Laker Nation News

The Lake Land College Foundation Board of Directors celebrated a record-breaking year of $1.1 million in gifts at its recent annual meeting. These gifts support scholarships, programs, equipment and facilities for the Lake Land community.

“Foundation scholarships and college support have been especially important these past few years of the state budget impasse. The difference donors made this year has been integral to Lake Land’s success,” said Jackie Joines, executive director for college advancement.

Heartland Dental and Farm Credit Illinois both received the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization award.

Farm Credit Illinois has a longstanding partnership with Lake Land College, specifically the agricultural division, resulting in an endowment supporting overall programming needs. The West building houses the Farm Credit Training room, all thanks to Farm Credit Illinois’s generosity.

Heartland Dental gifted a value of $850,000, enabling Lake Land to outfit the Dental Hygiene lab in brand-new equipment. This new learning environment ensures that Lake Land students entering the workforce are trained with up-to-date equipment.

Gerald Forsythe, Marshall, received the as an Outstanding Philanthropist Award. Over the years, Forsythe has provided a facility for the eastern district extension center in Marshall. Most recently, he created an endowment designed to assist students with unforeseen emergency needs that could result in their withdrawal from classes.

John Livesay, Pana, received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser which is presented annually to an individual who has given gifts of time and talent in securing private funding on behalf of Lake Land College students. Livesay has served on the board for 12 years.

Board member Chad Thompson, Effingham, received the annual Crystal Swan Award for his outstanding contributions to the Lake Land College Foundation. Created in 1993, the Crystal Swan award is a way to recognize foundation board members who have gone above and beyond in their leadership and service to the Lake Land College Foundation during their tenure.  Each recipient demonstrates a passion and commitment to the educational goals of Lake Land students that rises above all others.

The board also thanked the Lake Land College employees who contributed funds to assist students. “More than 66 percent of our employees demonstrated their support for students with gifts to the Foundation. This is spectacular news and far exceeds industry standards for the majority of organizations,” Joines added.

New officers elected for the 2017-2018 year are Mike Bohannon, Charleston, president; Tom Grunloh, Effingham, vice president; and Chad Thompson, Effingham, secretary. The meeting was chaired by outgoing President Meg Yargus Steward, Marshall.