Laker Nation News

Several staff members of the Navigator News, the student-led Lake Land College newspaper, earned awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association (ICCJA) in a contest judged by professional journalists across Illinois.

“I’ve only had the pleasure to work with the Navigator team for a short time, but it was exhilarating to see how the students continuously created high-quality and engaging content during a challenging time,” Student Life Specialist Dustyn Fatheree said. “With multiple prestigious awards received by the Navigator staff, it has never been more clear as to the importance student publications have in building marketable skills and networking possibilities for students. I look forward to this upcoming academic year where the Navigator will continue to develop content for the Lake Land community.”

The students who earned awards were recognized at the annual ICCJA Spring Conference. While participating in the event, the Navigator News staff members were able to connect with other student journalists from many different areas of Illinois as well as learn from informative speakers.

In the first place category, Madelyn Kidd was awarded for Sports Feature, Jess Oakley for Arts Review and the collective Navigator News staff for Mike Foster General Excellence.

Taking second place in their respective categories were Breanna Moore for Page Design and Austin Wendling for Sports Photo.

Brett Sawyer earned third place for Editorial Cartoon, and the Navigator News staff placed third for Website.

Also receiving honorable mentions, Jess Oakely was awarded for Headline and Michael Grovier for News Photo.

“Congratulations to the students who received awards,” Interim Vice President for Student Services Valerie Lynch said. “The Navigator will continue to strive to create innovative and high-quality content for the Lake Land community.”

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The Lake Land College Nursing associate degree graduates were honored at a pinning ceremony in front of the Luther Student Center May 12. Each of the 70 graduates received a nursing pin and a keepsake card.

Julie Long, Altamont, earned the Marilyn Fuqua-Thompson Award, and two students earned the Clinical Excellence Awards: Darian Hays, Lovington, and Heather Henderson, Charleston.

“The vote for Julie was unanimous,” Director of Nursing Programs/Nursing Instructor Cheryl Beam said. “We are very proud of all of our graduates, and we look forward to seeing where they go in the future.”

Another nursing faculty member commented on Long’s ability to make connections to activities and skills in class and lab and then apply the information in the clinical setting.

“She says she’s nervous, but it never shows in the patient’s room,” the faculty member said. “She communicates easily with patients, students and staff.”

Each student and faculty member also wore “in memory of” pins in honor of former student Ryan Hess, Sullivan, who passed away suddenly a few months prior to graduation. The students also nominated Hess for the Peer Award, presenting the plaque to Hess’s family at the ceremony.

Near the end of the ceremony, many of the students and faculty present released butterflies in memory of Hess.

The students who received pins at the event were Zachary Allie, Effingham; Julie Ambrose, Shelbyville; Ciara Anderson, Sullivan; Sarah Arend, Altamont; Paige Arthur, Mattoon; Blayne Bayles, Charleston; Karen Blomberg-Baylis, Kinmundy; Lauren Brandt, Effingham; Macy Brown, Mattoon; Marissa Caraway, St. Elmo; Tiffany Case, Effingham; Sheila Cline, Neoga; Katie Collinsworth, Mattoon; Denise Craddock, Newman; Daniele Daily, Sullivan; Dayna Delaney, Altamont; Diana Diener, Arcola; Timothy Donnell, Mattoon; Kendall Fonner, Effingham; Bailey Frese, Effingham; Emily Garriott, Charleston; Gretchen Gough, Charleston; Darian Hays, Lovington; Madison Healy, Louisville; Clayton Helmink, Effingham; Elise Hemmen, Montrose; Heather Henderson, Charleston; Christopher Heuerman, Effingham; Vy Hewitt, Effingham; Taylor Hilt, Effingham; Brooke Hodge, Odin; Hannah Holsapple, Greenup; Liberty Jamison, Paxton; Mandy Kasey, Mattoon; Robyn Larsen, Effingham; Julie Long, Altamont; Caitlyn Marlow, Shelbyville; Sarah Matusas, Neoga; Elizabeth McMahan, Strasburg; Regina Miller, Arthur; Sarah Mills, Bethany; Kaylee Morris, Mattoon; Taylor Oldham, Cowden; Sarah Parkison, Brownstown; Jaden Patterson, Mattoon; Amber Pedigo, Charleston; Gracie Plank, Arthur; Matthew Prosser, Macon; Kiera Ptomey, Mattoon; Tracy Raggio, Charleston; Emma Ross, Casey; Kacy Ross, Windsor; Maddison Rothrock, Mt. Zion; Colton Shoot, Mattoon; Shelby Sims, Edgewood; Ashtyn Siverly, Martinsville; Kelsey Smitley Charleston; Amanda Solan, Effingham; Hailey Theriault, Gays; Lakrisha Vanscyoc, Neoga; LesLee Watkins, Arcola; Rachel Weger, Casey; Jacob White, Sullivan; Cailin Wilson, Shelbyville; Whitney Wolff, Beecher City; Ashley Young, Effingham; Haylee Young, Mattoon; Courtney Zasada, Brownstown and Claire Zumbahlen, Effingham.

For more information on the Lake Land College Nursing program, visit lakelandcollege.edu/guided-pathways and explore the Health and Public Services area of study.

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The Lake Land College EMS graduates were honored at a pinning ceremony in Alumni Park May 12. Each student received a pin and a keepsake card.

“These students have worked very hard to get here,” Emergency Services Program Coordinator Jasmine Ballard said. “We are all very proud of their accomplishments.”

Lake Land College President Josh Bullock presented Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Sheri Barnett, thanking Barnett for her service to the community.

Several students also received awards at the event. Derek Chancy, Altamont, earned both the Top Student Award for GPA and the Shirley Sherwood Award for Excellence in EMS Education. Allison Tinnon, Arthur, earned the Professional Development for Most Improved Award. Amanda Landrus, Marshall, earned the Perseverance Award, and Seth Largent, Pana, earned the Bumble Bee Award for Untapped Potential.

Largent was recently inducted into the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. The graduates each had a guest of their choosing attach the pin to their uniform, and Largent was pinned by his significant other Andrea Estay.

Logan Ratliff, Lerna, was also recently inducted into the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. Ratliff is a second-generation provider, and was pinned by his father, retired firefighter and EMT Rob Ratliff.

Kyndal Chapman, Charleston, was pinned by her aunt Rachel Thoele. Chapman is a third-generation provider. Her grandmother Gail Brown and her Mother Becky Stewart both had careers as providers as well.

Trevor Blackwell, Shelbyville, was pinned by his Fiancé Rachel Lathem; Chancy was pinned by his wife Katelyn Chancy; Brandon Jolly, Wallingford, Kentucky, was pinned by his wife Cayla Jolly; Landrus was pinned today by her friend Paramedic Kevin Morecraft; Chauncey Love, Decatur, was pinned by his significant other Krystal Garett and Tinnon was pinned by her older brother Elliott Tinnon.

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The Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Team celebrated the first NCJAA Division II National Championship victory in the school’s history during a recognition event in the Field House on campus Friday evening.

The team earned the national title at the championship game April 24 where the Lakers won against the Johnson County Cavaliers with a score of 53-49 in Hickory, North Carolina.

The team qualified for the national tournament last year, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. With 10 sophomores on the team, Head Coach Dave Johnson said missing out on last year’s tournament only fueled the team’s motivation to win this year.

“From day one we said ‘We’re getting back’,” Johnson said. “They just kind of willed their way to win. We were down five in the fourth quarter. We called time out. Everyone was calm and they just went out and did it.”

Finishing the season with a 25-2 overall record, the Lakers achieved a 16-game win streak to close out the season including the national championship game.

“We knew this could be the year we would bring home a Laker championship,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “As a college community, we are so proud of our Women’s Basketball Team for working so long and so hard to make this victory possible.”

During the event, the college revealed a new permanent national championship banner that honors the team.

Harley Barry, Shiloh, was voted Most Valuable Player, and Kamaria Gant, Bloomington, earned 2nd Team All-American. Johnson also earned the Coach of the Tournament Award at the national championship game, and was named NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

The members of the Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Team include freshmen Karrington Krabel, Paris; Olivia Niemerg, Teutopolis and Avery Still, Sullivan and sophomores Barry, Gant, Joanna Schultz, Altamont; Tresior Newson, Normal West; Abigayle Weis, Effingham; Jaelynn Riggleman, Casey-Westfield; Shania Schoonover, Pana; Josie Orris, Sullivan; Elizabeth Buescher, Charleston and Mikayla Sirjord, Ulen-Hitterdal, MN.

For the latest Laker Athletics information and updates, follow @LLCAthletics on Facebook and Twitter.

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Lake Land College held a virtual Student Recognition Event via Zoom April 28 to recognize several students for their achievements in the classroom and beyond. Interim Director of Student Life Dave Seiler hosted the event with faculty and staff offering praise for the outstanding student leaders.

Lake Land College President Josh Bullock began the event with a few words of congratulations and appreciation to the students.

“The strength in Lake Land College truly lies in our students,” Bullock said in his remarks. “It lies in the quality and commitment of our students to their educational journey and their learning process.”

Interim Vice President for Student Service Valerie Lynch also expressed her gratitude to the students at the event, saying though the event was done in a different modality, the sentiment remained the same.

“We really want to recognize the amazing work that all of the student leaders do,” Lynch said. “Even students who maybe haven’t had a lot of time on campus-they’ve chosen to be involved, and that’s what is most important.”

Every year faculty from each of the seven divisions select one student to earn an Outstanding Student Award from the Lake Land College Faculty Association. The award recipient receives a certificate and a reward of $200.

The Agriculture Division Outstanding Student Award recipient was Hannah Tappendorf, Altamont. As an Agriculture Transfer major, Tappendorf will be transferring to the University of Illinois in May. Not only did Tappendorf excel in the Agriculture Division, she got involved at Lake Land as a Student Ambassador and served as a student representative on the Foundation Board.

“Hannah has been a great student in the classroom,” Division Chair Agriculture/Agriculture Instructor Ryan Orrick said. “She has a very pleasant demeanor, and she is very talented and responsible. Anything she does is very professional and outgoing.”

Haleigh Miller, Mattoon, earned the Outstanding Student Award for the Business Division. Having begun the Cosmetology program in August 2020, Miller had to adjust to hybrid learning from the start. She did so exceedingly well and, after graduating from the Cosmetology program in August 2021, plans to continue at Lake Land to earn an associate degree in Business Management.

“Haleigh is a very dedicated student who, when given tasks, is able to excel and complete additional projects,” Cosmetology Instructor/Director of Cosmetology Peggy Strange said. “Haleigh is always willing to work with clients in the student clinic with professionalism and excellent technical skills.”

For the Math & Science Division, Lucas Duduit, Pana, was the Outstanding Student Award recipient. Duduit will be transferring to Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois in May. During his time at Lake Land, Duduit served as Student Trustee on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees, PTK president, a Student Ambassador and a member of the Student Government Association.

The Lake Land College Cabinet members also recognized and thanked Duduit for his time as Student Trustee to the Board of Trustees.

“Lucas has been extremely involved in extracurricular leadership,” Mathematics Instructor Bambi Jones said. “He was an excellent student and hard worker. He also had a thirst for knowledge that went far beyond the classroom.”

Seth Bohnhoff, Dieterich, earned the Outstanding Student Award for the Humanities & Communications Division. Bohnhoff frequented Lake Land’s radio station, WLKL 98.9 FM, reporting on sporting events. After completing his time at Lake Land, Bohnhoff plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in meteorology.

“It was a pleasure to get to know Seth,” Speech Communication/Broadcasting Instructor/Broadcast Operations Director Greg Powers said. “On behalf of the Humanities and Communications Division Seth comes highly recommended and we wish him all the best.”

In the Social Science & Education Division, the Outstanding Student Award went to PTK Treasurer Rachel Buening, Effingham. Buening is majoring in elementary education and will be transferring to Eastern Illinois University in the fall after graduating with full honors from Lake Land.

“Rachel was very eager to participate and offer her opinions in class,” Division Chair Social Science/Education/Psychology Instructor Charlie Jarrell said. “She also took my online class where she continued to give fantastic answers to any question that I asked.”

The Allied Health Division Outstanding Student Award recipient was Fatima Viramontes, Farina. Graduating from the Dental Hygiene program in August, Viramontes has demonstrated her ability to provide strong leadership and performance under pressure during her time as a student. She has also been able to provide communication assistance in the clinic as she is bilingual.

“Fatima is a really stand-out student,” Division Chair Allied Health/Nursing Instructor Erin Swingler said. “She holds very high academic standards for herself, submitting stellar assignments in many different forms.”

For the Technology Division, Steve Clinard, Mattoon, earned the Outstanding Student Award. As a non-traditional student, Clinard returned to school after a career in the technology industry. With a great deal of attention to detail and his questions about procedure and results, Clinard made an impression on his instructors and fellow students.

“I witnessed firsthand Steve’s exceptionally earnest efforts in striving for academic excellence,” Renewable Energy Instructor/Program Coordinator Joe Tillman said. “His struggles to meet the various challenges faced by many non-traditional students, his joy when the challenges were successfully met, and the humility and kindness he showed to fellow students in need are the things I will remember most.”

Buening also earned the Outstanding Honors Student title alongside PTK Secretary Macy Vogt, Teutopolis, Vogt will also be transferring to Eastern Illinois University in the fall to major in exercise science. As well as being active in Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (PTK), both students were Presidential Scholars and achieved full status honors via the Honors Program courses.

“Macy was such a dedicated student and I saw tremendous growth in her throughout the time she was in my class,” Lotz said. “I cannot say enough nice things about her. She was fantastic.”

The Student Government Association was also recognized at the event, including SGA President Caralee Hayes, Effingham; Vice President Cassie Peters, Crescent City; Public Information Officer Calandra Donley, Linton, IN and Secretary Kambelle Ashmore, Mattoon.

Student Life Specialist Dustyn Fatheree also recognized The Navigator News staff including Editor-in-Chief Madelyn Kidd, Neoga; Layout and Design Editor Breanna Moore, Mattoon; Copy Editor Samantha Stokes, Ramsy; as well as photographers and reporters on the staff.

For the Student Activity Board, Chair Wyatt Zumbahlen, Newton, and Vice Chair Kierstin Clark, Newton, were recognized for their leadership.

The Student Ambassadors chose Kailynn Bobbett, Findley, as the Outstanding Student Ambassador. The six other members include Bloemer, Duduit, Tappendorf, Bobbett, Makenna Green, Arthur, Katherine Smith, Marion and Emmalynn Walk, Neoga. The seven ambassadors for the 2020-21 school year returned from the previous year when COVID-19 prevented the selection of new ambassadors.

Seiler closed with a thank you to the attendees and the students honored.

“Thank you to all the Lake Land College students,” Seiler said. “We are here because of you.”

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