On Saturday, October 17th, four highly accomplished alumni will be inducted into the Monmouth-Roseville Hall of Achievement, along with one area citizen who will receive the Distinguished Service Award. Providing exemplary service to the students of the district, Joy Boostrom will be honored with this year’s Distinguished Service Award:
“I taught band for 33 years in Monmouth and then the consolidation of Monmouth-Roseville; fifth through eight grade band and in my last seven years of teaching I had fifth through twelfth band. I was the only band director. I retired in 2017, but go back to the school to accompany students for solo and ensemble contests. I play for the spring and Christmas programs at Central Intermediate, so I go back and help in those ways.”
Also being recognized alongside Boostrom include Dr. Jason Clark, Dr. Bradley Hennenfent, George Hennenfent, and Dr. Ann Lal. The Monmouth-Roseville Hall of Achievement ceremony, which is free and open to the public, begins at 10 am Saturday morning at the Warren County History Museum.
In addition to the Hall of Achievement, the Monmouth-Roseville Education Foundation also honor individuals who provide exemplary service to the students of the district and community. The 2026 Distinguished Service Award recipient is Joy Boostrom.
Joy is a former music educator who retired in 2017 from the Monmouth and Monmouth-Roseville School District #238 after 33 years of service. She has a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a master’s degree from Western Illinois University both in Music Education.
Since her retirement, Joy has continued to service Monmouth-Roseville music students from 5th grade – high school by being their accompanist for Solo and Ensemble Contest. This means hours of working with band and choir students helping them get ready for contest day. According to M-R Music staff, “access to someone with this knowledge base has helped ease the stress of the students as well as the directors who know they are getting great instruction. Without the continued support of Joy Boostrom, the success of the Monmouth-Roseville Music Department would not be possible.” Joy also continues to accompany the Central Intermediate School music programs, has assisted with beginning band try out nights for 4th graders and has filled in as an accompanist for the junior high and high school choirs.
Joy still remains an active musician throughout our community. She is an accompanist for the sanctuary choir at First United Methodist Church of Monmouth and is in their praise band. She plays trumpet in the Monmouth Civic Orchestra and the Monmouth Municipal Band (and current business manager). She is also a member and assistant director of the Buchanan Community Chorus.
Joy volunteers for the Rock Steady Boxing Class at the Warren County YMCA which is an exercise program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Joy has been married to Rusty Boostrom for 40 years whom she met at Central Junior High School before her first year of teaching in 1984.
Congratulations, Joy!
***Courtesy of the Monmouth-Roseville Education Foundation Facebook Page***
