Laker Nation News

Lake Land College is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Service Award, Pacesetter Award, Retiree Wall of Fame, Distinguished Alumnus Award/Alumnus Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumni Society. All nominations for these listed awards will be accepted until February 1, 2024.

The following awards will be presented to their respective recipients at the annual Foundation & Alumni Awards Ceremony in October.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose exemplary service and contributions have benefited Lake Land College or its affiliated organizations. Current paid members of the faculty and staff and current members of the board of trustees are not eligible for this award.

The Pacesetter Award is an Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) award that recognizes the accomplishments of Illinois’ more recent community college graduates. Nominees must have completed a recognized program of instruction (including dual credit courses) or attended at least 30 semester hours at an Illinois public community college.

The Retiree Wall of Fame Award goes to retired faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to the College and/or who have made contributions through their profession or community at the local, state, regional or national level that reflect positively on Lake Land College.

Recipients of the Wall of Fame status must have been employed at Lake Land for a minimum of 15 years and must have been separated from his or her position for a minimum of 5 years.

A candidate for consideration may be nominated by another person, or may submit his or her credentials directly to College Advancement.

The Board of Trustees presents the Alumnus Achievement Award annually to an individual who has attained outstanding success and distinction in his or her field of endeavor; has gained favorable statewide or national recognition; or has performed service, which has proven beneficial to society.

The recipient must hold a certificate and/or a degree from Lake Land College and be active in the endeavor in which he or she has achieved distinction.

The recipient of the Alumnus Achievement Award will be nominated for the Distinguished Alumnus Award with the ICCTA. The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes the many success stories of Illinois’ community college graduates.

Nominees must have completed a recognized program of instruction or attended at least 30 semester hours at an ICCTA member college. Currently serving trustees and presidents are not eligible for nomination. Posthumous nominations are not eligible for submission.

The Distinguished Alumni Society recognizes alumni who have utilized the Lake Land experience to make an imprint on their profession or community. An alumnus is anyone who has graduated from Lake Land College or has taken classes.

Nomination forms for all awards are available on the college’s website at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/alumni/award-nominations/. Physical copies of each form are available by calling the Foundation at 217-234-5376.

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Lake Land College honored the Fall 2023 Medical Assistant program graduates at an annual pinning ceremony.

The Overall Most Improved Student award was presented to Nichole Bassemier. Wendy Fuqua received the Outstanding Achievement award.

The following graduates received pins at the ceremony:

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Graduating nurses received their pins at the 2023 Lake Land College Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) Bridge program pinning ceremony.

The LPN to ADN Bridge program provides a pathway for current LPNs to advance in their careers by becoming a registered nurse with one additional year of coursework.

Ivy Nichols received the Peer Award for demonstrating excellence in both the classroom and in clinical through professionalism, a caring nature and a cooperative spirit.

The Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Hallie Wallace for displaying confidence and professionalism in the clinical setting throughout the Associate Degree Nurse Program.

Shannon Robertson received the Marilyn Fuqua Thompson Nursing Award, which is given each year to a graduating student who is considered to be the all-around best student in the class. Selected by faculty vote, the recipient must be professionally superior and morally responsible, capable of using a strong scientific knowledge base to make and communicate wise decisions with compassion, care and composure, often in crises situations. Robertson’s name will be engraved on a plaque that is located in the nursing skills lab in Neal Hall.

The following students received pins at the ceremony:

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Lake Land College is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Service Award, Pacesetter Award, Retiree Wall of Fame, Distinguished Alumnus Award/Alumnus Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumni Society. All nominations for these listed awards are being accepted until February 1, 2024.

Nomination forms for all awards are available on the college’s website at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/alumni/award-nominations/. Physical copies of each form are available by calling the Foundation at 217-234-5376.

The recipients of the following awards will be awarded at the annual Foundation & Alumni Awards Ceremony in October.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose exemplary service and contributions have benefited Lake Land College or its affiliated organizations. Current paid members of the faculty and staff and current members of the board of trustees are not eligible for this award.

The past Distinguished Service Award winners are:

The Pacesetter Award is an Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) award that recognizes the accomplishments of Illinois’ more recent community college graduates. Nominees must have completed a recognized program of instruction (including dual credit courses) or attended at least 30 semester hours at an Illinois public community college.

The past Pacesetter Award recipients are:

The Retiree Wall of Fame Award goes to retired faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to the College and/or who have made contributions through their profession or community at the local, state, regional or national level that reflect positively on Lake Land College.

Recipients of the Wall of Fame status must have been employed at Lake Land for a minimum of 15 years and must have been separated from his or her position for a minimum of 5 years.

The recipient of the Retiree Wall of Fame honor will have his or her plaque unveiled at the annual Employee & Retiree Recognition Celebration designed to reflect upon the past contributions of the honoree.

A candidate for consideration may be nominated by another person, or may submit his or her credentials directly to College Advancement.

The past Retiree Wall of Fame recipients are:

The Board of Trustees presents the Alumnus Achievement Award annually to an individual who has attained outstanding success and distinction in his or her field of endeavor; has gained favorable statewide or national recognition; or has performed service, which has proven beneficial to society.

The recipient must hold a certificate and/or a degree from Lake Land College and be active in the endeavor in which he or she has achieved distinction.

The recipient of the Alumnus Achievement Award will be nominated for the Distinguished Alumnus Award with the ICCTA. The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes the many success stories of Illinois’ community college graduates.

Nominees must have completed a recognized program of instruction or attended at least 30 semester hours at an ICCTA member college. Currently serving trustees and presidents are not eligible for nomination. Posthumous nominations are not eligible for submission.

The past Alumnus Achievement Award recipients are:

The Distinguished Alumni Society recognizes alumni who have utilized the Lake Land experience to make an imprint on their profession or community. An alumnus is anyone who has graduated from Lake Land College or has taken classes.

The past Distinguished Alumni Society inductees are:

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Intelligent.com recently named Lake Land College as one of Illinois’ top 10 community colleges for 2024. In its annual assessment of higher education programs, Intelligent.com honors affordable, highly-regarded schools that equip their students with the resources needed to successfully graduate and excel in their fields.

In the report, Intelligent.com praised Lake Land College for its flexibility in preparing students for immediate employment or transfer through a wide variety of program offerings that range from eight weeks to two years. The report also recognized unique programs such as Crime Scene Technician, Court Reporting and Captioning, Geospatial Technology, IT-Computer Game Production, Livestock Production and John Deere Tech that expand the career possibilities for students.

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition from Intelligent’s rankings,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “As we implement our Growing the Laker Advantage strategic plan, it is exciting to see tangible evidence that our efforts in demonstrating student-first values continue to reinforce our status as a top community college destination within the state.”

To see the full assessment and rankings from Intelligent.com, visit https://www.intelligent.com/best-community-colleges/illinois/#lake_land_college.

To become a Lake Land College student and apply for the spring semester, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/enroll/.

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Lake Land College will host the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan at noon on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in the Lake Land College Field House.

This event gives fans the opportunity to interact with members of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, including current and former players, broadcast talents and other familiar faces. Children 15-years-old and younger will also receive one autograph from each current and former player in attendance at the event.

Doors will open at the Field House at 11 a.m. with the event beginning at 12 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and admission includes two hot dogs, a drink and chips.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance at the Lake Land College Field House Athletics Office or at Washington Savings Bank in Mattoon. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event.

No preferred seating will be available.

The event is sponsored by Lake Land College Athletics and Mattoon High School Baseball.

For more information, visit lakelandathletics.prestosports.com/landing/index or call 217-234-5333.

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In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, Lake Land College held a celebratory luncheon to recognize business partnerships and apprentice accomplishments.

The event began with a declaration of National Apprenticeship Week from Lake Land College President Josh Bullock. Robert Woolum, apprentice program supervisor at North American Lighting, provided the event’s keynote address.

The celebration also included a panel of apprentices and business partners. All apprentices in attendance who had enrolled at Lake Land College since November 2022 were honored with a celebratory signing in recognition of their commitment to apprenticeship. The following apprentices and their respective employers participated in the signing.

“It is such an incredible honor to celebrate our apprentices and the success of our ‘Earn and Learn’ programs,” said Bonnie Moore, director to the Center for Business and Industry. “The opportunity that apprenticeship brings to our students and our business partners is a true recipe for success. We are so very proud of our apprentices, our apprenticeship programs and the Laker Advantage that apprenticeships provide to our communities.”

To learn more about Lake Land’s apprenticeship programs, contact Moore at 217-238-8260 or bmoore71258@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College honored Veterans with a celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The event began with a Laying of the Wreath Ceremony at the Veterans Wall in Podesta Park on Lake Land’s campus.

Transportation Training Coordinator and Marine Corps Veteran Justin Onigkeit served as the emcee, introducing Mattoon High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets for the wreath-laying ceremony.

The event continued in the Luther Student Center, where the Lake Land College Student Activity Board provided refreshments for those in attendance. Students, staff and faculty also signed thank you cards for Veterans throughout the Lake Land community.

The event also included the premiere of a video that spotlights several of the Veterans who have found a home at Lake Land College. The video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB_CiS6Esx0.

“It is such a humbling experience to be able to honor our Veterans with a special ceremony and event,” said Dustha Wahls, director of human resources. “We appreciate the sacrifices they made for our country and the contributions they bring to the Lake Land College community.”

The Veterans Ceremony is one of many ways that Lake Land seeks to provide support and demonstrate appreciation for the many Veterans throughout the community. This semester, the new Veterans lounge opens in the campus library. To learn more about the services Lake Land offers to Veterans and active duty military personnel, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/financialaid/programs-provided-for-veterans-active-duty-military-personnel-and-families/.

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Lake Land College presented the Non-traditional Student of the Year Award to Natashia Carter and Rebecca Ennis during a ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Carter and Ennis were among 10 nominees who were honored for their perseverance and outstanding determination in pursuing their academic goals and following their dreams.

The nominees were: Nicole Martin, Greenup; Cynthia Heiman, Pana; Noella Kasera, Democratic Republic of Congo; Tierra Rowland, Humboldt; Blessing Nzeribe, Nigeria; Holly Cornell, Montrose; Austin Babb, Lerna; and Darrius Frazier, Charleston.

“The individuals we honor this evening are a special group of people. Their paths to be here today have not always been easy, yet you would never know it,” said Kelly Allee, director of marketing and public relations. “Their positive attitudes and determination inspire everyone around them. We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate their many past accomplishments and anticipate their bright futures.”

Carter is a non-traditional student from Mattoon and attends Lake Land after reshaping her life by overcoming addiction. She quickly settled in at Lake Land and grew to become a leader among her peers. She serves as a tutor, leads major projects as the president of PTK, volunteers her time to support foster families and advocates for mental health by using her story to inspire others. She is seeking a degree in human services to work in counseling and help others face the same struggles she overcame.

In the nomination form, Tessa Wiles said, “Tashia leads by example with great enthusiasm and strength. She appreciates every day, which shines through in her leadership.”

Casey Reynolds said of her, “She makes us, as a college, better with her dedication to everything she does.”

Ennis is a non-traditional student from Charleston and is pursuing a degree in psychology after years of putting her education on hold to focus on her family’s needs. Now, she balances the responsibilities of being both a student and the caregiver of her husband and mother, who are both battling cancer. Even with these challenges, she remains steadfast in earning her education and completing her academic goals. She is an outstanding student who consistently performs at the highest level. She is also a talented self-published author and received the 2023 Illinois State Paul Simon Scholarship Award for her powerful essay on how community college changed her life.

In the nomination form, Joy Kaurin said, “She could easily make excuses with the various challenges that have arisen. Instead of stepping aside, she has chosen to push forward. She has become a point of inspiration to her children as they see her pursue college at this stage of life.”

Nicole Martin is a non-traditional student from Greenup and was nominated by Megan Nelson, marketing publication and design coordinator. She is pursuing a degree in nursing and returns to Lake Land after putting her academic goals on hold nearly 20 years ago to focus on her family.

In the nomination form, Nelson said, “Nicole is a caring, compassionate and confident leader and a cherished mentor to those around her. I am certain she will carry that into her career in nursing after Lake Land.”

Cynthia Heiman is from Pana and studies at Lake Land in the BNA program. She was nominated by Constance Ricky, Allied Health instructor. She has balanced many responsibilities in her path to success in the BNA program, as she is also a mother and full-time employee.

In the nomination form, Ricky said, “She is an excellent student who gives her whole heart in the classroom. Her classmates love her and the residents she cares for adore her. She is going to make an amazing CNA.”

Noella Kasera comes to Lake Land from the Democratic Republic of Congo to study criminal justice. She was nominated by Denver Daniels, coordinator of international studies program. Noella embraces the challenges of being a student in a foreign country in addition to the responsibilities of being a recent single mother.

In the nomination form, Daniels said, “Her tenacity, willingness to succeed and intelligence is exactly what we think of when we, as a college, consider non-traditional students. She has absolutely impacted the small community of international students here for the better.”

Tierra Rowland is a non-traditional student who is majoring in human services. She was nominated by Lydia Craig, adjunct faculty humanities division. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Tierra raises a daughter who has had a different disability since birth. Tierra said her daughter is an incredible, joyous gift who inspires her to be the best version of herself.

In the nomination form, Craig said, “Tierra is unequivocally her own person. She is courageous, positive and hilarious. Because of her determination, kindness and passion, she instantly sprang to mind when I considered a nomination for the non-traditional student award.”

Blessing Nzeribe comes to Lake Land from Nigeria to study nursing. She was nominated by Kim Hunter, director to student success services. Blessing has faced many obstacles associated with pursuing a degree while also navigating a foreign country. Still, she has risen above these challenges with an incredible determination and commitment to her studies.

In the nomination form, Hunter said, “Blessing has done so much while being an ocean away from her family and hundreds of miles from the friends she made when she first came to the U.S. She is really a credit to what constitutes the Laker Spirit.”

Holly Cornell is a non-traditional student from Montrose and is pursuing a degree in early childcare education. She was nominated by Lori Ohnesorge, director of Trio programs. Holly balances her duties as a student with her responsibilities as a mother, consistently putting her best efforts forward in school while also pouring her heart into supporting her family.

In the nomination form, Ohnesorge said, “Holly is a well-rounded student who has great abilities to serve her family and those around her. She has the biggest heart and is kind to anyone she meets. I look forward to seeing the impact she will make in her future with her great talents.”

Darrius Frazier is from Charleston and is studying IT computer applications at Lake Land College. He has shown remarkable resilience in overcoming an Asperger’s diagnosis to accomplish his academic goals. He has earned two Associate degrees from Lake Land already in radio/TV broadcasting and geospatial technology.

At Lake Land, he is involved in two honor societies, Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. He is an active member of campus, participating in the IT club, the Vibe, the broadcast communications club, the Navigator News and the diversity & inclusion team.

Austin Babb is a non-traditional student in Lake Land’s Paramedical Services Program. She was nominated by Jasmine Ballard, emergency services program coordinator. Austin is originally from Sullivan and now lives in Lerna with her husband and children. She works full time as an EMT while also keeping up with the demands of being both a student and a mother.

In the nomination form, Ballard said, “Austin is compassionate with her patients and knowledgeable in her industry. When she finishes class, she will be a great provider and mentor to fellow providers as well as a wonderful teacher to students.”

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Lake Land College held a Día de los Muertos celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 1 in the Luther Student Center. During the event, Lake Land students experienced an authentic celebration of the holiday complete with activities, food and even a showing of the movie “Coco” in the campus theater.

Día de los Muertos, commonly known as “Day of the Dead,” is a two-day holiday widely observed in Mexico on Nov. 1 and 2. During these days, families create ofrendas to honor deceased loved ones with photos, bright flowers and the favorite foods and drinks of the departed. The offerings are believed to encourage loved ones to visit from the land of the dead to reunite with the living and join in the celebrations.

“It’s so exciting to be able to offer this event to our students,” said Mercury Bowen, coordinator of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. “It’s really important for us to be intentional about giving all students a chance to be represented in our campus culture and through the actions we take as a college. Being able to see so many students enjoy an authentic experience like this is such a rewarding feeling.”

The Día de los Muertos celebration is just one of many initiatives Lake Land College has taken to uphold an inclusive culture and celebrate the many diverse perspectives throughout the campus. The college will next hold a celebration of International Education Week on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.

To learn more about these ongoing events and celebrations, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/celebrations/.

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