Laker Nation News

Lake Land College and Laker Athletics are proud to share the many team and individual athletic accomplishments from the 2022-2023 academic year.

“The many accomplishments of our student athletes reflect the outstanding young men and women who participate in athletics at Lake Land College, the strong commitment of our coaches and athletic staff to focus on student success both in the classroom and in their sport, and the contributions of faculty and staff across the college who support student athletes in learning and accomplishing their goals,” Vice President for Student Services Valerie Lynch said. ”I would like to thank the coaches, faculty, and staff for their contributions to the success of our student athletes and to congratulate all of the student athletes for a great year.”

The athletic accomplishments include:

2023 NJCAA Academic Team (must have a team GPA of 3.00 or higher):

Softball, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball

2023 NJCAA All-Academic First Team (athletes with 24 credits hours with 4.00 GPA):

Olivia Niemerg (Women’s Basketball)

Taylor Orris (Women’s Basketball)

Kendall Matthews (Softball)

Nate Lacy (Baseball)

Jude Sullivan (Baseball)

2023 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (athletes with 24 credit hours with 3.80-3.99 GPA):

Devon Patrick (Volleyball)

Aaron Davis (Men’s Basketball)

Lexie Niebrugge (Women’s Basketball)

Alexa Miller (Women’s Basketball)

Kylee Phillips (Women’s Basketball)

Collyn Ballard (Baseball)

Brock Barton (Baseball)

Gavin Gonzalez (Baseball)

Christopher Seropian (Baseball)

Peter Stewart (Baseball)

2023 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (athletes with 24 credit hours with 3.60-3.79 GPA):

Avery Fearday (Women’s Basketball)

Marissa Russo (Women’s Basketball)

Isabella Hardiek (Women’s Basketball)

Brianna Hewing (Volleyball)

Johnny Close (Men’s Basketball)

Jordan Donato (Softball)

Serenity Shemwell (Softball)

Nathan Jendraszkiewicz (Baseball)

Logan Wombels (Baseball)

Accumulative GPA of all athletes (131) for the 2022-2023 academic year: 3.14

Top three accumulative GPAs by team:

Women’s Basketball – 3.68

Volleyball – 3.34

Cheer – 3.16

Total number of athletes achieving a 3.0 or higher GPA for the 2022-2023 academic year: 83 of 131

Season records by sport:

Softball: 50-12

Women’s Basketball: 25-7

Men’s Basketball: 17-15

Volleyball: 18-18

Baseball: 23-34

Volleyball

Team Honors:

NJCAA Academic Team

Qualified for the District Tournament

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Madison Watret (1^st Team), Brianna Hewing (2^nd Team)

Great Rivers Athletic Conference All-Conference Team: Madison Watret

Women’s Basketball

Team Honors:

NJCAA Academic Team

Midwest Athletic Conference Champion

Region 24 Runner Up

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division Two All-Region 24: Olivia Niemerg, Lexie Niebrugge, Tayler Barry

Midwest Athletic Conference All-Conference: Olivia Niemerg, Lexie Niebrugge, Katelyn Littleton

Men’s Basketball

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Amar Kuljuhovic, Johnny Close

Great Rivers Athletic Conference All-Conference: Amar Kuljuhovic

Softball

Team Honors

NJCAA Academic Team

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Champion

Region 24 Runner Up

Individual Honors and Awards

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Team: Eva Richardson (1^st Team), Ashlyn Hicks (1^st Team), Deanna Reed (1^st Team), Serenity Shemwelll (1^st Team), Mackayla Denney (2^nd Team), Bryanna French (2^nd Team).

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year: Eva Richardson

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Eva Richardson (1^st Team), Ashlyn Hicks (1^st Team), Deanna Reed (1^st Team), Serenity Shemwell (1^st Team), Mackayla Denny (1^st Team), Bryanna French (2^nd Team).

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Player of the Year: Eva Richardson

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24 Tournament Team: Eva Richardson, Mackayla Denney, Serenity Shemwell, Bryanna French

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year: Coach Nelson

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Coach of the Year: Coach Nelson

NFCA All Midwest Team: Eva Richardson

NFCA All American Team: Eva Richardson (1^st Team)

NJCAA Division One All American: Eva Richardson (3^rd Team)

Baseball

Team Honors:

NJCAA Academic Team

Region 24 Runner Up

Individual Honors and Awards:

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Team: Liam McKillip

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Gold Glove: Cameron Nagel, Ben Benoit

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Lake Land College is excited to introduce Lainey Jackson as the new Laker volleyball head coach.

Jackson played high school volleyball at Cumberland High School, where she was a four-time all-conference team selection. She continued her playing career at Lincoln Land Community College, earning the Midwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year award and NJCAA All American honors. She also played at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi before returning to central Illinois and coaching for Teutopolis High School and Club 217 Volleyball.

“Getting the opportunity to coach the sport that I love in a place that I love was something I couldn’t pass up,” Jackson said. “It’s really just an honor. It doesn’t even really feel real yet that I’m here. I’m just still so head over heels happy that I’m getting the opportunity to do this.”

For athletes considering playing in college, Jackson stresses that Lake Land offers high-level competition and quality facilities certain to excite all players.

“A lot of people overlook community college just because they don’t realize how competitive it can be,” she said. “This is one of the nicest community colleges I’ve ever been to in my volleyball career. We’re here to push, not just other community colleges, but universities as well, to be one of the most competitive teams in the nation.”

Jackson will make her Lake Land coaching debut at the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Illinois on August 18. The first home match will be held at the Lake Land Field House on September 6 against Lincoln Trail College.

To follow the team, visit https://lakelandlakersathletics.com/landing/index.

For more information about Lake Land volleyball and other athletic programs, contact Athletic Director Bill Jackson by phone at 217-234-5296 or by email at wjackson60312@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College is proud to announce that it has received an Inspiring Change Bronze level Aetna Workplace Well-being Award. As an employer with a strong commitment to improving the health of its employees, Lake Land features a comprehensive well-being strategy that its employees are passionate about. This award is the culmination of the employees’ desire to live healthier, more active lives and make well-being a priority.

Established in 2017, Aetna awards recognize organizations with superior performance in well-being strategy and design, communication, organizational engagement and program implementation and evaluation. Employers complete the award application using data from their most recent 12-month program year. A peer review committee made up of well-being professionals then review and score all applications based on pre-defined criteria.

Lake Land’s strong performance demonstrates its commitment to offering fitness, health promotion and preventive health programs to its employees. The wellness activities offered to employees are deliberately designed to reduce lifestyle risks and improve health and well-being through risk appraisal, education, fitness and fun activities that encourage involvement from all College employees. Services offered include health screenings, wellness-related activities and a fitness center that includes both cardiovascular and strength-training equipment.

“Lake Land College is proud to receive an award that represents the commitments in place throughout our Laker Advantage strategic plan to invest in our employees and promote workplace engagement.” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “Our wellness programs are vital in providing support and belonging to our employees and are among the many available benefits that make Lake Land one of the top employers in the region.”

To join the Lake Land community and experience a collaborative, innovative workplace culture, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/human-resources/ to browse available positions.

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The Lake Land College TRIO Student Support Services program recently received a four percent increase in funding. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TRIO supports students in need to help them complete their academic goals, graduate from Lake Land College and transfer to a four-year college. This increase in funding provides valuable support to help TRIO continually offer and expand these services.

“TRIO SSS is a support system for students to ensure success as they progress through their education at Lake Land. We help them with all aspects of life while they are attending LLC, such as financial resources, tutoring, community resources, and much more. Students are often unsure about their major and their future, so we provide a welcoming environment to help them navigate this journey,” Lori Ohnesorge, Director of TRIO Programs, said. “We are here to help students be successful from one semester to the next until they successfully graduate or transfer to a four-year institution. This is a program that would have been very helpful to me when I was a Lake Land College student years ago.”

The purpose of the TRIO Student Support Services program is to provide holistic support services to college students to increase student retention and graduation rates, facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year colleges, and foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of students. To accomplish this mission, TRIO provides academic, social, and cultural support, increases retention and graduation rates, assists students in the admissions process and completion of all necessary forms, develops relationships with external and internal entities to provide referrals and collaborative services and assists in developing short and long term goals for each academic semester based on students’ needs.

Counselors and advisors work with each student individually, providing and connecting students with a wide variety of support services, events and activities. TRIO provides one-on-one meetings with advisors, informative workshops and access to educational, social and cultural opportunities and trips, available only to TRIO participants. All TRIO services are free to all TRIO participants.

There is an eligibility process for TRIO Student Support Services, and eligibility surveys are available LLC’s website, the student Hub and in the TRIO office.

More information can be located on the Lake Land College website at lakelandcollege.edu/trio-student-support-services or by calling or texting 217-234-5456. For further questions, please contact triosss@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College is making its basic nursing assistant (BNA) class more accessible than ever for the fall 2023 semester. In addition to offering a convenient class schedule, the program will be available at both the Kluthe Center in Effingham and the Western Region Center in Pana. The class is an opportunity for those interested in healthcare professions to begin a career in the field.

The Basic Nursing Assistant Program includes 90 hours of theory/classroom and 40 hours of clinical practice. This program is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to provide instruction of basic nursing skills in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. The classroom portion of the course includes basic anatomy, medical terminology, communication skills, safety, infection control, personal care skills and patient rights.

During this program, students will also access the nursing lab, where they will master the 21 patient care skills mandated by the IDPH.

Students who complete this program will enhance their knowledge and skills to be more marketable as a certified nursing assistant in all health care settings. Successful completion of the BNA course grants students eligibility to take the IDPH Competency Evaluation Examination to receive qualification to work as a certified nursing assistant.

At the Kluthe Center in Effingham, classes begin on August 22^nd and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

At the Western Region Center in Pana, classes begin on August 21^st and will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

For more information, contact BNA Instructor and Program Director Beulah Uphoff at 217-234-5568 or at buphoff12042@lakelandcollege.edu. To enroll, contact Admissions Counseling at 217-234-5232 or at counsel@lakelandcollege.edu.

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The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Lake Land College an $8,500 grant to support adult literacy in English Language Acquisition classes.  This local grant is a part of the Foundation’s largest, one-day literacy donation of more than $13 million throughout the 47 states in which Dollar General operates to support adult, family and summer literacy programs.

Lake Land College’s English language acquisition classes introduce non-native speakers to the English language and equip them with the skills necessary to function in American society. The program’s immersive courses help students develop English speaking and listening skills through conversational English, phonics, and written and oral reports. Student skill levels are assessed upon both entrance and completion of the program to monitor development, with the expectation that their improvement throughout the courses will prepare them for successful employment.

Shannon McGregor, Lake Land’s director of adult and alternative education, said, “All students, no matter their language or learning level, are welcome to attend our English language classes.  We offer ESL classes throughout the district in Arthur, Charleston, Effingham, Mattoon, Marshall, and Shelbyville. We are primarily funded through an ICCB Adult Education and Family Literacy grant, so there is no cost associated with this programming. This Dollar General grant will help us purchase necessary and new items to bring new engagement and learning resources to our students.”

“It is a joy to celebrate this historic grant announcement during our 30^th anniversary year,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “For three decades, DGLF’s investment in community programs has created meaningful access to literacy skills for adults, children and families alike and exemplified Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity and access to a quality education, and we look forward to seeing these literacy grants inspire reading and build brighter futures.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, DGLF awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam.  Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

About Lake Land College
Lake Land College District 517, located in Mattoon, Illinois, serves the second largest community college district in the state, with a total population of 189,869. The Lake Land College district comprises all or part of 15 counties and 31 public school districts in rural east central Illinois. Counties served by Lake Land College include: Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $233 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 19.3 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

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Lake Land College celebrated the John Deere Tech program graduates at an annual John Deere Tech banquet in May.

The John Deere Tech High GPA award went to Andrew Ferguson.

Greg Strawhacker earned the John Deere Tech Outstanding Student award.

The graduates below were honored at the ceremony:

• Cole Barry
  Decatur, Illinois
  S&N Partners – Albion, IL

• Brenton Blacker
  Colfax, Indiana
  AHW LLC – Crawfordsville, IN

• Blake Bryant
  Mount Pulaski, Illinois
  AHW LLC – New Holland, IL

• Andrew Ferguson
  Dewey, Illinois
  AHW LLC – Urbana, IL

• William Frazee
  Hillsboro, Indiana
  AHW LLC – Williamsport, IN

• Cain Galloway
  Hillsboro, Indiana
  AHW LLC – Crawfordsville, IN

• Gordon Gray
  Hampshire, Illinois
  AHW LLC – Hampshire, IL

• Kaleb Harris
  Sheldon, Illinois
  AHW LLC – Hoopeston, IL

• Cotter Hiestand
  Alma, Illinois
  Riechmann Bros – Farina, IL

• Cameron Hildebrand
  Rosamond, Illinois
  Sloan Implement – Assumption, IL

• Brody Huddlestun
  Kinmundy, Illinois
  Riechmann Bros – Farina, IL

• Kyle Kelson
  Momence, Illinois
  AHW LLC – Manteno, IL

• Dominic Rivas
  Highland, Illinois
  Riechmann Bros – Breese, IL

• Brody Roberts
  Orion, Illinois
  Martin Tractor – Aledo, IL

• Kolby Schable
  Atwood, Illinois
  Sloan Implement – Atwood, IL

• Alex Sporleder
  Effingham, Illinois
  Sloan Implement – Shelbyville, IL

• Greg Strawhacker
  Annawan, Illinois
  Martin Tractor – Kewanee, IL

To learn more about the John Deere Tech program at Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu/john-deere-ag-tech or jdtechprogram.com

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Lake Land College instructor Greg Powers, Mattoon, was recognized as Lake Land College’s nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) Full Time Faculty Award at an awards banquet on June 2 in Normal.

Powers serves as the director of broadcast operations at Lake Land College and teaches students as an instructor in both speech communications and broadcasting. He also oversees WLKL, Lake Land’s student-staffed radio station, which helps students gain broadcasting experience and prepares them for careers within the field.

In the nomination form, Vice President for Academic Services Ike Nwosu said, “With obvious passion for his students and commitment to their success, Greg Powers has proven himself a multi-faceted asset to Lake Land College as a skilled instructor, an effective advisor, an innovative program director and an engaged community member.”

Both as an instructor and as a program director, Powers has continued to reimagine the broadcast program and stay up-to-date on industry standards and best practices.

“He works diligently in service to the college, and his work in state and national field organizations inspires his students to be active members of their chosen field,” Nwosu added.

As the WLKL Radio Station Manager and in the classroom, Powers shares the fast-paced environment of always doing something new with his students in ways that provide not only the information and skills they will need to succeed, but also the enthusiasm to enjoy doing so.

“In an ever-changing world of media, Powers is a constant driving force behind the quality education his students receive, giving them more marketability and potential to excel in the future. Largely thanks to Powers’ efforts, students at Lake Land College can experience opportunities they could not receive anywhere else,” Nwosu said.

In addition to his Lake Land College roles, Powers is also extremely active in the Mattoon community as the voice of Mattoon High School sports and as a coach of youth and high school community sports.

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Lake Land College student Rebecca “Becky” Ennis earned the 2023 Illinois State Paul Simon Scholarship Award for her essay on how community college changed her life. She also received the 2023-2024 LLCFA Foundation Scholarship.

“Since enrolling at Lake Land College, I have learned that I have what it takes to get my degree,” Ennis said in her essay. “I connected with instructors who wanted success as much as I did. I received a quality education and found missing pieces of myself. Lake Land College has changed my life, and I will be eternally grateful.”

Ennis is a nontraditional student who returned to college after years of being out of school. With five children at home and while dealing with family health problems, Ennis decided to enroll at Lake Land College.

Though she said she felt overwhelmed at the very idea of enrolling in college, Ennis said her academic advisor met her worries and emotions with kindness and compassion.

Ennis is currently working towards an associate degree in Psychology and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average during her time at Lake Land.

“I believe it’s ok to trust the process of waiting and embracing things as they come,” Ennis said. “This has helped me so much in my non-traditional approach to education. I’m thankful that God led me to Lake Land and that I’ve been blessed with such a fantastic opportunity to meet amazing people and find myself through my experience.”

To read Ennis’s winning essay and to watch a video of her story, visit the Laker Life Blog.

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Three Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa Honors students were recognized at a banquet in Springfield for their inclusion on the All-Illinois Community College Academic Team.

Andrew Matheny, Charleston, was one of two Lake Land College transfer student nominees recognized at the banquet. Matheny’s leadership is evident in his service as the vice president of the PTK chapter and in his drive to help students obtain essential home goods through the House-to-Home project. In addition to his All-Illinois nomination, Matheny received the Coca-Cola scholarship, a prestigious honor presented to select students who demonstrate academic excellence and community outreach.

Josie Strauch, St. Elmo, was also a transfer student nominee. A member of PTK since early 2022, Strauch’s inclusion on the All-Illinois Community College Academic Team is a testament to her leadership and academic accomplishments. This fall, she plans to transfer to Murray State to obtain a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. Following graduation, she plans to return to the St. Elmo area to begin her teaching career near her home town.

Darrius Frazier, Chicago, a career and technical education student nominee, was also included on the All-Illinois Community College Academic Team. Frazier held the position of PTK president, is a founding member of the Central Illinois chapter for Autism Society, and he currently serves on the Council of Autistic Advisors (CAA) for the national office of Autism Society of America. In addition to his All-Illinois nomination, Frazier received the General Assembly Scholarship from the state of Illinois.

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