HOLLY SYLVESTER SCHOLARSHIP | Nancy Sylvester and Holly Sylvester

Contact: Nancy Sylvester and Holly Sylvester
Nancy and Jim Sylvester established the Holly Sylvester Scholarship for Students with Disabilities in 2017 and named it in honor of their daughter, Holly, who completed an Associate’s degree of at Rock Valley College.

JAMES A. SYLVESTER – 1947-2019
After graduating from Rock Island High School in 1965, Jim attended Augustana College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Jim moved to Rockford in 1969,married Nancy Jochim in1971, and and together they raised their two daughters, Marcy and Holly, here in Rockford. Jim worked in accounting for Coopers and Lybrand, Beloit Corporation, and Caron International, and in business development for RSM McGladrey, Inc. Jim worked as a real estate agent for Whitehead Realtors and in mortgage lending for First National Bank & Trust, Bank One, Todays Mortgage Source, Chase Bank, and Blackhawk State Bank. He opened his own mortgage loan company, First Mortgage Professionals, and opened two frozen custard stores, Jimmy’s Frozen Custard, in the Rockford area. His volunteer affiliations include Northern Illinois Score, Rockford Board of Realtors, Institute of Management Accountants, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Development Center, Seventh Street Redevelopment Association, Harlem School District, Rock River Homeowners Association, and Carpenters Place.

NANCY K. SYLVESTER
In 1971, Nancy married James Sylvester and together they raised their two daughters, Marcy and Holly, here in Rockford. Nancy taught Speech at Rock Valley College from 1070-2001. In addition to being a mother and an educator she is an active volunteer giving her time to numerous organizations over the years-Children’s Development Center Auxiliary, the Children’s Development Center, Rosecrance Auxiliary, Family Advocacy Auxiliary, the YMCA,the Junior League of Rockford, Rock River Council of Girl Scouts, Rock River Homeowners Association, the Robert’s Rules of Order board,and served as an ex officio member of Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce.