Irma Delgado, Admissions and Enrollment Assistant

“I was due for a change,” Irma Delgado, Blackhawk Technical College’s new admissions and enrollment assistant, said. “I wanted to get validation and prove to myself I could do more.”

Delgado, a Beloit native whose favorite season is fall, began working at Blackhawk on June 25. Before her current role, she worked in the Beloit School District as a paraeducator focused on English as a second language, or ESL. 

“I’m bilingual,” she explained, “Fluent in Spanish and English.”

Delgado and her husband recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. The couple has three adult children and four dogs.

John Larson, Career Coach

John Larson, Blackhawk Technical College’s new career coach, started on June 29. For the last three years, he worked for Rockford Career College as an Admissions Advisor. Prior to that, when he was a senior at Northern Illinois University, he interned with the Career Services department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Northern Illinois University, a certificate in nonprofit management, and a master’s degree in communication from Grand Canyon University.

Larson found his passion for working in higher education as an intern, which led him to the admissions role at Rockford Career College. There, he learned how to recruit students in higher education, gaining additional skills he now brings to Blackhawk. 

“I love helping people make that first step into college and helping them pursue a new career path. College really changes people’s lives for the better, so I love being a part of that important decision,” Larson said.

He grew up on a farm in Belvidere, Illinois, and now lives in South Beloit, Illinois, with his wife, Sara. The two have been married for nearly eight years and have a 5-year-old son named Jack and a 14-year-old Jack Russel/dachshund mix dog named Roxy. He’s an avid golfer and loves to be outdoors, especially fishing.

Samuel Tews, IT Network Engineer

Not only does Samuel Tews work at Blackhawk Technical College, he’s also an alumnus. The new IT network engineer began his IT career journey at Beloit Turner High School, where he worked in the IT department during the summer. During his senior year of high school, he began classes at Blackhawk in the IT Network Specialist program. He completed the program in 2024 and got a job as a systems analyst before returning to Blackhawk–this time as an employee. Tews started his new role on July 7.

“I have always been interested in and enjoyed tinkering with computers and networking, so it was a logical progression that I wanted to work in Information Technology,” Tews said.

Tews shared he is an avid bowler and once bowled a perfect game of 300! He also enjoys working on his vehicles and experimenting with new technology in his home computer lab.

Javen Murry, Academic Advisor

On July 13, Javen Murry joined Blackhawk Technical College as an academic advisor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in African American studies from Mississippi State University. He then completed a master’s degree in business administration.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people reach their goals and supporting them through challenges. Early in my career, I worked with students in K-12, mentoring and helping them overcome barriers to success. I realized I really enjoyed building relationships and being someone students could rely on. That passion naturally led me into higher education, where I can help students navigate college, connect them with resources, and celebrate their successes along the way,” Murry said.

He enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. Murry enjoys kayaking, listening to music, and winter trips to Utah or Colorado for downhill skiing are something he looks forward to. Murry’s playlist always includes the song “Change,” by J. Cole.

Heather Everson, Simulation Lab Specialist

Originally from southern California, Heather Everson moved to Winona, Minnesota, when she was a high school freshman. She attended Winona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in community health education. After college, she worked for the American Red Cross as the health and safety director, teaching CPR and first aid. Then her family moved to Beloit. There, she volunteered as an instructor for the Janesville Red Cross chapter until it closed. Next, she worked in her local school district. And on July 13, she started working at Blackhawk Technical College. 

“Being part of higher education combines the best of both worlds for me. It allows me to stay connected to education while helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals,” Everson said. “One of the things that excites me most about healthcare is that it is constantly evolving. There are always new discoveries, technologies, and best practices to learn, which makes the field both challenging and rewarding. I enjoy continuous learning and appreciate working in an environment that encourages growth and innovation.”

Everson has a personal goal to visit all 50 states, which is nearly complete. She has six states left to visit. Fortunately, her husband, Cory, and two children, Noah and Molly, like to travel. The family also enjoys going to sporting events and playing board games and card games.

Karli Kurth, Instructional Design Specialist

“I have a long history in K-12 Education in classroom roles–mostly middle school, so nothing really scares me,” Karli Kurth shared. Blackhawk Technical College’s new instructional design specialist, originally from Beloit, started Aug. 4.

Kurth earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from UW-Milwaukee, a master’s degree in education from Aurora University, and a graduate certificate in instructional design from UW-Stout. Her work in the classroom and as an instructional coach led to an instructional designer role. That experience led her to Blackhawk.

“I’m a teacher at heart, whether teaching middle schoolers how to be good writers or working with professionals to ensure best practices in teaching and learning or aligning outcomes with instruction,” she said. “Since I’m from the area, I welcomed the opportunity to work closer to home. I’m really excited about how Blackhawk has grown to meet the needs of our community.”

At home, Kurth and her husband, Dave, have two sons; one is a recent college graduate, and the other will graduate next spring. The couple also has a 6-year-old labrador retriever named Archie who loves treats and walks. She is unapologetic about her taste in music and said, “Is there an age limit on being a Taylor Swift fan? Surely not.”