Lake Land College’s Business Partnership Award presented to The Equity Posted on April 10, 2018 The Lake Land College Board of Trustees presented the Business Partnership Award at the April 9, 2018 meeting. Pictured left to right are Bruce Vernon, CEO of The Equity; Robin Brown, manager of employee relations and marketing of The Equity; Dave Storm, chair of Lake Land College Board of Trustees; Josh Bullock, president of Lake Land College. The Equity was presented with the 2018 Business Partnership Award at the April 9, 2018 Lake Land College Board of Trustees meeting. The award was accepted by Bruce Vernon, CEO of The Equity and Robin Brown, manager of employee relations and marketing. The Equity is one of largest independent agricultural cooperatives in the state and has been a strong supporter of the agriculture division at Lake Land College. The Equity routinely hires students for internship positions and regularly visits the college to share information about new and exciting opportunities in the agriculture industry. This partnership provides Lake Land agricultural students with the necessary skills to enter the workforce. “Over the past several years, The Equity and Lake Land College have collaborated in various ways, including offering internships to students and serving on the advisory board for the agriculture programs. The Equity has been an invaluable industry partner and Lake Land College looks forward to the new collaborations on the horizon,” said Lake Land College Board of Trustees Chair Dave Storm. The Equity seeks to extend civic leadership to spark a positive change for the good of the community and its service area. The Equity offers educational programming and internship opportunities for Lake Land College students and often hires Lake Land College graduates. For more information about the agricultural division at Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu/agriculture-division.
High School students invited to explore health care careers at informational night Posted on April 9, 2018 Are you a student interested in a career in the medical field? Learn more at the health-related college fair on Monday, April 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Lake Land College in Neal Hall. For convenient parking, enter from the main entrance and follow signs for Webb Hall. Students and parents will have the opportunity to learn more about the many careers in the health field, in addition to meeting with several colleges and businesses to discuss their health career programs and hiring practices. Colleges scheduled to attend are as follows: Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, Lakeview College of Nursing, McKendree University, MacMurray College, Millikin University, Lindenwood University – Belleville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – School of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University – School of Medicine and Western Illinois University. The event is coordinated through a partnership called Health CareeRX Club, which is supported by the Area Health Education Centers, Carle Foundation Hospital, Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, Eastern Illinois Education for Employment Systems, Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Free pizza and drinks will be provided. For more information, contact Lisa Shumard-Shelton, director of dual credit and honors experience, at 217-234-5044 or lshumard-shelton@lakelandcollege.edu.
Lake Land College Agriculture Students Excel in Competition Posted on March 29, 2018 Lake Land College agriculture students excel in the competition of Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization. Pictured in the front row, left to right are: Alex Hartke, Teutopolis, Illinois; Christiana Quance, Beecher City, Illinois; Kathryn Helmink, Montrose, Illinois; Emma Repking, Teutopolis, Illinois; Gretchen Macklin, Findlay, Illinois; Bryce Gullidge, Louisville, Illinois; Maddie Fugate, Mahomet, Illinois; Brandon Stickler, Pleasant Plains, Illinois. In the back row, left to right are: Micah Smock, Jackson Center, Ohio; Jordan Stewart, Williamsfield, Illinois; Patrick Watson, Paris, Illinois; Michael Schmidt, Marshall, Illinois; Justin Johnson, Bloomington, Indiana; Wyatt Claire, Watseka, Illinois; Riley Reynolds, Mt. Zion, Illinois. Lake Land College agriculture students recently attended the conference and competition of the National Professional Agriculture Student Organization (PAS) in Louisville, Kentucky the week of March 12th. Six-hundred students representing agricultural colleges in 18 states from across the country competed in various areas of agriculture specialization. After winning at the Illinois PAS conferences in their respective areas, the following students went on to compete at the National PAS conference. Illinois PAS Organization is part of a nationwide PAS group known as a career and technical agriculture student organization, for the promotion of skills, leadership and education in agriculture. 2017-2018 LAKE LAND COLLEGE PAS STUDENTS – NATIONAL PLACING: Beef Specialist Wyatt Claire 1st place individual, 1st place team Watseka, Illinois Bryce Gullidge 2nd place individual, 1st place team Louisville, Illinois Justin Johnson 10th place individual, 1st place team Bloomington, Indiana Swine Specialist Micah Smock 1st place individual, 1st place team Jackson Center, Ohio Brandon Stickler 4th place individual, 1st place team Pleasant Plains, Illinois Maddie Fugate 5th place individual, 1st place team Mahomet, Illinois Livestock Overall Gretchen Macklin 2nd place individual, 3rd place team Findlay, Illinois Kathryn Helmink 6th place individual, 3rd place team Montrose, Illinois Landscape Specialist Christiana Quance 5th place team Beecher City, Illinois Patrick Watson 5th place team Paris, Illinois Ag Machinery Technician Riley Reynolds 5th place individual, 5th place team Mt. Zion, Illinois Jordan Stewart 9th place individual, 5th place team Williamsfield, Illinois Soil Science Specialist Michael Schmidt 5th place team Marshall, Illinois Alex Hartke 5th place team Teutopolis, Illinois Emma Repking 5th place team Teutopolis, Illinois Prepared Speaking Maddie Fugate Mahomet, Illinois Career Planning Taylor Hartke Teutopolis, Illinois The Lake Land College Agriculture Division offers 12 majors that prepare students to enter the workforce or prepare to transfer to a four-year college. For more information visit lakelandcollege.edu.
Lake Land College holds annual Foundation Golf Classic Posted on March 26, 2018 The Lake Land College Foundation will host the annual golf classic at Meadowview Golf Course in Mattoon on Friday, May 18 with a shotgun start at noon. Registration and lunch for the participants will be at 11 a.m. with dinner provided at the end of the day. The entry fee is $125 per golfer or $500 per team of four and includes lunch, 18-holes, cart, refreshments and dinner. All proceeds benefit the Lake Land College Foundation. “Over the past 20 years this has really become an outing that I think everyone looks forward to and we have a great time raising funds for the foundation,” said Jackie Joines, executive director for college advancement. “Committee Chair Preston Smith and his committee do a great job. This allows us to continue our mission of assisting with the student experience at Lake Land.” The golf outing will follow a scramble format with teams of four. Teams or individuals can sign up through the Lake Land College Foundation at lakelandcollege.edu/foundation/golf or by calling 217- 234-5363. Individuals will be placed on a team. Organizations or individuals can support the foundation with a $100 donation to the golf classic as a tee sponsor. While golfing, participants will have the chance to win a car sponsored by KC Summers for a hole-in-one on a par three. Other major prizes, such as $5,000 in cash, will be available to win at the putting contest and a skins game. This year, exciting new vendors and prizes will be offered via silent auction and squares board game. Prizes will be awarded for low-net and low-gross scores for all male teams, all female teams and mixed (two male, two female) teams. The winners and raffle prizes will be announced at the dinner following the tournament. The outing is made possible by the support of the event’s corporate sponsors. Confirmed sponsors at this time are: TITLE CTS – Control Technology & Solution CART SPONSOR NAL – North American Lighting PAR 3 SPONSOR Grunloh Construction Wells Fargo Advisors EAGLE SPONSORS The First National Bank Robbins Schwartz OTHER IMPORTANT SPONSORS Ronchetti Distributing Meadowview Golf Course “The committee wholeheartedly thanks our corporate sponsors who support this event each year. Without their generous support, this event would not have the impact that it does on the foundation’s activities throughout the year,” Joines said. Entries are limited to the first 136 golfers. All proceeds assist the Lake Land College Foundation in the mission to help students as they pursue a better life through the power of a Lake Land College education. To register for the golf outing, visit lakelandcollege.edu/foundation/golf or contact Paula Rosine at 217-234-5445 or prosine@lakelandcollege.edu. All mail entries should be sent to the following address: Lake Land College Foundation Golf Classic, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL 61938
Lake Land College President Workforce Ready March Editorial Posted on If I asked how you think most college students learn, most likely you would say through lectures, reading textbooks, studying and taking tests. While this model is the traditional foundation of our higher education system, today’s learning environments are rapidly changing. Open educational resources (OER), electronic textbooks, video conferencing, virtual reality, game based learning and so many more innovations are finding their way into the lesson plans of educators. While traditional classroom concepts are evolving, our college continues to build on unique learning experiences. Our Workforce Ready programs, also known as career and technical majors, have always relied heavily on a combination of book and hands-on learning using real-world tools and techniques. This combination of learning works so well for thousands of students each year at Lake Land and more than two-thirds of all community college students in Illinois, according to the Illinois Community College Board. At Lake Land College, we offer more than 100 Workforce Ready majors that train students with the skills necessary to graduate and enter the regional workforce. Our latest economic impact study indicated that nine out of 10 area employers have hired a Lake Land College alumnus in the past. We’re seeing similar results with our current Laker Alumni Pride campaign. One area company discovered 25 percent of its 400 employees are Laker Alumni. Another was excited to report that all of their employees were alumni. What an amazing testament to Lake Land’s impact on our local economy. These alumni made the wise decision to invest in a Lake Land College education, allowing them to enter the workforce with a positive financial outlook. To put the value of a Workforce Ready degree into perspective, consider that a Lake Land education costs roughly $4,000 per year, or $8,000 for a degree. A student who graduates in two years and secures employment in a technical field at $40,000 per year will see a net positive return of $72,000 after four years. In that same four-year time period, a student who attends a university will face an average of $16,000 per year in tuition and fees (excluding room and board), or $64,000 for a degree. At the conclusion of those four years, the graduate will just be getting started, possibly facing a future with significant student loan debt. Through our program advisory committees, Lake Land College instructors regularly consult with industry professionals to ensure our course content is relevant and reflects the needs of area businesses. Our faculty regularly seek new opportunities to help students reach their educational goals. This summer the college will introduce the new IT-LaunchCode certificate, in conjunction with St. Louis based tech training company LaunchCode. This 20-week boot camp trains students in web application development skills and will be offered in the evenings at the Lake Land Kluthe Center in Effingham. The Medical Assistant major has added a new flexible online component to its options. Students can now take all of their classes online and only have to travel to campus one night a week for lab. Providing relevant work experience is at the forefront of our Workforce Ready programs and these opportunities will expand with a new apprenticeship program that is being developed through a grant from the Illinois Community College Board. Plans are to create at least 30 new apprenticeships in both the production technician and the plastics manufacturing fields as well as the finance and banking field. As you think about your future, or that of your child’s, I encourage you to explore a Workforce Ready major at Lake Land College. The combination of hands-on learning and classroom experience may be a perfect investment in your future success. Dr. Josh Bullock Lake Land College President
New Lake Land College IT-LaunchCode program to be offered in Effingham Posted on March 15, 2018 The new Lake Land College IT-LaunchCode certificate program offers students an opportunity to train for a career in the fast growing field of web application development in just 20 weeks. The program will begin June 5 and run through Oct. 18. Courses will meet in the evenings at the Lake Land Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology in Effingham. Students will gain skills in Python, Java, SQL and front-end web development. Those who complete the program will earn a Lake Land College certificate as well the opportunity to test for eight industry-leading Microsoft certifications. The course curriculum is developed to give students the skills that are in high-demand in the tech industry. The program is offered through a collaborative agreement between the college and LaunchCode, an innovative non-profit providing job seekers opportunities to enter the technology field. Jim McKelvey, the co-founder of Square, the payments processing company, founded LaunchCode to create pathways for people seeking careers in technology. Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said the college is pleased to have the support of The Effingham Regional Growth Alliance, the countywide economic development organization. The Alliance will be seeking local companies and individuals who are interested in supporting students with scholarships or internship opportunities. Web programmers and coders are in high demand. The US Department of Labor estimates that 1 million coding jobs will go unfilled by 2020 and that employment of web developers is projected to grow 32 percent through 2026 (bls.gov). All courses in the IT-LaunchCode program count toward the associate degree in IT-Web Programming. Those who complete the certificate will have about one-fourth of the degree completed. Enrollment in the program is limited. The deadline to apply is May 1 and an aptitude test is required. A practice test, FAQ and list of steps to get started can be found on the High Demand Programs page at lakelandcollege.edu/high-demand-programs. The Nelnet payment plan allows students to spread tuition and fee payments out over the course of the program. Additional funding may also be available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. For more information visit lakelandcollege.edu/high-demand-programs or contact Counseling Services at 217-234-5232.
Lake Land College celebrates agriculture students at annual awards banquet Posted on Group: Lake Land College recognized its agriculture division students at the 47th Annual Agricultural Banquet. Awards are given to the students who display excellence and scholastic achievement within the agriculture programs. Pictured are award recipients from left to right: Brandon Knowles, Marshall, High GPA in Ag Power; Riley Reynolds, Mount Zion, High GPA in John Deere Tech; Emma Repking, Effingham, Outstanding Student in Ag Business; Zackery Schumaker, Sweet Springs, W. Va, Outstanding Student in Ag Production; Maddie Caldwell, Elmwood, Overall Outstanding Student; Jackson Utsler, Mattoon, Outstanding Student in Ag Power; Kacie Haag, Emington, Outstanding Student in Ag Transfer; Brandon Brinkley, Chrisman, High GPA and Outstanding Student in Horticulture; Stacey Smithenry, Newton, High GPA in Ag Transfer; Jordan Stewart, Williamsfield, Outstanding Student in John Deere Tech. Not pictured: Alex Flach, Montrose, High GPA in Ag Business; Hunter Flach, Montrose, High GPA in Ag Production. Lake Land College recently honored students in its agriculture programs at the 47th Annual Agriculture Banquet. An excited crowd of friends, family, faculty and staff filled the Lake Land College Field House for the banquet, which honored outstanding agriculture students and alumni. “The agriculture division could not be the nationally recognized program it is without the great support of everyone in this room. The college board of trustees, our administration team, supportive alumni, industry partners, or the 284 amazing students we have the privilege to interact with every day,” said Ryan Orrick, division chair agriculture/agriculture instructor, as he welcomed families and friends of agriculture students. “I want to say, we, the Laker family, are thankful to have been a small part of their journey and look forward to their future success,” he said. Throughout the evening, various groups were recognized for their outstanding efforts including: the Agriculture Transfer Club, the Agriculture Business Club, the Horticulture Club, student leaders in the agriculture division, the Livestock Judging Team and members of the Post-Secondary Agriculture Students group. Carey Wilson, Melvin, Ill., received the 2018 Honored Alumnus Award. Wilson graduated from the John Deere Tech program in 1995 and continued to be a strong supporter of Lake Land by employing multiple students each year. Wilson served on the John Deere advisory council for eight years and provided valuable insight into the success of the program. “On my very first day of class, my instructor Ken Drollinger told me that I was going to be a professionally trained John Deere technician after this and that I should be treated as such. For a young man who thought all he would ever be was a mechanic, it made me feel special, like I could do anything,” Wilson said during his speech. Other students recognized at the banquet were as follows: The Outstanding Agriculture Division Student Award for 2017-2018 Maddison Taylor Caldwell, Elmwood, Illinois Recognized for Agriculture Business and Supply were: Alex Flach, Montrose, High GPA Emma Repking, Effingham, Outstanding Student Recognized for Agriculture Production and Management were: Hunter Flach, Montrose, High GPA Zackery Schumaker, Sweet Springs, West Virginia, Outstanding Student Recognized for Agriculture Power Technology were: Brandon Knowles, Marshall, High GPA Jackson Utsler, Mattoon, Outstanding Student Recognized for the John Deere Tech program were: Riley Reynolds, Mount Zion, High GPA Jordan Stewart, Williamsfield, Outstanding Student Recognized for the Horticulture program were: Brandon Brinkley, Chrisman, High GPA and Outstanding Student Recognized in the Agriculture Transfer program were: Stacey Smithenry, Newton, High GPA Kacie Haag, Emington, Outstanding Student
Lake Land College’s Community Choir to hold Spring Concert Posted on March 8, 2018 Lake Land College’s Community Choir invites the community to attend its annual spring concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 18 in the Lake Land College Theater. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the choir will perform an arrangement of “Danny Boy” as well as two lesser known Irish folk songs, with Gerald Stanford of Mattoon on pennywhistle. The choir will honor America with “God Bless America” and other patriotic songs in commemoration of anniversaries of World War I and the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. The program also includes a set of black spirituals, with the dramatic “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” and the plaintive “All My Trials,” as well as “The Drinking Gourd,” recalling travelers on the Underground Railroad. The concert wraps up with classic pop favorites: “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Imagine” by John Lennon and “Take a Chance on Me,” most recently heard in the movie-musical “Mamma Mia!” A reception in Laker Point will follow. Under the direction of Nancy Caldwell, music instructor, the Community Choir is a choir of mixed voices including students from the college as well as members of surrounding communities including Arthur, Arcola, Effingham, Charleston, Mattoon, Neoga and Sigel. Randy Imig of St. Elmo accompanies the choir. The Community Choir was formed in January of 1998 and performs two concerts annually. The concert is free and open to the public.
Lake Land College to host Summer College for Youth Posted on March 7, 2018 School will be out before you know it. Do your children have any summer plans? Make their summer great with some educational fun at Lake Land College’s Summer College for Youth program. Summer College for Youth is now offered in Mattoon and Effingham locations throughout the months of June, July and August. Black Rocket courses include mobile app design, basic coding language, Minecraft and virtual reality. In these classes students will work in pairs or teams. VR projects, Minecraft creations and 3-D designs will be available on a password-protected Black Rocket website for students to share with their family and friends. The dates for Black Rocket courses are as follows: App Attack, June 11-14 Code Breakers and Python Programmers, June 25-28 Minecraft Designers, July 9-12 Minecraft Modders, July 16-19 Maker Labs: Make Your First 3-D Creation, July 23-26 Virtual Reality: The Future is Now, July 30- Aug. 2 The Little House on the Prairie class, based on the rugged world of Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be held June 25-28 in Mattoon and Effingham. In this course, students will learn how to make butter, bread and yarn dolls. All children are invited to Camp Invention, a program offered through a partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This non-profit organization is dedicated to piquing curiosity and advancing the future of innovation and STEM. Program activities are led by experienced, local educators and inspired by the world-changing inventors that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Opportunities are available for students entering kindergarten through high school. Camp Invention will be held on campus in Mattoon, June 18-21 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Camp Invention in Effingham will take place at the Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology, July 9-12 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. To register, visit lakelandcollege.edu/learn and select “Summer College for Youth.” To register for Camp Invention, visit campinvention.org and click on “Register for Camp Invention!” in the top right corner. For more information, contact Bonnie Moore, director to Center for Business and Industry, at 217-238-8260 or bmoore71258@lakelandcollege.edu.
Lake Land College to host Laker Family Movie Night Posted on March 2, 2018 Lake Land College is excited to invite everyone to the college’s Laker Movie Night. Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story” will be screened on Friday, March 23 at 6 p.m. in the Field House. Free hot dogs and popcorn will be provided while supplies last. Laker Louie is even scheduled to fly-in for an appearance! This event is sponsored by the college’s Student Life clubs and organizations and is free and open to the public. For more information about this event, contact Director of Student Life Valerie Lynch at 217-234-5270 or vlynch@lakelandcollege.edu. For more information about Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu.