Russell J. Poel Scholarship

Russell J. Poel was a professor of chemistry at North Central College from 1962 to 1988. A specialist in organic chemistry, Dr. Poel taught a full range of undergraduate chemistry courses at North Central College and was Chairperson of the Chemistry Department at the time of his death.

He was appointed faculty athletics representative in 1970 and he was elected to a four-year term as a Division III representative on the 46-member governing council of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1987. He was past president of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and he had served as the scoreboard operator for Cardinal football games and the official scorekeeper for men’s basketball since the mid-1990’s.

That same concern for academics and athletics, which Poel displayed on campus was also evident in the Naperville Community. He was president of the Board of Education of Naperville Community School District 203, past president and member of the Board of Directors of the Naperville Little League, a charter member of the Naperville Noon Kiwanis Club, and an active member in the Wheaton Christian Reformed Church.

The Russell J. Poel Scholarship Fund was established by the Poel family, friends, faculty and former students of Russell J. Poel as a lasting memorial to his long and dedicated service to North Central College.