Laker Nation News

As a part of its commitment to developing and maintaining a diverse, inclusive campus environment for students, staff and faculty, Lake Land College is recognizing and celebrating Pride month throughout June.

“It’s so important for us as a college to celebrate all our students and offer the support they need to be the best, most authentic versions of themselves,” said Mercury Bowen, Coordinator for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Belonging. “We are pleased to recognize all LGBTQIA+ individuals in our community by celebrating Pride month.”

As the DEIB Coordinator, Bowen serves as an advocate for student needs, leading initiatives that maintain a positive campus environment and reflect a diverse student population. Included in these efforts are a wide variety of Pride and LGBTQ+ resources, such as a campus club, ally training programs and funding sources to help with identity changes.

The campus Pride club is dedicated to promoting understanding and equity for the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ individuals as well as allies are invited to join and support an inclusive campus environment. Current students can learn more and register to join the club by visiting the Lake Land College club webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/student-life/clubs/.

Lake Land also offers a Safe Zone training program, implemented by the Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Committee to welcome and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community at the College. The tiered program offers three levels of training intensity; Ally, Advocate and Trainer; and equips participants with the knowledge they need to provide a safe, supportive place for all individuals. A modified version of the training called “Safe with Me” is also available for students.

The LGBTQIA+ Reserve Fund also provides immediate assistance to LGBTQIA+ students at Lake Land College. Funds are used to help transgender students legally change their names and help protect their identities. More information on how to donate to the fund or how to apply for support is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/diversity/safe-zone/.

Additional resources for LGBTQIA+ members and allies are available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/diversity/safe-zone/.

For more information on inclusion, diversity and equity at Lake Land College, visit the Lake Land College diversity webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/diversity.

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Lake Land College announced the hiring of Kristi Paulson as the new Laker softball head coach during the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, June 10. Her husband, Dan Paulson, is expected to join the staff as the co-head coach following the next board meeting in July.

A Mattoon native, Kristi Paulson played softball for two years at Lake Land College. She helped the Laker softball team win its first NJCAA Division I National Tournament during the 2005-2006 season. After transferring to Eastern Illinois University, she served as a volunteer assistant softball coach at Lake Land.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited to be back coaching in my hometown,” Paulson said. “I’m looking forward to creating a positive environment that allows our players to grow as both athletes and people and challenges them to be greater than they ever thought they could be.”

Paulson brings an extensive history of coaching experience to the Lake Land College position. She previously served as the softball coach at Casey-Westfield Junior High School and the assistant softball coach at Tuscola High School. She has also coached competitive summer and travel softball teams, mentoring high school-aged players with aspirations of playing in college. In 2011, she and her husband created Premier Fastpitch, an elite travel softball program for youth and high school athletes. Under the Paulsons’ leadership, Premier Fastpitch has competed on both state and national levels with a 0.738 winning percentage.

In 2018, Kristi Paulson joined the Parkland College softball coaching staff, and she and her husband were named the team’s co-head coaches in 2019. During their five seasons as co-head coaches, the Paulsons led the Cobras to a 0.785 winning percentage (205-56). They also won three Central District Championships and four consecutive Mid-West Athletic Conference titles during that span and secured two top-eight finishes in the NJCAA DII National Championship. The 2023-2024 Cobras softball team was named the top-ranked Division II team in the country and secured the number one seed in the NJCAA DII Softball World Series tournament.

The Paulsons received the Mid-West Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024 and are three-time recipients of the Region 24 Coach of the Year Award. In 2024, they were named coaches of the year for the Midwest Region and at the national level by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

“We’re excited to welcome Kristi back to Lake Land College,” said Bill Jackson, Director of Athletics. “She and Dan built an unbelievable winning culture at Parkland College, and we are excited for them to bring that culture to Lake Land College softball.”

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Lake Land College is pleased to announce the students who graduated following completion of the Spring 2024 semester. The 2024 graduates are:

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Lake Land College will host an Introduction to Nursing event on Tuesday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Neal Hall. The event is designed for high school students to learn about careers in nursing and gain valuable tips on the nursing special admission process.

During the event, participating students will learn about available nursing programs at Lake Land College and discover career opportunities in the field. They will also meet with program faculty and alumni, tour Lake Land’s facilities and receive hands-on experience in the College’s high-fidelity simulation lab.

Space for the Introduction to Nursing event is limited to the first 30 registrants. Registration is open now on the Lake Land College visit page at LakeLandCollege.edu/visit.

For more information, contact Nichole Jones, Nursing Instructor, at 217-234-5455 or njones8307@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Several TRIO Destination College students were recently recognized at an annual banquet.

Lake Land’s TRIO Destination College programs provide high school and junior high students with college-ready assistance, including tutoring services, career exploration, funding assistance and more.

During the event, several students received awards.

Awards for academic excellence were presented to Harmony Hall, Casey-Westfield High School; Destiny Budd, Casey-Westfield Jr. High School; Kendra Beals, Mattoon High School; Heather Carberry, Mattoon High School; Sarah Creel, Mattoon High School; Taylor Carberry, Mattoon High School; Vaughn Prince, Mattoon High School; Parker Durham, Pana Jr. High School; Nicole Arkebauer, Pana High School; Alexis Walton, Paris Mayo Jr. High School; and Kathryn Jones, Paris High School.

The College Ready awards were presented to Sarah Creel, Mattoon High School, and Nicole Arkebauer, Pana High School.

The Excellence in Leadership Awards were presented to Cole Burrell, Altamont High School; Kealie Toops, Mattoon High School; Luka Tooy, Mattoon Jr. High School; Gabriella Heinrich, Pana High School; Cody Heinrich, Pana Jr. High School; and Kaylee Powell, Paris High School.

The following students were recognized at the banquet for their participation in Lake Land College’s TRIO Destination College program:

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Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day on Thursday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Luther Student Center. The event is designed for prospective students to learn about Lake Land College and how the Laker Advantage can guide them on the path to success.

Attendees will tour campus with a Laker representative, who will share insights about the College. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs.

Representatives from many services, including Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Accommodations, Student Wellness, TRIO Student Support Services and more will be available to provide information and answer attendees’ questions.

Attendees are also welcome to bring their parents or guardians to the event. A session will be offered to provide relevant information to parents or guardians of future Lakers.

“If you’re interested in attending Lake Land College, Laker Visit Day is the perfect event for you,” Pam Hartke, associate dean of enrollment, said. “There’s no better way to learn about our campus resources and get a feel for the College as a whole.”

For more information or to register, visit the Lake Land College visit page at lakelandcollege.edu/visit.

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Lake Land College is hosting an all-day Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 19. The event is open to students, staff, faculty and community members to celebrate the ongoing history of liberation, resilience and overcoming in Black/African-American cultures.

The event will feature a keynote speech by “Alex Tha Great” in the Luther Student Center Theater at 10 a.m. Individuals can earn credit for Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) by attending the presentation.

The event will also include a Calm App group meditation session in the Luther Student Center Theater at 9 a.m. Black-owned businesses and food trucks will also be set up in Luther Student Center from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a Black-owned vendor fair. The event will conclude with a Walk for Freedom beginning at 1 p.m., which will start and end in Laker Point of the Luther Student Center.

Those interested in hosting a booth at the vendor fair should contact Mercury Bowen, Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, at 217-234-5244 or mbowen@lakelandcollege.edu. There is no cost to host a booth at the event.

To learn more about the Lake Land College Juneteenth celebration, contact Bowen at 217-234-5244 or mbowen@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College dental hygiene graduates received their pins at the annual pinning ceremony. Several students received scholarships or awards during the ceremony.

Madelynn Morrow, Mattoon, and Kendall Winnett, Charleston, were recognized for receiving the Linda Lee Fletcher Scholarship earlier this year.

Elizabeth Edie, Chatham, 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 and exhibits extraordinary compassion in patient care.

Jessica Allie, Effingham; Kayla Burget, Pana; Anna Koberlein, Altamont; and Kendall Winnett, Charleston, were recognized for their inclusion in the Heartland Dental Externship.

Grace Smith, Beecher City, received the Best Dental Hygienist Award, which was voted on by students in the program.

Hannah Sanabria, Indianapolis, received the Golden Scaler Award for demonstrating advanced skills in instrumentation.

The following students were pinned during the ceremony:

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 accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

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

The John Deere Tech High GPA award went to Conner Sage, Wilmington.

Parker Norman, Tuscola, earned the John Deere Tech Outstanding Student award.

The following students were honored at the ceremony:

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Graduating nurses received their pins at the 2024 Lake Land College Associate Degree Nursing pinning ceremony.

The Associate Degree Nurse Program Peer Awards were presented to Claire Cardinal, Neoga; Rolando Monte De Oca, Mattoon; and Shellie Witteborg, Beecher City, for exhibiting excellence in the classroom with a caring nature, professionalism and spirit.

The Patient Advocate Award was presented to Emma Moran, Sullivan, for displaying professionalism and compassionate care in the Associate Degree Nurse program.

Autumn Meyer, Oakland, received the Clinical Excellence Award for displaying professionalism, confidence and clinical excellence in the Associate Degree Nurse Program.

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, went to Emily Bloemer, Dieterich. To receive this award, 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. Bloemer’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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