Connie Link Outstanding Mentorship Award

The Connie Link Outstanding Mentorship Award is named in memory of long-standing member and past president Connie Link The award is given to a teacher currently teaching (or retired) in Illinois who has taught speech, theatre, and/or English for a significant length of time (10 years or more). The qualifications for this award include distinguished service to the association and outstanding achievement in the profession, especially in mentorship of teachers and/or speech/theatre coaches and directors. This award recognizes outstanding mentorship toward new and current ICTA members, assistance in recruitment of new members to the organization and outreach to past ICTA members who are no longer active in the organization. The award recipient must have been an active member of ICTA for at least 5 years.

2024 Connie Link Outstanding
Mentorship Award Winner 

Jeff Przybylo, Harper College

Jeff Przybylo has been rocking the Communication Arts scene at Harper College for 30 years. As Professor of Communication Arts and Director of the Speech and Debate Program, Jeff has worn many hats; Department Chair, Dean of Liberal Arts, and winner of Harper’s 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Beyond Harper, Jeff has shaped the field as Past President of ICTA (currently Exc VP) and the National Community College Speech and Debate Association (Phi Rho Pi). For the past 20 years he has served on the Illinois Collegiate Forensics Association executive board.

Jeff teaches Public Speaking, Small Group Communication, and Intercultural Communication. A pioneer in classroom technology, he has recorded student speeches for analysis since his first day and was quick to embrace online learning. His courses are dynamic, interactive, and tech-driven… far from the “sage on the stage” model. Instead, Jeff sees himself as a coach, encouraging students to dive into leadership, teamwork, and peer coaching while mastering communication skills.

In 2002, Connie Link asked Jeff to meet her at the McDonald’s in Dwight, Illinois. Jeff figured it was just a friendly lunch. He had no idea he was about to be drafted onto the ICTA board. At the time, Connie probably couldn’t have imagined that the award would one day be named after her or that Jeff himself would be winning it in 2025. Looking back, Jeff says that free Big Mac and fries might be the most expensive meal of his life: it’s cost him 24 years of service on the ICTA board… and counting.

Whether in the classroom, at tournaments, or in leadership roles, Jeff’s mission has always been clear: innovate, include, engage, mentor, and empower the next generation of communicators.