Laker Nation News

Lake Land College, along with the Registered Medical Assistants (RMAs) of American Medical Technologists (AMT), will be observing National Medical Assistants Recognition Week (NMARW), October 16-20.

Since 1984, RMAs and others in the healthcare community have honored the vital role and the professional excellence that medical assistants provide in the delivery of healthcare to patients. The 2017 theme, “Medical Assistants, Outstanding Skills. Outstanding Care” emphasizes their commitment as a vital member of the healthcare team.

This fall marks the first class of students enrolled in the Medical Assistant program at Lake Land College. The program offers two options to train for a growing field within the rapidly expanding healthcare industry. In this program students are trained in both administrative and clinical duties.

Lake Land College’s Medical Assistant is a special admission program with specific criteria. Students can choose from a two-year associate degree or a one-year certificate program.

The medical assistant field is expected to grow by 23 percent through 2024, much faster than the average occupation according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. (bls.gov)

“This is a great field for someone who is interested in working in the healthcare field. The position offers professionals an opportunity to both complete administrative duties in an office setting, while interacting on a personal basis with patients,” Molly Yeske, MS, CCMA, medical assistant instructor/ program director, said.

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who combines clinical and administrative responsibilities to assist in all aspects of medical practice in a physician office, hospital, clinic, government agency, or laboratory. Clinical functions include: taking vital signs, charting patient information, recording medical histories, performing routine tests, and applying dressings. Administrative duties include: scheduling appointments, billing and maintaining patient files.

“Medical assistants provide an invaluable service to both the patient and the healthcare providers in the community. We recognize their dedication to the profession and to the industry.” says Christopher A. Damon, JD., executive director of AMT.

To learn more about the medical assistant program at Lake Land College, contact Yeske, MS, CCMA, medical assistant instructor/ program director at 217-234-5055 or myeske@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College’s Adult Education is offering free welding classes in Pana, Marshall and Sullivan. The classes will be held in the fall, and orientation will begin in October.

Attend the first night of orientation held at the following locations, dates and times:

• Lake Land College Western Region Center, 600 E. 1st St., Pana – Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
• Lake Land College Eastern Region Center at the Forsythe Center, 224 S. Sixth St., Marshall – Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
• Sullivan High School, 725 N. Main St., Sullivan – Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.

For more information contact Adult Education at 217-238-8292, email adulteducation@lakelandcollege.edu or visit us on Facebook at Lake Land College Adult Education.

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Lake Land College is offering a series of dance classes in Mattoon and Effingham. Five different dance styles will be offered including Cha-Cha, Night Club 2-Step, Rumba, Swing and Tango.

Beginner and advanced classes will meet at both Lake Land College West Building Atrium and Effingham Emergency Management Agency Building starting in October and lasting through April. Students can choose either location.

Instructors Scott and Cheryl Sweet have been teaching dance for many years. The cost is $36 for four sessions of class.

To register, login to www.lakelandcollege.edu/works, click the appropriate dance class link under Course Listings, select the course date and enroll. Students can also call Admissions & Records at 217-234-5434. The drop date for a refund is five business days prior to the class. For more information, contact Sandy Spaulding, professional development support, at 217-234-5087 or sspaulding@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College is accepting nominations for the top 50 Very Important People of Lake Land College. The Lake Land College Foundation would like to 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 contributions 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.

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 Oct. 31.

Individuals selected will be notified in February and recognized in the spring 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.

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Lake Land College’s Adult Education is offering GED classes throughout the Lake Land College district beginning the first week of October.

The class orientation locations and dates are as follows:

• Arthur – Arthur Public Library, 225 S. Walnut St. – Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m.
• Charleston – Coles County Health Department, 825 18^th St. – Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.
• Effingham – Lake Land College Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology, 1204 Network Centre Dr. – Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Marshall – Lake Land College Eastern Region Center, 224 S. 6^th St. – Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
• Mattoon – Lake Land College Workforce Development Center, 305 Richmond Ave. E. – Oct. 11 at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Pana – Lake Land College Western Region Center, 600 E. 1^st St. – Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Paris – First United Methodist Church, 324 W. Court St. – Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Shelbyville – Shelby Christian Church, 200 N. Hickory St. – Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

For these GED classes, students’ tuition will be waived and all class materials will be provided. To find a GED class near you, to find more information or to register call 217-238-8292 or email adulteducation@lakelandcollege.edu.

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Lake Land College Alumni will induct four new members into the Distinguished Alumni Society and Laker Athletics will honor one new member into the Athletics Hall of Fame during the Laker Homecoming weekend.

The Distinguished Alumni Society (DAS) Class of 2017 inductees are Todd Gartner, Paducah, Ky., formerly of Effingham; Thomas Overmyer, Mahomet, formerly of Mattoon; Dr. Sally Salmons, Mattoon; and Katie (Askew) Williams, Marshall, formerly of Mattoon. The Distinguished Alumni Society recognizes alumni who have utilized the Lake Land experience to make an imprint on their profession or community.

This year’s induction ceremony is part of Lake Land College’s 50th anniversary homecoming weekend. The honors will take place during the Alumni Recognition Brunch on Saturday, Sept. 30 in the West Building Atrium. Emily Friese, Stewardson, sophomore member of the 2017-2018 Cheerleaders, will give the welcome at the brunch.

“We’re extremely proud of the newest members of the Distinguished Alumni Society. They exemplify the values we all share at Lake Land College. In addition to being accomplished in their careers, they are dedicated to giving back to their communities and improving the world around them,” said Dave Cox, director of alumni relations and annual giving.

The newest member of the Lake Land College Athletics Hall of Fame is Denny Throneburg.    The Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches and friends who have excelled in their careers or brought recognition and support to the program.

Athletic Hall of Fame

Denny Throneburg, Laker Nation Class of 1970

Coach Throneburg served eight years as the athletic director at Lake Land College. During his first four years at the college he served as both the athletic director and head softball coach. He had his start at Lake Land College as a student athlete and played basketball for one year under Head Coach Jim Dudley, later being an assistant coach for five years under him.

Prior to coming to Lake Land, he completed 32 years of teaching and coaching at Casey-Westfield Jr-Sr High School. There he was the head coach for 22 years where his teams compiled a winning percentage of 92 percent—a national record for that amount of years. In Coach Throneburg’s four years as the head coach at Lake Land he guided the Lakers to an overall record of 158-42 and a conference record of 104-15. In his first season as the head coach, the Lakers became the first softball team in school history to advance to the D-1 National Tournament.

Coach Throneburg has received numerous honors in softball. He has twice been named the National High School Softball Coach of the Year, in 1997 and 2000. He was also named Illinois High School Softball Coach of the Year in 2000 and was inducted into the Illinois Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame and into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame in 2000. Coach Throneburg’s travel ball teams have won numerous state and national titles in his career, and in 1987 he was the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic National Team in the Pan Am Games.

Coach Throneburg was inducted into the inaugural class of the Lake Land College Distinguished Alumni Society in 2007.

Throneburg currently serves as the pitching coach for the Lakers Softball Team. He resides in Mattoon with his wife, Sue. They have three children, Derek, Dara and D.J, and four grandchildren, Brya, Reese, Ella and Paxton.

Distinguished Alumni Society

Todd Gartner, Laker Nation Class of 2003

Gartner is the director of surgical services at Baptist Health in Paducah, Ky. He has an associate degree in nursing from Lake Land College, a bachelor’s degree in finance from Illinois State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Maine at Orono.

Prior to being named director of surgical services at Baptist Health, Gartner was the director of surgical services at Stone Crest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tn., operating room technician and nurse.

Originally, Gartner worked in business accounting, management and sales in Effingham before his career took a change. Now, he supervises the hospital’s surgical staff and coordinates anesthesia services with North Star’s three anesthesiologists and 23 nurse anesthetists.

“By obtaining my ADN at Lake Land College, my career has taken me to places and doing things I could only dream of doing. The education I have received has allowed me to help make peoples’ lives better,” Gartner said.

“Now, as a director of surgical services at a regional facility, I have the opportunity to influence the care of many patients every day. I have truly been blessed to be able to be a part of healthcare. Lake Land College has played a major role in helping me achieve that goal.”

Thomas Overmyer, Laker Nation Class of 1983

Overmyer is the president and owner of Phoenix Consulting Engineers in Mahomet. He has an associate degree in civil engineering technology from Lake Land College and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois.

Overmyer began his career at Daily and Associates, a local engineering firm in Champaign, eventually becoming a principal partner and director until 2005. When Daily and Associates was purchased by another company, he found his entrepreneurial spirit and started Phoenix Consulting Engineers.

Overmyer gives Lake Land College a lot of credit for helping him achieve his goals, mentioning the Civil Engineering Technology program provided him with the necessary knowledge to compete with anyone in the marketplace. “Lake Land College gave me both an educational foundation and job skills that seeded my life and career. Upon graduation I was able to find a good job in my major as a civil engineering technician.”

“After working in my profession for several years, I decided to continue my education and applied to the College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois. It quickly became apparent that the critical thinking skills and educational foundation that I absorbed while attending Lake Land would play a major role in my success at the U of I. In 1989 I graduated with honors from the U of I with a bachelor of science degree from the College of Engineering,” he said.

He belongs to the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and is an Illinois Municipal League Member. He and his wife, Rhonda, have five children and are active supporters of Camp New Hope and Special Olympics.

Dr. Sally Salmons, Laker Nation Class of 1982

Salmons is the associate chief medical director, primary care services and medical subspecialties at Carle Hospital in Mattoon and is also a family practice physician in Tuscola. She has an associate degree in business administration from Lake Land College, a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration from Eastern Illinois University and a doctorate of medicine from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

With more than 17 years of diverse medical experience, Salmons is affiliated with many hospitals, including The Carle Foundation Hospital and Hoopeston Community Memorial Hospital. She cooperates with other doctors and specialists in medical group Carle Health Care Incorporated and has worked with 18 primary clinics throughout underserved areas in east central Illinois.

In 2016 she received the Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association for her commitment to bringing access to medical care to rural communities.

Salmons credits Lake Land College instructors for inspiring her path and changing her life with education. “I was working in the healthcare business world when I felt the need to be closer to the delivery of care. I had a bachelor’s of business at the time I decided I wanted to be a doctor. I also had a mortgage, a full-time job and two kids. Lake Land helped me gain the knowledge I needed to pass the entrance exam around my busy schedule. The instructors at Lake Land are incredibly committed to making a difference in the lives of their students. They know education changes lives—just like it changed mine,” she said.

Katie Williams, Laker Nation Class of 2002

Williams is the special education coordinator for the Marshall Community School District. She has an associate degree in psychology from Lake Land College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Eastern Illinois University.

Before she received her master’s degree, she worked as a paraprofessional for special education at Mattoon Middle School. In 2008, she went on to receive a certification of educational specialist in school psychology from Indiana State University.

Williams has also published two articles in the Illinois School Psychologists Association Quarterly: “When not to keep a secret” and “The standard basic report card.”

Williams noted that Lake Land College was a place in which she immediately felt comfortable as a student. “My experiences while attending Lake Land College have had a very positive impact on my career and life. The time I spent serving as a Lake Land College student ambassador provided me with the experiences that helped me develop leadership skills, integrity and connections among students and surrounding communities.”

“All of these skills have assisted me in obtaining a higher education, my career and continued positive relationships. Further, the smaller class sizes and relationships I was able to build with my instructors at Lake Land allowed me to push myself as a student and as an individual, thus lying the groundwork that would later enable me to maximize my educational and professional potential,” she said.

Currently she is a member of the Illinois School Psychologists Association, the Illinois Principals Association and the Illinois Education Association.

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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.