Laker Nation News

Lake Land College recently hosted its fourth annual Spring Art Show. The show included submissions from students, staff, faculty and artists throughout the Lake Land community.

All submissions were displayed in the Luther Student Center from April 21-25. During the week, spectators voted for their favorite submissions in a number of categories, and the winners were announced during a closing ceremony.

Lauren Hosfield, Casey, received the Best in Show Award for “Untitled.”

The awards for Most Ambitious went to Breeze Corda, Charleston, for “The Shelly Art Museum,” Kelly Cothern, Mattoon, for “Snowgrave” and Emma Fraser, Neoga, for “Elephant and River.”

The awards for Most Impactful went to Jesse Horton, Sullivan, for “On the Run,” Layla Ballard, Mattoon, for “Thank You for the Music” and Jennifer Uthell, Teutopolis, for “A World with Color.”

The awards for Most Thought-Provoking went to Sarah Thomas, Mattoon, for “Making a Difference” and Sarah Housh, Charleston, for “Making a Small Difference.”

“We are once again awed by the talent showcased year after year in this exhibition,” Mercury Bowen, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, said. “It is so exciting to see the show continue to grow and to have the opportunity to see the exceptional abilities of our incredible Laker community.”

The following is the full list of artists who participated in the Lake Land College Spring 2025 Art Show:

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees recently nominated Kerry Fisher, Shelbyville, for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award.

A Lake Land College graduate, Fisher now serves as an Allied Health Basic Nurse Assistant (BNA) Adjunct Faculty Member. With nearly 40 years of nursing experience, she provides innovative instruction that engages students, encompasses diverse learning needs and offers practical opportunities for real-world application. She equips her students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful nurses while also stressing compassion and empathy as they care for their communities.

Fisher is a team player who collaborates with her Lake Land College peers as well as members of the Illinois Department of Public Health. These efforts contribute to the College’s mission of aligning curriculum with changing healthcare trends, which better prepares students for immediate career success.

“Kerry’s exceptional instruction and innovative spirit are instrumental to the success of our students and to the strength of our institution,” Vice President for Academic Services Ike Nwosu said. “It is our honor to recognize her contributions to our nursing programs and to our College as a whole by nominating her for this award.”

The ICCTA Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award is presented annually to a part-time instructor at an ICCTA member college. Fisher’s nomination will be considered among 21 statewide nominees, with the recipient announced at the ICCTA Awards Banquet on June 6 in Normal. For more information about the award, visit the ICCTA website at CommunityColleges.org/ICCTA-S-Awards-and-Scholarships.

To learn more about Lake Land College nursing programs, contact Division Chair Allied Health/Nursing Instructor Erin Swingler at 217-234-5448 or eswingler@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College will hold its annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16 beginning at 6 p.m. in the campus Field House.

The College is implementing a wristband admission system to ensure all graduates are able to have their loved ones present in the Field House during the ceremony. Each graduate will receive four wristbands to share with the guests of their choice. Each guest must present a wristband to enter the Field House for the graduation ceremony. Wristbands will be available for students to pick up at the Admissions & Records Office in the Luther Student Center from May 12-16.

For all guests without wristbands, the ceremony will be streamed in the Luther Student Center Theater and the Foundation & Alumni Center. Seating in these venues will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony will also be streamed live on the College’s home page: LakeLandCollege.edu.

Doors to the Field House will open at 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Parking near the Field House will be available in lots A and B. Guests who will be viewing the graduation livestream in the Luther Student Center Theater or the Foundation & Alumni Center are encouraged to park in lots B or E.

Any guests in need of accessible seating accommodations in the Field House can complete the Accessible Seating registration at LakeLandColllege.edu/Admissions/Graduation. The deadline to submit the accessible seating registration form is Monday, May 12. Guests utilizing accessible seating will need a wristband to enter the Field House.

For questions about the Lake Land College Commencement ceremony or to learn more, contact the Admissions & Records Office at admissions@lakelandcollege.edu or visit LakeLandCollege.edu/Admissions/Graduation/.

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Three Lake Land College Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors students were recognized at a banquet in Springfield for their inclusion on the All-Illinois Community College Academic Team.

Kyra Hazelton, Effingham, was one of two transfer student nominees recognized at the banquet. Kyra is an active member of both the Lake Land College Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). She will graduate in Spring 2025 with a degree in Environmental Science. With a strong interest in conservation and sustainability, she hopes to make a meaningful impact in the Environmental Science field. She also gives back to her community by volunteering at the Effingham County Humane Society.

Aubrey Hebenstreit, Vandalia, was also recognized as a transfer student nominee. She graduated from Lake Land College in December 2024 and transferred to the University of Illinois Springfield, where she serves as the President of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). While at Lake Land, she served as Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa, Treasurer of the Student Government Association (SGA) and student representative for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Angela Shaw, Greenup, was recognized as a career and technical education (CTE) student nominee. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Alpha Theta Psi chapter of PTK and will be the acting President next academic year. She is pursuing a degree in nursing from Lake Land College and plans to transfer and continue her education at Eastern Illinois University.

“I am so proud of these students for their exemplary work both within the classroom and beyond,” said Tessa Wiles, Director of Dual Credit and Honors Experience. “As they move forward in their education and careers, they will serve as tremendous representatives of our College.”

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society and one of many opportunities available for students through the Lake Land College Honors Experience. To learn more, contact Wiles at 217-234-5044 or twiles@lakelandcollege.edu or visit the Honors Experience webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Honors-Program/.

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Lake Land College student Allison Meese, Robinson, was named the 2025-2026 member of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Meese’s election as the ICCB student member marks the second consecutive year a Lake Land College student has held the position. Lake Land alumna Aubrey Hebenstreit, Vandalia, was previously named the ICCB student member during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Meese is in the Lake Land College Ag Transfer Program and is studying Ag Education. She is a member of the Student Government Association (SGA), the Student Activity Board (SAB), the Professional Agriculture Student (PAS) club, the Collegiate Farm Bureau and was named the 2025-2026 Ag Transfer Treasurer.

“I am looking forward to serving and representing my fellow community college students all over the state of Illinois,” Meese said.

Hebenstreit graduated from Lake Land College in December 2024 with an associate degree. During her time at Lake Land, she served as Treasurer of the SGA and Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She currently studies communication at the University of Illinois Springfield, where she serves as the President of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).

“With the internship at the ICCB, I have learned how to network and build connections with people across Illinois,” Hebenstreit said. “I am learning how to be a leader along with how to navigate bills. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities the ICCB has given me.”

The ICCB represents Illinois’ 48 public community colleges, overseeing state and federal funding, setting curriculum standards and maintaining a high-quality, accessible community college system. One current community college student is elected to the board each year as the student member.

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Earthrise Energy has awarded a $15,000 grant to the Lake Land College Foundation to support the Lake Land College Student Emergency Fund. This funding will provide financial assistance to students facing unexpected challenges, ensuring they can remain enrolled and continue their education without disruption.

“Unexpected financial hardships can be a major barrier to student success, especially for those in rural and low-income communities,” said Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement. “With this grant from Earthrise Energy, we can offer critical support to students facing emergencies, allowing them to focus on their education instead of worrying about financial instability.”

The Student Emergency Fund assists students in covering urgent expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, or housing costs—expenses that, without support, could force them to pause or abandon their education. By reducing these barriers, the fund helps students stay on track academically and successfully complete their coursework, even during difficult times.

“Earthrise Energy is proud to support Lake Land College’s efforts to help students stay in school despite financial setbacks,” said Nicole Vaughn, Senior Project Development Manager at Earthrise Energy. “This program empowers students to focus on their education and future success.”

Earthrise Energy is an independent power producer which owns five natural gas plants in Illinois, including the Shelby Energy Center in Neoga and is developing more than 1.5 gigawatts of solar power in the state. The Shelby Energy Center itself is operated by several Lake Land College alumni, who recently reunited to lead a special tour of the plant for the Lake Land College President and staff.

Through its RISE Grant program, Earthrise Energy has committed over $235,000 in funding to support education, financial resilience, and community development in the Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby counties.

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees recently nominated Sarah Bush Lincoln for the 2025 Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) Business Partnership Award.

Lake Land College and Sarah Bush Lincoln have partnered together for more than 30 years, collaborating to build curriculum, enhance student support and develop the local workforce. These initiatives have resulted in the growth of the local, rural health industry and have empowered students to secure valuable employment within the community.

“Lake Land College and Sarah Bush Lincoln have a long-standing transformative partnership rooted in improving the lives of community members,” Vice President of Academic Services Ikemefuna Nwosu said. “This steadfast partnership is a powerful force that will promote lifelong learning and a healthier community for many years.”

In 2024, Sarah Bush Lincoln provided a generous donation that allowed Lake Land to create a high-fidelity nursing simulation lab. The lab includes state-of-the-art simulation technology that transforms nursing class sessions into hyper-realistic healthcare experiences. With the new lab, students are able to practice their skills in a risk-free setting and prepare for immediate success in their clinical placements and future careers.

“It’s impossible to overstate the impact this simulation lab has had on the confidence of our nursing students as they study to serve their communities,” Nwosu said. “We’re thankful for Sarah Bush Lincoln for their generosity to support our students and their devotion to the future of local healthcare.”

Lake Land will forward Sarah Bush Lincoln’s nomination for consideration for the statewide ICCTA Business Partnership Award recipient. The award is presented annually to an Illinois business that has built a successful workforce-training alliance with an ICCTA member college. The recipient will be announced at the ICCTA awards banquet on June 6.

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Lake Land College dedicated its new nursing simulation lab in recognition of Sarah Bush Lincoln on Tuesday, April 22. Located on campus in Neal Hall, the lab was officially named the Sarah Bush Lincoln High Fidelity Nursing Simulation Lab during the event.

The lab was created in 2024 with a generous donation from Sarah Bush Lincoln. As a Lake Land College Community Partner, Sarah Bush Lincoln worked with the Lake Land College Foundation to make a significant gift that both allowed for the creation of the new lab and established scholarships to support students on an annual basis.

“The Foundation is thrilled to work with incredible Community Partners like Sarah Bush Lincoln to help them maximize the impact of their donation,” Executive Director of College Advancement Christi Donsbach said. “In addition to directly benefitting students and faculty, their donation positively impacts the entire region by partnering with Lake Land to build a highly skilled nursing workforce.”

The nursing simulation lab provides students with hyper-realistic educational experiences to prepare them for the workforce. The lab includes two replica hospital rooms, each equipped with state-of-the-art patient simulators and one-way windows for instructors to observe students. With this setup, students are able to practice their skills and develop their confidence in a realistic but risk-free setting.

“We are so grateful for Sarah Bush Lincoln for donating this crucial equipment for our nursing programs,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “It’s been a tremendous honor to partner with an organization that recognizes the value of investing in the education of our area’s future healthcare professionals.”

“We know that nurses are the heart of patient care, and we’re proud to help prepare students to enter their careers with confidence, experience and compassion. We’re grateful to Lake Land College for this collaboration and for their vision to advance healthcare education in such a meaningful way,’ said Sarah Bush Lincoln President and CEO Kim Uphoff.

By creating elaborate simulations in the lab, Lake Land College nursing instructors ensure all students are exposed to a wide range of patient care scenarios they may not encounter during clinical hours. As a result, nursing graduates are better prepared to manage real-world healthcare scenarios and make an immediate difference in the workforce.

The simulation lab is the latest addition to Lake Land’s long-running tradition of nursing excellence. Over the last six decades Lake Land’s programs have prepared future nurses to care for their communities with proficiency, professionalism and compassion, as the College’s nursing graduates consistently outperform national averages on board exams. Most recently, graduates of Lake Land’s associate degree nurse and licensed practical nursing programs had passage rates 97% and 100% respectively, significantly higher than the national averages of 91% and 88%.

More information about Lake Land College nursing and other healthcare programs is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Guided-Pathways/.

To learn more or to become a Lake Land College Community Partner, visit the Lake Land College Foundation webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Foundation/CommunityPartners/.

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Lake Land College District 517, located in Mattoon, Illinois, serves the second largest community college district in the state, with a total population of 189,869. The Lake Land College district comprises all or part of 15 counties and 31 public school districts in rural east central Illinois. Counties served by Lake Land College include: Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.

The Lake Land College community fondly remembered Mike Sullivan following news of his passing.

Sullivan served on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees from 1987 to 2024, the longest tenure by a board member in the College’s history. During that time, Sullivan was a visionary leader, a champion for innovation and an advocate for student support.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Lake Land faculty and staff, we extend our deepest condolences to Mike’s wife, Linda, his children and extended family,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “As the longest-serving trustee in Lake Land history, Mike Sullivan devoted many years to advancing Lake Land College’s mission of accessible, high-quality education for our region. Mike’s student-first approach, devotion to campus enrichment and commitment to innovation were instrumental in advancing the College over the years while maintaining our high standards of academic excellence. We will deeply miss Trustee Sullivan’s visionary leadership that led the College’s growth and success in countless ways.”

Sullivan’s influence at Lake Land extends beyond his service as a trustee and dates back to his time as a student. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Sullivan returned to his hometown of Mattoon in 1968 and became one of the earliest students to attend the College. He witnessed the groundbreaking of Lake Land’s campus and served on the first ever Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee. He was elected Student Government president in 1968 and led the creation of the annual Spring Carnival, one of Lake Land’s most cherished traditions. Sullivan graduated from Lake Land College in 1970 before earning a bachelor’s degree in Ag Industries from the University of Illinois.

In 1987, Sullivan returned to Lake Land College when he was elected to the board of trustees. Over his 37-year tenure, he was a devoted advocate for the needs of Lake Land College, its students and the entire community college system. He frequently collaborated with state legislators to increase community college funding, student financial aid support and university transfer opportunities.

Sullivan was also a champion for innovation throughout his service on the board of trustees. Most notably, he spearheaded a campus-wide energy-saving initiative that leverages solar panel technology and daylight harvesting techniques. Sullivan’s commitment to these campus improvements have helped the College become a national leader in energy conservation and save approximately $500,000 per year.

Sullivan was also instrumental in the development of Alumni Park and the Veteran’s Memorial Wall on campus. As both a Lake Land College alumnus and a U.S. Navy veteran, Sullivan considered these projects to be among his most cherished and personal accomplishments during his time on the board of trustees.

In 2005, Sullivan and his wife established a scholarship endowment with the Lake Land College Foundation to help local students access their education goals. Each year, the Mike and Linda Sullivan Endowed Scholarship provides tuition support for a student in financial need.

Lake Land College has presented several awards and honors to Sullivan over the years in recognition of his outstanding service and generosity. In 2004, he received the Golden Apple Award for his contributions to the Lake Land College Alumni Association. In 2014, Sullivan was named to the Distinguished Alumni Society in recognition of his community imprint as a former Lake Land College student. He was also recognized as one of the most influential individuals in Lake Land history in 2018 when he was named to the Foundation’s Top 50 VIP List.

In February 2024, Sullivan announced his resignation from the board of trustees, stating, “I’m immensely proud of Lake Land College and all that we have accomplished during my tenure. I have no doubt the College will continue to flourish and provide our district residents with the highest quality education for years to come.” Sullivan was honored for his service at the following board meeting in March.

At the time of Sullivan’s resignation, Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said, “We are extremely grateful for the many years of dedicated service Trustee Sullivan has given to Lake Land College. We thank him for his visionary leadership and guidance. His exemplary service and his passion for helping students is immeasurable.”

Beyond his service to Lake Land College, Sullivan was a source of leadership and support throughout the community. He served on the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) for more than 30 years, which included terms as treasurer from 1997-1998, vice president from 1998-1999 and president from 1999-2000. Sullivan was a six-time recipient of the ICCTA Education Award and received the Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding service as an ICCTA member.

A lifelong native of Mattoon, Sullivan was an active member of his community, serving on the Mattoon Planning and Zoning Committee and the Mattoon Community Foundation Board, the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Advisory Board, the Saint Mary School Board and the Mattoon Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) committee.

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Lake Land College is partnering with area high schools to launch Laker Connect, a redesigned and enhanced dual credit program aimed at increasing access to college-level course work for high school students.

With the new Laker Connect Dual Credit program, students can simultaneously earn high school and college credit for free by enrolling in college courses in an academic pathway taught by qualified high school instructors. The program also aligns Lake Land and high school course curriculum to create a seamless educational experience between high school and college.

“Lake Land College is excited to work with our high school partners to help students and their families access a quality, highly affordable college education through the new Laker Connect program,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We took feedback from educators, students and parents and developed the new program that focuses on affordability, intentional course selection, career exploration and assistance with steps following graduation.”

A dedicated Laker Connect academic counselor will help students choose dual credit courses that align with their personal goals. The Laker Connect counselor is available to meet with students and their families to help maximize the dual credit experience and ensure students begin college with a head start toward their career plans.

Laker Connect students are also eligible for exclusive rewards to support their future education. High school graduates who participate in the Laker Connect program will receive graduation recognition and can earn tuition and fee waivers of up to $500 toward the next semester at Lake Land College.

“Laker Connect is a supportive framework that empowers students to see college not just as a possibility, but as an achievable and accessible reality,” said Tessa Wiles, Director of Dual Credit and Honors Experience. “By removing barriers with free college-level classes and tuition waivers, Laker Connect supports students in taking bold steps toward their futures.”

A wide range of dual credit courses are available under Laker Connect, from career and technical courses that prepare students for rapid employment to transfer courses accepted by universities.

Dual Credit courses prepare students for college and career success. In 2023, 75% of Illinois high school dual credit graduates enrolled in college, according to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). In addition, graduation rates among Illinois community college students are higher among those who previously enrolled in dual credit.

For more information about Laker Connect, contact Wiles at 217-234-5044 or twiles@lakelandcollege.edu.

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