Scott Lensink to be Honored with Lake Land College Distinguished Service Award Posted on May 3, 2017 Lake Land College will posthumously award the 2017 Distinguished Service Award to Scott Lensink, the sixth president of Lake Land, during Commencement on Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. The award acknowledges an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the college. Lensink served for six years as the college’s sixth president, retiring in 2013. His career in higher education spanned 30 years, starting with a teaching position at Eastern Illinois University. He joined Lake Land College in 1993 as a business instructor and head coach for the Laker women’s basketball team. He went on to hold several positions at Lake Land prior to retiring as president. “Scott will forever be remembered at Lake Land College for the impact of his professional career; but just as importantly, he will be remembered by employees and students as a jovial, caring, larger-than-life personality, who inspired us to make an impact at Lake Land College,” David Cox, director of alumni relations and annual giving, said. Lensink’s wife Michele Lensink and their sons Zachary and Alex will receive the award on his behalf. Zachary Lensink will graduate that evening with an associate degree in pre-medicine. In his nomination, Cox listed several student testimonials, one of which came from Jenny (Westendorf) Lange, Laker Nation Class of 1998: “Scott Lensink was a huge part of my college career. He was both one of my instructors and my basketball coach. Scott taught us how to enjoy ourselves and laugh through most of life’s situations. We also learned that a good pizza and movie night would help fix almost anything.” During Lensink’s tenure, Lake Land College emerged as a national leader in the sustainability field, attracting grants and attention from public officials from coast to coast. In addition, the college received prestigious Aspen Institute recognition, which named Lake Land among the top 10 percent of community colleges in the nation. The college was also named the safest campus in Illinois. Upon Lensink’s retirement in 2013, Lake Land College Board Chairman Carl Hart said, “President Lensink has been a driving force in the continued success our students, faculty, and staff experience here. Under his leadership, the college has continued to grow and develop despite tough economic times.” Lensink was very active in the higher education community and local area. He served on numerous task forces and committees for the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board. Locally, Lensink served as a member of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems Health Center Board of Directors, the Coles County Historical Society Depot Restoration committee and Mattoon Foundation Board. He hosted international exchange students and volunteered as a coach for youth league baseball and football programs. His previous experience included consulting, working in the insurance industry and owning and operating his own business. Lensink had a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College and a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. -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.
Nancy Caldwell honored with Lake Land College’s Faculty Association Outstanding Service Award Posted on Nancy Caldwell, Lake Land College music instructor, will receive the 2017 Faculty Association Outstanding Service Award at commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lake Land College Field House. In her 20 years at Lake Land College, Caldwell has impacted students, faculty, staff and community members through her leadership in developing a music curriculum, enhancing the college’s fine arts culture, steering achievements in general education expectations and leading musical groups. “Nancy sets the bar high for her students. Her standards and rigor in the classroom are beyond reproach, yet her teaching style is relatable and approachable. This can be a difficult combination to acquire. Nancy does it beautifully,” Lara Bacino-Althaus, psychology instructor, said in her nomination of Caldwell. In 1997, Caldwell joined Lake Land as the college’s first full-time music instructor. She developed the curricula, selected textbooks and equipped a classroom dedicated to the fine arts. She went on to develop a new course, Music in American History and Culture, to give Lake Land College students more options in the area of fine arts. She also created an online version of the course. “She never loses sight of the fact that earlier musical styles, particularly classical music, are quite foreign to the typical 19-year-old student in east central Illinois, and works hard to draw a connection between these unfamiliar styles and the music students listen to every day,” Bacino-Althaus added. Caldwell is the founder and director of the college’s Community Choir, which is celebrating its 20th year anniversary. The choir includes 50 people from the college and surrounding communities who come together to share their love of music and perform two concerts each year. Caldwell also directs the annual Johnston Junior High Music Festival, an honors band and choir festival for area middle school students. In addition to the fine arts, Caldwell shares her passion and dedication to educational excellence with her colleagues. For the past 12 years she has led the General Education Committee. During her tenure, the group solidified general education goals for all degree seeking students. In the past, these expectations were only set for students in transfer majors. In 2004, Caldwell co-authored the college’s self-study report to the Higher Learning Commission and in 2012, she was nominated for the college’s employee Shine Award for her contributions to Lake Land College. Caldwell serves on the executive committee of the Lake Land College Faculty Association as the president-elect. Next academic year she will serve as the vice president, followed by a year as the president. Caldwell majored in piano performance at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and has a bachelor’s degree in music. She has master’s degrees in piano performance and music history and literature from the University of Houston and a doctorate in musicology from Indiana University. Caldwell lives in Effingham with her husband Tom and two daughters, Madeline and Felicia. -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.
Posted on May 2, 2017 During a special meeting on Monday, May 1, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees recognized Gary Cadwell, Mode, for his two years of service as the board chair. Pictured left to right are Dave Storm, newly elected chair, Cadwell and Josh Bullock, president. During a special meeting on Monday, May 1, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees elected new officers and seated newly elected board members. Mike Sullivan, Doris Reynolds and Robert Luther, all of Mattoon, were re-elected in the April 4, 2017 election. They will serve six-year terms. The board also held elections for officers who will serve one-year terms. Those elected were: Dave Storm, Effingham, chair; Reynolds, vice chair; and Ann Deters, Effingham, secretary. The board also recognized Gary Cadwell, Mode, for his two years of service as the board chair. ###
New transfer agreement for broadcasting students Posted on April 28, 2017 Pictured (seated) from left are: Gigi Fansler, Lincoln College vice president for academic affairs; John Malone, Lincoln College division chair, fine arts and communications; Emily Hartke, Lake Land College chair of counseling and judicial affairs advisement; and Jon Althaus, Lake Land College vice president for academic services. Standing are David Gerlach, Lincoln College president and Greg Powers, Lake Land College speech communication/broadcasting instructor. Lincoln College and Lake Land College sign transfer agreement for broadcasting Lake Land College Radio/TV majors interested in earning a bachelor’s degree have a new opportunity for a seamless transfer. Lake Land College and Lincoln College recently signed a 2 + 2 agreement that allows Lake Land students to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree on campus and transfer to Lincoln College’s Radio, Television, and New Media program, where they may complete a bachelor’s degree in two additional years. “Lake Land College is renowned throughout the Midwest for their decades-long two-year program in Radio and Television,” said John Malone, Lincoln College associate professor of communication and division chair of fine arts and communication. “The first person who ever hired me in the radio business almost 30 years ago was a Lake Land graduate. They have a great history, and I’m looking forward to working with (department head) Greg Powers and the people of Lake Land to infuse our program with their stellar students.” Lake Land College offers an associate degree in Radio/TV Broadcasting along with three certificates. The Radio/TV degree is a Workforce Ready major that can be modified for students who wish to transfer to Lincoln College. Students will complete the General Education requirements outlined by the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) and the Lake Land equivalencies of the foundation 100-and-200 level courses offered as part of Lincoln College’s degree program will meet the requirements of this articulation agreement. Students enrolled in Lake Land’s program gain hands-on experiences in studio settings, as well as the college-run radio station, WLKL-FM. Each year, several students earn certification as radio marketing professionals through the Radio Advertising Bureau. Lincoln College, located in Lincoln, Ill., added the new Radio, Television and New Media program in the fall of 2016, as part of its expansion of several four-year undergraduate degree programs. Lake Land College is currently enrolling students in the Radio-TV Broadcasting program for the fall. To get started, visit lakelandcollege.edu and look for the “Enroll Now” button. The first step is to create a Laker Profile and then submit the Intent to Enroll selecting Radio-TV Broadcasting (AAS.RTV) as the program of study. A Laker Welcome Packet will follow including information on the next steps. For more information, contact Powers at 217-234-5335 or gpowers@lakelandcollege.edu.
Laker fans invited to the Laker Academic Awards Gala Posted on April 27, 2017 On Sunday, May 7, the Lake Land College Athlete Leadership Council will host the second annual Laker Academic Awards Gala in the Field House. “We invite the Lake Land College community to join us for a night of honoring our student-athletes’ academic achievements,” Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Bill Jackson said. This year, the gala will be tied with a silent and live auction, with all proceeds going to Lake Land College Athletics. Live Auction items include Field Box Cardinals tickets, USGA US Open Wisconsin Final Round tickets, a three-day Nebraska turkey hunting trip, a trip to Par-A-Dice Casino and much more! In addition to recognizing each team, the many athletes who have excelled in the classroom will be recognized. The students have elected to honor Jeff White, biological science instructor, as Faculty of the Year. Coaches will honor the Laker athletes of the year – Tyler Schuring, Arthur, men’s basketball, as the Male Athlete of the Year and Kassidy Bonebrake, Crawfordsville, Ind., women’s basketball as Female Athlete of the Year. Tickets for the Gala are $25 per seat. Each seat includes hors d’oeuvres and a three course sit-down meal consisting of a salad, your choice of pork or chicken, and a dessert. Tables are made up of six seats and are also available for purchase at $125 each. Dress for the Gala will be semi-formal with refreshment hour starting at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets or donate any items to the live or silent auction, please contact Ashli Robison at 217-234-5260 or awicker1@lakelandcollege.edu.
Creativity from the Inside artwork on display at Lake Land College Posted on April 20, 2017 The Illinois Department of Corrections and Lake Land College are hosting an art show featuring the creative work of offenders from the Dixon, Illinois River, Sheridan, and Stateville correctional centers. The Creativity from Inside show includes paintings, pottery and ceramics and will be available for viewing through May 29 at the Lake Land College Library, housed in the Virgil H. Judge Learning Resource Center, 5001 Lake Land Blvd. The artwork is available for public viewing Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 – 7 p.m. ###
BNA courses offered in summer Posted on The Lake Land College summer Basic Nursing Assistant (BNA) program offers students an opportunity to train for a career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in just eight weeks. Classes begin June 5 in Effingham, Mattoon and Paris. Those who successfully complete the summer term will be eligible to take the state certification exam to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) The program is a great way for pre-nursing students and those wishing to become a CNA to jumpstart a career in the healthcare field. The summer program is intensive and requires a commitment from the student, Laura Deters, basic nurse assistant instructor, said. Classes are offered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday. Because of the condensed time frame, students are required to attend all classes and cannot complete the course if class is missed. For more information or to enroll, contact Deters at ldeters52738@lakelandcollege.edu or 217- 234-5055 or Academic Counselor Krista Burrell at kburrell@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5042. -30-
Lake Land College honored for outstanding technology Posted on For the sixth year in a row the Center for Digital Education named Lake Land College as one of the top 10 colleges to achieve a first-rate student learning environment. The college is one of a handful of mid-sized colleges recognized nationally in the annual Digital Community Colleges Survey conducted by Center for Digital Education, based in Sacramento, Calif. According to a press release by the Center for Digital Education, the “survey analyzes how community colleges use digital technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff and the community at large.” Overall, this is the eighth time Lake Land College has been recognized for the outstanding use of technology on campus. Awards were given in 2007, 2008 and then six years in a row beginning in 2011. “Lake Land College strives to be at the forefront of emerging technologies in order to provide the best educational opportunities and learning environment for our students, faculty and staff,” said Lee Spaniol, director of information systems and services at Lake Land College. “The college makes every effort to make information as accessible as possible, and our hard work and dedication to that has paid off.” “This year’s survey indicates community colleges are continuing to improve efforts at creating cost-effective platforms and Open Education Resources, mobile environments, real-time resources, telepresence robots and more to create robust online and mobile environments for their students,” said Dr. Kecia Ray, executive director for the Center for Digital Education. “Congratulations to this year’s survey winners.” The Center for Digital Education is operated by e.Republic Inc., the parent company of Government Technology magazine. To learn more about the technological advances at Lake Land College, visit: lakelandcollege.edu. -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.
Public invited to documentary viewing and discussion Posted on April 19, 2017 Lake Land College will host a free viewing of Ava DuVernay’s Netflix original documentary 13th followed by a discussion with James Kilgore, activist, author and adjunct lecturer for the University of Illinois Center for African Studies. The public is invited to the event which will take place on Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Theater of the Luther Student Center. DuVernay’s 2016 documentary focuses on the 13th amendment which abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a person convicted of a crime. The movie description states that DuVernay examines how the imprisonment caveat was used to continue the systematic exploitation of black people throughout Reconstruction and into the Jim Crow years that followed. DuVernay looks at how the legacy of Jim Crow continued through the years to the present criminal justice system. Following the documentary, Kilgore, who is featured in the documentary, will host a discussion. He is the author of five books, including Understanding Mass Incarceration: A People’s Guide to the Key Civil Right Struggle of Our Time. He was paroled to Champaign -Urbana in 2009 after serving six and a half years in federal and state prisons in California. He lives in Urbana with his wife and two sons. Lake Land College provides educational programs at 18 Illinois correctional centers and two youth centers. The college is one of the largest providers of correctional education in the country. The documentary and discussion are one of many educational events hosted by the college to increase awareness and promote inclusivity. On Tuesday, April 25, the college will host a student-organized interfaith panel discussion in which leaders of different faiths will come together to share their beliefs and answer participant questions. For more information about the documentary and discussion on April 26, contact Paula Rosine, marketing design coordinator and chair of the Inclusion & Diversity Education Committee, at 217-234-5265.
Lake Land College offers Computer Classes Posted on Lake Land College is offering a series of computer classes at the Workforce Development Center in Mattoon in May. The cost is $50 per class. Excel I, Excel II, Excel III, Creating a Resume and Making a PowerPoint Video will be offered. Participants can take any one class or all of them. To register, go to www.lakelandcollege.edu/learn , scroll through all community education classes to choose a class and enroll. Students can also call Admissions & Records at 217-234-5434 to register. Drop date for a refund is five business days prior to the class. For more information, contact Vivian Bales at 217-234-5087 or email vbales@lakelandcollege.edu.