Laker Nation News

Students in Lake Land College’s cosmetology program provided haircuts to veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the Lifespan Center in Charleston, in celebration of Veterans Month.

Students Emma Kull, Effingham, Marissa Morris, Martinsville, Andrea Doedtman, Effingham, and Carlin Nuzzo, Sullivan, joined Cosmetology Clinical Instructor Kristine Marler, Atwood, in providing the free haircuts.

Lake Land College agriculture students recently attended the conference and competition of the Post-Secondary Agriculture Student Organization (PAS) in Bloomington, Ill. on Nov. 3.

Two-hundred and fifty students representing eight colleges from across Illinois competed in various areas of agriculture specialization. Illinois PAS Organization is part of a nationwide PAS group known as a career and technical agriculture student organization, for the promotion of skills, leadership and education in agriculture.

2017-2018 LAKE LAND COLLEGE PAS STUDENTS               

The Lake Land College Agriculture Division offers 12 majors that prepare students to enter the workforce or prepare to transfer to a four-year college. For more information visit lakelandcollege.edu.

Lake Land College is extending the nomination deadline for top 50 Very Important People of Lake Land College to Nov. 30.

The Lake Land College Foundation will recognize those individuals who have made a significant positive contribution to the development of the college and to the student learning experience over the college’s first 50 years through a special 50th anniversary recognition.

Criteria for nominations include recognizing individuals for their actions, activities, financial gifts and accomplishments which have made a positive contribution to Lake Land College. Alumni and friends are eligible to be recognized and can receive the recognition posthumously.

To nominate someone, visit www.lakelandcollege.edu/dv/fd/top50 and fill out the required fields. Written nominations will be accepted but must include the same information as the form online and should be sent to the Lake Land College Foundation, Neal Hall, room 003, 5001 Lake Land Boulevard. The deadline for nominations is now Nov. 30.

Individuals selected will be notified in February and recognized in June at a special event. The selection committee is comprised of foundation members and Lake Land retirees. Foundation board member Tom Wright serves as the committee chair. Other foundation members include Chris Pilson, Bob Pancoast, Alan Fedrigon, Mike Bohannon and Rich Hartke. Lake Land retirees on the committee include Linda Von Behren, Pam Crisman, Dennis Gathmann, Bill Hollada and Max Jaeger. Mike Sullivan is a representative from the Lake Land College Board of Trustees and Alumni Board.

For more information, contact Jackie Joines, executive director for college advancement, at 217-234-5354 or email jjoines@lakelandcollege.edu.

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.

Visit Lake Land College and find out all the college offers at Laker Visit Day. The event will be held Friday, Dec. 1 in the Luther Student Center starting at 9 a.m. and will run until noon.

The event is for potential students who are interested in learning more about Lake Land College. Parents/guardians and spouses are welcome to come along and attend the Parent and Spouse Session.

Representatives from Admissions & Records, Financial Aid & Veteran Services, Counseling Services, Career Services and Student Life will provide information and answer questions. The event includes campus tours and informational sessions by Lake Land College Student Ambassadors. Participants will also meet with faculty members in their academic area of interest to learn more about program offerings at Lake Land.

“Laker Visit Day is a great way for prospective students and parents to talk to faculty and staff about academic options and programs of study, to talk to current students about student life and to learn about financial aid options and opportunities,” said Lisa Shumard-Shelton, director of new student admissions.

Additional Laker Visit Days are scheduled for Feb. 9, March 23 and June 21.

Register online at lakelandcollege.edu/visit or call 217-234-5254.

-30-

For nearly two decades, students and community members have been joining voices in the Lake Land College Community Choir.

What started out as a small ensemble designed to enhance fine art opportunities for students has flourished into a well-established choir. People of all ages from surrounding communities come together to share their love of music.

“It’s all about the love of singing. And, of course, the great direction by Nancy Caldwell,” Terry Ramsey, Mattoon, choir member since 1999, said.

Dr. Caldwell created the choir in 1998 shortly after she was hired as a full-time music instructor. Originally proposed as a show choir, Caldwell figured a choir open to community members would be the best option.

“I believed a choir made up of community members who would return each semester might provide some structure to the group, and students could participate according to their level of interest,” she added.

Her belief was substantiated, as the choir prepares for its 20^th concert Sunday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. in the Lake Land College Theater. Both membership and concerts are free and open to the public.

The 20^th anniversary brings to mind all those who have come and gone throughout the years and especially those who return each year.

In addition to its annual fall and spring concerts, the choir is known to take its show on the road. Mattoon’s Cross County Mall, Brookstone Estates and the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home have all enjoyed personal concerts. Choir member Valerie Probst fondly remembers singing at the Doudna Fine Arts Center with the Eastern Illinois University Choir and Orchestra, along with the Charleston High School Choir and two professional singers.

“It was a wonderful experience to sing, feel and hear the combination of choirs with an orchestra,” Probst said.

In the beginning, the choir started out rather small, with just 25 members.  The members represented all areas of the district, ranging from Mattoon, Charleston, Neoga, Gays, Tuscola and Casey, just to name a few.  Ages varied vastly as well, from 18 to 80-years-old.

The wide range of communities and ages represented hasn’t changed over the years, but the number of members has doubled in time. Many regulars have been members for 10 years or more.

“Students do have the option of taking the choir as a class and earning credits,” Caldwell said. However, the choir is largely populated by community members interested in singing and wanting to be a part of something.

Caldwell also emphasized that people with no previous choir experience are welcome to join. There are no auditions and no one is put on the spot. A passion for singing is all that is required.

Caldwell herself reflected fondly over the past 20 years. Some of her favorite memories include having her daughter playing bells and snare drum with the choir in the fall of 2009. She also recalls a time when an international student from the Philippines sang with the choir. Since the student was fluent in Spanish, the choir performed a set of three Christmas songs in Spanish.

Some of her favorite songs through the years have been a rock ‘n’ roll arrangement of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and a Quaker text aptly titled “How Can I Keep from Singing.” Songs from “The Music Man” and patriotic songs are also choir favorites.

“Most of the songs are familiar, but the arrangements are always fresh and new. That is what keeps the choir so fun and light-hearted,” Ramsey said.

Guest musicians often join the choir. Flute, drums, guitar, French horn and piano soloists have all been featured in various concerts throughout the years. One consistent spark to the singing group has been a featured pianist. Ann Roedl, Effingham, played with the choir for nearly 9 years. Dr. Mirta Donnelley, Altamont, now plays with the group. These accompaniments keep the performances fresh and exciting, Caldwell said.

Many Lake Land faculty and staff have enjoyed being a part of the community choir over 20 years. Lake Land’s Emergency Services Programs Coordinator Jasmine Ballard joined the choir with a friend when she was a student.

“We both loved to sing, and it was nice to feel like you belonged somewhere. Working towards a common goal was constructive for me as a student,” she said.

Members emphasize the pride they feel after a performance, when all the hard work pays off.

“Nancy makes it all possible. Her expertise is what makes the group so special,” several members have said.

“None of this would be possible without the dedication of the members. They are what makes the group so special,” Caldwell said. After 20 years, both teacher and members deserve to sing some praise.

Lake Land College judging team excels at national contest.

Lake Land College was the 7th High Team in the nation and highest team from Illinois at the recent national American Royal Junior College Livestock Judging Contest. There were over 20 schools and 150 students from across the United States competing.

Gage Hank, Aledo, Ill., placed high individual overall, second high individual in swine, 11^th high individual in beef cattle and 11^th high individual in reasons.

Austin Walker, Grand Ridge, Ill., placed high individual in beef cattle.

Pictured front row, left to right: Gage Hank, Aledo, Ill.; Jeremiah Cupps, Rabbit Hash, Ky; Emily Ivey, Loudon, Tenn.; Zackery Schumaker, Sweet Springs, W. Va.; Austin Walter, Grand Ridge, Ill. Back row, left to right: Jordan Rauch, agriculture instructor and judging team coach; Logan Hebert, Baldwin, La.; Leslie Walker, Danvers, Ill.; Kollin Johnson, Quincy, Minn.

Lake Land College is accepting nominations for several awards to be announced in spring 2018.

The Distinguished Service Award and the Alumnus Achievement Award will be presented at the college’s 2018 Commencement ceremony and the Retiree Wall of Fame recipients will be announced during a ceremony on campus in the spring.

All nomination forms must be received by Dec. 15 and are available on the college’s website at lakelandcollege.edu/alumni.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose exemplary service and contributions have benefited Lake Land College or its affiliated organizations.  Current paid members of the faculty and staff and current members of the board of trustees are not eligible for this award.

Past Distinguished Service Award recipients are Scott Lensink (2017), James Shaffer (2016), Robert Pancoast (2015), Max Jaeger (2014), Annette Lynch (2013), Gerald Forsythe (2012), John Livesay (2011), Rick Manuell (2010), Preston Smith (2009), Bob Willenborg (2008), Don Portugal (2007), Dwight Schilling (2006), Anne Bacon, (2005), Susan Leach (2004),  Anne Kabbes (2003), James Allee (2002), Dr. Roger Dettro (2001), Dr. Peter M. Bonutti (2000), Charles Adams (1999), Michael Yager (1998), James Bennett (1997), Tom Reedy (1996), R. Dale Adams (1995), Jack Schultz (1994), Consuello Luttrell (1993), Dr. George Mitchell (1992), Melvin Lockard (1991), Lowell Samuel (1990), Eugene Bauer (1989), Dr. William Podesta (1988), Jack Oberhill (1987), Floyd Curl (1985), Robert Johnson (1984), Virgil and Charlene Roberts (1983), Eddie Collings (1982) and William B. Hills (1981).

The Alumnus Achievement Award is presented to a Lake Land College graduate who has attained outstanding success and distinction in his or her field of endeavor.  The nominee must hold a degree or certificate from Lake Land and be active in the endeavor for which the degree or certificate is intended.

Past Alumnus Achievement Award recipients are Diane Sterchi (2017), Kenin Smith (2016), Chad Moutray (2015), Greg Conrad (2014), Rex Morgan (2013), Larry Blackerby (2011), Monte Reel (2010), Tom Wright (2009), David Storm (2008), Scott Frailey (2007), Zack Taylor (2006), Larry Lilly (2005), Greg Grunloh (2004), Michael Searles (2003), Dr. Harry Carter (2002), James Zimmer (2001), Carolyn Kolling (2000), Dianne Harless Schultz (1999), Richard Smith (1998), Dr. James Winfield (1997), Randall Miller (1996), Gina Spinner (1995), Patricia McNutt (1994), Lt. Daniel Wise (1993), Tom Cox (1992), Larry Wilson (1991), Edward Ward (1990), Dr. Kris Koontz (1989), Gail Darling (1988), John Livesay (1987), Dennis Charney (1986), Michael V. Neal (1985), Carol Spannagel (1984), Thomas Stoutenborough (1983), Eric Randal Heiple (1982) and Richard West (1981).

The Retiree Wall of Fame Awards are presented to retired faculty or staff who made significant contributions to the college and/or who have made contributions through their profession or community at the local, state, regional, or national level that reflect positively on Lake Land College. The nominee must have been employed at Lake Land College for a minimum of 15 years and must have been separated from his or her SURS-eligible position for a minimum of five years. Present paid members of the faculty and staff and current members of the board of trustees are not eligible for these awards.

Past Wall of Fame Award recipients are Dennis Gathmann (2008), Max Jaeger (2008), Joe Albin (2008), Marilyn Gover (2008), Charles Womack (2008), Gerald Parker (2008), Thomas Reedy (2008), Bill Rich (2008), Helen Smith (2009), David Greeson (2009), Larry Gutzler (2009), Hal Kottwitz (2009), Joyce Shull (2009), Marianne Morgan (2010), Robert Orr (2010), Richard Heller (2010), Carol Sanders (2010), Jack Browning (2010), Joe Hanley (2011), William Little (2011), Mildred Flottmann (2011), Roberta Hollada (2011), Roberta Williams (2011), Charles Wieck (2012), Jalee Cox (2012), Wayne Weaver (2012), Robert Luther (2013), Marion Rohlinger (2013), James Luedke (2014), Robert Jurgens (2014), Carroll Gibbons (2014), Roy Culp (2015), Marilyn Fuqua Thompson (2015), David Stapleton (2016), Cletus Underwood (2016), Ron Sanderson (2016), Jim Dudley (2017), Curt Rincker (2017) and Bill Hollada (2017).

The Retire Wall of Fame Award recipients will receive their awards at the Employee Appreciation and Wall of Fame Ceremony.

-30-

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 community is invited to attend the 8th annual Lake Land College Pathways Holiday Auction held Nov. 29 from 7:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in the Northeast Building, room 114 on the Lake Land College campus.

Pathways to the Future alternative education program is a an alternative high school program serving Lake Land College’s district students between the ages of 16 to 21 who have dropped out or are at-risk of dropping out of high school.

Through the past seven years, employees have raised more than $31,379 to provide gifts and necessities to Pathways’ students during the holiday season. Many of these students come from impoverished backgrounds and homes which often lack basic necessities. Once gifts are purchased, remaining funds will be used to help cover GED exam scholarships.

Many items have been donated by local businesses, along with handmade craft items and homemade baked goods. Donated items are auctioned off during an all-day silent auction and a spirited live auction. Both donations of live and silent auction items are welcome.

For more information regarding this event, please contact English Instructor Matt Landrus at 217-234-5317 or Director of Adult and Alternative Education Dirk Muffler at 217-234-8383.

-30-

Lake Land College is offering a short-term Public Safety Telecommunicator certificate for people interested in the high-demand dispatching field.

Lake Land is currently enrolling students in this program available for spring 2018, which begins Jan. 8, at the Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology.

Jodi Moomaw, Effingham communications manager, assisted Lake Land College in developing the program to provide professional training for future telecommunicators, who are integral members of the emergency response team.

“Telecommunicators are no different than all other emergency responders, they just aren’t seen. They are the key connection to the person needing assistance to the police, fire and EMS responder. They must have tools and knowledge on what to ask or how to take control while gaining the information needed during all types of emergencies,” Moomaw said. “The expectation of the public when they dial 911 is they are speaking to a trained professional ready to help them in whatever way necessary.”

According to a recent survey conducted by Lake Land College, area dispatch center directors said the program would be a valuable asset to the profession.

The Lake Land College 17-credit-hour program is modeled after the Illinois Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Basic Certification Curriculum. The certificate is financial aid eligible and includes courses such as Basic Telecommunicator, Responding to Emergencies, Keyboarding, Practical Software Applications, Interpersonal Communication and Introduction to Psychology. Students will also complete an internship.

Upon successful completion, a Lake Land College graduate will be equipped with the basic skills and knowledge that will be required by public safety telecommunicator dispatch centers. The certificate can be completed in a single semester.

The benefit of offering this certification will result in a larger pool of skilled, qualified applicants to the area, Moomaw said. Many of the 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) across the nation are also looking for qualified staff, she added.

For more information, contact Academic Counselor and Coordinator of Student Accommodations Andy Gaines at 217-234-5259 or againes@lakelandcollege.edu

Find out more about this program and others by attending Explore Lake Land for adult students going on at the Kluthe Center, Nov. 28 and on campus in Mattoon, Nov. 30. New adult students who attend and register for spring classes may qualify for a tuition-free class up to three credit hours. https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/explore-lake-land/

-30-