Laker Nation News

Lake Land College is enrolling students in upcoming eight-week courses that begin Oct. 17 and run through Dec. 9, with exams the following week.

Known as Mod 2 courses, the short-term nature of the courses are ideal for people who would like to ease back into school or want to catch up on credits.

Courses are offered in a variety of subjects at a variety of times and formats.

Online courses include Responding to Emergencies, Medical Terminology, Understanding Art, Principles of Economics I and II, Accounting Process, Internet Systems/Applications, Human Machine Interface, Food Service Sanitation, Principles of Health, Strategies for Success, American National Government, Human Relations, Humanities and more.

Courses offered during the day include Ag Trans & Power Trains, Engine Repair, Accounting Process, Soils and Aggregates, Practical Software Applications, Pipefitting Procedures, Introduction to Sociology, Human Relations and more.

Evening courses include, Welding Fundamentals, Properties of Metal and Intro to Machining Procedures.

Welding Fundamentals is also being offered in the evening at Effingham High School. Interested students should contact the Kluthe Center at 217-540-3555.

The first step to in getting started is to complete the Intent to Enroll form. Visit us at lakelandcollege.edu and click on the Enroll Now button or call 217-234-5232 to find out if Mod 2 offerings are compatible with your degree plan.

Lake Land College will be offering free GED classes in several locations, with orientation beginning Oct. 10.

Classes will be available in Arthur, Effingham, Marshall, Mattoon, Pana, Paris and Shelbyville and will continue all semester.

The schedule for orientation is as follows:

• Arthur- Arthur Public Library, 225 S. Walnut – Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m.
• Effingham –  Lake Land College Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology, 1204 Network Center Blvd. – Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m.
• Marshall – Lake Land College Eastern Region Center, 224 S. 6^th – Monday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m.
• Mattoon – Lake Land College Workforce Development Center, 305 Richmond Ave. E. – Wednesday, Oct, 12, 8 a.m. & 4 p.m.
• Pana – Lake Land College Western Region Center, 600 E. 1^st – Thursday, Oct. 13, 5 p.m.
• Paris – First United Methodist Church, 324 W Court St. – Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m.
• Shelbyville – Shelby Christian Church, 200 N. Hickory St. – Monday, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m.

For more information contact Adult Education at 217-238-8292 or email adulteducation@lakelandcollege.edu.

In honor of patient appreciation, the Lake Land College Dental Hygiene Program is offering free dental cleanings Sept. 19-Sept. 29.

Clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1-5 p.m. and Wednesday from 12-4 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. The Dental Clinic is located in the Northwest Building, room 116 on the Lake Land College campus, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon.

Please call 217-234-5249 to schedule an appointment.

Lake Land College is expanding the number of welding courses offered in the Effingham community through a partnership among the college, the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce and Effingham Community Unit 40.

The partnership’s goal is to offer courses that meet the training needs of area employers for skilled welders. The program originally started with one course and has now expanded to three.

Interested students can enroll today in the first course.

Welding Fundamentals, WEL-057-38143, is a Mod 2 course that meets from Oct. 18 to Dec. 8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8:30 p.m. at Effingham High School. Metal Cutting and Fabrication will be offered from January through March and Pipe Fitting & Welding will be offered from March through May.

“Our local manufacturers have made it clear that there is a strong need for more individuals with welding skills to fill available jobs,” Chamber President & CEO Norma Lansing said.  “The partnership that came together to fill this need says a lot about our community commitment to business growth and better jobs for the people living here.”

In the course, students will develop skills in safety, metal identification, oxy-acetylene welding, metal cutting processes, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding (including stainless steel and aluminum), machining, fluid power, mechanical drives and blueprint reading.

Enrollment in the class is limited, so students need to register by Oct. 10 by contacting the Kluthe Center at 217-540-3555 or by going to lakelandcollege.edu and clicking on the Enroll Now button. The first step is to complete an Intent to Enroll form.

Deciding on what to do after high school graduation can be an overwhelming process. That’s why Lake Land College is scheduling high school visits to help students know more about transitioning from high school to a college or university.

“Meeting with higher education professionals is a very valuable experience for students making the difficult but important decision about college and college life,” said Pam Hartke, admissions representative. “We hope to answer the students’ questions and ease any anxiety they may have about this time in their lives.”

The dates, times and locations of the area high School visits are as follows:

For more information, visit: www.lakelandcollege.edu/ss/ar/hs_counselor/hs_visits.cfm.

One hundred eighty-seven candidates received their degrees and certificates after the completion of the summer 2016 term at Lake Land College. The graduates are:

The Lake Land College Honors Program is accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students to challenge themselves academically while earning an honors designation on their transcripts by completing a minimum of four honors-level courses,” Garren explained. “Most courses can be made into an honors course, depending on the student and faculty member’s interest and ability to create an honors project given the course topic.”

Applications and student/faculty contracts for fall honors courses are due to Steve Garren, director of dual credit and honors program advisor, by Friday, Sept 23. Students can find the application here lakelandcollege.edu/as/hnr/apply.cfm or they can contact Garren at 217-234-5044 or sgarren@lakelandcollege.edu.

The purpose of the Honors Program is to provide enriched learning opportunities for outstanding students through honors courses and the opportunity to participate in independent study for honors credit in specialized areas of study.

Requirements for the Honors Program focus on academic talents and career goals.

“Participating in the Honors Program is a wonderful opportunity for any two-year degree-seeking student who is highly motivated, enjoys a challenge, and would like to take his or her education to a higher level,” Garren said.

To be accepted in the program, students must meet the following criteria.

Entering as a freshman, students must:

• Pursue an associate degree at Lake Land College; and
• Meet one of the following:
  • Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her high school class;
  • Have a composite ACT score of 26 or higher; or
  • Have a composite 3.5 GPA on a 4-point scale or equivalent.

Current Lake Land students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher after the completion of at least 12 semester hours of Lake Land coursework numbered 040 or higher, and be enrolled in an associate degree program.

Garren also encourages honors students, especially Presidential Scholars, to consider joining the national honors society Phi Theta Kappa.

For more information about the Honors Program, contact Garren at 217-234-5044 or sgarren@lakelandcollege.edu.

The Lake Land College Community Choir will begin its fall rehearsals Tuesday, Sept. 27. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday nights in the Lake Land College Theater from 7-9:30 p.m.

The choir is a group of approximately 50 mixed voices including students, college employees and members of the community.  All singers age 18 and older are welcome to participate.  No audition is required.

Choir members may earn one hour of college credit for singing in the choir. Interested singers can complete a registration form at the first rehearsal, or register online.  Registration for college credit is not required, however, and participation in the choir is free for those who do not register.

Nancy Caldwell, music instructor at Lake Land College and director of the choir, said, “Singing is actually a mild form of aerobic exercise. Even while seated, singers use muscle groups in the upper part of the body.  And then there’s the emotional benefit; a choir is a wonderful community, and the shared endeavor of performing in a concert creates a sense of accomplishment. I invite everyone to join us and enjoy this musical form of heart-healthy living.”

Caldwell continued, “Choir members tell me they enjoy the opportunity to sing a variety of music with a large group of singers of all ages.  I choose several challenging numbers each semester and the choir has really grown musically in the years we’ve been together.  Singing arrangements of favorite Christmas songs, as we do each fall, is always a treat.”

The fall season will culminate in a concert on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. in the Theater.  The program will open with old-time gospel favorites including “Down by the Riverside,” “Amazing Grace,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” The choir will also sing a medley titled Americana, which includes “Skip to My Lou” and “Shenandoah,” along with other folksongs.

After noting that “We Need a Little Christmas,” the choir will perform “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting),” and “The Christmas Waltz,” made famous by Frank Sinatra in 1954.  The traditional Christmas carols “Love Came Down at Christmas,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “The Little Drummer Boy” will round out the concert.

Contact Caldwell at 217- 234-5464 with any questions.

Break out the red and black, Laker alumni! Lake Land College is gearing up for its first annual Laker Homecoming Sept. 30 – Oct. 2.

The Lake Land College Alumni Association and Athletics are partnering to create a weekend of events to welcome all alumni and their families back to campus. Athletic events, Laker Louie mascot appearances, campus tours, a golf outing and banquet round up the schedule.

“Laker Homecoming is a great opportunity for you to reconnect with your Laker classmates, faculty and staff members. We encourage you to share your Laker experience with your family and see how much campus has grown and developed,” Dave Cox, director of alumni relations and annual giving, said.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors and Heartland Dental is hosting a free professional development seminar followed by a social for Dental Hygiene alumni. The event will kick off the weekend’s activities the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 30 in Effingham at Heartland Dental.

Student Ambassadors will be available for campus tours at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30 starting from the Field House. The Laker volleyball match will open at 6 p.m.  Be sure to catch Laker Louie in the crowd!

Following the volleyball game, the men’s and women’s basketball teams will take the floor for the first time this season.

Saturday’s events kick off with a Laker alumni softball scrimmage and a Lake Land College softball red and black scrimmage.

The Laker Golf Outing will be held the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 1 at Meadowview Golf Course. Registration opens at 11 a.m. followed by lunch and a shot-gun start at noon. Hole sponsorships are available for this event. Golfers can register at lakelandcollege.edu/athletics.

The Distinguished Alumni Society inductees and Laker Hall of Fame candidates will be introduced during an Alumni Recognition Banquet Saturday evening at the Mattoon Golf & Country Club.

Laker Homecoming weekend will conclude Sunday with a baseball game.

Homecoming T-shirts can be ordered in advance. Information is available online at lakelandcollege.edu/alumni or lakelandcollege.edu/athletics.

For more information about any of the Alumni events, contact Dave Cox at 217-234-5376 or dcox5612@lakelandcollege.edu. For Athletic events and Athletic Golf Outing information, contact the Lake Land College Athletic Office at 217- 234-5333  or breed43185@lakelandcollege.edu