Bio coming soon.
Layna is originally from Galatia, IL, where she is a 4th generation agriculturist in her family. She comes from a diverse livestock operation background, mainly focusing on beef cattle and show pigs. Layna has grown up showing cattle nation wide and pigs competitively at the state level. She attended Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL. At Lake Land, Layna was a member of the livestock judging team and a student ambassador. After finishing her associate’s degree at Lake Land she continued her education at Oklahoma State University receiving her bachelor’s in Animal Science. At OSU, Layna was a member of the 2017 National Champion Livestock Judging Team and the 2017 Reserve National Champion Meat Evaluation Team. Layna has had numerous internships involved with the youth in the livestock industry including the National Junior Swine Association, National Western Stock Show, Oklahoma Youth Expo and American Chianina Association. After Oklahoma State University, Layna went to Kansas State University to study breeding and genetics in beef cattle; conducting genetic research and teaching undergraduate curriculum and lab instruction.. Since Layna has moved back to Illinois she has recently become president of the Illinois Club Pig Association, including organizing 10+ shows per summer with 250+ ICPA members to create a unified show circuit and coordinate with local producers and business owners in fundraising and volunteer efforts. She is a Fair Board Director at the Heart of Illinois Fair in Peoria, that includes planning upcoming events held at the fairgrounds and fundraiser/sponsorship for fairgrounds, fundraising and coordinating sponsorship for the county fair and events at the expo garden. Now, Layna now resides in Quincy, IL where she is the Agency Branch Manager for Gerard Fischer and Associates, LLC.
Coleman Engelkes is a 2016 graduate of Lake Land College where he played on the baseball team and earned an associate’s degree in Business Administration. After his time at Lake Land, he transferred on to Illinois State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness. Today, Coleman is a Commercial Loan Officer with Prairie State Bank & Trust in Charleston, IL. Coleman currently resides in Charleston, where he is a member of the Charleston Country Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Austin is a 2016 graduate from Lake Land College. He received his associates studying Agri-Business supply and Management while actively participating in the PAS Organization. Upon Graduating he transferred to Illinois State University where he received his Bachelors in Agri-Business Management and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and actively involved in the AFA Organization. Currently, he works at Total Grain Marketing, LLC in Effingham as the Rail Merchandiser and is involved in the family farm. Hobbies include traveling and spending time outdoors.
Kellie Niemerg works as the Foundation Awards and Corporate Relations Coordinator. She is responsible for managing the Foundation’s scholarship awards program, along with the coordination and management of Foundation grants. She attended Lake Land from 2008-2009 before transferring to Eastern Illinois University and graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She has been at the college since 2013 and has worked in both Counseling, Financial Aid and the the Kluthe Center in Effingham, IL. She received her Master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in College Student Affairs in 2016.
In 2021, she was recognized as a Top Community Leader Under 40 in Effingham County.
Kellie currently resides in Dieterich with her husband Craig, and their sons Henry and Calvin.
Amanda grew up in Louisville, Illinois, and is a 2003 graduate of Lake Land College. She received associates in business and transferred to EIU to further her education in business but opened Don Sol Mexican Grill in Mattoon with her husband and business partners in May of 2007.
Amanda is heavily involved in her community. She is a member of 100 Women Who Care Coles County Illinois since 2017 and serves on the Revolving Loan Committee for the City of Mattoon. She is also an active member of Mattoon Chamber of Commerce and served as the President of the Board of Directors from 2013-2014.
Amanda received the Mattoon Chamber Small business award in 2017.
Kelly Sager, is the President and CEO for HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, Illinois. Prior to Kelly taking that position on March 18, 2019, she had served as the Chief Nurse Executive for HSHS Southern Illinois Division and Chief Nursing Officer for HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois. Kelly began her career with HSHS as a staff nurse at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in 1996.
In 2014, Kelly received her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also has two bachelor’s degrees: one in organizational leadership from
Greenville College in Greenville, Ill. and the other in sociology from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill. She received her licensed practical nursing diploma in 1991 from Lakeland College of Nursing in Effingham, Ill. Kelly is a member of several professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders. She is also heavily involved in her community, serving as a board member for several charities and advisory boards.
Cassidy Strohl grew up in Neoga, Illinois, and is a 2016 graduate of Lake Land College. She received her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and transferred to Eastern Illinois University to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She is currently working remotely as an Account Manager with WebMechanix, a marketing agency out of Maryland. She actively participates in community activities such as serving as the VP for Neoga Partnership for Progress. She resides in rural Neoga and enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends, shopping, attending concerts, and traveling to new places.
Trevor Hendryx is from Shelbyville Illinois. He has grown up here since he was six years old. He lives and breathes Lake Land College and his passion will never die for this establishment. He attended Lake Land in 2017 but received credits as early as 2014 thanks to the dual credit program. He attended Lake Land College for so long not because he was a bad student or because he was taking the wrong classes, but because he loves to learn, and does not think he will ever stop. Since starting at Lake Land, he has been in several clubs and organizations including, Student Activity Board, the Navigator, and had the time of his life being the one and only Laker Louie.
GO LAKERS!
Carley Travis is a 2017 Lake Land College graduate. She served in many capacities while at Lake Land. She worked in both the Admissions Office and the Marketing and Public Relations department, served as a Student Ambassador and the Humanities Department Peer to Peer, and competed on the Livestock Judging Team. Carley transferred to Oklahoma State University where she obtained a degree in agricultural leadership. She currently lives in Oblong, IL on the family farm. Carley works remotely for Midan Marketing as an Account Coordinator, supporting the beef and pork departments at Tyson Foods.
Wes Wise is a 2003 graduate of Lake Land College. He graduated Cum Laude with an A.A.S. in Agriculture Transfer. Mr. Wise continued his education at the University of Illinois where he received his degree in Agriculture Education. He now works as the Agriculture teacher at Okaw Valley High School.
Mr. Adkins retired after working almost 33 years at Lenders Bagels. He is a member of the Mattoon Moose Lodge, the Mattoon Eagles, the Corn Belt Shrine Club and Wabash #179 Etna. He received his associates degree from Lake Land College in business.
Mrs. Cole is the Director of Data Analytics at Lake Land College. She is a member of Illinois Association of Institutional Research and a member of the Jack Oak Church of God in Greenup, Illinois. She received an associate degree in data processing from Lake Land College, a bachelor’s of arts from Eastern Illinois University and a Master in Management Information Systems at the University of Illinois-Springfield. Cole and her husband, Dan, have two sons, Colin and Andrew.
Cassie is from Crescent City, IL, and is also majoring in Agriculture Education as an Ag Transfer Student. She plans to attend Southern Illinois University- Carbondale to major in Agriculture Education. Once she graduates she plans to be a high school agriculture teacher/ FFA Advisor. Cassie is the 2020-2021 Student Government Association Vice President, a member of the Agriculture Transfer Club, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. She also attended the 2020 Study Abroad Trip to Belize.
Hannah is from Altamont, IL majoring in Agriculture Education as an Ag Transfer student. After Lake Land, she will attend the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign to complete her degree in Agriculture Leadership and Science Education with an endorsement in both science and 6-8th grade education. Following graduation, she will begin a career as a high school agriculture educator and FFA advisor somewhere in central Illinois while working to earn a Master’s Degree. Hannah is a student ambassador, an officer of the Lake Land Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter, a member of the Agriculture Transfer Club, and she works in the college Admissions Office as a Data and Records Entry Assistant.