Laker Nation News

On Monday, April 8, Lake Land College hosted “The Sun and Moon Meet in Mattoon,” a solar eclipse event for students.

Attending students received glitter tattoos, enjoyed eclipse-themed snacks, completed crafts and traced their footprints on a banner resembling the moon’s surface. The Lake Land College IT department also set up a greenscreen photobooth to project students onto a variety of interstellar backdrops.

Attendees received free glasses to view the eclipse on campus. Vision-impaired students were able to experience the eclipse with a “LightSound” device, which was assembled by Scott Rhine, IT Instructor/Program Coordinator, IT-Network Administration Program. A livestream of the eclipse from NASA was also available to watch in both Webb Hall and the Luther Student Center theater.

To learn more about the many student events and activities on campus, visit the Lake Land College Student Life webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/student-life/.

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Lake Land College recently received a $127,500 grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to support the advancement of its dual credit programs.

With the assistance of these funds, Lake Land will provide local high schools with essential dual credit instructional materials and textbooks, cover costs for high school educators’ professional development and directly engage with students and parents with program information.

“Thanks to the ICCB grant, we’re able to extend our assistance further,” Tessa Wiles, Director of Dual Credit and Honors Experience, said. “This grant empowers us to bridge gaps and create opportunities, ensuring all students, regardless of their backgrounds, have access to quality education and a pathway to success.”

Dual credit programs have become an increasingly popular method for Illinois high school students to earn college-level credits. Cumulative dual credit enrollment in Illinois has increased by 29% over the last five years and 65% over the last 10 years.

With this new grant, the ICCB seeks to support further growth and development of dual credit programs throughout the state. Lake Land College is one of 24 Illinois community colleges to receive this grant support, which collectively totals more than $3 million.

More information about Lake Land College’s dual credit programs is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/dual-credit/. For additional questions about the program, contact Wiles at 217-234-5044 or twiles@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College is offering up to $100 in tuition savings for all students who register for Summer or Fall 2024 classes by midnight on May 10.

Students who meet the criteria will receive a $50 tuition and fee credit for each registered semester. By registering for both summer and fall classes, students can receive the maximum incentive of $100.

To be eligible for the tuition credit, students must be enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours for summer and six credit hours for fall.

The promotion is available to all current and incoming Lake Land College students.

To get started at Lake Land College visit lakelandcollege.edu/getting-started or contact Counseling Services at 217-234-5232 or counsel@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College will host a “Healing Hands” informational session for students interested in its Massage Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant programs. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the Lake Land College Kluthe Center, located in Effingham at 1204 Network Centre Blvd.

During the event, students will learn more about Lake Land’s Massage Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant programs, meet with faculty, tour facilities and explore relevant career opportunities. Attendees will also enjoy free pizza and pasta served throughout the evening.

Those interested in attending the event should register online by Tuesday, April 16 on the Lake Land College visit page at lakelandcollege.edu/visit. Minors should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

To learn more about the event, contact Martha Mioux, Director of Physical Therapist Assistant & Massage Therapy Programs, at 217-540-3551 or mmioux@lakelandcollege.edu.

On Monday, the Lake Land College women’s basketball team defeated Jackson College 80-70 to advance into the second round of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

After trailing 45-34 at the half, the Lakers managed a late-game rally to pull off the victory, outscoring the Jets 24-7 in the final 10 minutes. Sydney Richards, Sigel, led the Lakers in scoring with 21 points.

The Lakers will face Kirkwood Community College for the second round of the tournament on March 19 at 8 p.m. CST. The game will be held at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.

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The Lake Land College women’s basketball team secured a spot in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament with an at-large bid.

The team finished the season with a 24-8 record, going 10-4 in conference play. They played nine games against ranked opponents over the course of the season and secured five wins against top-15 teams.

The Lakers will face Jackson College for the first round of tournament play. The game will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 18 at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.

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Lake Land College will host two budget workshop events to share tips on managing personal finance. Both events will be held in Luther Student Center room 440 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 and Tuesday, March 26.

The workshops will be led by Katie Devall, certified housing counselor from the Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. (ERBA). Located in Charleston, ERBA offers a wide range of financial support services, including education in personal finance management.

During the workshops, participants will view a presentation, engage in interactive activities, enjoy snacks and win prizes. The workshops are open to Lake Land College students, staff and faculty as well as members of the community.

To RSVP, contact Student Wellness Specialist Wally Rubin by text at 217-234-5383 or by email at vrubin@lakelandcollege.edu.

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved the first tuition increase in four years at the regular March meeting on Monday.

The increase follows four years of commitment to hold tuition as steady as possible for students. Tuition and fees remained the same between fiscal years 21 and 22, and then decreased by 7.4% in fiscal year 23. Last year, tuition and fees were rolled back to fiscal year 21 and 22 rates.

“Lake Land College is committed to delivering a high-quality education to our students, while remaining one of the most affordable educational choices in the state of Illinois,” Lake Land President Josh Bullock said. “As we begin planning for the fiscal year 2025 budget, we are working diligently to balance our budget and sustain the high value of a Lake Land College education.”

The new tuition rate will equal $113.50 per credit hour, a $3 tuition increase compared to the previous rate that was first established in fiscal year 21. Fees will also be increased by a total of $1.50 per credit hour, bringing Lake Land College’s total, per-credit hour cost to $147.17 beginning with the 2024 Summer Term.

A full-time student taking 30 credit hours per year will have a total tuition and fees bill of $4,415.10 for the school year, which includes the College’s book rental program. That is about one-third of a typical state university tuition and fees bill.

Lake Land College continues to offer one of the lowest tuition and fee rates among community colleges in the state of Illinois, making higher education accessible to all and providing pathways for career advancement without the weight of student debt.

A full breakdown of college’s tuition and fees are available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Tuition-and-Fees/.

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The Lake Land College Board of Trustees appointed Larry Lilly, Mattoon, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Mike Sullivan, Mattoon. The appointment followed closed session of the regularly scheduled March meeting.

Lilly’s term on the board will begin with the next regular meeting on April 8 and will continue until the next consolidated election in April of 2025.

Lilly is a Lake Land College alumnus, class of 1985. He began his career in teaching and later served as the Superintendent of the Mattoon School District from 2004 to 2020. He currently works as an educational consultant to mentor school administrators and coordinate career pathways programs. Throughout his career, he has served on a several boards to promote education, health, opportunity and economic development in local regions.

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Lake Land College honored Trustee Mike Sullivan, Mattoon, at the regular Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 11. Sullivan previously announced his resignation from his trustee position on February 12.

“It has been my privilege and honor to serve as a college trustee for over 37 years, and I will deeply miss being an active board member,” Sullivan said.

During the March 11 meeting, the board of trustees issued a Resolution of Appreciation in recognition of Sullivan’s service since his initial election in 1987. Sullivan has served longer than any other Lake Land College trustee, and he is proud to have collaborated with every president in the college’s history during his tenure.

“We are thankful for Trustee Sullivan’s years of dedicated service to Lake Land College and the mission of higher education,” Lake Land President Josh Bullock said. “His visionary leadership has led the college to grow beyond expectations, and his devotion to his community is evident in the lives he has touched along the way. We wish him the best as he embarks on this next chapter in his life.”

Sullivan’s connection to Lake Land College extends beyond his 37 years of service as a trustee. He witnessed the groundbreaking of campus in the 1960s and graduated in 1970 among some of the first students to attend the college. In 1968, he was elected Student Government president and served on the very first Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee. He led the committee that started the annual Spring Carnival that students continue to enjoy on campus today. In 2014, Sullivan was inducted into the Lake Land College Distinguished Alumni Society.

In his years as a trustee, Sullivan continued to impact Lake Land College as an advocate for student support and success. He has worked with state legislators to promote the necessity of adequate community college funding, increased student financial aid and the enhancement of transfer opportunities through university partnerships. Further, he has served as a liaison between the college and local businesses, helping students apply their classroom instruction in practical work-based learning experiences. He helped lead the addition of Lake Land’s John Deere program, which sponsors students with paid, supervised experience through local John Deere dealerships and is one of just 18 programs of its kind in the country.

Sullivan also advocated the importance of providing a welcoming campus environment to better serve students and local residents. He led the development of Alumni Park, which has provided a place for students, staff, faculty and alumni to enjoy the beauty of Lake Land College since 2007. He also led the creation of the Veterans Memorial and granite flag in Podestá Park.

Sullivan spearheaded the energy saving initiatives and programs that have made Lake Land College a national leader in the field. By incorporating technologies and techniques such as solar panels and daylight harvesting, these initiatives save the college approximately half a million dollars per year and provide unique educational opportunities for students.

Sullivan was also a charter member of Lake Land’s alumni association board and was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the college’s Alumni Association with the 2004 Golden Apple Award. In 2005, he and his wife, Linda, established a scholarship endowment with the Lake Land College Foundation to annually benefit one Lake Land student. In 2018, Sullivan was named to the Foundation’s Top 50 VIP list, which recognizes the 50 most influential individuals in the college’s history.

As a proponent of community college and higher education, Sullivan also served on the state-wide Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) legislative committee for more than 30 years. He was elected by his peers to serve as ICCTA treasurer from 1997-1998, ICCTA vice president from 1998-1999 and ICCTA president from 1999-2000.

Sullivan has received numerous awards and recognition for his service as a member of the ICCTA. His is one of just four trustees in the organization’s history to receive the ICCTA Education Award six times, and he received the Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award in recognition of his exemplary service by an active community college board member. He also participated in more than 100 professional development seminars during his tenure and earned the Linden A. Warfel Trustee Education award as a result.

Beyond the realm of education, Sullivan is an active proponent for community enrichment and support for the individuals within them. He has served on Mattoon’s Planning and Zoning Committee, the Mattoon Community Foundation Board, the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Advisory Board and the Saint Mary School Board in Mattoon. As an advisor for the East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC), he assisted in the economic advancement of 11 counties throughout Illinois. He also spent many years with the Mattoon Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) committee to plan activities for the shelter and serve as an advocate for those in need.

“It is rare to find someone who is so engaged in service for so many years,” Lake Land College Board Chair Gary Cadwell said. “On behalf of all former and current trustees, we thank Mike for his generosity in helping new trustees, collaborating with peers and college staff and for guiding the college into the future.”

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