SPARKS FLY AT ATC RIBBON CUTTING

College of Lake County’s new Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee was a prime backdrop for the annual State of the College address. Accompanied by welding instructor Karsten Illg and welding student Kyle Thorne, President Dr. Lori Suddick helped slice through a fabricated metal ribbon using a welding torch, a surprising presentation suitable for a technology center.

OCTOBER

Community Grand Opening

The ATC opened its doors to the community for a grand opening event fitting for the whole family. Culinary students served free food, radio station WXLC broadcasted live and faculty demonstrated their expertise. The event was a great opportunity to see the new welding, fabrication, industrial technology and hydraulics labs up close.

Joshua Cardin

Making A Dream Career A Reality

Joshua Cardin dreamt of becoming a firefighter when he was a kid. Thanks to CLC’s fire science technology program, he finally realized that dream.

Originally from Indiana, Cardin spent five years in the Coast Guard in Washington and Ohio. He thought about a career in business following his enlistment, but that life didn’t suit him well.

Cardin, while living in Ohio, knew he’d eventually be relocating to the Lake County area. He discovered the CLC fire science program while searching online. He reached out to Fire Science Department Chair Jeff Howell, whose dedication sold Cardin on attending CLC.

“He showed up to my tour of CLC and afterward, he talked to me for 30 minutes,” Cardin said.

“That conversation was invaluable to me. He wanted to answer all my questions. He even called me after I returned to Ohio.”

Cardin got his start at CLC in 2020 when classes were all online. Then, in 2021, he was able to do hands-on work in the classroom. At CLC, fire science students work with the Grayslake Fire Department to gain real-world experience. The station is located on the CLC campus.

After graduating last May, Cardin was one of several students selected to work part-time with the Grayslake Fire Department. He recently applied for a paramedic program to bolster his skill set. His plan is to be a full-time firefighter in Lake County, whether it’s with Grayslake or another department.