Laker Nation News

Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University recently partnered to establish a two-plus-two transfer agreement for students majoring in English.

The agreement provides an opportunity for students to seamlessly transfer to Eastern Illinois with junior status in one of four career pathways leading to a bachelor’s degree.

“One of the key components of our College’s strategic plan is to create seamless transfer opportunities for our students through strategic partnerships just like this,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We are thrilled to work with Eastern Illinois University to create a high-quality, economic pathway for area residents to advance their education.”

“This agreement is another shining example of the relationship EIU and Lake Land College share that make student success our highest mutual priority,” said Dr. Ryan Hendrickson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at EIU. “Lake Land College graduates who transfer to EIU reinforce EIU’s strong academic standing, and we appreciate the value and skills those students reliably contribute to our campus and communities.”

Starting this fall, Lake Land students who graduate with an Associate of Arts in English under the two-plus-two agreement can seamlessly transfer to Eastern Illinois and complete a bachelor’s degree in English in four additional semesters. Students can choose from four areas of concentration: Professional Writing, English Studies, Literacy & Cultural Studies and Creative Writing.

Representatives from Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois University can provide additional information about the two-plus-two transfer agreement. From Lake Land College, contact Heather Nohren, Academic Counselor/Chair of Counseling & Judicial Affairs Advisement, at hnohren@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5256. From Eastern Illinois University, contact Rita Pearson, Transfer Coordinator/Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, at ripearson@eiu.edu or 217-581-7663.

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Lake Land College recently honored agriculture students at the annual Ag Banquet.

During the event, Kurt Coffey; Racine, Wisconsin, was recognized as the Agriculture Division’s Honored Alumnus.

Several students also received awards for outstanding performance in their respective programs.

The Phil Rincker Memorial Award and the Jordan Fledderjohann Memorial Award were both presented to Skyler Ward; New Paris, Ohio.

For the Livestock Judging Team, Paige Lemenager; Hudson, Illinois, was named the Top Reasons Presenter, and Ashtyn Harvey; Straugh, Indiana, was named the Top Hog Evaluator.

For the Ag Business program, Aubrey Youakim; Charleston, received the Outstanding Student Award, and Ada Tappendorf; Altamont, received the High GPA Award.

Kyle Lievens; Geneseo, Illinois, was named Ag Power Outstanding Student, and Bryant Parker; Charleston, received the Ag Power High GPA Award.

The Ag Production awards went to Sam Fox; Michigantown, Indiana, for Outstanding Student and Logan Beals; Charleston, for High GPA.

Frank Slaughter; Charleston, was named Horticulture Outstanding Student, and Sophia Wagner; Onarga, Illinois, was named Horticulture High GPA.

For the John Deere Tech program, Parker Norman; Tuscola, was named Outstanding Student, and Conner Sage; Wilmington, Illinois, was honored with the High GPA Award.

The Ag Transfer Outstanding Student Award went to Reese Brock; Aprin, Wisconsin. Delaney Gillis; Lovington, and Skyler Ward; New Paris, Ohio, were both named Ag Transfer High GPA Award recipients.

The Overall Outstanding Student Award went to Sophia Wagner; Onarga.

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The Lake Land College Business Division and Club IT recently hosted 14 local high schools for the annual Business and Computer Contest.

During the event, participating students from local high schools competed in the following categories: Accounting, General Business and Current Events, MOS Word, MOS PowerPoint and MOS Excel. Depending on the category, students either completed a written test or a hands-on test on the computer. First place winners of each contest received a 3-credit-hour tuition waiver from Lake Land College.

Flora High School placed first in the team event. The other high schools that participated in the event were Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, Centralia High School, Champaign Centennial High School, Champaign Central High School, Charleston High School, Dieterich High School, Monticello High School, Mt. Zion High School, Neoga High School, Oblong High School, Paris High School, Shelbyville High School and Shiloh High School.

“It was incredible to have high school students participating in individual and team events,” said Tynia Kessler, business division chair. “We enjoy seeing and visiting with area business teachers and interacting with talented students. It’s a great opportunity for students to showcase their business and computer skills.”

The individual winners are as follows:

For more information, contact Kessler at 217-234-5348 or by email at tkessler@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College recognized employees who will be retiring, those who have achieved years of service milestones, faculty award winners and peer-nominated Shine award recipients at an employee recognition event in March.

Lake Land College congratulated the 2024 retirees: Chemistry Instructor Iffat Ali with 27 years of service; Art Instructor Jodi Birdwell with 25 years of service; Kluthe Site Technician Gary Branson with 19 years of service; Academic Counselor Emily Hartke with 28 years of service; Division Chair Humanities & Communication/Communication Studies/English Instructor Salisa Hortenstine Olmsted with 31 years of service; Electronics Engineering Technology Instructor/Program Coordinator Gary Lindley with 24 years of service; Director of Fitness Center/Softball Head Coach Nic Nelson with 10 years of service; IT Instructor/Program Coordinator, IT-Network Administration Scott Rhine with 27 years of service; Police Sergeant Chad Smith with 26 years of service and Dean of Admission Services Jon Van Dyke with 30 years of service.

At the event, Lake Land College President Josh Bullock recognized college employees who met years of service milestones.

Academic Counselor Bryan Burrell and Dean of Admissions Services Jon Van Dyke were recognized for 30 years of service.

Those honored for 25 years of service included Director of Marketing & Public Relations Kelly Allee; Art Instructor Jodi Birdwell; Business Instructor Angela Davison; Administrative Assistant to the Vice President Becky Earp; Accounting & Payroll Specialist Michelle Gill; History Instructor Matthew Greider; Institutional Equipment Technician II Eric Hamilton; Business Instructor Jonathan Lebold; Economics Instructor Brian Lynch; English Instructor Bob Newell and Application Engineer Brenda Venatta Catey.

Honored for 20 years of service was Online Support & Instructional Specialist Sue Nugent.

Those honored for 15 years of service include Developmental Reading and Writing Instructor Judy Bennett; Chair of the Lake Land College Board of Trustees Gary Cadwell; Application Engineer Matthew Gillenwater; Academic Counselor Jennifer Melton; Groundskeeper Jimmie Shoot and Allied Health Dental Clinical Instructor Sheila Wilson.

Those honored for 10 years of service include Human Service Clinical Supervisor Christa Borries; Print Shop Technician Assistant Peggy Campbell; Psychology Instructor Andy Gaines; DOC Special Projects Manager Harvey Groennert; Associate Dean of Enrollment Management Pam Hartke; Chief of Staff Jean Anne Highland; Director of Athletics Bill Jackson; WIOA Operations Coordinator Tony Logue; Chemistry Instructor Claire Miller; Adult Education Instructor Aleyda Munoz; Director of Fitness Center/Softball Head Coach Nic Nelson; Psychology Instructor Amber Niebrugge; Ag Power Technology Instructor Woody Reinhart; Assistant Baseball Coach Volunteer Zachary Stuart; Digital Media Specialist Aaron Tardy and Library Circulation Assistant Catherine Tillman.

Those honored for 5 years of service included Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Amanda Allen; Emergency Services Program Coordinator Jasmine Ballard; Criminal Justice Instructor/Coordinator Criminal Justice Programs David Chambers; Alternative Education Transition Coordinator Laney Cruit; Lake Land College Trustee Kevin Curtis; Executive Director for College Advancement Christi Donsbach; Student Services Specialist III – Admissions Tanisha Fulk; Mathematics Instructor Sarah Harley; Director Student Success Services Kim Hunter; IDOC CPR Instructor Katherine Johnson; Maintenance II Bill Kearns; Print Shop Technician Amanda Latch; Application Engineer Dustin Mason; Custodian David Matherly; Custodian Scott Mummel; Assistant to Dean of Corrections Brittany Myerscough; Custodian Elizabeth Pinner; Alternative Education Instructor Michelle Redd; TRIO Student Support Services Advisor Gavin Shawver; Infrastructure Administrator/Infrastructure Team Lead Kyle Szabo; Groundskeeper Dalton Todd; WIOA Financial Operations Contractor Debbie Whitacre; Agriculture Instructor/Judging Team Coach Hayden Wilder; Nursing Instructor Bethany Workman; Lake Land College Trustee Denise Walk; Lake Land College Vice Chair Tom Wright and Technical Support Specialist II Phillip Zike.

Adjunct faculty members were also honored for semester milestones. For 80 semesters Carolyn Stephens was recognized. For 40 semesters Brooke Ferguson, Damon McNeill and Jodi Swann were honored. James Jarrett was honored for 30 semesters. For 20 semesters, Jesse Horton was recognized. For 10 semesters, Rachel Daugherty and Traci Becker were honored.

Spanish/English Instructor and Faculty Honors Experience Advisor Casey Reynolds presented the 2024 LLCFA Outstanding Service Faculty Award to Marcy Satterwhite, Business Instructor/Program Coordinator and Desktop Publishing/Graphic Design. Vice President for Academic Services Ike Nwosu presented the 2024 ICCTA Outstanding Full-time Faculty Award to Matt Landrus, English Instructor.

President Bullock then announced the 2024 Shine Award recipients including Director Student Success Services Kimberly Hunter, Police Sergeant Chad Smith and Transportation Training Coordinator Justin Onigkeit.

All Shine nominees were recognized at the event, including Dean of Correctional Programs Jennifer Billingsley; Perkins Specialist Joy Kaurin; Coordinator of Mental Health Services Thomas Moll; Director of TRIO Programs Lori Ohnesorge; Comptroller Madge Shoot; Digital Media Specialist Aaron Tardy and Adult Education Transition Coordinator Mariah White-Landrus.

Two teams were also recognized, including the Admissions and Records department of Bailey Sigrist, Claire Carr, Faith Donaldson, Lesley Coderko and Tanisha Fulk and the Enrollment Management Project Team of Heather Nohren, Kelly Allee and Pamela Hartke.

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees expressed congratulations and gratitude to all of the employees honored at the event for the hard work and dedication the employees have shown to the college.

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The Lake Land College Center for Business and Industry welcomed 41 students from Effingham Junior High School to campus on Friday, April 26 for “Flex Tech Friday.”

During the event, students attended four sessions to explore campus, view demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities. They also met with faculty from the Lake Land College Technology Division and learned about the many opportunities available in trades, technology and manufacturing.

“It was great to be able to share our programs and resources with so many eager students,” Director of the Center for Business and Industry Bonnie Moore said. “It’s rewarding to see the students take interest in technology and learn about these high-demand careers at such a young age.”

To learn more about the trades and technology programs available at Lake Land College, contact Counseling Services at 217-234-5232 or counsel@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College will honor graduates at the annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. in the Field House.

More than 600 students will receive degrees and certificates this spring, with more than 340 graduates expected to participate in the ceremony.

Graduating student Jackie Schertz, El Paso, will present the Student Address to her fellow graduates.

During her time at Lake Land College, Schertz was elected Student Trustee by her peers. In this role, she served as a student representative on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees from 2023-2024. She also served as a Student Ambassador, participated in the college’s award-winning livestock judging team and was an active member of the Student Government Association (SGA).

ICCTA Outstanding Full-time Faculty Member Award Recipient, Matthew Landrus, will also be recognized at the event. During his 27 years of service as an English instructor, Landrus has implemented innovative classroom activities, served on numerous committees and led the creation of the college’s online Living Archives.

On the day of commencement, the doors of the Field House will open at 5 p.m. with overflow seating available in the Luther Student Center Theater. Handicap accessible seating will be available in both locations. Parking on campus is free with parking lots A and B located closest to the Field House.

Lake Land College will stream the commencement ceremony live on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 6 p.m. (CST) on the Lake Land College website. The ceremony will also air on WEIU-TV YOUR 13 on May 18 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., May 19 at 12 p.m., May 21 at 7 p.m. and May 27 at 7 a.m.

Photos taken by Marketing & Public Relations will be available for download on the Lake Land College website at lakelandcollege.edu.

More information is available on the Lake Land College website at lakelandcollege.edu/admissions/graduation.

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Lake Land College Honors students and members of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society were recently recognized at a banquet on campus.

During the event, Isaac Kocher, Ingraham, was named Honors Student of the Year.

The following students were also nominated for the Honors Student of the Year Award: Gwendolyn Fain, Neoga; Hali Mirocha, Sullivan; Matthias Hacker, Westfield; Michelle Hoyos, Effingham and Natashia Carter, Mattoon.

The following PTK members were recognized as Distinguished Officers: President Natashia Carter, Mattoon; Vice President Elizabeth Cable, Brownstown; Treasurer Gwen Fain, Neoga; Secretary Brianna Sexton, Trilla and Public Relations Darrius Frazier, Charleston.

The following students were recognized during the event as this year’s Honors Program graduates:

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees nominated English Instructor Matt Landrus for the Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award.

The Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award is presented each year to an Illinois community college instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching, program development, committee participation and community leadership. Each ICCTA member college is eligible to nominate one full-time faculty member each year for award consideration.

During his 27-year career, Landrus has led initiatives to reshape developmental writing and reading courses, helped create new class offerings and implemented innovative student mentor and job shadowing programs. He has served on numerous committees and task forces to help support college initiatives, including the establishment of standard syllabus guidelines and the development of incoming faculty. He also worked to create the Lake Land online Living Archive, a comprehensive collection of historic moments in the college’s history.

“Undoubtedly, Mr. Landrus is an extremely valuable asset to Lake Land College,” said Gary Cadwell, Lake Land College Board of Trustees Chair. “We want to honor his commitment to our students, faculty, staff and community.”

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Recently, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) honored Lake Land College Nursing Instructors Katelyn Bloemer and Tarah Haskenherm with the Nurse Educator Fellowship award.

The Nurse Educator Fellowship program aims to recognize and ensure the retention of well-qualified nursing faculty with a $10,000 award. Participation in this program is open to Illinois institutions of higher learning with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Association Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Recipients must first be nominated for the honor by the chief nursing administrator from their respective institutions. All nominations are then reviewed by the IBHE, and recipients are selected based on individual accomplishments, program improvements, research efforts and other contributions to their respective nursing programs. When nominating Bloemer and Haskenherm for the honor, Director of Nursing Programs Cassandra Porter recognized their use of advanced pediatric training and innovative testing preparation, respectively.

“The Fellowship Award is a testament to Katelyn and Tarah’s dedication, innovation and commitment to Lake Land College’s nursing programs,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “Their achievements not only reflect their individual excellence but also contribute to the overall success of our nursing programs.”

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On Monday, April 8, Lake Land College hosted “The Sun and Moon Meet in Mattoon,” a solar eclipse event for students.

Attending students received glitter tattoos, enjoyed eclipse-themed snacks, completed crafts and traced their footprints on a banner resembling the moon’s surface. The Lake Land College IT department also set up a greenscreen photobooth to project students onto a variety of interstellar backdrops.

Attendees received free glasses to view the eclipse on campus. Vision-impaired students were able to experience the eclipse with a “LightSound” device, which was assembled by Scott Rhine, IT Instructor/Program Coordinator, IT-Network Administration Program. A livestream of the eclipse from NASA was also available to watch in both Webb Hall and the Luther Student Center theater.

To learn more about the many student events and activities on campus, visit the Lake Land College Student Life webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/student-life/.

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