Giant Dreams� Giant Dreams�
HAYDEN BIRDSONG’S CALL TO THE MAJORS
COLLEGE EDUCATION AT A FRACTION OF THE COST
Paying for College
FINANCIAL AID FOR SPRING 2025
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FAFSA HELP
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LAKE LAND COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Gary Cadwell, Chair, Mode
Tom Wright, Vice Chair, Dieterich
Dave Storm, Secretary, Effingham
Kevin Curtis, Trustee, Mattoon
Larry D. Lilly, Trustee, Mattoon
Doris Reynolds, Trustee, Mattoon
Denise Walk, Trustee, Teutopolis
Abbie Kelly, Student Trustee, Windsor
LAKE LAND COLLEGE CABINET
Josh Bullock, President
Jean Anne Highland, Chief of Staff
Ikemefuna Nwosu, Vice President for Academic Services
John Woodruff, Vice President for Business Services
STAFF
Editor: Kelly Allee
Graphic Designer: Megan Nelson
Writer: Aaron Wendt
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POWERING
BACK in 2006, Lake Land College took an innovative path into the world of sustainability and created a plan to install geothermal wells. Eighteen years later, the College is a clear leader in sustainable practices in higher education.
“We need to be good stewards of the resources that we're in charge of and make sure that we're creating a better future for generations to follow,” President Josh Bullock said.
The journey began with the installation of geothermal wells in a geothermal loop, one of the first of its kind in the nation. Today, this system boasts more than 600 wells, efficiently heating and cooling every building on campus.
Sustainable energy generation through photovoltaic systems, and at one point wind power, has reduced the College’s reliance on external electricity by nearly 35%.
“We’ve been able to create an environment that is an investment in the future, but one that results in about half a million dollars in savings for our community and taxpayers every year,” said Bullock.
“We’ve been able to create an environment that is an investment in the future, but one that results in about half a million dollars in savings for our community and taxpayers every year.”
-Bullock
Since 2013, the College has been harnessing solar energy with numerous arrays generating significant power.
“Although our campus footprint has grown since 2008, our natural gas consumption has been reduced by an impressive 63%,” Bullock added.
Students and staff play a pivotal role in sustainability efforts at Lake Land. Receptacles around campus encourage recycling of various materials and the College takes great pride in these efforts.
Future plans include adding more photovoltaic panels to building roofs, extending efforts to the Effingham Technology Center and replacing fluorescent lighting with LEDs campuswide. Lake Land College continues to lead in alternative energy, proving that dedicated efforts can lead to significant, lasting impacts.
GEOTHERMAL LOOP
Since 2007, 600 wells have been installed in the geothermal loop on campus.
SOLAR ARRAY HISTORY
Five solar panels (20 kw) were installed around Webb Hall.
2014
Arrays were installed on the roofs of the West Building (100 kw), Vo-Tech (80 kw) and Webb Hall (112 kw).
2019
Arrays were installed on the roofs of Neal Hall (142 kw), Northeast Building (122 kw) and the Luther Student Center (70 kw).
Scan this QR code to watch a video about the College's sustainability energy efforts.
JADYN Ault’s senior year at Effingham High School was one she’ll never forget. Many students might feel that way about their senior year, as they conclude their high school journeys with college preparation, fond farewells and final memories. But for Jadyn, her last year of high school was a time of overcoming unthinkable adversity.
In September 2023, just a month after her senior year began, Jadyn was involved in a severe car accident in Effingham. From her backseat spot, Jadyn received the worst of the collision, suffering injuries to her ribs, hips and pelvis as well as a concussion. She spent five days in the hospital, endured three months in a body brace and attended months of physical Jadyn’s recovery forced her to miss substantial portions of her senior year of high school. Falling behind was not an option for Jadyn, however, and she worked
to ensure she would still graduate on time. She learned from home for months before finally returning to the classroom and working through a lingering concussion to complete her coursework. Her efforts paid off, and in May 2024, Jadyn officially overcame the odds to graduate on time and walked across the stage along with the rest of her senior class.
“Graduating was definitely a relief,” Jadyn said. “It was very close because of all the absent days, but I was just able to do it.”
Graduating from high school wasn’t the end of Jadyn’s educational plans, however, and she quickly enrolled at Lake Land College. Growing up, she had planned to travel to a larger university for her post-secondary studies, but as time passed, she found herself drawn to the local community of Lake Land as the stepping stone for her future.
As a student at Lake Land, Jadyn studies physics, and she plans to eventually transfer and pursue a career in astrophysics. Fascinated by the universe and related phenomena ever since she was a little girl, Jadyn knew there was no other career trajectory to consider.
“I know physics is a hard subject, but it’s all I’ve ever been interested in studying and it’s the only career I want,” Jadyn said. “So, I might as well try it out.”
Jadyn’s path to completing high school and beginning college was far from typical. The accident disrupted her life but never once derailed it, as she fought through countless obstacles and setbacks to accomplish her goals. Now at Lake Land, Jadyn has found a supportive educational community that she encourages all students to experience.
“Lake Land has been a great fit for me so far,” Jadyn said. “The teachers are all very nice, and I feel like I can ask them anything.”
“Lake
Land has been a great fit for me so far. The teachers are all very nice, and I feel like I can ask them anything.”
-Ault
RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY: STUDENT OVERCOMES THE ODDS TO EARN A DEGREE IN ASTROPHYSICS
GIANT DREAMS
HAYDEN BIRDSONG’S CALL TO THE MAJORS
THE San Francisco Giants were just a day away from hosting the Chicago Cubs when Hayden Birdsong got the call. Since being selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the young pitcher had done nothing but impress in almost two years of minor league play. Just recently, he had been promoted to the Sacramento River Cats, the Giant’s Triple-A affiliate representing the highest level of minor league ball. He would only last there two weeks.
“Can you pitch tomorrow?” Hayden’s Triple-A manager asked him over the phone.
“I can throw if you need me to,” Hayden answered.
Godinez accepted the baseball head coach position at Lake Land, and he recruited Hayden to join him at the College for his inaugural season.
“Hayden got me my first win as a head coach,” Julio said. “I’ve known the kid for a long time, and it’s just been incredible to see how he’s grown and matured over the years.”
“Hopefully people see that it doesn’t matter where you’re from. It doesn’t matter how small the school or how small the town. If you can play, you can play.”
-Birdsong
“I don’t need you to,” his manager responded. “The Giants do. You’re starting tomorrow against the Cubs.”
It’s rare to find a 22-year-old prospect ready for the pressure of a Major League ballgame, and rarer still to find one from Mattoon, Illinois. Just five years before his Major League promotion, Hayden was coming off a stellar senior season at Mattoon High School and searching for opportunities to play in college. The same year, Julio
Hayden played one season at Lake Land before transferring to Eastern Illinois University. His play as relief pitcher caught the attention of San Francisco Giants scouts, who selected Hayden in the 2022 draft. After rapidly ascending through the minor league system, Hayden received the life-changing news on June 25, 2024 that he’d been called up to pitch for the Giants.
Hayden made his MLB debut the next day at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Standing on the mound before a crowd of thousands, 60-and-a-half feet away from the most skilled batters he’d ever faced, Hayden secured five strikeouts and helped the Giants to a 4-3 victory.
“You have to think of it as just another ballpark and just another team. You can’t focus on the scale of it all,”
“Hopefully people see that it doesn’t matter where you’re from,” Hayden said. “It doesn’t matter how small the school or how small the town. If you can play, you can play.”
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OUR FLOCK IS GROWING!
Starting in Fall 2025, Lake Land College will be offering Men's and Women's Cross-Country and Half-Marathon teams for the first time in 20 years! Athletes will receive tuition and fees scholarships for their participation in Cross-Country.
Rookie Year
Learn more at LakeLandAthletics.com.
TURNING SETBACKS INTO SUCCESS:
JOURNEY FROM GED TO TECH CAREER
Laker Nation Class of 2022
BOYD Turnbow arrived to work at the LSC Communication factory in Mattoon in January of 2020, and it seemed like any other day. He had spent most of his life working in factories and assumed that the next several years of his life would be largely the same. As it turned out, that assumption wouldn’t even last the next few minutes. Boyd entered the building, and instead of being met with his regular job duties, he was met with the shocking news that the factory would close within six months. With a suddenly unclear future and two young children to provide for, Boyd decided it was time to complete a long-held goal: earning a GED.
Boyd began working toward his goal by enrolling in Lake Land’s GED program. Taking the first step was the hardest, as Boyd doubted his ability to adjust to classrooms, teachers and fellow students after being out of school for so long. However, he quickly thrived in Lake Land’s program and completed the GED in a matter of months.
“Graduating from Lake Land was like the start of a whole new life. I had written myself off as someone who’d be stuck in a factory, and now I was walking straight into a job I knew I’d love.”
-Turnbow
The last time Boyd had received any formal education was middle school. He opted to be homeschooled by his parents after completing the sixth grade, but a housefire forced his family to move and brought an abrupt end to Boyd’s education. From here he began the seemingly endless cycle of factory work, always hoping to one day return to school to earn his GED. With the announcement of LSC Communications closing, he decided that day had arrived.
After achieving his GED goal, Boyd set his sights on another: earning an associate degree. Having been a computer enthusiast since he was a kid, he enrolled in Lake Land’s IT Network Administration program and continued to excel academically. He also excelled as an intern with Eastern Illinois Area Special Education (EIASE), so much so that he was offered a full-time position immediately upon graduating in 2022.
opportunity for success. Even as he wrestled with doubt, he found his family believed in him more than he believed in himself, and he’s proud to serve as an example of perseverance to his own children.
“My journey back to school was as much for them as it was for me,” Boyd said. “I hope they see that no matter the obstacles life throws at you, it’s possible to overcome them and achieve your goals through hard work and determination.”
EARN A GED FOR FREE AT LAKE LAND COLLEGE
“Graduating from Lake Land was like the start of a whole new life,” Boyd said. “I had written myself off as someone who’d be stuck in a factory, and now I was walking straight into a job I knew I’d love.”
In just two years, Boyd had completely transformed his life, turning an unexpected road block into an
You can earn your GED close to home with Lake Land College Adult Education! Classes are held in Charleston, Effingham, Marshall, Mattoon, Pana, Paris, Shelbyville and Sullivan. To learn more, visit us online at LakeLandCollege.edu/adulteducation, call 217-238-8292 or email AdultEducation@ LakeLandCollege.edu.
CAREERS in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) have expanded rapidly in recent years, and the industry is expected to outpace nearly all other fields in job growth over the next decade. For Mathematics Instructors Sarah Harley and Bambi Jones, this outlook presented the perfect opportunity to revamp Lake Land’s STEM offerings with a brand-new program: the Recruitment and Advancement of the Next Generation of Engineers (RANGE).
“My favorite part has to be us having all the same classes,” Levi said. “When you get to jump in with your friends every day, things just click right away as you get to work and have fun together.”
“Often, it’s harder for people who don’t already have someone in the family who is an engineer...This program really helps me make connections I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
With grant support from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the RANGE program currently provides 15 freshmen STEM students with wraparound services, including scholarships and internship opportunities. Perhaps the most popular of the included services is a cohort class structure, which ensures the 15 students are unified with identical schedules. The result, according to freshman Levi Bryant, is a positive and supportive learning environment that helps all students reach their full potential.
-Christman
As students grow together in the cohort structure, they also receive guidance in support of personal goals. All RANGE students receive transfer advisement to create individualized plans for success after graduating from Lake Land. Currently, students are guaranteed admission into the competitive University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University Carbondale engineering schools upon successful completion of the RANGE program, and additional university partnerships are coming soon. Cooper Kessel, a first-year student from Effingham, plans to take advantage of this resource to earn an electrical engineering degree from the University of Illinois.
“It’s great to grow together as a class,” Cooper said. “But they also have your back to help you grow individually.”
All RANGE students also attend weekly group meetings, where they discuss transfer information, learn about local internships and even listen to presentations from Lake Land alumni and industry professionals. For student Leah Christman, these connections provide valuable insight into the world of engineering.
“Often, it’s harder for people who don’t already have someone in the family who is an engineer,” Leah explained.
“So this program really helps me make connections I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Next year, the RANGE program will expand its support to 30 total students with the addition of 15 new freshmen. As the STEM field continues to expand, Sarah Harley and Bambi Jones hope that the RANGE graduates of today will become the engineers of the future.
“STEM is the fastest-growing career field in our area,” Sarah said. “We want to support both our students and our communities by preparing the next generation to succeed in these fields.”
BUILDING SUCCESS TOGETHER:
NEW PROGRAM ELEVATES THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS IN STEM
LAKE LAND COLLEGE AREAS OF STUDY
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture Transfer
Agriculture Business
Agriculture Production & Management
Crop Production
Diesel & Ag Power
Technology
Horticulture
John Deere Tech
Livestock Production
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
ARCHITECTURAL & CONSTRUCTION
Building Construction Technology
CET/Advanced Technical Studies
Civil Engineering Technology
Computer Aided Drafting
Computer Aided Design
Technology
Geospatial Technology
HVAC+R
Residential Wiring
Surveying with GIS
BUSINESS
Business Management
Accounting
Business
Business Development
Electronic Marketing
Entrepreneurship Management
Marketing
Professional Sales
Retail Management
Business Office Professionals
Court Reporting and
Captioning
Medical Coding
& Health Information
Medical Coding Specialist
Medical Transcriptionist
Office Assistant
Office Manager
Office Receptionist
Office Support Specialist
EDUCATION
Business Education
Early Childhood Care & Education
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Health Education
Mathematics Education
Nanny Child Care Provider
Paraprofessional Education
Physical Education
Secondary Education-Biology
Secondary EducationChemistry
Secondary EducationPhysics
Social Science Education
Special Education
HEALTH & PUBLIC SERVICES
Health Services
Associate Degree Nurse
Basic Nurse Assistant
Dental Hygiene
Emergency Medical Services
Massage Therapy
Medical Assistant
Paramedical Services
Physical Therapist
Assistant
Practical Nursing
Public Services
Cosmetology
Cosmetology Teacher
Crime Scene Technician
Criminal Justice Leadership
Esthetics
Fire Science Management
Human Services
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Operations
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Art
Broadcast Announcing
Broadcast Communications
Communication Studies
Criminal Justice
Economics
English
History
Liberal Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Radio Broadcasting
Sociology/Social Work
TV Field-Studio Production
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Computer Systems
Computer Technician
Desktop Publishing
IT – Computer
Applications
IT – Computer
Applications Specialist
IT – Computer Game
Development
IT – Digital Media
Specialist
IT – Graphic Design
IT – Network Administration
IT – Programming
IT – Web Design
MANUFACTURING
Applied Engineering
Technology Electronic
Control Technician Electronics
Electronics Systems Technology
Engineering Technology
Industrial Maintenance
Manufacturing Skills
Mechanical-Electrical Technology
Programmable Logic Controllers
Renewable Energy
Robotic and CIM Automation
Sustainable Energy
Welding
MATH & SCIENCE
Bioscience Non-Teaching
Chemistry
Clinical Laboratory Science
Conservation
Earth Science
Engineering Science
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Physics
Pre-Chiropractic
Pre-Dental
Pre-Engineering
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Nursing: BSN Transfer
Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Physical Therapy
TRANSPORTATION
Auto Mechanic
Automotive Technology
Commercial Truck Driver Training
NEED HELP DECIDING?
Contact Counseling Services at counsel@LakeLandCollege.edu or 217-234-5232 or look for the Explore Careers icon at LakeLandCollege.edu.
NEW RURAL KING SCHOLARSHIP CREATES A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS
AFTER choosing Lake Land as her college destination, first-year student Abby Warman began searching for local scholarships. In this process she came across a familiar opportunity: the Rural King scholarship program. Abby remembered learning about the scholarship from her mom, who works for the locally-headquartered retail chain, and decided to apply. Now, several months later, she’s thankful she did.
The Rural King program is one of the newest scholarship opportunities available to eligible Lake Land College students. Established in October 2023 through a partnership with Lake Land and first made available to students in Fall 2024, the scholarship supports Rural King associates and their dependents who are pursuing higher education.
“We are thrilled with the success of our partnership with Rural King in launching this scholarship program,” Christina Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement, said. “Together, we’re helping create opportunities for Rural King employees and their families to pursue higher education and achieve their goals.”
The Rural King scholarship program is one of many strategic partnerships between Lake Land College and area businesses. A key area of emphasis for Lake Land, these collaborations between industry and education support local communities with a strengthened workforce and create pathways for student
success. For a student like Abby Warman, the Rural King scholarship means unique support as she pursues her dream career in early childhood education.
“This entire scholarship is just a great opportunity,” Abby said. “The fact that Lake Land and Rural King were able to work together to support education is really special. It’s a great way to help people out and create more opportunities for students who may not qualify for other scholarships.”
Abby is one of 13 Lake Land students currently supported by the Rural King scholarship. All 13 possess a direct connection to Rural King and hope to capitalize on a unique opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Among these students is Andrew Lodes, a recent graduate of Mattoon High School and son of a Rural King employee. Andrew applied for the Rural King scholarship during his senior year of high school, and since then, he has quickly discovered benefits that far outweigh the tuition savings. As a scholarship recipient, he’s enjoyed making connections and expanding his network with both Rural King and Lake Land.
“It’s always good to have less tuition to pay, but the connections you make through this scholarship are what’s really priceless,” Andrew said. “That’s what tends to lead to new opportunities and open doors you didn’t even think were possible.”
