Jessica Wicks is the oldest of four children. Her siblings include sisters, Jenna and Jordan and her brother Jared. She graduated from Woodland High School in 2001. She then completed dual degrees from Southern Illinois University in Radio/Television and also in Cinema/Photography. During her time at SIU, she played on the University’s Women’s Rugby Team.

After college she went on to travel the country for years working as a mobile marketing coordinator for Marketing Works, a company based in Chicago. It was during her time traveling that she met her future wife, Angie, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jessica pursued a career change and accomplished her Associates in Aviation Technology in Colorado and then went to train to be an air traffic controller at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. As it turns out, this was not the field for her and headed to Angie’s home state of Montana.

She began working for the county and soon became the union steward for the clerks at the courthouse and the election administration for the county. Once an opening for a business agent opened in the Teamsters Union she applied and began a new path fighting for worker’s rights. She became very active in labor issues and lobbied both at the Montana State capitol and also at the Nation’s capitol in Washington D.C. This involvement led to her appointment as Montana State Senator, when the previous Senator unexpectedly passed.

In her spare time, she began volunteering and training with the local search and rescue unit. She has been a major force in the extensive advancements the group has undergone in that time. She helped build a positive relationship with the local authorities and the community which was damaged before she stepped in to help rebuild the unit. Jessica has been certified or trained in avalanche rescue, ice rescue, Swiftwater rescue, wilderness survival, wilderness first responder, and various rope courses. She is currently serving her third year as the Commander of the Anaconda Pintler Search and Rescue that covers 741 sq. miles through the Beaverhead Deer Lodge National Forest and a stretch of the Continental Divide Trail.

Jessica has a never stop learning attitude and is not afraid to go out of her comfort zone. She is described as forthcoming, honest, true and works hard for what she believes in. Jessica has impacted everyone she knows in some way. She advocates for what is right. She pushes those around her to try new things; she pushes to not accept what is, rather to instead ask what if.

The four inductees will speak to the high school students at an assembly 2p.m. Friday, April 14. They will be formally honored at a dinner ceremony at 6 p.m. that evening at Mona’s in Toluca.

[Dr. Ryan McGuckin
Superintendent
Woodland CUSD #5]