Laker Nation News

SR Education Group, a leading education research publisher, recently named Lake Land College #11 on the top 25 most affordable online colleges offering the medical billing and coding certificates.

In order for Lake Land College to be named one of the most affordable colleges offering this specific program, SR Education Group researched schools that offer at least one fully online degree and are regionally accredited. SR Education Group also examined available degrees, college tuition rates, and the programs, as well as the coursework. The collected data was from the 2018-2019 academic school year and is featured in the 2019 national college rankings.

Lake Land College offers the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program entirely online. The program allows students to study diagnostic and procedural aspects of medical coding. Throughout the program, students will be prepared to enter the workforce and take on jobs in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies and many other facilities. Lake Land also offers the Medical Coding & Health Information Associate Degree program entirely online. The program prepares students for management positions in Health Information.

Upon graduation, students will also be ready to take coding exams offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

For more information about the program, contact Kathleen Daugherty, coordinator of office professional-medical programs/business instructor, at 217-234-5355 or kdaugherty@lakelandcollege.edu.

For more information regarding Lake Land College’s online classes and programs, visit lakelandcollege.edu.

Lake Land College dental hygiene graduates received their pins at the annual pinning ceremony.

Several students received scholarships or awards during the ceremony.

Baylee Williams, Mattoon, received the Linda Lee Fletcher Scholarship earlier this year. Lizbeth Murillo, Robinson, received the Colgate Student Total Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award, which is offered to a graduating student who shows excellence and commitment to the hygiene profession by demonstrating true dedication to the profession, exhibiting extraordinary compassion in patient care, displaying enthusiasm and follow-through for community service, and demonstrating outstanding patient education and motivation skills.

Charley Lett, Springfield, received the Best Dental Hygienist Award, which was voted on by students in the program. Katie Brown, Crawfordsville, Indiana, received the Golden Scaler Award for demonstrating advanced skills in instrumentation. Brown also received the Proctor and Gamble Preventive Dentistry Award for demonstrating the best patient education along with Kayla Parrott, Charleston.

Brown and Parrott were also inducted into Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Society.

During the ceremony the following students were honored: Katie Brown, Keisha Butler, Hannah Daugherty, Bria Frenchwood, Grace Gatons, Stephanie Jack, Victoria Koin, Charley Lett, Sarah Lilly, Raven Lockard, Lizbeth Murillo, Daniel Nunez, Jillian Oberholtzer, Taylor Oltmanns, Kayla Parrott, Mallory Scharf, Ellie Schuster, Payton Smith, Kate Spiller, Eilish Swisher, Jessica Ulloa, Stephanie Valle, Suzie West, Baylee Williams, Cierra Williams, Megan Zytka.

Dental Hygiene is a special admission program at Lake Land College. The program prepares students with specialized skills necessary for employment as a dental hygienist. Emphasis is on dental hygiene treatment and on the hygienist’s abilities as a dental health educator. The hygienist’s services are sought by dentists, schools, prisons, hospitals, departments of health and industry. The dental hygiene program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees appointed Tom Wright, Dieterich, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Ann Deters, Effingham. The appointment followed closed session of the regularly scheduled June meeting.

Wright, Laker Nation Class of 1973, brings a multitude of experience serving on boards and leading a business to the trustee position. He has served as the president of Wright’s Furniture in Dieterich for the past 30 years and is a member of the Cross at the Crossroads Board, the Dieterich Bank Board, the Alliance Board and the Dieterich Community Development Corporation. He has served on the Lake Land College Foundation Board of Directors for twelve years, including as president from 2010-2012, and he served on the St. Anthony Hospital Board of Directors for nine years and the Effingham County 911 Board for four years.

Wright said he is honored to be appointed to the board. “Lake Land College has been very good to me and my family. I look forward to serving on the board and assisting the college in creating outstanding opportunities for students from our area.”

Wright received the Lake Land College Alumnus Achievement Award in 2009, the Lake Land College Foundation Crystal Swan Award in 2015 and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Distinguished Alumni Society in 2007. In 2018, Wright was named as one of Lake Land’s “Top 50 Most Influential People.”

Wright will take his seat at the July 15 regular board meeting. He will serve on the board until the next consolidated election in April of 2021.

Visit Lake Land College and find out all the college offers at Laker Visit Day. The event will be held Thursday, June 20 in the Field House starting at 9 a.m. and will run until noon.

The event is for potential students who are interested in learning more about Lake Land College. Prospective students are provided with the opportunity to tour campus, visit a class, meet current students and talk with faculty. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend and learn more about the college during a parent session.

The event will feature informational sessions by current Lake Land College Student Ambassadors and college staff. Representatives from Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Life and other departments will provide information and be available to answer questions. Students will also meet with faculty members in their academic area of interest.

“Laker Visit Day is a great way for prospective students and parents to talk to faculty and staff about academic options and majors, to talk to current students about their experiences at the college and to learn about various services and opportunities we offer,” Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication and initiatives, said.

On Laker Visit Day, attendees will tour campus with Student Ambassadors; comfortable shoes are recommended. To get to the Field House, take Entrance 1 from Route 45, proceed straight after the curve and park in Lot A. The Field House will be on the west side of Parking Lot A and has a white, circular roof. Enter the lobby from the south side of the building.

Student Ambassadors will greet guests and help with directions. In case of inclement weather on the day of the event, please check the college’s homepage at lakelandcollege.edu for closures.

For more information, or to register for Laker Visit Day, go to lakelandcollege.edu/visit or call 217-234-5377.

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees will consider two candidates to fill a vacancy on the board at the regular June 10, 2019 meeting.

Candidates who have submitted application materials by the May 28 deadline are: Mike Defend, Effingham, and Tom Wright, Dieterich.

Following the regular business items on the agenda, the board will go into closed session to discuss the selection of a person to fill the board seat vacancy. Following the discussion, the board will return to open session and approve a candidate to fill the board vacancy as discussed in closed session. The individual selected will take his or her seat at the July 15 board meeting.

The vacancy was created in May with the resignation of former trustee Ann Deters, Effingham.

Those interested in filling the vacancy were to submit materials explaining the reason for seeking the appointment, qualifications and experience in other areas which may enhance public policy or decision-making. Eligibility requirements for the trustee vacancy are: U.S. citizenship, 18 years of age or older, a resident of Illinois for one year immediately preceding election, and a resident of Community College District No. 517 for one year immediately preceding election.

The individual selected by the board to fill the vacancy will serve until the next consolidated election in April of 2021.

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.

Lake Land College Radio/TV Broadcasting student Matt Harvey, Uptown, recently earned an internship position with WGN Radio in Chicago through the Illinois Broadcasting Association’s (IBA) Multicultural Internship Program.

The Multicultural Internship Program is highly competitive with only six paid internships available in the entire state of Illinois this year. IBA describes students selected for the internship program as the cream of the crop, emerging from a rigorous application process.

“I’m excited to explore the opportunities that will be available to me at WGN” Harvey said. “I’ll be able to dip my hand into a variety of studios producing live radio broadcasts and hosting podcasts,” Harvey said.

Speech Communication/Broadcasting Instructor Greg Powers describes Harvey as a driven student with an immense ability to be successful in his career choice.

“Throughout my 15 years at Lake Land, there has only been one other student to earn a position through this internship program. This opportunity will be a great springboard for Matt,” Powers said.

Harvey is a sophomore at Lake Land College studying radio/TV and is the multimedia/website coordinator of the Lake Land College student-run newspaper, Navigator News. He plans to transfer to Columbia College in Chicago where he will study journalism.

At the 2019 Lake Land College Associate Degree in Nursing Pinning Ceremony, graduating nurses received their pins.

Riply Cavazos, Mattoon, 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 and is voted on by faculty.  The student must be professionally superior and morally responsible, be capable of making wise decisions, be compassionate and caring, be dedicated and possess common sense and a strong scientific knowledge base, demonstrate superior technical skills, possess superior communication skills and composure, often in crises situations. Cavazos’ name will be engraved on a plaque that is located in the nursing skills lab in Neal Hall.

Jamie Worker, Mattoon, and Danielle Vaughn, Altamont, received the Associate Degree Nursing Peer Award. These students are chosen because of their clinical and scholastic performance, willingness to help other students, professionalism, maturity and spirit.  The award is characterized by a true team player, who also is considered a leader. The recipients of this award were chosen by fellow nursing students.

Macy Cornwell, Sullivan, received the award for Clinical Excellence.

For serving as a positive representative of the ADN program student liaisons, Faith Boerngen, Mason, Dakota Shadwell, Stewardson, and Jennifer Shull, Mattoon, received Certificates of Recognition.

The following students received their pins at the ceremony:

The Lake Land College Foundation recognized donors for lifetime giving at the annual Donor Reception on April 18.

“Our donors are the core of the Lake Land College Foundation,” Executive Director for College Advancement Jackie Joines said. “It is our donors’ investment that has provided scholarships to students who may not otherwise have had an opportunity to obtain a college education.”

The following people and organizations were recognized:

Farm Credit Illinois and Consolidated Communications were recognized in the President’s Silver Level for contributions of $100,000 and above.

Fuqua Foundation, Estate of Thomas H. Woodyard and Max Jaeger were recognized in the Leadership Guild for contributions of $50,000 to $99,999.

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees, Gerry and Cheryl Conlin, Keith and Linda Miller, John David Reed, Sam and Barb Scott, The Sparks Foundation and Bonita Woodyard were recognized in the Trustee’s Guild for contributions of $25,000 to $49,999.

Jon Henderson, Jaime and Lueann Sell, Neil and Carla Dettling, Johnstons Super Markets, Inc./Robert and Debra Johnston, Frank Brummer, Michael and Jacqueline Joines, North American Lighting, David and Carolyn Lorton, Dr. Mahyar Izadi, Jeff and Tina Stovall, Cromwell Radio Group and Libman were recognized in the Educator’s Guild for contributions of $10,000 to $24,999.

LPL Financial, Goat Alley, Inc., Howell Asphalt Co., Josh and Jen Bullock, Thomas Grunloh, Growmark, Inc., Steve and Thelma Childers, Kathy Black, Jerry and Karin Edwards, Evergreen Terrace Landowners Assn. and Sandra Harmison were recognized in the Scholar’s Club for contributions of $5,000 to $9,999.

Crites Title Co., Inc., Douglas & Amanda Paulson, Denny & Sue Throneburg, Air Management Products, Lake Land College Athletics, Gregory “Nic” Nelson, Jerry Turner, Countryside RV & Trailer Sales, Michael & Lisa Kallis, Richard Reid, Steamboat Biscuit & Brisket, Mike & Christine Strohl, Dan & Jeanie Cunningham, Jennifer Melton, Deacon & Vanessa Patient, Larry & Ardis Larvick, D.K. Bostick, Thomas & Nancy Caldwell, Eva Ritchey, Jennifer Billingsley, Jonathan McKenzie, Jerry & Carol Myerscough/Mattoon Burgers & Custard, Inc, Dieterich Bank, N.A., Martha Schumann, Lake Land College Student Activity Board, Janet Henry, Mike & Julie Cramer, Bruce Haas, Barb Hess, Gregory Izard, Mike Namoff, Michael Nohren, Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, John Stephens and Jane Storm were recognized in the Faculty Club for contributions of $1,000 and above.

Lake Land College will welcome a new livestock judging coach, Hayden Wilder of Macomb, this fall. After a successful year for the Lake Land College Livestock Judging Team, Wilder plans to take the team to even greater success in the coming years.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of fully preparing the sophomore team for success on the national level while simultaneously getting the freshman team acclimated to the culture of collegiate judging,” Wilder said.

Wilder’s first and foremost responsibilities include teaching several classes throughout the semester ranging from ag business to animal science, all of which support the Agriculture Division curriculum. Wilder will also play a vital role in team recruiting and coordinating Lake Land’s annual judging contest each March.

Wilder will begin his position at Lake Land with an array of experience under his belt. While earning a master of business administration from Western Illinois University (WIU), he served as the assistant coach of the WIU Livestock Judging Team alongside Mark Hoge. It is clear where his passions lie having grown up on a small grain farm in Remington, Indiana. He showed pigs throughout his youth and participated in 4-H, FFA and livestock judging teams throughout his high school and college years.

Wilder will be a valuable resource to the college, and he knew from the moment he stepped foot on campus that Lake Land would be the place he called home.

“After spending an afternoon on campus, it quickly became clear to me that the students, faculty and administration work collaboratively to make Lake Land College a top-notch place to call home,” said Wilder. “The support that the Livestock Judging program receives from all levels within the college is integral in allowing the team to find national success year in and year out. The attractive environment of the college makes my role as the Livestock Judging Team coach very exciting, as I think the opportunities for the program are endless.”

Wilder received an associate degree from Black Hawk East and a bachelor’s degree in ag business with a minor in animal science from Western Illinois University. He was a member of successful judging teams at both schools. For the last four years, Wilder has also been fortunate to work part time for Lake Land alumnus JR Armstrong of Armstrong Genetics, a 140-sow show pig operation south of Macomb.