In the News

LLCC alum Brad Booker was in the news after winning an Oscar for best animated short film.

Chad Jones, head coach, women’s basketball, was interviewed by WICS on Friday, March 15 about the team earning a spot in the national championships.

Bill Harmon, professor and ag program coordinator, and LLCC student Alex Sidener were interviewed by the Illinois Farm Bureau during the national Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) Conference held at LLCC last week.

LLCC ag students Jhia Walker and Wes Bland were interviewed by WFMB about the PAS Conference.

Samantha Reif, professor of geology, was interviewed by WTIM on March 12 about the upcoming total solar eclipse, which will take place on April 8. LLCC will be hosting a Solar Eclipse Watch Party, including trivia, snacks, music, activities and a live stream of the solar eclipse experience from southern Illinois.

In the news

In this week’s Epicuriosity 101 column in the Springfield State Journal-Register, Jolene Lamb, director, community education, introduces us to Channing Fullaway-Johnson, LLCC’s new community education culinary coordinator.

Candace Silas, director of WEI/PATH, was interviewed by WICS Newschannel 20 about Thursday’s African-American History Month panel.

In the News

Kim Wilson, LLCC recruitment specialist, was interviewed by WICS about Monday’s African-American History Month event, “Music of the Movement.”

In the news

Dr. Amanda Turner, director, student success, was interviewed by WICS Friday, Feb. 23, about “Mental Health and the Arts: Rebuild to Reclaim.” A presentation, conversation and activities were held on destigmatizing mental health in the African-American community.

Brenda Protz, professor of communication, was interviewed by The Source for the article, “A life-changing college assignment,” which discusses her public speaking class at LLCC; the speech assignment, “Tell the class why you’re an awesome person;” and shares the positive influence it has had.

LLCC will host Rube Goldberg Competition for fifth graders

“Outlandish machines” designed by area fifth graders will be on display as LLCC hosts the 17th annual Springfield Area Fifth Grade Rube Goldberg Competition on Saturday, March 2. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. in the Student Union. There is no admission fee, and the public is invited to attend.

This year’s competition involves building a Rube Goldberg that must insert and remove a piece of toast from a toaster through at least 10 different steps. A Rube Goldberg device, such as the board game “Mousetrap,” is an elaborate apparatus designed to complete a certain task through a number of complex steps.

Area fifth graders are currently developing their own unique Rube Goldberg devices for this year’s competition. They receive assistance from engineer volunteers who visit classes and provide instruction on machines and engineering in general, along with suggestions for their Rube Goldberg device. The purpose of this event is to introduce children to the idea of pursuing a career in engineering or a STEM-related field.

This year, there will be teams participating from the following schools: Black Hawk Elementary, Graham Elementary, Morrisonville Elementary, Our Savior Lutheran, Riverton Middle, Rochester Intermediate, Southern View Elementary, Springfield Christian, Trinity Lutheran, and Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro.

Last year’s task entailed building a Rube Goldberg that would “move a rocket to a launch pad.” Sarah Eyth’s fifth grade class from Our Savior Lutheran, with engineer volunteers Marty Maletich and Phil Raftis from HLR Engineering, took home the top prize locally and at the Engineering Open House at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

In the news

LLCC Baseball Coach and Athletic Director Ron Riggle talked with Sports Radio 1450 about his 700th win and upcoming retirement.

English Professor John Paul Jaramillo was a guest judge for the Springfield  Area Arts Council’s Poetry Out Loud competition.

In this week’s Epicuriosity 101 column for the Springfield State Journal-Register, Jay Kitterman, culinary consultant, unpacks the benefits of tuna.

In the News

Kyla Kruse, chief communications officer, was interviewed by WICS Newschannel 20 on Monday, Feb. 19. WICS covered LLCC’s Open House, which drew more than 300 guests. Visitors spoke with faculty and staff, viewed exhibits, toured select areas of campus, learned about the basics of college and choosing a major, and could apply for admission.