Laker Nation News

Graduating nurses received their pins at the 2025 Lake Land College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) pinning ceremony.

Several students received awards and special recognition during the ceremony.

The Associate Degree Nurse Program Peer Awards were presented to Rena Hershberger, Sullivan; Brandon Stone, Paris; and Dustin Lowry, Charleston; for exhibiting excellence in the classroom with professionalism and care.

The Patient Advocate Award was presented to Jarrad Walters-Chester, Effingham, for displaying professionalism and compassionate care in the ADN program.

Lexi Will, Teutopolis, received the Clinical Excellence Award for displaying professionalism, confidence and clinical excellence in the ADN program.

Kyle Repking, Dieterich, and Bailey Carter, Atwood, were recognized as the Student Liaisons of the class of 2025, serving as positive representatives of the ADN program.

Carter also received the Marilyn Fuqua Thompson Nursing Award, presented each year to the graduate selected by faculty as the all-around best student in the class. The award recognizes professionalism, responsibility, wise decision-making, compassion, dedication, superior technical skills, strong scientific knowledge and composure in class and clinical experiences. Carter’s name will be engraved on a plaque that is located in the nursing lab in Neal Hall.

The following students received pins at the ceremony:

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Lake Land College dental hygiene graduates received their pins at the annual pinning ceremony. Several students received scholarships or awards during the ceremony.

Kylie Miller, Assumption, and Sydney Miller, Vandalia, were recognized for receiving the Linda Lee Fletcher Scholarship earlier this year.

Abria Herron, Vandalia, received the Colgate Student Total Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award, which is offered to a graduating student who shows excellence and commitment to the hygiene profession and exhibits extraordinary compassion in patient care.

Herron was also recognized for receiving the Heartland Dental Scholarship.

Mackenzie Fonner, Effingham, received the Best Dental Hygienist Award, which was voted on by students in the program.

Emily Stern, Ashley, received the Golden Scaler Award for demonstrating advanced skills in instrumentation.

The following students were pinned during the ceremony:

Dental Hygiene is a special admission program at Lake Land College. The program prepares students with specialized skills necessary for employment as a dental hygienist. Emphasis is on dental hygiene treatment and on the hygienist’s abilities as a dental health educator. The hygienist’s services are sought by dentists, schools, prisons, hospitals, departments of health and industry. The dental hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

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Lake Land College recently recognized Emergency Medical Services (EMS) graduates at an annual pinning ceremony. During the event, several students received awards for their outstanding performance in the program.

The Academic Achievement award went to James Owen, Mattoon, for earning the highest score in the program.

Jacey Probst, Greenup, earned the Perseverance Award for overcoming obstacles to succeed in the program.

The Professional Development award for growth in skills and confidence went to Colton Dodson, Mattoon.

The Bumble Bee Award for untapped potential went to Kimberly Hippard, Tower Hill.

The Shirley Sherwood Award for Excellence in EMS education went to Kristin Hawker, Pana.

The following graduates were pinned at the ceremony:

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Several Lake Land College broadcast communication students recently earned certification as broadcast sales professionals.

The students who earned their certificates are Casey Bence, Charleston; Ethan Cortez, Defiance, Missouri; Bennett Green, Herrick; Gaige Schlanser, Effingham; Aaron Tardy, Mattoon and Krayten Willison, Oakland.

The students will be honored with a photo and plaque displayed alongside previous year’s students in the Broadcast Communication Facility in the Northwest Building.

The broadcast sales professional certification is a nationally-recognized credential, qualifying students to work as highly-coveted broadcast sales professionals. The students earned their certifications as part of the Lake Land College broadcast sales class, instructed by Broadcasting Communication Instructor Greg Powers.

“This certificate demonstrates our students’ mastery of broadcast sales and makes them highly marketable to potential employers,” Powers explained.

The students earned the broadcast sales professional certificate by completing a four-week course from P1 Learning, a nationally-recognized company that administers training in the topics of sales, leadership, management, on-air, compliance and more for hundreds of broadcast stations, corporations and state broadcaster associations. Lake Land College offers students the P1 course in partnership with the Illinois Broadcaster Association (IBA) Sales Training Program, with the IBA funding the training.

“I would like to thank IBA President and CEO Dennis Lyle as well as the IBA board for this partnership,” Powers said. “Their financial support is creating remarkable career opportunities for our students.”

To learn more about Lake Land College’s Broadcast Communication program, contact Powers at 217-234-5335. More information is also available online by visiting the Lake Land College broadcast program page at LakeLandCollege.edu/High-Demand-Programs/Radio-TV-Broadcasting or the WLKL page at 899TheMax.com.

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During the regular May meeting, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved a partnership with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Eastern Illinois University. Under the agreement, Lake Land will provide space in the new Effingham Technology Center for the SBDC to provide its services in the Effingham community.

Hosted by the Eastern Illinois University Lumpkin College of Business & Technology, the SBDC provides free, in-person advising and affordable training to support local start-ups and small businesses with planning, funding, marketing and more. It is grant-funded on the state level by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and federally by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The EIU SBDC serves eight Illinois counties and is one of many SBDCs assisting small businesses across the nation. Collectively, these organizations support one million business owners nationwide every year.

By partnering with Lake Land College and leasing space in the Effingham Technology Center, the EIU SBC looks to expand its reach moving forward.

“We pursued an SBDC and this newer satellite center for Effingham County to support business and economic development of the region,” said Austin Cheney, Dean of the Lumpkin College of Business & Technology. “I’m thrilled with the partnership formed and grateful to Lake Land College for providing space in the beautiful, newly renovated Effingham Technology Center!”

The Effingham Technology Center is a 100,000-square-foot building that was acquired by Lake Land in 2023 with the goal of expanding educational programs and college class offerings in the Effingham area. The space available in the facility also presents new opportunities for the College to create partnerships with local organizations. Under the agreement, the College will lease space at no cost to the SBDC in the new Effingham Technology Center.

“One of the priorities outlined in our strategic plan is to leverage partnerships just like this to support the local workforce,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We’re excited to work with a wonderful organization like the SBDC that shares our commitment to strengthening our communities.”

The SBDC is one of three Lake Land College partners that will host operations in the Effingham Technology Center. The building also houses the operations of Patterson Companies as well as the Effingham-based Creating Opportunities for Regional Employment (CORE) Academy.

More information about the Small Business Development Center is available on the Eastern Illinois University website at EIU.edu/SBDC.

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The Lake Land College Lakers Baseball team defeated Iowa Western Community College on Saturday, May 17 to win the NJCAA Division I Midwest District Championship.

After losing the first game in the tournament, the Lakers rallied to win four straight, including a thrilling 19-18 victory over Southwestern Illinois and back-to-back wins over Iowa Western to clinch the championship.

With the championship victory, Lake Land secured an appearance in the NJCAA Division I World Series. The tournament begins Saturday, May 24 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Entering the World Series Tournament for the first time since 1988, the Lakers will look to continue one of the most successful baseball seasons in school history. The team currently holds an overall record of 42-18, including a record of 21-9 in region play. Earlier in May, Lake Land won its first Region XXIV (A) Championship since 1998 with a victory over John A. Logan College.

The 2024-2025 Lake Land College baseball team is comprised of the following student athletes:

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The Lake Land College Lakers Softball team defeated John A. Logan College on Sunday, May 11 to win the Region XXIV and Central District Championships.

With the victory, the Lakers officially claimed a spot in the NJCAA Softball World Series national tournament. The Lakers were named the 15 seed in the tournament and will face Rose State College in the opening round on Monday, May 19 at 2:30 p.m. CT in Yuma, Arizona.

The game will be available to stream live on the NJCAA Network website at NJCAA.org/Network/Landing/Index.

In Yuma, the Lakers softball team will look to continue an impressive season. The team currently boasts an overall record of 45-18, including a record of 35-9 in region play.

The 2024-2025 Lake Land College softball team is comprised of the following student athletes:

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Lake Land College recently hosted its fourth annual Spring Art Show. The show included submissions from students, staff, faculty and artists throughout the Lake Land community.

All submissions were displayed in the Luther Student Center from April 21-25. During the week, spectators voted for their favorite submissions in a number of categories, and the winners were announced during a closing ceremony.

Lauren Hosfield, Casey, received the Best in Show Award for “Untitled.”

The awards for Most Ambitious went to Breeze Corda, Charleston, for “The Shelly Art Museum,” Kelly Cothern, Mattoon, for “Snowgrave” and Emma Fraser, Neoga, for “Elephant and River.”

The awards for Most Impactful went to Jesse Horton, Sullivan, for “On the Run,” Layla Ballard, Mattoon, for “Thank You for the Music” and Jennifer Uthell, Teutopolis, for “A World with Color.”

The awards for Most Thought-Provoking went to Sarah Thomas, Mattoon, for “Making a Difference” and Sarah Housh, Charleston, for “Making a Small Difference.”

“We are once again awed by the talent showcased year after year in this exhibition,” Mercury Bowen, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, said. “It is so exciting to see the show continue to grow and to have the opportunity to see the exceptional abilities of our incredible Laker community.”

The following is the full list of artists who participated in the Lake Land College Spring 2025 Art Show:

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees recently nominated Kerry Fisher, Shelbyville, for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award.

A Lake Land College graduate, Fisher now serves as an Allied Health Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA) Adjunct Faculty Member. With nearly 40 years of nursing experience, she provides innovative instruction that engages students, encompasses diverse learning needs and offers practical opportunities for real-world application. She equips her students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful nurses while also stressing compassion and empathy as they care for their communities.

Fisher is a team player who collaborates with her Lake Land College peers as well as members of the Illinois Department of Public Health. These efforts contribute to the College’s mission of aligning curriculum with changing healthcare trends, which better prepares students for immediate career success.

“Kerry’s exceptional instruction and innovative spirit are instrumental to the success of our students and to the strength of our institution,” Vice President for Academic Services Ike Nwosu said. “It is our honor to recognize her contributions to our nursing programs and to our College as a whole by nominating her for this award.”

The ICCTA Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award is presented annually to a part-time instructor at an ICCTA member college. Fisher’s nomination will be considered among 21 statewide nominees, with the recipient announced at the ICCTA Awards Banquet on June 6 in Normal. For more information about the award, visit the ICCTA website at CommunityColleges.org/ICCTA-S-Awards-and-Scholarships.

To learn more about Lake Land College nursing programs, contact Division Chair Allied Health/Nursing Instructor Erin Swingler at 217-234-5448 or eswingler@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16 beginning at 6 p.m. in the campus Field House.

The College is implementing a wristband admission system to ensure all graduates are able to have their loved ones present in the Field House during the ceremony. Each graduate will receive four wristbands to share with the guests of their choice. Each guest must present a wristband to enter the Field House for the graduation ceremony. Wristbands will be available for students to pick up at the Admissions & Records Office in the Luther Student Center from May 12-16.

For all guests without wristbands, the ceremony will be streamed in the Luther Student Center Theater and the Foundation & Alumni Center. Seating in these venues will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony will also be streamed live on the College’s home page: LakeLandCollege.edu.

Doors to the Field House will open at 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Parking near the Field House will be available in lots A and B. Guests who will be viewing the graduation livestream in the Luther Student Center Theater or the Foundation & Alumni Center are encouraged to park in lots B or E.

Any guests in need of accessible seating accommodations in the Field House can complete the Accessible Seating registration at LakeLandColllege.edu/Admissions/Graduation. The deadline to submit the accessible seating registration form is Monday, May 12. Guests utilizing accessible seating will need a wristband to enter the Field House.

For questions about the Lake Land College Commencement ceremony or to learn more, contact the Admissions & Records Office at admissions@lakelandcollege.edu or visit LakeLandCollege.edu/Admissions/Graduation/.

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