Lake Land College Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF LAKE LAND COLLEGE

FALL 2018

FROM LAKE LAND TO MED SCHOOL BROADCASTING SUCCESS LAKER ATHLETES TRANSFER WITH EASE MOLDING A GREAT FUTURE WITH PLASTICS NEW LAKER FOOD PANTRY NEW ONLINE CDL PERMIT OPTION

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As the season of thanks is upon us, we have much to be grateful for at Lake Land College. We have been fortunate to serve the residents of our communities for more than 50 years with an outstanding opportunity to enrich their lives through the gift of education.

As the faculty and staff, we are grateful to know our students personally and see them reach their full potential. We hear all the time how these personal relationships truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

Looking back over the years, many of the successful alumni featured in this issue recall how a faculty member had a significant impact in their success. Their stories are like so many others throughout our communities and even nation.

We invite you to write your own story of success at Lake Land College this January. Now is the perfect time to enroll for the spring semester. You can take one or two classes to ease into the routine or enroll full-time. To learn more about our great value and flexible schedule visit us online at lakelandcollege.edu or schedule a campus visit.

We look forward to getting to know you and hope you’ll consider becoming part of the Lake Land College family.

Dr. Josh Bullock, President

GET SOCIAL WITH LAKE LAND COLLEGE! VISIT US AT LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU. LAKE LAND COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Gary Cadwell, Chair, Mode Dave Storm, Vice Chair, Effingham Doris Reynolds, Secretary, Mattoon Ann Deters, Trustee, Effingham Meg Yargus Steward, Trustee, Mattoon Bruce Owen, Trustee, Dieterich Mike Sullivan, Trustee, Mattoon Tessa Philpot, Student Trustee, St. Elmo

LAKE LAND COLLEGE CABINET

Josh Bullock, President Jon Althaus, Vice President for Academic Services Bryan Gleckler, Vice President for Business Services Jean Anne Grunloh, Senior Executive to the President Jim Hull, Vice President for Workforce Solutions and

Community Education Tina Stovall, Vice President for Student Services

2 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

STAFF

Editor: Kelly Allee Graphic Designer: Megan Nelson Writer: Derek Wunder

On the cover: Dr. Tyler Holsapple, Laker Nation Class of 2008, Biological Science major

CONTENTS 2

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

4

CABINET REPORT

6

BROADCASTING SUCCESS

10

LAKER ATHLETES TRANSFER WITH EASE

12

FROM LAKE LAND TO MED SCHOOL

2018 w VOLUME 4 w ISSUE 2

14 MOLDING A GREAT FUTURE

WITH PLASTICS 16 WAYS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE

4

6

12

14

18 NEW LAKER FOOD PANTRY 20 NEW ONLINE CDL PERMIT OPTION 22 CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR 23

IT-LAUNCHCODE OFFERED AT KLUTHE

LAKE LAND COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT Lake Land College creates and continuously improves an affordable, accessible and effective learning environment for the lifelong educational needs of the diverse communities we serve.

We fulfill this mission through: University transfer education General education Technical & career education Workforce development Community and continuing education Intellectual & cultural programs

THE LAKE LAND COLLEGE MAGAZINE is published three times a year for the residents of Lake Land College District #517 by Marketing & Public Relations at Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL 61938. This magazine will introduce you to Lake Land College and provide you with resources to get started or continue your education with us. For inquiries, contact Marketing & Public Relations at 217-234-5215. Views and opinions expressed by individuals in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Lake Land College.

18

SPRING CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 7!

Register by January 4.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A LAKER?

Visit us @ lakelandcollege.edu and look for the “Request Info” button.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

3

START YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS

AT LAKE LAND COLLEGE ICE #1 HO EC

LEG

COL

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

MANY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

probably think all of their friends are going off to a university to begin their college studies. They may be surprised to learn that in reality, most of their peers are attending Lake Land College.

Statistically speaking, district graduates choose Lake Land College over any other college by a 10 to 1 ratio, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse reports.

IN-DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL GRADS CHOOSE LAKE LAND COLLEGE BY A 10 TO 1 MARGIN Source: 2017 National Student Clearinghouse data.

Why do hundreds of area high school graduates start their stories at Lake Land College each year? Because they know it’s the best value around. Sure, there is an obvious difference

4 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

between a university’s tuition, fees, room and board price tag of about $24,000 a year and Lake Land College’s all in tuition, fees and textbook rental at about $4,000 per year, but there is so much more to the story. Allow me to share.

The story begins with the basic premise that you are seeking a college education to prepare for a meaningful and life-long career. As you begin looking at your choices, a few key themes emerge. Your task is to determine which of those themes is most important to you and your family.

When considering your themes, I encourage you to imagine your story four years from now.

Would you like to be taking selfies in your dream job, in your dream location with a financially stable future ahead of you? Or, would you like your story to be one in which you land your dream job only to determine your budget is stretched thin due to crippling student loan debt?

One of the themes you will encounter during your college search process is affordability.

All universities and colleges want you to think they are affordable. Many arrive at that point by packaging financial aid with student loans. At the time, the loans seem completely manageable, but four years later−a $37,172 loan debt with a monthly payment of nearly $400, can be significant.

Another consideration, that is sometimes lost in the shuffle, is that the maximum amount for a Federal Financial Aid Pell Grant is the same no matter what college or university you attend. This can be significant when comparing Lake Land College to the cost of attending a university. At Lake Land College, a Pell grant will more than cover tuition and fee costs, leaving you with additional funds to support the other costs of going to college. At a university, Pell will only cover a portion of tuition and fees alone.

Prospective students are often led to believe the best way to a earn a bachelor’s degree from a university is to enroll there as a freshman. At Lake Land College, we offer the same first two years of a bachelor’s degree as could be earned at a university. Additionally, in support of our commitment to helping students begin here and succeed anywhere, we work with students to plan a successful transfer to universities across the country. Although students transfer from Lake Land to colleges across the country, we truly enjoy helping students find value in transferring to one of Illinois’ fine universities.

We can show students how they can save even more money by beginning with us at Lake Land and then transferring to a university offering AIM HIGH transfer scholarships, or other transfer student incentives.

A common misperception about community colleges is that the coursework is less rigorous than at a university. Due to Lake Land’s academic rigor and experienced faculty, our students are successful when they transfer. Yearafter-year the state data has demonstrated our graduates earn GPAs for their coursework at the transfer university that are consistently higher than the students who began their journey at that institution as freshmen.

Plus, we have the Honors Experience that offers high performing students options for enrichment such as the Presidential Scholarship, Honors courses and Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society. Many students involved in these programs have additional scholarship opportunities and are able to join similar programs when they transfer.

All colleges offer students the opportunity to get involved in campus activities.

At Lake Land, we encourage you to join a club or leadership group. By joining a club or activity while

you are here, you build the leadership skills and confidence to become an involved citizen.

SOME OF THE STUDENT LIFE OPTIONS INCLUDE: Student Government Student Activity Board Student Leadership Training 30 Student Clubs based on majors & interests Community Choir and Band WLKL Radio Station Laker Athletics Intramurals Student Fitness Center The Navigator News As you compare your options, be sure to think about the size of both the physical campus and the classrooms. Will you choose to be in a lecture hall among hundreds of other students and meet with a teaching assistant? Or will you choose Lake Land where you will be in a small classroom taught by a knowledgeable faculty member where you feel comfortable raising your hand? At Lake Land College, the average classroom seats 26, which provides you with the experience to achieve success in a larger setting when you transfer.

During the past 50 years, thousands of high school seniors, and countless other students, have started on their path to success at Lake Land College. We welcome you to join our family and begin your story, or add a new chapter to your life, at Lake Land College.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

5

RADIO-TV ALUMNI

BROADCASTING SUCCESS 6 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

JC Fultz, WAND chief meteorologist, and Paul Crutcher, general manager/instructor for XLR Radio at Lander University, were recently inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Society.

Both are successful alumni of the RadioTV program that provides students hands on opportunities to pursue their interests in broadcasting.

As a faculty member, Greg Powers’ goal is to prepare students for future success. “When I see a former student on television, hear them on the radio or read some of their writings in a publication, I take great satisfaction in how they’re utilizing the skills they gained here at Lake Land College,” said Powers, speech communication/broadcasting instructor.

Their different careers in broadcast represent how individualized success is for students and how important experience is. Broadcast professionals could end up working on air, behind the scenes, or do any combination of the two, all of which is covered in Lake Land College’s program. Both Crutcher and Fultz are great examples of how receiving hands-on experience equipped them for their current careers.

Fultz started out part-time and worked his way up to chief Meteorologist. The past several years Fultz has been named the number one TV personality by the Herald & Review, and has earned numerous state and local broadcast awards during his 16 years on air.

Fultz attributes Lake Land College with allowing him to start working with broadcasts right away.

“I was able to jump right in and was active at WLKL doing the AM Smash morning show,” Fultz said. Lake Land gave Fultz his start in broadcast and he carried that momentum after he graduated in 2001. At Eastern Illinois University, he was the chief forecaster for Newswatch. At Southern Illinois University Carbondale he was chief forecaster for the River Region Evening Edition newscasts.

Crutcher attended Lake Land in the 1980s and reconnected with Lake Land in 2016 to complete

his degree by requesting an audit. It was very important to him to graduate from Lake Land College.

Crutcher oversees 100 plus students who work at the Lander University radio station he founded in 2009, some students of whom have gone on to work at big-name radio stations such as “Radio Disney” and “iHeartCountry.” Without proper experience both on and off air, achieving such a level of success with his students would be difficult. Crutcher also started a yearly film festival that has gained local prominence, which demonstrates his familiarity across media platforms.

Brooke Taylor, a former student of Crutcher’s who now works at “Big 95.5” in Chicago, said, “If it weren’t for Paul, I’d have never even started radio. ... I’m so thankful for someone who is so passionate about radio, to have been able to learn from him at such an impressionable time in my life.”

“I cannot overstate the importance of having hands on experience like running air shifts, writing and recording news, and broadcasting Laker basketball and baseball games,” Crutcher said. “I believe the broadcasting program at Lake Land is tried and tested, is unique for a school of that size and is a model that can be followed for others who want to be successful in setting up a college media program.”

“You really got to know your instructors on a personal level. I had friends who went on to major universities and they never saw their instructors in their general education classes,” Fultz said.

and play-by-play announcers that I have ever been able to be around,” Crutcher said.

Mike Rudibaugh was one Lake Land College faculty member who got Fultz interested in meteorology and passionate about teaching it to others. “We would meet in his office and talk weather. In the classroom he brought his passion for science and I really enjoyed it,” Fultz said.

“He made things interesting and science fun and that is something I still like to do today when I go visit classrooms and talk to kids about weather and science. When I see the light go off inside their head before I leave I know I have done my job.”

With the nearly unpredictable weather patterns of the Midwest, Fultz still enjoys forecasting and takes pride in providing as accurate reports as possible. “I will spend several hours looking through the models and trying to figure out what the next several days has in store,” Fultz said. “I am a local central Illinois kid and being able to broadcast and forecast in my home is something that I enjoy!”

Both Fultz and Crutcher agree that Lake Land College was their gateway into the broadcast industry and gave them an example of instruction to emulate. Just like how Lake Land prepares students for their careers, both men have channeled their passion to give back to their communities.

To learn more about the Radio-TV program contact Powers at 217-234-5335 or gpowers@lakelandcollege.edu.

Crutcher said that two faculty members who made him the most excited to learn about broadcasting were Lake Land College’s Ken Beno and Mike Bradd. “Ken set up the partnership with Mattoon High School allowing us the initial opportunity to experience a live air shift (when I was still a sophomore in high school). Mike Bradd became the general manager the year I enrolled and he is a consummate professional and one of the best news writers/broadcasters

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

7

ALUMNI HONORED

CLASS OF 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SOCIETY & ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTED

LAKE LAND COLLEGE ALUMNI

inducted five new members into the Distinguished Alumni Society and Laker Athletics honored one new member to the Athletics Hall of Fame during the 2018 Laker Homecoming weekend.

The Distinguished Alumni Society (DAS) Class of 2018 inductees are Donna Homann, Mattoon; Dave Pruemer, Teutopolis; Gary Sullivan, Fairview, Pennsylvania, formerly of Effingham; Paul Crutcher, Greenwood, South Carolina, formerly of Mattoon; and JC (James) Fultz, Decatur, formerly of Bethany.

The Distinguished Alumni Society recognizes alumni who have utilized the Lake Land

experience to make an imprint on their profession or community.

The newest member of the Lake Land College Athletics Hall of Fame is Tina Stovall, Charleston, formerly of Lovington. 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

TINA STOVALL, LAKER NATION CLASS OF 1984 Stovall leads a comprehensive student services program that includes Athletics and 12 other departments. She is a devoted Laker, cheering for athletes both in competition and in the classroom. She champions the Laker spirit and is well known for joining in the Laker Loyalty fight song at the end of each game.

8 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

Stovall served as an academic counselor and director of counseling at Lake Land College from 1987 to 2000 and returned in 2006 as the vice president for student services. She has an associate degree from Lake Land, a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Eastern Illinois University and a doctorate in community college leadership from the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign.

Stovall was recently recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Lake Land College’s history, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Education and Professional Studies at Eastern Illinois University and was honored as a Hall of Fame alum of Lovington High School.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SOCIETY CLASS OF 2018 DONNA HOMANN LAKER NATION CLASS OF 1984 Homann is the business owner of multiple establishments including Side Door Beauty Salon, Wig & Gift Boutique and Evergreen Home Rentals. She has a cosmetology certificate, an associate degree from Lake Land College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management and operations from Eastern Illinois University.

“Lake Land College afforded me the opportunity to attend college and graduate debt free,” Homann said. “I was so impressed with the classroom size and the ease at which they prepared me to go on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University Lumpkin School of Business.”

Homann said Lake Land faculty members Roberta Williams and Jack Browning greatly influenced her. “Ms. Williams was my hero in cosmetology. I watched how she handled people and her ability to deal with the public,” said Homann “Mr. Browning asked me to be a tutor and gave me the confidence to go on to Eastern Illinois University.”

DAVE PRUEMER LAKER NATION CLASS OF 1992 Pruemer is a retired head trainer of the Minnesota Twins. He received an associate degree in physical education from Lake Land College and a bachelor’s degree in education with specialization in athletic training from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

After 10 years progressing through the Twins farm system, Pruemer was named International League Trainer of the year in 2004. The following year he became an assistant trainer in the majors and was named head athletic trainer for the Twins in 2013.

Through the years, Pruemer became good friends with several Twins players like Jim Thome, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. “If I needed something they would be there for me,” Pruemer said.

“Lake Land gave me the confidence and foundation that I needed to be successful in my career path of being an athletic trainer,” Pruemer said.

GARY SULLIVAN LAKER NATION CLASS OF 1988 Sullivan is an assistant professor of the F.W. Hirt Erie Insurance Risk Management program at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

He has an associate degree from Lake Land College, a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois and a master’s of business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Sullivan is an innovation leader in the insurance industry. He was recently named “One of Fifteen People to Watch in Insurance Technology”

by Insurance Networking News. He was also featured on the December 2015/January 2016 issue from the same publication.

“All the faculty in the business discipline were knowledgeable and helpful. I am now in the classroom teaching the fundamentals of my profession to the next generation and I hope I exude the same enthusiasm that my instructors did at Lake Land College,” Sullivan said.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

9

LAKER ATHLETES

SUCCEED AT THE NEXT LEVEL

Though physically far from their alma mater, Laker athlete transfer students are connected by the One Laker Nation they enter into after graduation.

Each sport at Lake Land College carries essential lessons and valuable friendships, and each sport has produced exceptional students who are tackling their four-year universities with the same Laker spirit they showed on their teams. These alumni are just a few examples of the excellence our athletes are achieving after Lake Land.

AMEL KULJUHOVIC- MEN’S BASKETBALL Amel Kuljuhovic, Waterloo, Iowa, played basketball and pursued a degree in business administration at Lake Land College. He similarly chose his current fouryear institution, California State University Fullerton, for its basketball team, where he now plays forward, and for the business program.

“The level of difficulty that the classes were, and the amount of time I would spend working on my assignments prepared me for transferring from Lake Land” Kuljuhovic said. The coaches made the biggest impact on Kuljuhovic, and basketball “taught me to never give up and always strive to be the hardest worker.”

Kuljuhovic said his teammates were some of the best parts of his experience and are why some of his favorite memories are of playing basketball at Lake Land. He said it only took one year to make friends for a lifetime. “I enjoyed it and believe I have made some lifelong friendships,” Kuljuhovic said.

Now playing division one NCAA, Kuljuhovic hopes to continue making great memories and eventually become a professional basketball player and work in the business industry.

PARKER NOLAN- BASEBALL Lake Land College baseball pitcher, Parker Nolan, Schaumburg, found a home at the University of Indianapolis on both academic and athletics scholarships.

While Nolan said everything is a step higher at the university level, he says Lake Land College prepared him for that.

“Once you get to a four-year, everything seems easier than what it was at Lake Land College, so you are more than prepared to take the next step,” Parker said. “Everyone respects you for going to a community college.”

Nolan said his favorite memory of Lake Land is how easily the teammates he barely knew at first became lifelong friends “Being so close to each other, I felt like I knew everybody. It was very easy to get along with people,” Nolan said.

Lake Land’s atmosphere was one of his favorite aspects of the college, and his current university shares that attribute. “The class sizes are small even though it’s a bigger university, so it’s easier to learn and very personalized,” Nolan said.

Nolan plans on earning a living as an accountant after graduating.

10 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

KELCIE DARNELL- VOLLEYBALL Kelcie Darnell, Shelbyville, played volleyball at Lake Land College and after she earned an associate degree in biological science she transferred to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri for its strong academic program and for the fitting volleyball program.

She picked her current institution for its similarities with Lake Land, namely the rigor of course work and the small campus feel.

“Coming from Lake Land and transferring to a small-town university, I was able to feel right at home from the first day of classes,” Darnell said.

It was the people that made Lake Land stand out the most to her, especially mentors like her coach, Ashli Wicker. “Whether it be from a coach’s viewpoint or as a mentor’s viewpoint, I will never be able to show her how much gratitude I have to her for the opportunities she has given me,” Darnell said.

Darnell was able to save money and receive a quality education, then continue her education after earning an associate degree. “Through the classes at Lake Land College, I was able to readily prepare for my future without facing the forthcoming debt of a university,” Darnell said.

She aspires to become a genetics counselor.

LAKER FOOD DRIVE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 w 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Drop off a donation for the Laker Food Pantry in the Field House in lieu of a gate fee for the women’s and men’s basketball games!

MADELINE ADAMS- SOFTBALL “The work ethic I developed on the softball team at Lake Land was helpful in transitioning to a division one school,” said former softball short stop Madeline Adams, Hobart, Indiana.

Adams earned an associate degree at Lake Land and transferred to the University of Illinois where she majors in recreation sports and tourism and continues her role as short stop on the softball team.

Adams’ relationship as a Laker softball player was like that of a family. She said that Coach Nic Nelson was like a father to her. “I am extremely thankful that I had coach Throneburg, Nelson, and Hendricks, and I wish all the current girls the best of luck.”

“Softball taught me that if there is something you really want, the person you can count on is you,” Adams said.

Adams has set her sights on another team, however, and plans to work as an event coordinator for the Chicago Black Hawks after graduating from the University of Illinois. She plans on doing this by starting at an internship with a professional team in Chicago.

TAYLOR RICH- CHEERLEADING Majoring in geography and environmental resources with a minor in environmental studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Taylor Rich, Neoga, said she has gained a lot from being both a Laker and Saluki cheerleader.

“Cheering at both schools opened my eyes to the fact that as a student athlete you are held to a higher standard and that someone is always watching, especially young eyes in the stands,” Rich said.

“The friends you will make and the life lessons you will learn over the next two-four years will stick with you for the rest of your life.”

Rich said Lake Land prepared her for transferring by offering free application days and by opportunities to help her find her passion in geographic information science, GIS, as faculty Mike Rudibaugh, geography/earth science instructor did.

“I took Mike’s advanced GIS class sophomore year and knew GIS was something I was interested in pursuing further,” Rich said. Her required courses and transferable credits transferred seamlessly to SIU, and she is advancing in the GIS field with a goal to apply more environmental GIS practices in her career.

KOTY CROWDER - WOMEN’S BASKETBALL While she misses playing basketball at Lake Land College, alumna Koty Crowder’s life as an Eastern Illinois University Panther is filled with many new opportunities. She continues to work at Cornerstone Christian Academy while pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Eastern Illinois University.

“I’m really enjoying Eastern!” Crowder said.

“All of my classes are challenging but in the best way. With every class, I feel more and more prepared to be in a classroom teaching!

My classes at Lake Land prepared me for EIU and I’m very thankful for all of the hands on experience Lake Land offered. I’ve also been able to become more involved on campus by becoming a tour guide, which is one of my favorite parts of being at EIU!” “Although I’m missing basketball, I’ve had the opportunity to help coach the Charleston Middle School 7th grade team. The opportunities are endless here and I’m so glad I chose EIU!”

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

11

FROM LAKE LAND TO MED SCHOOL

TWO LAKER ALUMNI FIND INSPIRATION FOR SUCCESS

12 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

AS A NEW

resident physician, Tyler Holsapple likes to be there for his patients.

“The best part of my career so far is building relationships with my patients and trying to help them out whatever way I can,” Holsapple, resident physician in family medicine at Overlook Medical Center in Southern New Jersey, said.

Originally from Jewett, Holsapple, Laker Nation Class of 2008, is learning to work with children, adults, obstetrics and gynecology patients and some surgical patients in his new job. “I get exposure to every part of the medical field,” Holsapple said.

In his demanding job as a resident physician, Holsapple attributes Lake Land College for helping him get ahead of the competition and properly prepare for medical school.

Holsapple’s story started when he transferred to Lake Land after one semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “Lake Land was a lower risk and more inviting environment.”

At the start he was still unsure of what he wanted to do, but Lake Land College Biological Science Instructor Jeff White noticed Holsapple’s potential and pushed him to succeed. “I remember getting a not so great score on one of my first exams and he saw that I could do better and he pushed me to do better and I still remember that as one of my more inspiring moments,” Holsapple said.

“Dr. Capitosti’s chemistry class definitely prepped a lot of us for chemistry at a university level. Jeff White and Dr. Capitosti were both very supportive and helped me kind of hash things out and get through this process and figure out that I did want to go back to school.” Holsapple went on to make great strides at Lake Land and eventually became student trustee from 2007-2008.

Holsapple is just one of many community college graduates to succeed in the medical field.

Many of his colleagues in medical school and now at his place of business transferred from community colleges. Two of Holsapple’s fellow Lake Land College alumni are actively working in the field. Todd Bierman, Laker Nation Class of 2008, Wheeler, is a surgeon in Alabama; and Ashton Ballinger, Laker Nation Class of 2008, is a resident obstetrician-gynecologist in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

As a resident obstetrician-gynecologist, Ballinger, is also very satisfied with her career path. She said despite having to work 80-100 hours a week, she loves going into surgery. “Delivering babies never gets old,” she said. And her career “provides such an opportunity to really empower women, young and old.”

Ballinger said if given the opportunity to do things all over again, she would still choose Lake Land. A Stewardson native, she said she especially values opportunities at Lake Land that were not as available at four-year universities.

“In some ways my education at Lake Land College was better than what I experienced in my college years beyond,” Ballinger said. “I met so many people from various walks of life and made lifetime friendships. Furthermore, I think it is refreshing that your instructors actually know who you are and recognize students’ accomplishments.”

Like Holsapple, the faculty at Lake Land also stood out to Ballinger, who said that Lake Land College Chemistry Instructor Greg Capitosti still stands out in her mind as one of her best college instructors over the years. Lake Land’s program was proficient in preparing her for a future in clinical laboratory science and medicine. “As a result I didn’t struggle once I was a student in a university setting,” Ballinger said.

“LAKE LAND COLLEGE IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET A SOLID START AND GET AHEAD BEFORE YOU GO TO A UNIVERSITY AND GO INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL.”

Capitosti agreed his classes are hard and students have to work hard to achieve. “Ashton and Tyler were two of the hardest working students in my career and both had great personalities. They were easy to get along with and fun to be around. I’m sure their patients would say the same.”

Capitosti also said hearing about his students’ success gives him a sense of pride and shows that Lake Land is doing all the right things. “I truly believe that the education received here, especially in the math and science division is second to none. The faculty are not only experts in their fields, but they are truly here to foster student success. Students earning a degree from Lake Land College are more than prepared when they continue their education at four year institutions.”

“I would like to tell anybody who is thinking about starting a medical education at Lake Land College that it is a great place to get a solid start and get ahead before you go to a university and go into medical school,” Holsapple added.

ONLINE BONUS To watch a video sharing more of Tyler’s story visit LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU.

Ballinger & Holsapple at his graduation from the University of Illinois - Chicago in May 2018.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

13

MOLDING A GREAT FUTURE

WITH PLASTICS

IN DEVELOPING

the new plastics program, Lake Land College was fortunate to work with James McKirahan, an assistant professor at Indiana State University in Terre Haute who teaches manufacturing engineering technology and Toni Arndt, an injection molding master technician with North American Lighting, Inc. Arndt will be teaching courses in the spring.

Both McKirahan and Arndt were part of the team that wrote the new curriculum and assisted in the acquisition of equipment for the training facility in Paris.

Their expertise in the process, profession and job outlook follow.

Q. Why has it been important to you to help Lake Land set up this program?

JAMES: It has been important for several reasons. Having once worked in the chemical industry making polymer resin and in the plastics industry making plastic products, I am very familiar with the struggles of plastics processors concerning their wants and needs from their workforce. Moreover, I have taught plastics for

14 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

many years, both at the community college level where I taught process specific plasticsmanufacturing classes, and at the four-year university level where I've done research toward plastics products development.

As there are no plastics programs in a nearly 180-mile radius of the Lake Land program, providing a plastics manufacturing program fills a vacuum that needed to be filled. Further, manufacturing jobs make for a vibrant economy.

As I still live in East-central Illinois, I think it is important to have the plastics manufacturing program to help out the local economy so people will have jobs. It is important to accommodate the needs of the local

manufacturers to ensure they will stay here.

As Indiana has the most plastics industry employees per capita in the country, it's not difficult to understand how important it is to have a capable plastics manufacturing workforce right here not only for East-central Illinois but for the entire Wabash Valley area.

TONI: The education and training this program provides can be taken and applied all over the world. As someone who interviews candidates for technical plastics manufacturing positions at NAL, the knowledge and training are two of the more important aspects I look at in a candidate.

This program covers both. There is a high demand for people with a solid foundation in plastics and I believe this program provides that and more.

Q: What is the job outlook for people pursuing plastics manufacturing jobs?

JAMES: A report from the Plastics industry called the outlook for plastics manufacturing "rosy." Another report stated small plastics manufacturers remain optimistic about the near future outlook of the domestic plastics industry. According to the 2017 State of the Plastics Industry Report from the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP), the plastics industry continues to experience growth.

Considering this plastics industry survey, 96 percent of plastics processors believe the number of production employees they need will either increase or remain steady. Ninetytwo percent of processors indicated that recruiting and training qualified workers were major barriers facing their organizations.

TONI: The job outlook for people pursuing plastics manufacturing jobs has endless possibilities. If you think about it, plastic is everywhere. The plastics industry has so many different sides, from processing and set up to engineering and tooling to so many other areas, it is hard to list.

Q: What qualities make Lake Land’s plastics manufacturing program excel in preparing students for their career?

JAMES: A goal in writing the curriculum was to ensure Lake Land plastics manufacturing graduates are not only knowledgeable about plastics, plastics processing, quality assurance and recycling but that they have handson competence involving processing and maintenance including hydraulics, mechanics and electricity. When writing the plastics manufacturing curriculum I worked closely with local plastics manufacturers including North American Lighting (NAL), Libman Company, Flex-N-Gate, Plasti-Pak, Monahan Filaments and Graphic Packaging International to ensure that we would meet their needs, and I think that we did.

Graduates from the Lake Land plastics manufacturing program will not only be attractive to plastics manufacturers but they'll be attractive to other types of manufacturers as well. As intended, already with the initial classes, Lake Land is using technical people from local plastics processors to teach plastics program classes. Having technical people from these companies teach the classes is very unique in itself, let alone for any program.

TONI: One of the main qualities that makes this program stand out is the ability to do hands-on labs with each student. Every student learns not only how to operate the machinery, but also understand how the machinery functions and to how to make quality parts. The program provides a solid foundation and history for someone who doesn’t know about plastics manufacturing.

This program gives the students all of the information and hands on training to be successful in a plastics manufacturing environment.

NEW PLASTICS MANUFACTURING PROGRAM OFFERED IN PARIS Lake Land College is offering a new plastics manufacturing program this spring to meet a high demand for employees in this region.

The courses will be held exclusively in Paris at the VoTech Center, the old high school.

Students will be able to work with molding processes and equipment coupled with basic maintenance and automation skills used in plastics manufacturing.

Six North American Lighting employees completed the pilot class last spring and have since been promoted. The program is intended to promote current employees in the plastics field and provide new students with a job soon after completing the program.

National and worldwide corporations NAL, Libman, Flex-N-Gate in Danville, and Plastipak in Champaign, all expressed interest in the program and have offered to provide employees for an advisory committee to help the program grow. “NAL and Libman have been especially helpful in developing our program with the monetary and capital gifts they have given us,” Vice President for Workforce Solutions/Community Education Jim Hull said.

To get started in the new plastics program contact Michael Beavers, division chair technology/electronics engineering technology instructor, at 217-234-5341 or mbeavers@lakelandcollege.edu.

EVENING CLASS SCHEDULE CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 7

INTRO TO PLASTICS Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5 – 7 p.m.

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY Thursdays from 7:05 – 8:25 p.m.

MANUFACTURING MAINTENANCE II Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:15 – 10:25 p.m.

TECHNICAL MATH I Mondays from 5 – 7 p.m.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

15

PAYING FOR

COLLEGE

FINANCIAL AID If you are enrolling in classes for the Spring 2019

semester or current year, complete the 2018-2019 FAFSA. If you are enrolling in classes for the Fall 2019 semester, complete the 2019-2020 FAFSA. Lake Land College’s school code is 007644.

NELNET PAYMENT PLAN The college offers the Nelnet payment plan that

allows you to spread your tuition and fees payments out throughout the semester.

For more information about paying for college, visit lakelandcollege.edu and look for the “PAYING FOR COLLEGE” menu.

ONE YEAR OF TUITION & FEES PLUS HOUSING COMPARED TO LIVING AT HOME *2017-2018 tuition rates per collegeillinois.org

FINANCIAL AID PROCESS All students requesting financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov as early as possible to determine financial aid eligibility. Lake Land College’s school code is 007644.

The following financial aid options do not require payback or reimbursement: 1. Federal or state financial aid grants such as the Pell Grant 2. Lake Land College Foundation Scholarships 3. Third-party scholarships Those who do not qualify for state, federal or local assistance can explore: 1. Paying the bill in-full by the due date.

2. Signing up for the Nelnet tuition payment plan. Lake Land offers the Nelnet payment plan that allows students to spread their tuition payments out over the semester as opposed to paying their bill in full at one time.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES & IMPORTANT DATES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS The Foundation awards more than $400,000 in scholarships each year. You only have to fill out one application to be considered for a scholarship.

The application period opens November 1 and closes February 1 for the upcoming school year.

Apply at lakelandcollege.edu/scholarships.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS Presidential Scholarships Athletic Scholarships Livestock Judging Scholarships

$400,000 Awarded in

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS These scholarships cover the cost of tuition for up to two years.

Talk with your high school guidance counselor for more information.

THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO IN-DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO: rank in the top 15 percent of the senior class or have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher or SAT of 1230

16 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

JOIN US FOR

LAKER VISIT DAY! w Meet with faculty members & other campus services w Tour campus with a Student Ambassador w Visit a class in session w Separate session for parents & guardians ALL LAKER VISIT DAYS ARE HELD 9 A.M. TO NOON w DECEMBER 7, 2018 w FEBRUARY 8, 2019 w MARCH 22, 2019

Register at lakelandcollege.edu/visit or call 217-234-5377

Request Info

Plan a Visit

Enroll Now LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253 17

LAKER FOOD PANTRY

BRINGS MORE THAN EDUCATION TO THE TABLE 18 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

THE NEW LAKER FOOD PANTRY

is making a difference on campus since opening this fall.

“We are very pleased that students are taking advantage of this new resource,” Vice President for Student Services Tina Stovall said. “We care about our students’ success in the classroom and beyond and want to help ensure that our students are healthy and have access to nutritional food. Being able to relieve this worry for them allows them to focus on their studies and other responsibilities.”

By partnering with the Lake Land College Foundation and Eastern Illinois Foodbank, the college is able to sustain a fully stocked food pantry that provides a variety of choices for students. Items include non-perishables such as boxed cereal, canned goods such as fruit, vegetables, tuna and chicken, soup, pasta, rice, granola bars and other snacks.

The pantry is located in the Luther Student Center, which is in the midst of renovations. Once completed, the food pantry will have a dedicated home.

Lake Land College students are assisting in the initiative with Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society taking on a lead role. Each week members help unload deliveries and stock the shelves.

Members are also planning a food drive during the holiday season.

canned food drive to the on campus site. Speech Communication/Broadcasting Instructor Greg Powers and Lake Land College’s radio station WLKL will be promoting the food pantry.

“WLKL is truly an extension of Lake Land College and our goal is to promote all of the wonderful offerings of the college. This is another important endeavor,” Powers said.

“It is great to see students helping their fellow students on campus and becoming active participants in the food pantry,” Stovall added.

To receive food from the pantry, all students have to do is fill out a form and shopping list found on the Laker Food Pantry webpage. The student can then submit the form to Sharon Uphoff, college nurse and manager of the Laker Food Pantry.

Students can request food for themselves and their families. They do not have to reveal any financial information, just the number of people living in their household. Faculty and staff can also request food on behalf of a student in need. The college’s goal is to serve students in the same day that a request is submitted.

The Laker Food Pantry website can be found at lakelandcollege.edu/laker-food-pantry or by going to “Offices and Services” and looking for Laker Food Pantry.

SHOPPING LIST CANNED GOODS Veggies Beans Fruit Soup Canned pasta (ravioli, etc.)

Chicken Tuna Peanut butter Jelly DRY GOODS Breakfast cereal Pasta Mac & Cheese Rice OTHER Snacks (cereal bars, snack packs)

HOW CAN OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTE? YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY One hundred percent of our budget to purchase food comes from financial gifts made to the Lake Land College Foundation for this purpose. You may make a gift online at lakelandcollege. edu/dv/fd/online_giving. Just note the Laker Food Pantry in the description of your gift. You may also mail your gift to the Lake Land College Foundation at 5001 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL 61938

“They are so proud to have this resource on campus and be the club that is at the forefront of helping it get off the ground,” Phi Theta Kappa Advisor and Academic Counselor Krista Burrell said.

YOU CAN SPONSOR A FOOD DRIVE Specific items are popular for students.

If you are interested in donating items not on the list, please contact Sharon Uphoff, college nurse, at 217-234-5276 or suphoff@lakelandcollege.edu for additional information.

Members of the Broadcasting Club are also excited about assisting with the food pantry.

The club is donating proceeds from its annual

CURRENTLY NEEDED ITEMS A list of needed items is regularly updated on the Laker Pantry website.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

19

EARN YOUR PERMIT WITH THE NEW

ONLINE CDL PROGRAM 20 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

LAKE LAND COLLEGE

is making the process of preparing for a Class A or Class B driver’s permit test more convenient. By offering the commercial driver’s license permit preparation course in a new online format, drivers can acquaint themselves with all the information required to pass the test to receive a permit for a Class A or Class B vehicle, bringing them one step closer to receiving their CDL. “This really benefits people who are outside the district or are busy in one career and looking to make the jump into commercial truck driving,” Director to Center for Business & Industry Bonnie Moore said.

“The demand for CDL drivers is huge,” Transportation Training Coordinator Justin Onigkeit said. “Nationally, the industry is expected to experience a shortage of 130,000 drivers in coming years.”

Onigkeit added that countless graduates from Lake Land College’s training program have secured careers at Coca-Cola, Maverick, Boyd Brothers, Schneider National, Marvin Keller and other local and regional employers.

According to bls.gov, the average salary of truck drivers in the United States is $42,480 per year as of 2017 or $20.43 per hour.

“Getting your license will be even more convenient because all you need is the ability to drive a truck and access to a computer,” Onigkeit said. “One of the first challenges students face in the training program is passing the test to get their permit. The online format of this course allows the students to study at a pace they determine to be suitable for themselves.”

For those who have not driven a Class A truck before, there are places such as The Equity that give people access to trucks and train them in driving once they have their permit.

“Many of our students know how to drive a truck because they learned to do it on their family farm, but they just need help getting the commercial certifications,” Moore said.

“Some of these people are working at their current jobs and a flexible, online permit study makes perfect sense for them.”

With this section of the program online, the CDL staff are working to create online content for the classroom portion.

“By the end of 2019 we are planning to have the whole classroom portion set up online as well. By 2020, students will have the option to complete the permit course study online and then finish driver training with our instructors or they can enroll in our regularly scheduled course and work through the entire program with our instructors,” Onigkeit said.

For $50, students can earn their required standard tractor trailer semi-truck endorsements in general knowledge, airbrakes and combination vehicle. Students can also earn endorsements in an area such as tanker and hazmat for an additional $10 per module. The course follows all Department of Transportation regulations.

This may be the most convenient time for individuals to get their commercial truck driving license because the Department of Transportation is implementing a new entrylevel driving training law on February 7, 2020.

“At that point, a CDL applicant will not be able to just get a permit and pass the test but will need to earn a certificate from a certified training provider. This ensures the applicant will be trained on how to safely drive the truck,” Onigkeit said.

For any questions on the program contact Onigkeit at 217-238-8239 or jonigkeit@lakelandcollege.edu.

FAST TRACK TO CAREER

John Price started the LSC Fast Track program in June and finished in July, when he began his employment with LSC. Since then he has received several promotions and currently works as a stitcher operator.

“By completing the training program I have been able to take advantage of several opportunities to advance at LSC,” Price said.

“I am a real salt of the earth kind of guy and this opportunity gave me a new start and new direction.”

His responsibilities include quality control of stitching, folding, bundling, checking mailing addresses and that prints are produced in the right order. Price also oversees a crew and is in charge of keeping the assembly line moving.

“What I really loved about the class was how we were able to get our hands on a variety of equipment and start using it properly.

Our instructors were encouraging too.

They would take the difficult to understand information and translate it. They would jokingly say, ‘be the person your dog thinks you are’,” Price said. “Surprisingly, that gave me some confidence and perspective when I faced a difficult situation at work.”

To learn more about the LSC Fast Track program attend an optional information session on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Workforce Development Center or visit LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU/LSC.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

21

LAKE LAND COLLEGE MAJORS WORKFORCE READY AGRICULTURE

Agriculture Business Agriculture Business & Supply Agriculture Power Technology Agriculture Production & Management Crop Production Horticulture John Deere Tech* Livestock Production

ALLIED HEALTH

Associate Degree in Nursing* Basic Nurse Assistant Dental Hygiene* Emergency Medical Services Massage Therapy* Medical Assistant* Paramedical Services Physical Therapist Assistant* Practical Nursing* Public Safety Telecommunicator

BUSINESS

Accounting Computer Applications Specialist Cosmetology* Cosmetology Teacher Desktop Publishing Electronic Marketing Entrepreneurship Esthetics Graphic Design Information Technology IT-Computer Applications IT-Computer Game Development IT-Digital Media Specialist IT-LaunchCode IT-Network Administration IT-Programming IT-Web Technology Management Marketing Medical Coding & Health Information Medical Coding Specialist Medical Transcriptionist Office Assistant Executive w Legal w Medical Office Receptionist Office Manager Office Support Specialist General w Medical w MOS Professional Sales

CENTER FOR BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

Commercial Truck Driver Training * Special Admission Program

TRANSFER READY

HUMANITIES & COMMUNICATIONS

AGRICULTURE

Radio/TV Broadcasting Broadcast Announcing Radio Broadcasting TV Field/Studio Production

Agriculture Pre-Veterinary Medicine

BUSINESS

MATH & SCIENCE Geospatial Technology

Business Accounting w Finance w Management w Marketing Business Education

SOCIAL SCIENCE & EDUCATION

HUMANITIES & COMMUNICATIONS

Child & Family Services Criminal Justice Leadership Early Childhood Care & Education Human Services Business w Criminal Justice w Dietetics w Education Health w Psychology w Sociology Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Operations Nanny Child Care Provider Paraprofessional Educator Paraprofessional Education

TECHNOLOGY

Applied Engineering Technology Automotive Mechanic Automotive Technology Basic Manufacturing Basic Welding Building Construction Technology Civil Engineering Technology Civil Engineering Technology Co-op CNC Operator CNC Programmer Computer-Aided Design Technology Computer-Aided Drafting Computer Systems Computer Technician Electronic Control Technician Electronic System Specialist Electronics Engineering Technology Heating, Venting, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology Industrial Maintenance Manufacturing Skills Mechanical Electrical Technology Plastics Manufacturing Plastics Manufacturing Technician Production Technician Programmable Logic Controllers Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Management Renewable Energy Technician Residential Wiring Robotic and Automated Manufacturing Sustainable Energy Welding Welding Technology

Art English Liberal Arts Communication Studies

MATH & SCIENCE

Biological Science (Non-Teaching) Chemistry Clinical Laboratory Science Conservation—Pre-Forestry Conservation—Pre-Wildlife Earth Science Environmental Science Mathematics Physics Pre-Chiropractic Pre-Dentistry Pre-Engineering Pre-Medicine Pre-Nursing Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Physical Therapy

ASSOCIATE IN ENGINEERING SCIENCE DEGREE Engineering

SOCIAL SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Criminal Justice Early Childhood Education Economics Elementary Education Health Education History Mathematics Education Physical Education Political Science Psychology Recreation Secondary Education Biology w Chemistry w Physics Sociology/Social Work Special Education

TECHNOLOGY

Building Construction Technology CET/Advanced Technical Studies Electronics Engineering Technology

22 LAKE LAND COLLEGE w LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU

IT-LAUNCHCODE OFFERED AT THE KLUTHE CENTER IN EFFINGHAM The new Lake Land College IT-LaunchCode certificate program offers students an opportunity to train for a career in the fast growing field of web application development in just 20 weeks.

The program will begin January 28 and run through June 27. Courses will meet in the evenings at the Lake Land Kluthe Center for Higher Education and Technology in Effingham.

THE NEED FOR WEB DEVELOPERS IS GROWING

Students will gain skills in Python, JavaScript, SQL and front-end web development. Those who complete the program will earn a Lake Land College certificate as well as the opportunity to test for eight industry-leading Microsoft certifications. The course curriculum is developed to give students the skills that are in high-demand in the tech industry.

Programs page at lakelandcollege.edu/highdemand-programs/it-launchcode or call 217234-5232.

The program is offered through a collaborative agreement between the college and LaunchCode, an innovative non-profit providing job seekers opportunities to enter the technology field.

Enrollment in the program is limited. An aptitude test is required.

job growth through 2026 (bls.gov)

A practice test, FAQ and list of steps to get started can be found on the High Demand

GET STARTED ONLINE @ LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU/SCHEDULES LAKE LAND COLLEGE IS NEAR YOU! Take a class in one of our regional extension centers!

EASTERN REGION CENTER 224 South Sixth St. Marshall, Illinois 62441 217-826-8490

KLUTHE CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY 1204 Network Centre Blvd.

Effingham, Illinois 62401 217-540-3555

WESTERN REGION CENTER

600 East First St. Pana, Illinois 62557 217-562-5000

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER

305 Richmond Ave. East Mattoon, Illinois 61938 217-235-2222

LAKE LAND COLLEGE IS COMMITTED to maintaining a working and learning environment that promotes equal opportunity and affirmative action and that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is the policy of Lake Land College not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital or civil union status, veteran status, sexual orientation or any basis of discrimination precluded by applicable federal and state statutes. This policy applies to admission and access to and participation, treatment and employment in the College’s programs, activities, and services. The following campus office is assigned the responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy as well as federal and state statutes and regulations concerning affirmative action and equal access: Office of the Director of Human Resources 217-234-5210. Human Resources Office Complaint forms and procedures for filing can be obtained through Counseling Services or Human Resources. In addition, these offices will maintain current copies of appropriate laws, regulations, and policies.

SPRING CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 7!

REGISTER BY JANUARY 4.

LAKE LAND COLLEGE w 217-234-5253

23

NON-PROFIT ORG. ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 294 PREMIERE PRINT GROUP

5001 Lake Land Blvd.

Mattoon, IL 61938

Postal Customer

REGISTER

TODAY!

Spring semester begins January 7!

Visit lakelandcollege.edu to get started.