ANNUAL REPORT
READY FOR TODAY, PREPARING FOR TOMORROW SCHOLARSHIPS PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE OF EMS
2024 PHILANTHROPY AWARD RECIPIENTS
FINANCIALS UPDATE FISCAL YEAR 2025
Building
JOINT LETTER FROM THE LAKE LAND COLLEGE
Foundation President & Executive Director
DEAR FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION,
The Lake Land College Foundation had an incredible year in Fiscal Year 2025, thanks to the overwhelming support of our donors and community. With 268 first-time donors joining our mission, we raised more than $1.4M in total donations across 2,346 individual gifts. These contributions have transformed lives and provided critical support to our students.
This year, 660 students received scholarships, an increase of 21% from the previous year, totaling $768,067 in awards. With the introduction of 10 new scholarships, award recipients received an average of $1,400, allowing them to focus on their education rather than financial hurdles. In addition, the Kramer Borgic Farm, owned by the Foundation, awarded its fifth farm distribution of $55,000, providing crucial funding for scholarships and emergency needs.
Beyond scholarships, we provided $27,711 in emergency funds to 44 students, ensuring they could navigate unforeseen challenges. Meanwhile, the Laker Caring Fund provided $7,250 in assistance to eight employees.
This past year has also been dynamic and fulfilling for the Foundation & Alumni Office. We celebrated WLKL’s 50th anniversary, proudly congratulated our 2025 graduates with Alumni tote bags, honored our outstanding award and scholarship recipients, launched the Community Partner Program and led another successful "Love a Laker" giving day campaign. Our newest initiative, our Community Partner Program, was a huge success, raising $92,000 in the first year! We are so appreciative of all of the Foundation staff, board members, volunteers and donors for helping us carry out our mission! We welcomed Bailey Cole as our Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations and Grayson Gough as our Foundation Awards & Corporate Relations Coordinator. We want to offer a special thanks to the following board members who completed their service this past year: Denise Bence and Blake Pierce. We also extend a warm welcome to our newest board members: Gary Philippi, Kurtis Rankin and Amy Shafer.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’re eager to expand our Community Partners and Planned Giving Programs and can’t wait to share many more impactful moments with our students, alumni and supporters. We hope you’ll join us in person to celebrate, connect, and strengthen our Laker community together.
Thank you for walking alongside us on this journey and for the many ways your support touches the lives of our students and beyond. We look forward to connecting with you soon! WITH GREAT LAKER PRIDE AND MUCH GRATITUDE,
Larry Blackerby, President
Lake Land College Foundation
Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement/Foundation CEO
Lake Land College President
DEAR FRIENDS,
What a remarkable year it has been at Lake Land College—and it’s because of you. Your generosity through the Foundation is at the heart of so many of the successes we celebrate today.
This summer, we proudly opened the doors to the Effingham Technology Center, and more than 1,500 guests joined us to mark this exciting milestone. Thank you to those of you who attended and helped us showcase a facility that will benefit not only our students, but also the businesses, organizations, and families across our region.
Your impact is also felt through the Community Partner Program, which continues to grow stronger each year. This initiative provides businesses and organizations with meaningful ways to stay engaged with students while supporting scholarships. A powerful example of this is our partnership with Sarah Bush Lincoln, whose generosity funded a new high-fidelity nursing simulation lab on campus. This facility is already preparing students with the skills and confidence they need to serve patients and strengthen healthcare in our communities.
On campus, we are moving forward with a 10-year master facilities and landscaping plan, a $100 million investment in the future of Lake Land. From revitalizing grounds and renovating facilities infrastructure to modernizing academic spaces and enhancing sustainable energy systems that save taxpayers nearly half a million dollars annually, these projects ensure our campus remains welcoming, sustainable and future-focused.
Most importantly, your partnerships and gifts make the student experience possible. Whether it’s expanding labs, offering flexible program formats, or providing new athletic and study spaces, we are equipping students with the resources to succeed. And behind every scholarship you make possible is a student who is able to graduate and pursue a career, support their family and give back to their community.
Your belief in our mission is changing lives every day. Thank you for the countless ways you invest in our students and in the future of Lake Land College. Together, we are building a legacy of opportunity and success.
WITH GRATITUDE,
Dr. Josh Bullock President
"I think he would want the students who receive it to pass the compassion forward and be inspired to treat their patients as number one.”
--Sherwood
Future of EMS Ready for Today, Preparing for Tomorrow
Scholarships Pave the Way for the
In the words of the late Kyle Martincic, being an emergency medical services (EMS) professional means being “ready today, prepared for tomorrow.” It’s about serving others with unwavering courage and lending a gentle hand when it’s needed the most. Above all, it’s about getting up each new day and making the world a little better than it was before.
The Lake Land College EMS family recently lost two beloved alumni who were instrumental in shaping both the present and the future of local emergency care. Kyle Martincic is one of those names, along with lifelong paramedic Steve Sherwood. Today, their legacies live on in the form of two memorial scholarships, established in their memory by their closest friends and family to support the next generation of aspiring EMS professionals.
Kyle Martincic – “Leave the World Better than You Found It”
According to Lake Land EMS Program Director & Clinical Coordinator Jasmine Ballard, Kyle Martincic was born with a fire helmet on. The Pana native was determined to serve his community from a young age, and by the time he graduated from high school in 2004, he had already earned his National Registered EMT license. He later advanced his
education to become a paramedic and eventually earned a Paramedic Services degree from Lake Land College. He was also devoted to giving back to support the future of EMS, serving as a paramedic instructor in the state of Illinois as well as one of the first members of the Lake Land College EMS Advisory Board.
“According to his coffee mug, he was the ‘World’s Most Okayest Medic,’” said friend and colleague Mike Schwenke with a laugh. “But he was someone you could always look up to. He considered it an honor to get to serve others.”
Kyle may have joked about being an “okay” medic, but there was no denying who he was as a husband and father. In 2018, he moved to Elletsville, Indiana to marry the love of his life, Angela, and became the stepfather of two adoring children. He lived with his family there for the rest of his life, serving the local community as a paramedic and high school EMT instructor.
“You look at those two kids and you can see the impact Kyle had on their lives,” Jasmine said. “There’s no question that he was their dad.”
Pictured from left to right: scholarship donor Shirley Sherwood and recipient Kristen Chapman
In fall 2021, during a routine training exercise, Kyle suffered a sudden medical emergency and passed away from natural causes shortly later. In his memory, Kyle’s wife Angela worked with Jasmine, Mike and the Lake Land College Foundation to establish the Kyle Martincic Memorial Scholarship, providing a $1,000 gift every year to help aspiring EMS professionals pursue their dreams. This year, an anonymous donor gave $10,000 to the scholarship fund, drawing it close to the threshold required to become a self-sustaining endowment. Jasmine hopes to achieve the endowment status by the next scholarship cycle, ensuring the Kyle Martincic legacy continues to support students for years to come.
“Kyle wanted to leave the world better than he found it,” Jasmine said. “If there was a student struggling financially, he would take them by the hand and do what he could to help. It was his way of helping grow the profession.”
Steve Sherwood – “Your Life is Worth My Time” For Steve Sherwood, the greatest honor in life was to give to those around him. A graduate of the Lake Land College EMS class of 1987, he worked with the Greenup Area Fire Protection District for 35 years, serving in that time as a paramedic, a firefighter and an assistant ambulance coordinator. He also held the title of Cumberland County coroner and was serving his third term when he passed. Like Kyle, Steve too was devoted to helping the future of emergency care, supporting the Lake Land College EMS program as an educational preceptor to provide students with realistic educational experiences.
“Steve was my very first preceptor, and I’m still in EMS so that must mean something,” Mike said. “He was someone who’s seen it all. He’s done things I’ve only seen on TV. But he wasn’t just a great EMS mentor. He was a life mentor.”
What stood out most about Steve, however, wasn’t the countless roles he served. It was his genuine love for others and his heart for helping them through their darkest days. His wife Shirley, a renowned EMS instructor in her own right for both Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and Lake Land College, still occasionally hears from Steve’s former patients. It never fails that it’s his compassion that they remember most.
“Steve used to tell people, ‘I became a paramedic because your life is worth my time,’” Shirley said. “That just shows the dedication and empathy that he had as a paramedic.”
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Scan the QR codes below to contribute to the Martincic or Sherwood Campaigns.
In January 2025, Steve passed away from natural causes. With his passion for giving back and helping others, there was no question how Shirley would choose to honor his legacy. She worked with Mike, Jasmine and the Lake Land College Foundation to create the Steve Sherwood Memorial Scholarship, which starting fall 2025, provides $1,000 every year to an EMS student with a demonstrated financial need.
“I think he would feel honored to have his name on this scholarship,” Shirley said. “I think he would want the students who receive it to pass the compassion forward and be inspired to treat their patients as number one.”
Giving Back
These two men, Kyle and Steve, devoted their lives to serving others. Now, with these scholarships, they still are. For many EMS students, continuing their education to better help their communities comes at substantial financial sacrifice, as they often must reduce their work hours to fit demanding course loads into their schedules. With Kyle and Steve’s legacies now continuing through these scholarships, many EMS students will receive crucial support for years to come.
“Nobody goes into to EMS to get wealthy,” Jasmine said. “They do it to give back.”
In fall 2025, the very first recipient of the newest EMS scholarship, the Steve Sherwood Memorial Scholarship, was selected, with Mattoon paramedic student Kristen Chapman being granted the $1,000 gift. For Kristen, who fell in love with the EMS field while working as a law enforcement officer, the scholarship provides crucial support as she returns to school to serve her community in a new capacity.
“If I could, I’d tell Steve that I hope to be half the provider that he was,” Kristen said. “I’d want him to know I’m going to put this to good use to further my career and provide better care for my patients, and that I hope to make him and Shirley proud.”
With the scholarship help, Kristen looks forward to continuing her education and advancing her skills to provide the best care she can. Today, the scholarship support is helping to make her dreams possible, funding her ambitions and creating a path forward as she prepares for tomorrow.
CREATE A NEW ONE
You can create a memorial scholarship, a personalized giving site and a lasting legacy for your own loved one. Contact Christina Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement at 217-234-5354 or cdonsbach@lakelandcollege.edu to get started.
LAKE LAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024-2025
OFFICERS
Larry Blackerby — President
Tom White — Vice President
Amanda Martin — Secretary
Rich Hartke — Immediate Past President
BOARD MEMBERS
Kathleen Anderson
Larry Blackerby
Layna Bond
Angela Dyer
Kellie Eastham
Austin Frank
Rich Hartke
Rudy Huber
Amanda Martin
Terry McConnell
Tyler Micenheimer
Robert Payton
Gary Philippi
Kurt Rankin
Debra Sandercock
Amy Shafer
Linda Von Behren
Meg Yargus Steward
Tom White
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Dr. Jonathan “Josh” Bullock, College President
Cari Rincker, Legal Counsel
Christi Donsbach, Foundation CEO
Madge Shoot, Foundation Treasurer/ College Comptroller
Larry Lillly, Lake Land College Board of Trustees Liaison
COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT STAFF
Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement
Bailey Cole, Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations
Grayson Gough, Foundation Awards & Corporate Relations Coordinator
Donna McCoy, Foundation Office Coordinator
Penny Walk, Donor Information & Database Coordinator
PHILANTHROPY
Awards
FIRST MID BANK & TRUST 2024 OUTSTANDING
PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION
First Mid Bank & Trust has an unwavering commitment to community involvement, underscoring their belief in making a positive and lasting impact and ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the well-being and prosperity of the communities they serve. Volunteerism, financial support, and sponsorship are important components of the company’s strategic initiatives. Over the years, First Mid has contributed more than $215,000 to support Lake Land College Foundation’s vital work in advancing education and empowering students. Believing in the transformative power of education, First Mid is proud to partner with an institution that shares this dedication to building a brighter future.
MADGE SHOOT
2024 CRYSTAL SWAN RECIPIENT
The Crystal Swan Award honors a Lake Land College Foundation Board Member who demonstrates exceptional dedication. This year, Madge Shoot has been chosen for her unwavering commitment. As both the College Comptroller and the Foundation’s Treasurer, she pours her heart and soul into Lake Land College, consistently going the extra mile. A proud Lake Land College alumna, Madge is not only a generous donor and active volunteer but also serves on numerous committees. She embodies the spirit of Lake Land College and is a remarkable ambassador for our college.
MIKE SULLIVAN
2024 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER
Fundraiser Mike Sullivan was honored as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser for his extraordinary dedication and impact on Lake Land College and the surrounding community during an awards ceremony in October 2024. Just six months later Mike passed away leaving a legacy of servitude. First elected to the Board of Trustees in 1987, Sullivan holds the record as the longestserving Trustee in the college’s history. His 37-year-tenure was marked by an unwavering commitment to improving the College and advancing its mission to provide high-quality education to the community.
Legacy Laker Society
The Legacy Laker Society honors individuals who made the commitment to support the college through planned gifts such as trusts, bequests, life insurance policies, etc. These gifts will ensure that the Lake Land College tradition of excellence will be continued well into the future. Membership in the Legacy Laker Society is nonbinding. A special thanks to our Legacy Laker Society members including:
Dr. William & Mrs. Anna M. Ayres
Mr. Randall & Mrs. Virginia Beasley
Mr. Wayne & Mrs. Clara Borgic
Ms. Lynn Cain in memory of Mr. Robert L. Cain
Ms. Waneta Catey
Ms. Mary Cole
Mrs. Hazel Moore Crosby
Mr. Floyd & Mrs. Chlotilde Curl
Mr. & Mrs. George & Joye Danks
Mr. C. Paul & Mrs. Marjorie W. Davis
Mr. Walter & Mrs. Jeannette Dickerson
Ms. Leah J. Dvorak
Ms. Sharon A. Fabert
Mr. Gerry & Mrs. Marge Fedrigon
Ms. Karen Fuqua
Mr. Martin Garbe
Mr. Warren Goble
Mr. Mark Henderson
Mr. Obed Henderson
Mr. Joseph Hendrix
Ms. Mary Higgs
Ms. Leslie Hill
Ms. Marilyn R. Hoots
Ms. Mary Hill Dobbs
Ms. Sophie O. Kreke
Ms. Consuello Luttrell
Dr. Lowell E. Massie
Dr. George T. Mitchell
Mr. Burnham & Mrs. Nancy Neal
Mr. Donald & Mrs. Jane Perry
Mr. Joe & Mrs. Alleen Stephen
Mr. Charles & Mrs. Mary Striker
Mr. Thomas Woodyard
To learn more about planned gifts and how to be part of the Legacy Society, please visit us online at LakeLandCollege.GiftLegacy.com.
TOTAL NET ASSETS THROUGH JUNE 2025
$1,725,513 UNRESTRICTED GIFTS
AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS
AWARDED TO STUDENTS
EMPLOYEES
RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE LAKER CARING FUND TOTALING MORE THAN
FIRST-TIME DONORS
MORE STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS THAN PREVIOUS YEAR
FIFTH FARM CONTRIBUTION FOR STUDENT SUPPORT
STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS IN FY25
DONATIONS FOUNDATION IN FY25 COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUPPORTED AN ADDITIONAL $92,000 FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS & EMERGENCY FUNDS
OF STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED WHILE ENROLLED AT LAKE LAND
SCHOLARSHIP
TOTAL ALUMNI GRADUATES
