Laker Nation News

Lake Land College recently held its annual Foundation Scholarship Reception recognizing scholarship recipients as well as the donors who provide the scholarships. The reception allows students and donors to meet and get to know more about one another.

About 500 students received scholarships totaling $308,000 for the 2018-2019 academic school year.

The reception began with a short welcome from Debbie Benefiel, chair of the scholarship committee, and remarks from Josh Bullock, Lake Land College president and Jackie Joines, executive director for college advancement.

“For our student scholarship recipients here today, I am hopeful your education at Lake Land will enable you to achieve great success. As you achieve that success, remember those that follow you and consider paying it forward by investing in another student’s dreams,” Bullock said in his speech.

The Dettling family received special recognition for the development of a new scholarship in remembrance of their late daughter, Rachel Dettling, Laker Nation Class of 2017. The Dettlings established the Rachel Michelle Dettling Memorial Scholarship to honor Rachel’s passion for hair and makeup, and to inspire others to follow their dreams. The scholarship is awarded to one student studying cosmetology at Lake Land College with preference given to a current high school graduate of Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School. Megan Cornwell, Atwood, was the first recipient of the scholarship.

The Dettlings’ story and the scholarship’s impact on Megan is just one of many.

“Scholarships create a legacy and give the gift of education that changes the lives of others as well as our communities. It doesn’t matter how big or small the scholarship is. What matters is that our donors believe in our students and the importance of higher education,” Joines said.

Lake Land College Foundation Board members include: Benefiel, Paris; Bob Pancoast, Shelbyville; Michael Bohannon, president, Charleston; Tom Grunloh, vice president, Effingham; Lisa Kallis, secretary, Charleston; Josh Bullock, ex officio, Mattoon; Austin Frank, ex officio, Mattoon; Dave Frisse, ex officio, Paris; Doris Reynolds, board of trustees liaison, Mattoon; Michelle Blackwell, Pana; Steve Childers, Charleston; Micah Dickens, Sullivan; Alan Fedrigon, Shelbyville; Tom Fonner, Effingham; Tim Gover, Mattoon; Rich Hartke, Teutopolis; Brian Hutchins, Charleston; Jackie Joines, executive director for college advancement, Brocton; Deacon Patient, Sullivan; Chris Pilson, Mattoon; Paula Rosine, director of foundation operations, Mattoon; Madge Shoot, treasurer, Mattoon; Preston Smith, Mattoon; Chad Thompson, Effingham; Tom Wright, Dieterich.

The Lake Land College Foundation was established exclusively for educational and charitable purposes and continues to be a leading financial support organization for students pursuing higher education at Lake Land.

For more information about foundation scholarships, visit lakelandcollege.edu/scholarship-opportunities.

To view the Rachel Michelle Dettling Memorial Scholarship video, visit lakelandcollege.edu/foundation.

For more information about Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu.