Lake Land College’s Navigator News Staff Receive ICCJA Awards Posted on May 13, 2020 Six staff members of Lake Land College’s award winning newspaper, The Navigator News, recently received awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association (ICCJA) in a contest judged by professional journalists across Illinois. Lake Land College’s award-winning newspaper, The Navigator News, is produced by students for students every month during the fall and spring semesters. Matthew Harvey, Chicago, won First Place Sports Column. Abigail Buenker, Effingham, won First Place Sports Feature. Harry Reynolds, Mattoon, won Second Place News Column. Madelyn Kidd, Neoga, won Second Place Arts Review. Michael Grovier, Charleston, won Third Place News Photo. Chase Austin, Altamont, received Honorable Mention in Sports News and Graphics. In addition, the entire staff of The Navigator News received Honorable Mention for General Excellence. The recipients were recognized at the annual ICCJA Spring Conference held virtually through Facebook. This allowed student journalists across the state to learn from informative videos along with celebrating the award winners. Lake Land College’s award-winning newspaper, The Navigator News, is produced by students for students every month during the fall and spring semesters. Combining news, features, sports, entertainment, and information about upcoming events, the eight to 12 page tabloid covers many areas of interest at Lake Land College.
Julian Larry named Lake Land College men’s basketball coach Posted on May 11, 2020 At the May board meeting, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees appointed Assistant Coach Julian Larry as head men’s basketball coach. Larry was a part of the basketball program for four years and also served as an outreach advisor for the TRiO Destination College program. Larry has been serving as the co-head coach following the resignation of head coach Brandon Colvin in March. Not only did Larry say he is excited about the opportunity to transition into his new role as head coach of the men’s basketball team, he will also be taking on a new role within the college as the Perkins program specialist. “I will have more responsibilities,” Larry said. “I know there will be challenges that will arise, but I’m excited to begin leading the basketball program in a new direction and bring new energy and enthusiasm to the team. I am also looking forward to helping college students graduate and move into their career fields in my new position as Perkins program specialist.” What Larry said he is most looking forward to is helping the young men become leaders and positive contributors in the community. It was his connection to young male student athletes that Larry felt made him ideal for the position. “I am relatable to the guys on the team and what they go through during their time as student athletes in college,” Larry said. “I am a player’s coach so I understand what student athletes need to be successful. I want my passion and enthusiasm for life to pass on to my current and future players.” Prior to coming to Lake Land College, Larry spent two years under former head coach Colvin at Dakota College at Bottinau. Also during his time at Dakota College at Bottinau, he was an academic advisor for all students, intramural sports director and director of retention. Before that, Larry was the assistant basketball coach and served as the program coordinator for a minority males program at Catawba Valley Community College for two years. Larry received a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and university studies from Dickinson State University. Beginning his coaching career at Dickinson State University, the same university where Larry finished his playing career, Larry said some of his most rewarding moments are seeing student athletes walk across the stage at graduation. Moving forward, Larry said he has completed the 2020 recruiting class during the time of quarantine. Signing eight student athletes to the roster from all over the world, Larry said he cannot wait to get to work for the upcoming school year. “I want the men’s basketball program to be positive influences in the community,” Larry said. “I look forward to building those relationships.” -30-
New Dual Credit Program Provides Opportunities To Area High School Students Posted on At the May meeting, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved a new program designed to increase high school students’ opportunities to create a successful path to a college education by increasing access to dual credit courses. The Lake Land College Dual Credit Program Access Incentive, beginning Fall 2020, provides program fee waivers to schools in order to assist in-district high school students who may not be able to afford dual credit coursework. Dual credit coursework allows high school students to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously. This approach lets high school students begin earning college credits earlier, and often encourages them to continue their education at an institution of higher learning after high school. The new program was designed to alleviate equity gaps identified by both Lake Land College and partner high school districts. While dual credit students are not charged regular tuition, Lake Land College does charge a fee of $18.42 per credit hour to partner high school districts. Most high schools then pass that fee on to the student, thus creating the equity gap. This incentive will provide Dual Credit Program fee waivers to schools beginning with the Fall 2020 semester in the amount of the number of enrolled to in-district high school students eligible for free and reduced lunch via the National School Lunch Program. The goal is to relieve the financial burden of paying for Dual Credit coursework for these students. Research conducted by the Lake Land College Dual Credit Program in partnership with area high schools, found several students do not enroll in dual credit courses due to the financial commitment of the college-level courses. The purpose of dual credit classes is to increase access to higher education and raise the likelihood that those students will continue in higher education. The Dual Credit Program Access Initiative will further those goals and open opportunities to students who may not otherwise be able to enroll. The incentive also provides in-district high school students the chance to explore Lake Land College’s many academic and career pathways as they consider their future goals. “The Dual Credit program is just one of the numerous ways in which Lake Land College provides educational opportunities that meet the needs of students, families, educational partners and area businesses,” President Josh Bullock said. “There is enormous potential to elevate the skill and educational attainment of residents to fuel the advancement of our local economy.” -30-
Lake Land College Celebrates Virtual Commencement Ceremony Posted on May 5, 2020 Lake Land College is pleased to announce it will be honoring graduates at the first-ever Lake Land College Virtual Commencement Ceremony on June 18, 2020 at 6 p.m. Graduates will soon receive a Laker Grad Pack in the mail with celebratory gifts from the college and Alumni Association, as well as a cap, tassel and diploma cover. Information on how graduates can upload photos and name pronunciation to participate in the virtual ceremony will be shared via Lake Land College email addresses as well as on the website and social media. Graduates are asked to take note of the deadlines which are May 26 for the phonetic submission and June 5 for the registration and photo submission. Earlier in the semester, the college had to make the difficult decision to cancel the traditional commencement ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Student Government Association suggested several options and college leaders researched how best to celebrate with graduates and their families. Lake Land College President Josh Bullock announced the virtual ceremony to the college community in a Bullock Broadcast. “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the Laker Nation Class of 2020 at the college’s first-ever Virtual Commencement Ceremony,” Bullock said. “We have so much admiration for these graduates. Completing a college degree or certificate is a milestone worthy of great celebration in the best of circumstances, but succeeding during the unexpected transition to a virtual environment is remarkable and very worthy of celebration.” The virtual ceremony will include many aspects of the traditional commencement ceremony, such as speakers, recognition of awards and the reading of graduates’ names along with a slide featuring a photo and degree. “We want to be sure that graduates understand they have the opportunity to upload a photo of themselves and call in the pronunciation of their names for the virtual ceremony,” Bullock said. “Graduates, please be sure to check your Laker Mail for additional information.” The information will also be shared online at lakelandcollege.edu/admissions/graduation.
Lake Land College classes available during intersession Posted on April 30, 2020 Lake Land College still has openings for some of the online courses available during the three-week intersession from May 18 to June 3. These courses are a great way to earn transferable credits in a short timeframe. The classes with openings still available include Understanding Art, Biotechnology in Society, Principles of Econ I (Macro), Principles of Econ II (Micro), Composition I, Physical Geography, Responding to Emergencies, Principles of Health, History/Culture of Third World, Intro to Film Appreciation, Statistics, Ethics, American National Government, Intro to Psychology, Strategies for Success and Introduction to Sociology. Beginning May 18, Intersession offers students the opportunity to pick up a quick class or two while still having time to enjoy the summer. To begin the enrollment process, those interested may visit lakelandcollege.edu/enroll. After completing a Laker Profile and Intent to Enroll, the student will receive a Welcome Letter in the mail about completing online New Student Orientation and important student ID information. Students attending other colleges may also take classes at Lake Land College as non-degree students. They must complete the Laker Profile and Intent to Enroll, however they do not have to attend orientation or receive advisement to register. As soon as the Intent is processed, the student will receive a Welcome Packet in the mail with important information regarding student ID and login information. All Intersession courses will be offered online. For assistance, individuals can contact Counseling Services at 217-234-5232 or email counsel@lakelandcollege.edu. All students are advised to begin the Financial Aid process for summer by completing the 2019-2020 FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Future students may also contact the financial aid office at financialaid@lakelandcollege.edu. Lake Land College is committed to providing a supportive enrollment process to all new and returning students in the virtual environment.
Collaboration Addresses Need For Personal Protective Equipment Posted on April 28, 2020 Lake Land College teamed up with Pilson Auto Center in Mattoon to produce much-needed face shields for Sarah Bush Lincoln. Lake Land College teamed up with Pilson Auto Center in Mattoon to produce much-needed face shields for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Pictured are Emergency Management Coordinator for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Mike Schwenke, Lake Land College Emergency Services Program Coordinator Jasmine Ballard, Patient Care Leader at 2 South Nursing Unit Sara Heater, General Manager of Pilson’s Auto Center Mike Crews, and Integrator at Pilson’s Auto Center Josh Butler. Seeing a rapidly growing need for face shields in the emergency department, critical care unit and 2 South nursing unit where respiratory patients are cared for at Sarah Bush Lincoln, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Mike Schwenke, Laker Nation Class of 2010, reached out to Lake Land College Emergency Services Program Coordinator Jasmine Ballard for assistance. “It’s just such a huge need,” Ballard said. “I knew immediately that as a college, we would want to help.” Ballard presented the idea to Lake Land College President Josh Bullock and Print and Mail Services Supervisor David Earp, who realized the Print Shop’s digital flatbed cutter would be the perfect tool to cut plastic into the needed shapes for the face shields. “Lake Land College is proud to partner with these organizations to make a difference to the true heroes in this story: the brave men and women who are providing care in the emergency room and on the nursing units at Sarah Bush Lincoln,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. ”We are so thankful to all the healthcare professionals in our area and throughout the nation. We are especially proud of the nearly 7,400 Laker Alumni working in the healthcare field.” When contacted about the situation, Pilson Auto Center generously collaborated with Lake Land College to provide the funds necessary to purchase the rest of the materials for the shields. “We simply wanted to help,” Pilson Auto Center Vice President Jamie Pilson said. “This community has been great to us for nearly 40 years, and our purpose is to make a positive impact on the lives of our team, customers and communities we serve.” Coming alongside Lake Land College and Pilson Auto Center in the endeavor, Libman Company in Arcola offered the use of its distribution line to construct the shields. Although that was not needed, the college did take advantage of Libman’s connections to vendors when the necessary supplies became scarce. “We had access to materials that we might not have had otherwise,” Ballard said. Earp, along with David Vogel, William Lenz and Jimmie Perry, worked diligently to construct the shields and get them ready to deliver to Sarah Bush Lincoln. Earp said he and his staff took every precaution they could to be certain the shields remain sanitary, wearing facemasks and gloves any time the shields were handled. The shields were cut on a digital flatbed cutter and assembled by the team. They created 480 face shields in six business days! “Any time that you can help out people in need, it feels good,” Earp said. “For us to be able to adjust on the fly and help out the community, especially to be able to help protect our healthcare providers that are taking care of all the sick, my staff and I are proud to be able to stand up and help our community.” Schwenke expressed a great deal of gratitude to everyone who has contributed to Sarah Bush Lincoln at such a difficult time. “The whole team has just been so amazing and so accommodating,” Schwenke said. “The community support we’ve gotten is just fantastic. Words cannot describe how thankful we are for the community involvement and community outreach during this pandemic. We couldn’t do it without everybody’s support. We truly are one team conquering one event.”
CARES Act to provide relief to students Posted on The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has allocated funding to colleges and universities, including Lake Land College, to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Eligible expenses are those included under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare and child care. Lake Land College will be accepting applications for emergency financial aid grants from students who are currently enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process as per guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education. These students may submit a request via the Laker Hub for emergency funds up to $1,000 regardless of the amount of financial aid previously awarded. CARES grants will also be available again for students enrolling in Summer 2020 who have completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA. The application for summer grants will be available June 1, so students enrolling in Summer courses still have time to complete their 2019-2020 FAFSA. Lake Land College is also slated to receive additional funding through the CARES Act for institutional expenses. The college is waiting for guidance from the Department of Education regarding how those funds can be used.
Dave Johnson named IBCA Co-Head Coach of the Year Posted on April 24, 2020 The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association named Lake Land College Women’s Basketball Head Coach Dave Johnson Collegiate Co-Head Coach of the Year. This marks the third time Johnson has received this honor, with the first being in 2001, and the second in 2012. Having coached basketball at Lake Land College for 22 of his 31 years as a coach, Johnson said he felt very honored to receive this recognition from the IBCA. “It is rewarding to be acknowledged by your fellow basketball coaches,” Johnson said. “I share the award with my team and assistant coaches.” The Lake Land College Women’s Basketball team also had a very rewarding season, setting a new program record of 30 wins throughout the season. The team also achieved their highest seed to date, being named No 4 seed in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament. Though the tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Johnson said he was very proud the team had qualified for the national tournament with all the hard work the players and coaching staff put in. “They continued to work hard and improve game after game,” Johnson said of the team. “It was very satisfying to see all their hard work pay off.” Moving forward, Johnson said he will continue to take a similar approach to the Lake Land College basketball program. “We will recruit tremendous student athletes,” Johnson said. “When they start at Lake Land we will work very hard to improve their academic and athletic skills.”
Lake Land College students enter Paul Simon Essay Contest Posted on April 21, 2020 Lake Land College students Suhyun Moon, Gimhae, South Korea and Chandler Smith, Charleston, submitted essays for consideration in the 2020 Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s Paul Simon Essay Contest. The theme of the essay contest was “How My Community College Changed My Life,” and both Moon and Smith had some heartfelt words to share about their time at Lake Land College. All students enrolled at ICCTA member colleges were eligible to participate in the contest at the local level, with one entry per college entered at the statewide competition each year. This year, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees chose Suhyun Moon’s essay to represent Lake Land College at the statewide competition. In her essay, Moon expressed her gratitude to Lake Land. “Being a Lake Land College student absolutely changed my life,” Moon said. “I gained the importance of working hard, overcoming failure and embracing a challenging spirit, which changed my behavior forever.” Moon also expressed in her essay that even prior to attending Lake Land College she was interested in finding ways to help give back to her community. Upon becoming a student at Lake Land College, Moon was able to become involved with many areas she supported. “Throughout the process of seeking ways to give back to my campus, I found that I truly enjoy participating in many challenging activities and always find something to learn,” Moon said. “Through this experience, I realized what inclusion was like.” Having done a great deal of searching before choosing to attend Lake Land, Moon attributed her choice to attend Lake Land College to its affordability and programs in a variety of fields. “I decided to attend Lake Land College,” Moon said. “That was the best decision I have ever made.” Smith also commended Lake Land College in his essay for helping him change his life. “Lake Land College gave me more than just a degree,” Smith said. “They gave me an education and a job.” Smith also praised the instructors and fellow students for the experiences he gained during his time at Lake Land College. “Especially with autism, it’s hard to communicate your point across to people,” Smith said. “I know I will always have great support from people here at Lake Land.”
Lake Land College working to assess Neal Hall fire damage Posted on April 15, 2020 Lake Land College is working with industry professionals to assess the extent of damage caused by a fire that broke out on an isolated section of the roof of Neal Hall at Lake Land College on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at approximately 2:50 p.m. The Mattoon Fire Department declared the fire out by 4:35 p.m. after determining all smoldering and hot spots were extinguished. The initial assessment reveals the building is structurally safe, however there is smoke damage throughout the building and water damage to the roof and the commons area of the north wing near the art and music classrooms. Crews and specialists have begun the cleanup process and continue to assess damage to classroom materials and electronics in addition to the structural elements. The College’s goal is to restore the classrooms and building to a safe and healthy learning environment when classes resume on campus. The roof of Neal Hall was being replaced and the contractors who were working on the roofing project escaped from the building without injury. There were no students or staff in the building when this occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus remains on Level 3 Restricted Access to all students and staff, with the exception of a select few employees authorized under the Level 3 Restricted Access. The College extends its gratitude to the following agencies that joined Lake Land College Police Officers in responding to the 911 call: Mattoon Fire Department, Charleston Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Department, Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance Service, Mattoon Police Department and Coles County Sheriff’s Department. Neal Hall houses staff offices, a nursing lab, 2-D and 3-D art labs, a music classroom, a biology lab and greenhouse, an earth science lab and general education classrooms. The Neal Hall Roofing Project is one of several facilities projects approved to continue as an essential operation under the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-10. The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved the project during the special meeting held on March 27, 2020. All construction employees are required to submit a Campus Visitor Approval Form and take proactive measures to practice social distancing of six feet, use personal protective equipment when appropriate and use hand sanitizer and wash hands frequently while on campus.