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By TIFFANY BLANCHETTE
tblanchette@shawmedia.com
Longtime Daily Journal photographer Bill "BJ" Jurevich, of Limestone, has been behind a camera since attending Joliet Catholic High School in the mid-1970s.
The 23-year Journal staffer and eventual photo editor would go on to establish Image Group Photography in 1986 in Bourbonnais, as well as join Olivet Nazarene University as a professor of photography in 2001.
Jurevich has now curated a collection of 24 images from his life's work, titled Life Through the Lens: A Photographic Retrospective, which runs through Oct. 25 at the Victorian House Gallery, 577 S. Main Street in Bourbonnais.
While the Joliet native celebrates 25 years in his classroom home and 40 years as a business owner next year, Jurevich said his gallery is one of gratitude.
"I want guests to realize what a privilege it has been for me entering the lives of so many people in this community over the past 40 years," Jurevich said in his exhibition statement. "I have attempted to honestly portray moments, albeit private slices of life, which informed, entertained and possibly inspired the viewer.
"It is my hope that this show provides an open forum of discussion where the images serve as a springboard leading to a variety of questions with both the creative and technical aspects of photography."
The gallery will close out with an Artist Reception & Talk on Oct. 25, at 1. p.m. The gallery's hours are Monday through Thursday, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m.
Visit olivetartexhibitions.com for more information or call 815-939-5137.
The Artist's Bio
Jurevich began his professional career in high school, joining the photography staff at The Joliet Herald-News,
Jurevich said Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" was popular when he eventually received a Nikon camera and realized he "loved to take a photograph." Inspired and encouraged by his mentors, he attended Bradley University and received a bachelor's in science in photography, news writing and radio & television. In 1980, he was awarded the "Outstanding Graduate in Journalism."
While in college, Jurevich also worked as a commercial photographer and darkroom technician for a major Peoria studio.
Upon graduation, he rejoined The Herald-News at the request of his mentor, then city editor, Marx Gibson. Marx then became Managing Editor of the Daily Journal in Kankakee and hired Jurevich in 1981.
Jurevich was honored several times by The Associated Press, United Press International, Northern Illinois Press Association, Inland Press Association, National and Illinois Press Photographers Associations and The Chicago Headline Club, receiving The Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism in Photography five times.
Jurevich said the Daily Journal offered many opportunities, but none more important than the chance to meet his future wife. Nancy was a designer in the newspaper's advertising department and. in 1991, accepted his marriage proposal.
They are the parents of Jamie Bleyle and Annie Riley, both featured in the show. Annie is her dad's assistant at the studio.
BJ and Nancy reside in Limestone with their spoiled canine companions, Sammy and Willie, who also are featured in the show.
The couple has an interest in all things Frank Lloyd Wright. BJ is vice president of the Board of Directors of Wright in Kankakee, which operates The B. Harley Bradley House.
Jurevich continued his exhibition statement.
"My photography is based upon a traditional shooting style with a strong foundation of composition and a clear center of interest. The documentary images, uncontrolled moments in time, reflect my respect for the subjects," Jurevich said. "My commercial photography strives to be as technically perfect as possible while offering personal creativity pleasing to the subject.
"I have been blessed to see God's greatest gift, life itself, through an unfiltered lens where everything seems new one frame at a time."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2026 Contact Information: Katie Lewis (217) 525-8012 katie@ioaweb.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2026 Media Contact Information: Carrie Skogsberg carrie.skogsberg@countryfinancial.com
COUNTRY Financial and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) are providing an opportunity for local high schools to win $5,000 to benefit their athletic department and student athletes through the “Sport Your School Giveaway.” Individuals can enter their school to win through May 30, 2026. This is the second time COUNTRY has held the Sport Your School Giveaway. Staunton High School was the winner of the first giveaway, which ran during the first half of the 2025-2026 school year. COUNTRY has been a sponsor of the IHSA for more than 50 years and is the presenting sponsor for 40 IHSA state championships for various high school sports throughout the 2025-2026 school year. “COUNTRY has a highly valued, longstanding relationship with the IHSA,” said Nikki Johnson, vice president of marketing at COUNTRY. “Schools are the lifeblood of our communities, and we are proud to be part of bringing championship opportunities to students and communities throughout the state.” Learn more and enter your school to win. Learn more about the partnership between COUNTRY and the IHSA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2026 Media Contact Information: Bob Hubberts (847) 508-4995 bhubberts@firstillinoisrobotics.org
Chicago, Illinois – Creativity and science will come together this Saturday at the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Illinois State Championship at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois, where 56 teams of 9- to 14-year-old students and coaches will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community. The tournament is open to the public. The robot table competition portion of the event starts at Noon on Saturday, February 14th. More than 650,000 students in over 75 countries will participate in the FIRST® UNEARTHED season. Teams will have to program robots, using LEGO Education technology, to solve a set of missions on an obstacle course set on a thematic playing surface. For the UNEARTHED challenge students will unearth hidden treasures and piece together the past as they embark on this thrilling journey of discovery. Students will identify and research a problem related to the season theme and then design and create a possible solution. They will also identify a mission strategy and design, create, and code a robot to complete missions during a 2.5-minute Robot Game. The competition is judged in three areas: innovation project; robot design, and core values, which embody aspects of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Top robot game scores are also honored. FIRST LEGO League is an international program for 9- to 14-year-olds (ages vary by country) created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Group in 1998 to get students excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable career and life skills. Using LEGO® Education technologies and materials, students work alongside adult mentors to design, build, and program autonomous robots and create an innovative solution to a problem as part of their research project. After several intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. Like any other organized “sport,” teams also fundraise, create a team identity, and go on field trips. The tournament is being run by FIRST Illinois Robotics, a 501 c3 organization focused on delivering FIRST programs in Illinois. Contact us for a list of the area schools and youth organizations with teams participating in the competition. About FIRST® FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school, in structured after-school programs or by other organizations or groups of parents. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
### To learn more about FIRST programs in Illinois, go to www.firstillinoisrobotics.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2026 Media Contact Information: Christopher Weishaar Digital Public relations Specialist (515) 273-7140 cweishaar@studentloan.org
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (January 7, 2026) — Six high school seniors will each earn a scholarship valued at $1,500 through the 2026 ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship program. This program is sponsored by ISL Education Lending and is designed to make higher education more accessible while equipping students with essential financial literacy skills. Who Can Apply? All high school seniors attending school in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin are eligible to enter. No essay is required—making it simple and stress-free to apply. Parents Can Register Their Student Parents now have the option to register their student for the scholarship program, ensuring every eligible senior has the opportunity to participate. What Makes This Program Unique? Every participant will learn valuable financial literacy tips during the process, helping them prepare for life after high school. How to Apply Applications open on January 5, 2026, and close on April 30, 2026. Students and parents can apply online at www.iowastudentloan.org/Midwest. Winners will be announced in June 2026. Scholarship Details
Why It Matters “Student loan debt is a huge concern for new college students,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we provide tools and resources to help high school seniors plan so they can reduce the amount of debt they need to take on while achieving their education goals. Students sign up for a chance at a $1,500 scholarship, and we take that opportunity to share information with them about our free resources.” Additional Resources Available In addition to offering student loans, ISL Education Lending has other resources for families planning for college and for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. The Parent Handbook consists of valuable tips to help families of students in sixth through 12th grades prepare for success in college and other postsecondary options. Parents of students in eighth through 12th grades can also sign up to receive twice-monthly emailed tips on academic, college and career planning through the Student Planning Pointers for Parents program. The College Funding Forecaster helps families understand the total cost of four years of college based on a freshman-year financial aid offer. Information about these resources is available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SmartBorrowing.
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About ISL Education Lending Established in 1979 as Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, a private, nonprofit organization, ISL Education Lending helps students and families obtain the resources necessary to succeed in postsecondary education. ISL has helped nearly 400,000 students pay for college, offering student loans and other products under the name ISL Education Lending. The organization, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, also provides an array of borrower benefits, financial literacy tools and community reinvestment programs, including support for free college planning services for students and their families. For more information, visit www.IowaStudentLoan.org.
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