LLCC invites public to annual Lincoln Lecture Feb. 12

Abraham Lincoln and the Making of the American West. Lincoln Lecture. Monday, Feb. 12, a.m. at the Trutter Center. Presented by Jacob K. Friefeld, director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at UIS. Free event, refreshments will be served.Lincoln Land Community College invites the public to its annual Lincoln Lecture Monday, Feb. 12.

“Abraham Lincoln and the Making of the American West” will be presented by Jacob K. Friefeld at 9 a.m. in the Trutter Center on the LLCC campus. The presentation will also be available via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89790657720).

Friefeld will discuss Lincoln’s legacy in the West and the Homestead Act of 1862, enriching the conventional story of who settled the West. He will explore how the Homestead Act can be seen as one of the most important social policies ever enacted in the United States and that it worked in combination with the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th and 14th Amendments to give Black Americans an opportunity to own land after the Civil War.

There is no charge to attend, and refreshments will be served.

Friefeld is the director of the Center for Lincoln Studies at University of Illinois Springfield. His new book, “The First Migrants,” tells the story of Black Americans who left the South between 1877 and the Great Migration and went west seeking land and freedom. His first book, “Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History,” examines the Homestead Act of 1862.

LLCC Outreach Centers in Jacksonville, Beardstown, Taylorville and Litchfield also plan various Lincoln-themed activities to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

LLCC-Litchfield Star Dusters win Best in Show

LLCC-Litchfield Star Dusters. Plant the Moon. Plant Mars Challenge. Best in Show innovation Award.Congratulations to the LLCC Star Dusters team, who recently won the Best In Show Innovation Award at the Plant the Moon/Mars Competition through the Institute of Competition Sciences. The competition featured teams researching, developing and testing innovative ways to grow crops on Mars.

The LLCC Star Dusters were given Martian regolith simulant and had eight weeks to grow their crop (radish microgreens) in an innovative way.  The team found additives that may enhance the water retention of the Martian regolith (which tends to be water logged on top with little water penetrating to roots).

Team members are LLCC-Litchfield students: Ann Wasylenko, Sammi Hanson, Audrey Pitman, Lexi Gaffney, Daisy Adams, Brandon Reynolds and Drew Ballhurst. They are coached by Amy Delap, LLCC-Litchfield biology instructor.

LLCC Open House to be held Feb. 19

The words Open House and smiling student.Prospective students interested in starting or restarting college or training for a new career are invited to visit LLCC for a campus open house on Monday, Feb. 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will be held at LLCC’s Springfield campus, and at Outreach Centers in Jacksonville, Litchfield and Taylorville.

“Start here at LLCC, whether you are looking to earn a degree or train for a hands-on career,” says LLCC President Charlotte Warren, Ph.D. “I invite you to join us at this event to explore majors, our low cost and personalized services that help students reach their goals.”

Visitors can speak with faculty and staff, view exhibits, tour select areas of campus, learn about the basics of college and choosing a major, and apply for admission.

Registration for the event is encouraged and available at www.llcc.edu/open-house or by calling 217-786-2292.

LLCC-Jacksonville to host community scholarship event Jan. 24

LLCC-Jacksonville will host a free community scholarship information and FAFSA completion event on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 3-6 p.m.

Students and their families can get information from more than a dozen organizations offering scholarships, including the LLCC Foundation. Anyone needing assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can schedule a 30-minute appointment to meet with an LLCC financial aid professional.

Event information, including registration can be found in the LLCC Newsroom.

Extended hours for spring registration

LLCC Student Services and Bookstore on the Springfield campus will be offering extended hours for spring registration in January. Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 16.

From Jan. 2-5, LLCC Student Services and Bookstore will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the week of Jan. 8, these offices will be open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 13, they will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Extended hours are also available the following week for students already enrolled in semester or first eight-week (mod 3) classes, or looking to enroll in second eight-week (mod 4) classes. The college will be closed Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. From Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 16-19, LLCC Student Services and Bookstore will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday, Jan. 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Extended hours for spring registration

LLCC will be offering extended hours for spring registration in January. Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 16.

From Jan. 2-5, LLCC Student Services and Bookstore will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the week of Jan. 8, these offices will be open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 13, they will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Extended hours are also available the following week for students already enrolled in semester or first eight-week (mod 3) classes, or looking to enroll in second eight-week (mod 4) classes. From Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 16-19, LLCC Student Services and Bookstore will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday, Jan. 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Finals Fair held at LLCC-Litchfield

LLCC-Litchfield hosted a Finals Fair last week to help prepare students for success in their final exams. Students were able to meet with an academic success professional and peer tutor, learn study tips and how to manage stress, enjoy free snacks and motivational messages from our staff, and spend some time with Pawfficer Ember who visited the center with Officer Baehr.

Montage of 12 photos from the finals fair of students getting assistance and meeting with Pawfficer Ember

In the news

Dee Krueger, director, LLCC-Taylorville, was interviewed Thursday, Oct. 26, on the WTIM Morning Show. She discussed spring registration, Microsoft Office training opportunities available at LLCC-Taylorville and the variety of health care programs available at LLCC.

Jacksonville Activities Board helps with campground work day

Photo of four students standing outside, in front of a brick building.Members of LLCC-Jacksonville’s student group, Jacksonville Activities Board (JAB), visited Green Pastures Campground outside Meredosia on Saturday, Oct. 7 to help with the campground work day. Students cleaned and organized rooms to prepare for the campground’s upcoming events. The students had a great time helping and enjoying lunch that was provided (even after finding a snake!).

In the community

LLCC-Taylorville was a sponsor of the 38th annual Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest this past weekend, Oct. 7-8.  In addition to sponsoring the event, staff had an info table at the event and provided LLCC swag for each chili cook.