THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF LAKE LAND COLLEGE ALUMNI
SUMMER 2026
One Laker Nation Lakers Through the Decades
From every era, one commitment remains the same: an education that fits your life.
Alumni:
This past year has been filled with connection and growth for the Foundation & Alumni Office. We celebrated our 2026 graduates with Alumni gift bags, recognized our exceptional 2025 award recipients and continued to build relationships through our Community Partners Program to support Lake Land students. We also continued expanding our alumni communications, enhancing our e-newsletter with alumni spotlights that celebrate the accomplishments and impact of Lakers in their communities. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to bring alumni together in celebration of Lake Land’s 60th anniversary, including a special reunion at Pinky’s, an alumni-owned business on Lake Sara. These milestone celebrations allow Lakers to reconnect, reflect on the College’s history and celebrate the people who have shaped One Laker Nation over the past six decades. Events like these also help us strengthen alumni relationships as our graduates reconnect with familiar faces and build new friendships that span generations.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue growing the Community Partners Program, strengthening alumni engagement and creating new opportunities for connection with Lake Land College. Wherever your journey has taken you, you remain an important part of One Laker Nation. Whether you’re a graduate, former student, community partner or supporter, we look forward to your continued engagement with Lake Land College. We invite you to explore our social media channels, alumni newsletter and alumni webpage for the latest updates, events and opportunities for connection. Together, we continue to strengthen the Laker community! BAILEY COLE Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations 217-234-5376 s bcole2@lakelandcollege.edu
YOUR ALMA MATER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION Sign up to receive the monthly Alumni e-newsletter at LakeLandCollege.edu/Alumni and be sure to follow us on social media. .com/LakeLandCollegeFoundationandAlumni .com/company/lake-land-college-foundation-alumni
SHARE YOUR STORY We'd love to celebrate your success! Share your story with the Lake Land College Alumni Office for a chance to be featured on our social media platforms or in future alumni publications. Scan this QR code or visit LakeLandCollege.edu/alumni/ share-your-story.
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SUMMER 2026
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A Message to Alumni
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Laker Nation Class of 2026
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A Legacy Shared The Husband and Wife Team Who Helped Build a College
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Serving with a Smile Alumna Cares for Community with Dental Practice
10 A Champion for Students The Advisor Who Helped Thousands Go the Distance
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12 Creative by Nature Successful by Design 14 Helping Others Be Heard Alumna Turns Personal Experience into Professional Purpose
Make a gift
To make a gift to the Lake Land College Foundation that supports students and College programs, call 217-234-5363 or visit LakeLandCollege.edu/ foundation and look for the “Make a Gift” tab.
ONE LAKER NATION MAGAZINE
Is published annually for the alumni of Lake Land College in coordination with the Lake Land College Alumni Association and Marketing & Public Relations. Views and opinions expressed by individuals in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Lake Land College. For inquiries, please contact Marketing & Public Relations at 217-234-5215. EDITOR: Kelly Allee GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Megan Nelson,
Laker Nation Class of 2006 WRITER: Aaron Wendt
LAKE LAND COLLEGE IS COMMITTED
to developing and maintaining an environment for students, employees and college community that embraces and actively supports diversity, equity and inclusion. We aspire to be an institution where the quality of education and work environment are enhanced and enriched by an inclusive campus community that encourages multiple perspectives and the free exchange of ideas.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
Lake Land College is committed to maintaining a working and learning environment that promotes equal opportunity, that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and that prohibits sex-based misconduct under Title IX, in any education program or activity, including in admission and employment. Individuals may report questions or concerns to the Office of the Director of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator 217-2345210. Board Policy 11.01, linked at the bottom of the College’s homepage @ www.lakelandcollege.edu provides the College’s complete Equal Opportunity Notice of Non-Discrimination.
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We welcome our newest alumni!
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LAKER NATION CLASS OF 2026
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“I always say live life to the fullest, so you never look back wishing you had done this or that, but I honestly don’t know where the time went." -Hollada
A Legacy Shared
THE HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM WHO HELPED BUILD A COLLEGE
BILL AND ROBERTA Hollada began
their time at Lake Land College the same way they did everything else: together. They spent time at Southern Illinois University together, began teaching careers together and spent six years working in the same high schools together. So, in 1968, when Bill was offered an interview with the brand-new Lake Land College, he and Roberta made the drive to Mattoon together. Roberta only expected to wait in the car with their young daughter during the interview, but at some point, Bill must have mentioned that another highly qualified teacher was sitting just outside. “A man named Dale Roberts came out and tapped on my window and said, ‘You better come in, too,’” Roberta recalled with a laugh.
“I went in dressed for vacation and had my daughter with me, and they gave me a job on the spot.” So marked an unusual beginning to two decorated careers. Bill began teaching speech, communication and journalism at Lake Land while Roberta became the College’s firstever instructor for home economics and early childhood development. Together, they would help lay a foundation of academic excellence that has now spanned 60 years. When Bill and Roberta first started, however, the College didn’t even have a campus. Classrooms and offices were instead located in 16 buildings spread across Mattoon. Roberta recalls holding classes in a small church building and having to
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project her voice over the teacher next door to make her lessons heard. But Bill and Roberta hardly noticed the hassle, because they both knew they had found a home with Lake Land. “It was heaven on earth,” Roberta said. “We thought we were just privileged to be here.” As the years passed, a campus was officially built and the College quickly grew, and Bill and Roberta were there to help shape the unfolding story of Lake Land. Bill became the first instructor in the radio broadcasting program, and Roberta built the College’s Child Care program from the ground up, developing curriculum and teaching 10 core classes. Her greatest impact on the program, however, was her role in establishing an on-campus daycare for students and staff, which served as a childcare lab for her own students. “Before the lab, I had to send my students all over for field training, sometimes as far as Chicago or St. Louis,” Roberta explained. “The childcare lab was wonderful for our students.” It was this mindset, one centered on student needs and success, that guided both Bill and Roberta throughout their careers. Bill was a oneof-a-kind instructor with a deep love for what he taught, known for constructive feedback and sincere mentorship. Roberta, meanwhile, lived by a philosophy that true learning was caught as much as taught. She prioritized opportunities for discovery and practical experience, and she strived to build student confidence through a positive learning environment. “I always had a full classroom and a good relationship with my students. When I retired, students from every class I taught came to my party,” Roberta said. “It made me happy to see them go on and have success. I wasn’t just their teacher, I was their friend, too.” Bill retired in 1986, and Roberta followed in 1994, marking the end of their shared careers. Their adventures together, however, would continue well beyond the walls of Lake Land. Throughout their marriage, Bill and Roberta were also avid travelers, having visited all 50 states, all the Canadian provinces and roughly
20 additional countries. They shared laughs and made memories with every destination, but the road always led them back home together in Mattoon. “Nothing ever happened without Bill being there,” Roberta said with a laugh. “But Mattoon was our feel-good place. When Bill retired, people would ask him where he wanted to settle down, and he’d always say, ‘Is there a better place than Mattoon?’” In 2024, Bill passed away at 95 years old, after nearly 67 years of marriage and adventure with Roberta. Today, she carries those memories forward, and she still looks at Lake Land College, the place where so many of these memories were made, with the same affection she felt when she arrived in 1968. It’s hard for her to imagine that 60 years of Lake Land history have already come and gone, but she trusts that the best days are still to come. “I always say live life to the fullest, so you never look back wishing you had done this or that, but I honestly don’t know where the time went,” Roberta said. “Teaching still feels like yesterday. Whenever I’m back on campus, I think it’s about time to head to class.”
“I have patients I started seeing when they were three years old who are now bringing their threeyear-olds. It makes me feel good that they still want to come and see Dr. Becky.” -Dunn
Serving with a Smile
ALUMNA CARES FOR COMMUNITY WITH DENTAL PRACTICE BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL and compassionate care for more than 30 years, Dr. Rebecca Dunn has long been trusted as one of the most beloved dentists in the Edwardsville community. But even after decades of connecting with patients, it seems hardly possible to Rebecca that her career has spanned so long, and she still easily recalls her days as an ambitious student with a lofty goal.
became dentists, and initially, Rebecca had no plans to either. She enrolled at Lake Land College in 1981 with the goal of following her sister into the dental field and becoming a hygienist. But after learning hands-on and working directly with patients at Lake Land, Rebecca quickly discovered a deep passion for dentistry and decided to pursue a doctoral degree.
When Rebecca began her education in the 1980s, there were very few women who
“I got a taste of dental hygiene right away at Lake Land,” Rebecca explained. “I got to work
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with patients in that setting, so it was a great steppingstone for me to see what I wanted to do. My instructors were also very supportive of my goals and helped me prepare to get into dental school.” After graduating from Lake Land, Rebecca directly enrolled in the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 1985, and there, she would spend the next four years completing her dental studies. As a Lake Land graduate, she was also able to spend that time launching her career, and she used her associate degree to begin work as a dental hygienist. “The advantage of starting at Lake Land was that, when I graduated, I had a degree and a license to practice,” Rebecca said. “A lot of people go into dental school with a bachelor’s degree in biology, but I already had direct dental experience. I had a good career already as a hygienist, so I was able to build some important experience and make good money to help with the rest of my education.” In 1989, Rebecca completed her studies and officially became a doctor in dental medicine. She worked as an associate dentist for three years in several offices across southern Illinois, soaking in everything she could from experienced practitioners. She also learned the ins and outs of operating a dental office, patiently waiting for the right time to launch her own. The opportunity came in 1992, when Rebecca purchased an office in Edwardsville from a retiring dentist and began a new era in her career that would span the next several decades. Rebecca has operated her private dental practice in Edwardsville for the last 34 years, striving every day to treat her patients with the level of care and diligence she’d expect to receive herself. She notes there are plenty of twists and turns when it comes to running a business on top of providing exceptional treatment, but she has always cherished the
opportunity to build relationships with her patients. She loves treating people of all ages, getting to know them personally and playing a vital role in their health goals. “I have patients I started seeing when they were three years old who are now bringing their three-year-olds,” Rebecca said. “It makes me feel good that they still want to come and see Dr. Becky.” By operating her own private practice, Rebecca also enjoys the flexibility to spend time with her young grandchildren and travel the country to enjoy her favorite hobby of running. She notes that running has helped her stay physically fit throughout her career, and it gives her peaceful time to reflect and pray. But perhaps above all, it’s given her an outlet to fuel the same ambitious spirit that led to her becoming a dentist in the first place. As of Summer 2026, Rebecca has officially completed half marathons in 42 states, and she’s rapidly closing in on her goal of all 50. “It’s given me reason to travel and see different places. I never would’ve gone to Newport, Rhode Island or Fargo, North Dakota otherwise,” Rebecca said with a laugh. “It’s such a rewarding feeling too, and it makes me feel accomplished. I’m a ‘go-getter’ type of person, like most dentists are.”
"There’s nothing better than knowing someone years later is successful and happy, and I hope I’ve played a small part in it." -Burrell
A Champion for Students
THE ADVISOR WHO HELPED THOUSANDS GO THE DISTANCE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS,
Bryan Burrell guided student athletes at Lake Land College with the belief that sports are among life’s greatest teachers. Over the years, he watched young athletes build the resilience, commitment and discipline that comes through triumphs and setbacks. But what stuck with Bryan the most is the way that athletes from every background could unite toward a single goal, rely on one another and build the kind of bond that can only be described as a team.
Bryan carried this mindset his entire career, but the foundation was laid long before he came to Lake Land. As a college student himself, his love for sports led him to Massachusetts to pursue a master’s degree in athletic counseling at Springfield College, the birthplace of basketball, where a rich athletic history was woven into the entire fabric of the school. His love for sports also led him to work as an intern with Clemson University’s athletic department, where his career goals began to take shape.
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“I realized I loved working with student athletes,” Bryan said. “It made me see that was what I wanted to do.” After returning home to Illinois and building his work experience, Bryan eventually landed a job at Lake Land in the College’s Admissions department. The opportunity to work with student athletes quickly followed, as just six months into his admissions role, the College opened a newly organized counseling position for athletic advising. Bryan was a perfect fit, and in the Fall of 1994, he officially accepted the role he would fill for three decades. Throughout his career as a Lake Land counselor, Bryan advised roughly 3,000 athletes as well as students in the College’s Technology division, helping them register for classes, stay on track to complete their programs and explore career and transfer options. In many ways, he served the role of a coach, creating game plans for all his students and leading them toward their life goals. He credits his own mentors, Dr. Tina Stovall and Dr. Larry Larvick, as well as the rest of the College leadership over the years, for modeling this student-first approach for all employees.
student softball game. But his greatest memory at Lake Land goes to the day he met his wife, Krista, when she interviewed for a position at the College, and the 23 years that followed where he worked with her every day. “Getting to work alongside my wife for over 20 years has been the highlight of my career,” Bryan said. In Summer 2026, Bryan’s turn finally came to retire and hand his role off to the next generation. Reflecting on his career, Bryan points to his relationships with his students as the part he treasures most, as he always cherished the opportunity to watch them grow and fulfill their dreams. He’s seen student athletes continue playing sports at universities across the country, with a handful even making it to the professional level, and he’s watched many others launch careers, start businesses and raise families. “That’s my victory,” Bryan said. “There’s nothing better than knowing someone years later is successful and happy, and I hope I’ve played a small part in it.”
Bryan also credits all the people who worked “I started here about 30 years after the College beside him for making Lake Land College was founded, and I got to work with many of the feel like home. He notes that the same people who started this institution,” Bryan said. determination he admires in sports was always visible in his colleagues through their relentless “I saw the way they did things and the bar they mission to serve students, a mission that has set. I only hope I’ve continued to set that bar.” always been, and will always be, a team effort. Beyond his role as a counselor, Bryan enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the Lake Land “We get together every day, with all our community throughout his career. He worked for different personalities, and we work toward a four different College presidents and many vice common goal for our students,” Bryan said. presidents, and he made great memories on the “Coming to work every day is fun when you’re a ball diamond every year at the annual facultypart of a team like that.” LAKE LAND COLLEGE ALUMNI s 217-234-5376
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"The best feeling is when you take an idea someone has, whether it’s vague or robust, and you put it into a design that uniquely gets their message across. I love...how excited they get when they see what they imagined brought to life." -Nelson
CREATIVE BY NATURE
Successful by Design
EVERYWHERE ACROSS
Lake Land College’s campus, imbued in the striking aesthetic and welcoming style, is the creative trademark of Megan Nelson. As a designer in Lake Land’s marketing office, Megan is responsible for promoting the College through a wide range of materials, from small flyers to full building designs, all while maintaining a cohesive, distinct visual identity. But long before her bold visions and awardwinning designs came to life, Megan was once a Lake Land student herself, with her future as a creative far from certain. When Megan first enrolled at Lake Land in 2003, she had not yet decided on a major. She had been drawn to graphic design for years, but she found herself intimidated by the math courses required for the degree. All attempts to
explore other major options, however, only led her back to her love for graphic design, and she eventually decided to face the mathematical hurdles to achieve her dream career. “I just had to ask myself, ‘why am I dragging my feet when this is something I love?’” Megan said. “Once I finally started studying graphic design, I knew I was in the right place. And I got the best math grade I’ve ever had in the class I was most scared of. It was the first time I proved to myself that I can do hard things when I set my mind to them.” As Megan settled into her graphic design studies, she also began to build a deep sense of belonging at Lake Land College, a feeling that would influence her future in ways she never imagined. After graduating from Lake Land in
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2006, Megan quickly found her first job as a creative – right across campus in the College’s marketing office. “I just loved this place so much I couldn’t leave,” Megan said with a laugh. That love for Lake Land would stand the test of time. Megan began her career as an administrative assistant and advanced within the marketing team across many years of devotion to the College. After completing her bachelor’s degree while working full time, she accepted a promotion to graphic designer to focus even more on her passion for creating. Then, in 2026, her 20th year working at the College, Megan’s artistic excellence and knack for visual messaging were recognized with a promotion to Senior Designer and Brand Coordinator. “I had chances to look into jobs at other places. Nothing seemed to work out in my favor at the time, but it actually all did in the end,” Megan said. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.” Throughout her career as a graphic designer, Megan has been a driving force behind every creative project imaginable, with some of her favorite projects including the wall decals and murals throughout the Luther Student Center, the Foundation & Alumni Center and, most recently, the 100,000-square-foot Effingham Technology Center. Her work on the latter building even received national acclaim, with her “Laker Wings” design on the building’s first floor receiving a Gold Paragon from the National Council for Marketing & Public
Relations (NCMPR). But more than any trophy or accolade, what Megan finds most rewarding about her role is the chance to promote the mission of Lake Land College alongside all the treasured friends she’s made throughout the years. “I love helping people reach their audience,” Megan said. “The best feeling is when you take an idea someone has, whether it’s vague or robust, and you put it into a design that uniquely gets their message across. I love how their faces light up and how excited they get when they see what they imagined brought to life.” It’s that sense of community, the unique bond between people who care for one another and care for the work they’re doing, that stands out most to Megan as she reflects on her 20year career at Lake Land. She notes that Lake Land College has given her so much, from her education to her career to some of her closest friends, and what’s inspired her work more than anything over the years is a determination to share what she’s found. “I believe in what we’re selling, because education has changed my life and I know it can for others,” Megan said. “I think back to where I started, a meek student who took things so seriously I was afraid to do them, and I think about how I would reach her. If I could talk to her now, I’d let her know that good things will come, because I’ve found a good thing here.”
"Lake Land is a great option that introduces you to college...I’ve felt like I can do whatever I want to do. I’ve met great teachers and great friends, and you really get to make it your own experience." -Gill
Helping Others Be Heard
ALUMNA TURNS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INTO PROFESSIONAL PURPOSE
WHEN AVERY GILL decided to major
in Speech and Hearing Science, her choice was every bit as personal as it was professional. As a student, Avery dives deeper every day into the complex field of audiology – a healthcare branch devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders – with the goal to one day help others hear the world better. But when it comes to assisting those with hearing impairments, Avery’s most powerful qualification isn’t found in any textbook or verified by any degree. It comes from 20 years of lived experience.
Born partially deaf in her left ear, Avery grew up experiencing the world through a different lens than her family and friends. For as long as she can remember, specialized checkups and speech therapy sessions were a routine part of her life. But even with these unique experiences, she notes she never felt different because of them. To Avery, her hearing is just one of the many things that make her who she is, something that sets her apart no differently than her love for tennis or her passion for reading. “Being this way since birth, I’ve never known any different,” Avery explained. “Growing up, my sister had to take medicine and I had to put in a hearing aid. It was as simple as that.”
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After graduating from Mattoon High School, Avery enrolled at Lake Land College to continue her education and explore career options. It was during her first year at the College, in a gen-ed speech class, that her vision began to take shape. Assigned with a presentation on her future career goals, Avery began researching careers in speech pathology and audiology, and through this, she realized that her experience as a patient in these fields could become a valuable resource for others like her.
After one year at Lake Land, Avery decided to take the next step in her audiology studies by enrolling in the University of Illinois’ Speech and Hearing program. Her time as a Lake Land student, however, was far from over, as she decided to continue taking summer classes at Lake Land. With this method, Avery was able to finish her associate degree even while enrolled at the University of Illinois, and she officially graduated from Lake Land College following the Summer 2026 term.
“I realized I can help people access care, just like how people helped me, and I thought it seemed like something I’d be very happy doing,” Avery said. “I also realized that you don’t have to have complete hearing to work in audiology.”
Now a Lake Land College alumna, Avery looks ahead to continuing her education and developing her knowledge in speech, language and hearing at the University of Illinois. Once she’s completed her bachelor’s degree, she plans to continue to earn a master’s degree or head straight into a doctoral program to pursue a career as an audiologist. Either way, she hopes to one day work in the central Illinois region and give back to the community she’s loved her entire life.
Beyond discovering a career path, Avery also discovered a welcoming environment as a student at Lake Land College. She found countless opportunities to be involved across campus, and she ultimately served as a student ambassador to help prospective students learn about the College. Additionally, she landed an on-campus job at the Lake Land College Foundation & Alumni Office, and she has enjoyed working as an intern with the Foundation team for the last two years. “Lake Land is a great option that introduces you to college,” Avery explained. “Coming here, I’ve felt like I can do whatever I want to do. I’ve met great teachers and great friends, and you really get to make it your own experience.”
But above all, what Avery looks forward to most is the day she’ll welcome patients to her own office. She looks forward to treating them with a smile on her face and compassion in her voice, the kind that comes only through a lifetime of experience, as she walks them through a journey she knows so well. “I’ve been in their shoes my whole life,” Avery said. “I know what it’s like to deal with this, and I know the challenge it can be for parents to have normal hearing and try to figure out how to help their kid. I know I can help people navigate life and make sure they receive the care they need.”
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