Beckman Becomes Part of Family’s Academic Tradition
Joella Koss in 1988, 2004, and 2008
For more than 20 years, the Beckman Institute has been a part of a Koss family tradition when it comes to academic milestones. As a 7-year-old, Joella Koss had per picture taken at Beckman’s first public open house for visitors, held five months before the Institute had its official opening in April of 1989.
Joella’s mother, Janier Koss, said the setting for the photo began a tradition that continues to this day.
“The statue of Arnold Beckman just seemed like a logical place to take a picture,” Janier said. “My father and I and a lot of my family worked at the University at that time and education has always been a priority for us. I remember telling Joella and (her brother) Jason that when they graduated from the U. of I. we would come back and take another picture of them by Mr. Beckman.”
True to her word, the Koss family has marked graduations with a photo next to the Arnold Beckman statue in the Beckman Institute rotunda over the years. When Joella graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Animal Sciences in 2004 and from the Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2008 she had her picture taken next to Arnold’s statue.
Janier Koss said it was always expected that her children would attend the University of Illinois, where she works for the Global Campus. Joella was in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and Jason is currently enrolled in that unit, so they did not work at the Beckman Institute. But Jason, who first had his picture taken by Arnold’s statue while in a stroller, will be next in line to carry on the tradition.
“(Joella) never had the opportunity to work in a lab at Beckman, but I would take her and Jason there for lunch about once a year when we were in town during the week and remind them that we would come back to take their picture with Mr. Beckman when they graduated,” Janier said.