Lake Land College celebrates 50 years of graduates with Commencement May 11 Posted on May 4, 2018 Lake Land College is celebrating 50 years of graduates at the annual Commencement Ceremony Friday, May 11. The ceremony will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Field House. More than 1,150 students will receive degrees and certificates this spring, with about 400 graduates expected to participate in the ceremony. The very first Lake Land College commencement took place on August 18, 1968 at the First Baptist Church in Mattoon. In those 50 years, more than 55,000 students have graduated from Lake Land College. “We look forward to celebrating 50 years of graduates this spring. We are certain the Lake Land faculty, staff and graduates throughout those five decades shared in the same excitement and pride we feel in preparing for this significant moment,” Lake Land President Josh Bullock said. In commemoration of the college’s 50th anniversary, graduates and guests will be invited to join their voices in singing the Laker Loyalty fight song prior to the recessional. Lake Land College debuted the first-ever recording of the school fight song last fall during homecoming. The song was written by former Lake Land music instructor Wayne Bradtke and then recorded by the Eastern Illinois University marching band. The Lake Land College Radio-TV Broadcasting Club will be filming the commencement ceremony. Interested individuals will be able to order a copy in the lobby of the Field House following the ceremony. The ceremony will also air on Consolidated Communications’ DVS channel 13 (WEIU) on Saturday, May 19 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and again on May 20 at 12 p.m., May 22 at 7 p.m., May 28 at 6 a.m. Mediacom MC 22 will air the ceremony on May 18 at 7 a.m. Photos taken by Marketing and Public Relations will be available for download at lakelandcollege.edu and on social media.
Lake Land College hosts annual business and computer contest Posted on Shelbyville High School won the 2018 Lake Land College Business and Computer Contest. Pictured in the front row, left to right are Shelbyville High School students: Allison Schricht and Carolyn Nohren. In the back row, left to right are: Wade Johnston, Joel Bleskey, Harrison Wooters and Kyle Stauder. Shelbyville High School placed first in the team event at the annual Business and Computer Contest sponsored by the Lake Land College Business Division and Club IT. Other high schools participating in the event were Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School, Centralia High School, Champaign Centennial High School, Champaign Central High School, Charleston High School, Fairfield Community High School, Flora High School, Martinsville High School, Monticello High School, Neoga High School, Newton Community High School, Paris High School, PBL High School, and Shelbyville High School. “We look forward to this contest every year,” said Kathy Black, business division chair/business instructor and coordinator of the contest. “We enjoy seeing and visiting with area business teachers and interacting with talented students. It’s a great opportunity for students to showcase their business and computer skills.” Students from area high schools competed in the following categories: accounting, general business and current events, MOS Word, MOS PowerPoint and MOS Excel. Depending on the category, students either completed a written test or a hands-on test on the computer. First place winners of each contest received a three-credit-hour tuition waiver from Lake Land College. The winners are as follows: Accounting: Devan Warren, Flora High School General Business and Current Events: Amber Marie Clark, Fairfield Community High School MOS Word: Lexie Madlem, Charleston High School MOS PowerPoint: Nicholas Freeman, Flora High School MOS Excel: Braden Reedy, Charleston High School For more information about the Business Division at Lake Land College, contact Kathy Black, business division chair/business instructor, at 217-234-5348 or email kblack@lakelandcollege.edu.
Lake Land College Club IT students offer technology assistance session to seniors Posted on May 3, 2018 Lake Land College’s Club IT hosted a “Tech Savvy” informational session at the LifeSpan Center in Mattoon on April 21. Lake Land students offered their expertise to seniors seeking assistance with various technical devices—phones, laptops and tablets. Participants were encouraged to bring their own devices and bring questions to the students. Students helped explain Apple and Android operating systems and also provided one-on-one assistance. They also covered the basic and more advanced functions of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. Participants called the event “fascinating” and “very informative” and expressed a desire for future sessions dedicated to navigating Facebook. Club IT frequently organizes events that benefit the club and local community. Club IT received the Outstanding Club Award this year at the annual Lake Land College Club Recognition Luncheon. For more information about Lake Land’s clubs and organizations, visit lakelandcollege.edu and look for the “Student Life” drop-down menu.
Lake Land College holds first induction ceremony for National Society of Leadership and Success chapter Posted on May 1, 2018 Lake Land College’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) inducted 81 members on April 18 in the Luther Student Center Theater. Lake Land College’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) inducted 81 members on April 18 in the Luther Student Center Theater. Lake Land enrolled more than 300 students as paid members in the chapter and inducted more than 80 students who met the requirements for NSLS induction. Student Life Director Valerie Lynch received a grant to introduce NSLS to campus in fall 2017 as an opportunity to expand leadership roles at Lake Land. It is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. To be nominated for the society, students need a GPA of at least 2.75, be involved in at least one campus activity and have completed at least 15 credit hours. Upon accepting the nomination and paying one-time membership dues, students need to complete three requirements to qualify for induction. To be officially inducted, students complete an orientation day, attend leadership training day and three video presentations that consist of success networking team meetings and speaker broadcasts. Lynch led the ceremony and imparted some words about leadership. “To our inductees, after today’s ceremony, you are officially an active lifetime member of the society. Your completion of the membership requirements is just the first step in a larger journey you now share with fellow members,” Lynch said. For more information about NSLS and Student Life contact Lynch at 217-234-5270 or vlynch@lakelandcollege.edu. To learn more about NSLS, visit lakelandcollege.edu and select the “Student Life” drop down.
Ellen Trainor honored with Lake Land College’s Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award Posted on April 30, 2018 Ellen Trainor, Lake Land College Adjunct Faculty Agriculture Division, received the 2018 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award. Ellen Trainor, Lake Land College adjunct faculty in the agriculture division, received the 2018 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award. Trainor has worked at Lake Land College for several years and has brought inspiration to the college and her classroom. “Her combined background in software, paired with her real world agriculture experience, makes for an outstanding combination of skills for her students,” said nominator Ryan Orrick, division chair agriculture/agriculture instructor. Dave Storm, Lake Land College Board of Trustees chair, said in her nomination, “Ms. Trainor has been an esteemed member of our part-time faculty for several years and has an exemplary record as an innovative classroom instructor. She consistently incorporates emerging agricultural technologies into her instructional plan, thus preparing her students for the rapidly changing pace of industry demands.” As agriculture technology changes, Trainor is training her students to be up to date with the newest technology and to perform without hesitation with real world industry demands. Trainor also strives to go above and beyond academic course objectives and make personal connections with each of her students. This encourages her students to feel comfortable with her, as well as encourage them to set goals and meet high expectations. Trainor has a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness economics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master’s degree in agriculture education from the University of Illinois. She lives in Shelbyville with her husband Chuck and their three children Sydney, Chase and Sophie, where they raise cattle and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. For more information about Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu.
John Deere donates equipment to Lake Land College Posted on April 27, 2018 The Agriculture Division at Lake Land received a donation of $100,000 worth of John Deere equipment recovered from Houston, Texas. Due to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey last year, the equipment was unable to be sold to customers. As a result, John Deere decided to donate the equipment to be used for student training in 17 North American schools, including Lake Land College. The John Deere Tech program is offered through a partnership between John Deere and Lake Land; making it one of the few programs in the country that offers students first-hand experience working at a John Deere dealership. For more information about the program, contact John Deere Technology Instructor Allen Drake at 217-234-5308 or adrake@lakelandcollege.edu.
Robert K. Luther to be honored with Lake Land College Distinguished Service Award at the 50th anniversary Commencement Posted on Lake Land College will posthumously award the 2018 Distinguished Service Award to Robert K. Luther, the fourth president of Lake Land, during commencement on Friday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Lake Land College will posthumously award the 2018 Distinguished Service Award to Robert K. Luther, the fourth president of Lake Land College, during the college’s 50th anniversary commencement on Friday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. This award acknowledges an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the college. Luther served as college president for 18 years, the longest term of any Lake Land College president, beginning in 1988 until his retirement in 2006. During those years, Luther became the leading force in raising the college’s finances and student enrollment. He was also considered a trailblazer in online learning, technology usage and state-of-the-art academic programming. His leadership led the college to receive numerous state and federal level awards for innovation, teaching and technology. Luther’s path to excellence had a huge hand in expanding and improving the college grounds by adding six new buildings and leading a beautification campaign on campus. The Lake Land College Board of Trustees recognized Luther’s exceptional professional contributions in April 2011 by renaming the student center in his honor as the Robert K. Luther Student Center. After his retirement in June 2006, the Board of Trustees’ chairman at the time, Mike Sullivan, said, “Luther provided the leadership that has allowed Lake Land College to emerge as one of the fastest growing and most respected community colleges in Illinois and the nation. Lake Land College is fiscally sound, its faculty and board of trustees are united and the beauty of its campus and furnishings has become an icon for the central Illinois community college. Many Illinois community colleges look toward Dr. Luther and Lake Land for guidance and leadership in innovation, technology and statewide issues. He is well respected among Illinois community colleges, state legislators and the business community.” During his time as president, Luther was a top advocate for the college, both state and nationwide, by joining countless committees and organizations. Even after his retirement, Luther’s contributions and dedication to the college continued. Beginning in 2011, Luther was elected to the Lake Land College Board of Trustees. He offered knowledge, wisdom and thoughtfulness to the position until 2017. In his nomination, Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said, “There are few people associated with Lake Land who have left such a positive and permanent mark on the college and the community it serves. Dr. Luther was a humble public servant whose passion for Lake Land continued until the day of his passing. I can think of no one more deserving of the Distinguished Service Award than Dr. Robert Luther.” Prior to joining Lake Land College, Luther had past experience in leadership as president at Greene Community College in New York and president and vice president at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a doctoral degree from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Judy, have two grown daughters, Kari and Dana, and four grandchildren.
Cari Rincker is to be presented with Lake Land College 2018 Alumnus Achievement Award Posted on Lake Land College will award the 2018 Alumnus Achievement Award to Cari Rincker during commencement on Friday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Lake Land College will present the 2018 Alumnus Achievement Award to Cari Rincker during the 50th anniversary commencement on Friday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony marks 50 years of commencement in which more than 55,000 graduates have earned a degree or certification. The Alumnus Achievement Award acknowledges 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 in society. Rincker, Laker Nation Class of 2000, is the owner of Rincker Law, PLLC, co-owner of Rincker Cattle Company and an adjunct professor at Vermont Law School where she teaches an online agriculture and environmental law course. She is a general practitioner with concentrations in food, farm and family law and is also a nationally recognized food, farm and family attorney, mediator, writer and speaker. Rincker grew up working on a farm in Shelbyville, Illinois and was constantly engaged in agricultural events around her community. She participated in 4-H and FFA by showing cattle at both local and national levels and was involved with the American Junior Simmental Association. During her time at Lake Land, she was a member of the Livestock Judging Team that earned First Place in Oral Reasons at the National Western Livestock Show and First Place Overall at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. After graduating with an associate degree in agricultural science from Lake Land, Rincker’s path took her all over the country. She first transferred to Texas A & M University’s College of Agriculture, where she received a bachelor’s degree in animal science and was selected to participate in the Congressional Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy Internship Program. It was through this internship opportunity that Rincker had her first experience with agriculture law and policy while working for Congressman Kevin Brady. Rincker completed a juris doctorate degree from Pace University, School of Law, in White Plains, New York where she received certificates in both environmental law and international law. While there, she was a part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations where she did research on national legal frameworks on the conservation of livestock biodiversity and contributed to the report publication of “The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.” She also participated in Yale University’s School of Forestry’s Environmental Diplomacy program where she served as an advisor for the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands of the United Nations. While there, she gave policy recommendations to Ambassador Cappelle. Following law school, Rincker started her career as an associate at Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC in Cheyenne, Wyoming where she worked in areas regarding agriculture, environmental and natural resource issues to federal lands, wind energy development, crop insurance, property law and commercial law. She gained teaching experience as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Department of Nutrition and Food studies where she taught an undergraduate food law course. She developed a strong love for her career and skills through working with families on how to resolve their disputes and make their families stronger. She followed this goal by being a member of the matrimonial law committee for the Association of the Bar for the City of New York and the family law section for the New York State Bar Association, and a volunteer mediator with the New York Peace Institute in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She has also taken this passion back home to Illinois by becoming a mediator Guardian Ad Litem for the Sixth Circuit. Rincker has bar licenses in Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Washington D.C. She is a member of countless professional activities and associations and has won many awards for the work that she has done. Dave Cox, director of alumni relations and annual giving, said of Rincker’s success in her nomination, “Cari has taken every opportunity presented to her to be get the most out of her many talents and strive to great heights of success.” The Rincker family has strong ties to Lake Land College. Rincker’s father, Curt Rincker, is an alumnus and served many years in the Agriculture Division, retiring as the division chair in 2011.
Scott Rhine honored with Lake Land College’s Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award Posted on Lake Land College honored Scott Rhine, Lake Land College IT Network Administration instructor/program coordinator, with the 2018 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award at commencement. Lake Land College honored Scott Rhine, Lake Land College IT Network Administration instructor/program coordinator, with the 2018 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award at commencement. Throughout his 21 years at Lake Land, Rhine has created a learning environment in which students feel comfortable taking risks, seeking assistance and taking on challenges. He continuously pursues new information to share with students and colleagues, challenges himself to develop new programs and courses and energizes all around him with his infectious desire to teach, learn and innovate. Rhine’s role as an educator spans beyond classroom material as he mentors those around him and emphasizes to students about the importance of giving back to the community. Whether it’s a canned food drive or the innovative creation of a prosthetic for a young community member, Rhine seeks out opportunities to extend Lake Land’s reach far beyond the classroom. Rhine, who teaches programs in IT Network Administration, IT Game Development and IT Digital Media Specialist, said he tries many different teaching styles—keeping what works and discarding what doesn’t. “I have always known that funny and creative is engaging, and rote facts are boring. Since I teach very complicated subjects that involve a huge amount of potentially mind-numbing content, I have some very creative, and some would say silly analogies and stories, that illustrate the major concepts. I often run into graduates from years ago who can describe the analogies in great detail. This is a testament to how effective these methods are,” said Rhine. His dedication has significant impact on all of his students. Kathy Black, division chair of business and business instructor, said Rhine devotes every Friday to his lab and interacts with students who like to study in his lab. “Students are in Webb 116 all day even if they are not attending classes,” said Black. “This is the type of environment that Scott creates that draws students to his lab.” Some of Rhine’s community projects include a canned food drive that averages about 1,200 cans per semester. A project he worked on as an advisor for Club I.T. was to create and maintain the hardscape and landscape of the Club I.T. garden on campus. Another project was a 3-D printing pilot design for a prosthetic forearm for a 3-year-old girl. Rhine received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Toccoa Falls College in Georgia and a master’s degree in business administration from Eastern Illinois University. He lives in Mattoon with his wife, Marla, and their four children, Lydia, Alexander, Chandler and Sophia. For more information on Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollge.edu.
Lake Land College international students share experiences studying abroad with local rotary club Posted on April 26, 2018 Lake Land College international students shared their experiences studying abroad with the Charleston Rotary Club. Pictured left to right are: Ted O, director of international studies; students Hyuntaek Oh, Yujin Lee; and Richard Wandling, Charleston Rotary Club president. Two Lake Land College international students from South Korea shared their experiences studying abroad with the Charleston Rotary Club. Yujin Lee and Hyuntaek Oh answered questions about their culture and what motivated them to study in the United States. Lee and Oh are enrolled in the Intensive English program offered at Lake Land. Lake Land’s Director of International Studies, Ted O, also presented on topics such as cultural differences and the Global Friends program. The Global Friends Program matches an international student with a community family to meet a couple of times a semester and share holidays. The International Studies staff also organized field-trips to take international students and interested traditional students to do fun and interactive activities. Previous trips have included site-seeing in cities such as Indianapolis and St. Louis as well as ice skating in Champaign. Local trips are also planned for activities such as going to the movie theater to watch the newest blockbuster hit. Every November, International Studies hosts the International Culture Show and Tell as a part of International Education Week. Students set up displays and activities that represent their home countries. Some past favorites have been folding origami, Chinese calligraphy and taste testing food from around the world. To learn more about International Studies or how to get involved, contact International Studies at international@lakelandcollege.edu or call 217-234-5382.