THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College Foundation is proud to announce a generous gift of $500,000 from John and Kay Shaner to secure naming rights for the college’s theater. In recognition of their support, the venue will now be known as the John and Kay Shaner Theater. DACC Foundation will host a public naming dedication ceremony on January 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the DACC Bremer Center, 2000 E. Main Street, Danville.
The Shaner family’s connection to the theater and to education runs deep. Kay Shaner devoted 34 years to teaching primary grades in Danville, shaping generations of students through her commitment to learning and community. Her appreciation for the theater began early through her mother, Izetta Kilbourne, who served as State Hospital Chairman for the VFW Auxiliary and sponsored numerous theater programs for veterans. Kay often volunteered alongside her mother, helping support those events.
“When the theater became part of DACC, I continued attending programs and performances for the community,” Kay Shaner said. “The DACC Theater is a very important part of the college. It gives the drama club and music department a place to present their programs, and those performances are shared with the entire community.”
John Shaner spent 44 years in design and manufacturing positions, beginning his career with Honeywell and concluding with 31 years at Hyster. His appreciation for the theater stems from attending a wide variety of events there over the years.
“I’ve truly enjoyed the events held in the theater,” John Shaner said. “It’s important for the college to have a gathering place like this. It brings back memories of my days at Illinois College and Bradley University, where the chapel was used for special speakers, student engagement, and community events.”
DACC officials expressed deep gratitude for the Shaner family’s generosity, noting that the gift will help ensure the theater remains a vibrant hub for academic, cultural, and community activities for years to come.
The John and Kay Shaner Theater will continue to serve as a cornerstone of campus life, supporting student performances, guest speakers, and events that connect DACC with the broader community.
The Shaner’s are also adding additional funds to support a forthcoming Robotics program that will offer an Associates Degree in Advanced Automation and Robotics. “John and I are very interested in the new Robotics program that will be offered at DACC. This is a program that will give students an entrance to higher paying jobs in the area that use robots. The training will be a breakthrough for the college,” Kay Shaner said.
For more information about the DACC Theater or opportunities to support the college, please contact Tonya Hill, Executive Director, DACC Foundation at 217-443-8772.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties, since 1946. The College offers Associate degrees and certificates in both university transfer and applied career and technical programs. DACC’s historic, 76-acre main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
