Laker Nation News

Lake Land College is excited to invest in the strength and development of its local communities with a rebuilt Community Education Program and new class offerings.

Lake Land Community Education offers classes in knitting and food sanitation. The knitting course is designed for beginners and will be held from 6-8 p.m. on September 13, 20 and 27. The course costs $75, which includes all three class sessions and knitting supplies. The three class sessions will all be held in room 102 of Lake Land’s Workforce Development Center.

The food sanitation class will be held on September 22 from 4-8 p.m. and September 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The course costs $125, which includes both class sessions and a voucher to take the Food Sanitation Exam. Only 12 total spots are available for the course, so interested students are encouraged to register early. Both class sessions will be held in room 105 of the Workforce Development Center.

Lake Land’s Community Education program also provides testing for individuals to become qualified paraprofessional teacher’s aides. Testing preparation and examinations are available year-round by appointment only. Initial exams cost $135 and retakes cost $50.

The Community Education program also offers unique opportunities for senior citizens. Through the program, Lake Land organizes monthly day trip events for seniors to visit locations such as the Shelbyville Hot Air Balloon Festival, Aikman Wildlife Park, the Effingham Performance Center and more. The first of such events will be held on August 25, with seniors visiting the Golden Nugget Casino in Danville. This event is capped at 12 seniors and will cost $35.

The program is also working to develop numerous classes in topics such as dancing, cake baking and decorating, art, community growth and much more. Individuals are also welcome to make requests and suggestions for future classes that would interest themselves and their fellow community members.

To learn more, contact Community and Professional Programs Coordinator Shelly Martin by email at smartin2@lakelandcollege.edu or by phone at 217-234-5087.

To register for any of the currently available classes, tests or events, contact Martin or visit www.lakelandcollege.edu/learn.

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Lake Land College is pleased to announce the students who have graduated following completion of the Summer 2023 term. The 2023 Summer graduates are:

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Lake Land College will be holding open tryout sessions for the Laker volleyball team on Wednesday, August 16 and Friday, August 25. Both sessions will be held in the Laker Field House gymnasium from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake Land students interested in joining the volleyball team are welcome to showcase their abilities at either tryout session. Students can register to attend the session of their choice at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc6hyqwVtVo7NH1OiH8x8hz4Fgf0VHJdDGXzz0CYq6b4ndZA/viewform All students trying out are required to bring a current physical with them to the session they attend.

Anyone interested in trying out but unable to attend one of the scheduled sessions can contact Head Volleyball Coach Lainey Jackson by phone at 217-234-5296 or by email at ljackson7215@lakelandcollege.edu for alternate arrangements.

For more information, please contact Coach Jackson or Field House Administrative Assistant Meredith Perez by email at mperez2@lakelandcollege.edu or by phone at 217-234-5333.

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The Lake Land College Foundation will host its annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 29, at the Mattoon Golf & Country Club. The golf outing will be played in the popular four-man scramble format, with registration and lunch for golfers beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon.

Golfers can register as a team of four or individually. Individual players are encouraged to sign up, as all players will be placed on a team. Entries for Friday’s outing are limited to the first 144 golfers.

The entry fee is $125 per golfer or $500 per team of four. Lunch, 18-holes, cart and refreshments are included.

All proceeds assist the Lake Land College Foundation in building relationships that will support and enhance the educational opportunities and services to students through financial support from alumni and friends.

The outing is made possible by the support of the event’s sponsors. Confirmed sponsors at this time are Consolidated Communications, Planning Design Studio, Martin Hood LLC, Patterson Technology, Prudential, Diamond Bros. Insurance, Heartland Dental, Sherri Branson – State Farm Insurance Agent, Grunloh Construction, Inc., IBEW 146, and SC3F Wealth Management.

Teams or individuals can sign up through the Lake Land College Foundation at lakelandcollege.edu/foundation/golf or by contacting Amanda Allen at 217-234-5376 or atucker1563@lakelandcollege.edu.

All mail entries should be sent to Lake Land College Foundation, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL 61938.

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Lake Land College honored the Summer 2023 Medical Assistant Program graduates at an annual pinning ceremony.

The Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Karina Davis, Mattoon.

The award for Overall Most Improved Student was presented to Sadie Keller, Shelbyville, and Presten Lasky, Charleston.

The Outstanding Student Achievement award was presented to Sarah Springman, Bethany, and Abigale Woodall, Charleston.

The following graduates received pins at the ceremony:

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Graduating nurses received their pins at the Summer 2023 Lake Land College Practical Nursing pinning ceremony.

The Practical Nursing Program Peer Awards were presented to Danielle Goldsborough, Altamont, and Stevie Lasswell, Charleston, for their excellence in helping others and demonstrating professionalism in both classroom and clinical settings.

The Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Minnie Gadison, Decatur, for displaying clinical excellence and confident professionalism throughout the Practical Nursing Program.

The Marilyn Fuqua Thompson Nursing Award was presented to Kelsey Fletcher, Montrose. Voted on by faculty, this award is presented to a graduating student who is considered to be the all-around best student in the class. The recipient of this award must demonstrate professionalism, responsibility, compassion and dedication while possessing the technical skills, knowledge base and composure to navigate the most difficult situations.

The following students received pins at the ceremony:

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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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