“The Power of Curiosity” with Emily Graslie

Tomorrow, March 25, at 6:30 p.m., Emily Graslie will deliver a live-virtual presentation on “The Power of Curiosity” as a part of the NEA Big Read: Sangamon County. Join us as we learn about Emily’s creative journey as a lifelong champion of curiosity, through the lenses of fine art and science communication. Please pre-register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYUxB-qPTWuHIFBGiaRDOQ

Emily Graslie was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. After moving to Missoula, Montana to pursue an undergraduate degree in fine art painting, she fell in love with the campus vertebrate research collection as a place of artistic inspiration. What started off as a passionate volunteering position within a small museum eventually transformed into a career as an advocate for these under-appreciated repositories. As Chief Curiosity Correspondent for the Field Museum in Chicago, she served as creator, host and writer of The Brain Scoop, an educational YouTube channel with 200+ episodes about natural history that have been viewed more than 32 million times. In 2020 she made her broadcast television debut on PBS as Executive Producer, Host and Writer of Prehistoric Road Trip, a new series by WTTW Chicago about paleontology and geology in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. Emily has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the American Alliance of Museum’s Nancy Hanks Award for Professional Excellence. She’s a six-time Webby Award nominee and honoree in the ‘Online Science/Education Channel’ and ‘Web Personality/Host’ categories; a member of the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list in Education; and was named as one of the Chicagoans of the Year in the Arts in 2017 by the Chicago Tribune. Recently, in recognition of her outreach efforts, scientists at the Universities of Florida and Paraná in Brazil named a new species of butterfly in her honor: Wahydra graslieae.

Can you guess the LEAGUE superfriend?

Kim LeskoDid you guess correctly the LEAGUE superfriend who moves at superhuman speeds to get the required merchandise to students before the first day of class was none other than Kim Lesko?  If so, we have entered you into a drawing to receive a prize.

Kim graduated from LLCC in 1984 and worked in the Child Development Center from 1985-1992 back when it was in Montgomery House. She worked the night shift, eventually moving to days before becoming a stay-at-home mom. In 2015, Kim started working at the bookstore as the specialty merchandise technician where she is responsible for ordering merchandise that is required for classes including nursing scrubs, tools, chef coats, polos, chemistry goggles and lab coats.

Kim says that LLCC has been a big part of her life and an amazing place to be. From being a part of young children’s first experiences in an accredited child development center to promoting students to participate in the LLCC graduation ceremony. Kim has been moved to tears with the stories of how the student has made it to walk across that stage and graduate.

LEAGUE SuperheroesCan you guess this LEAGUE Committee superfriend?

Superfriend name:  Biology Lover
Superpower:  Can teach kindergarteners their ABCs while teaching college students cellular and molecular biology
Hint – you can see this person in the LEAGUE video!

Submit your answer by email to LLCCFoundation@llcc.edu for a chance to win a prize!

Congratulations to Jeff Eason for his correct guess.

New LEAGUE video

Years ago at a local community college, faculty and staff gathered on Professional Development Day for the kickoff of the annual faculty and staff giving campaign known as LEAGUE. What are the plans for this year? Watch Batman, Robin and LEAGUE Committee members to find out.

Two sculptures being added to LLCC campus

"Take Five" and "Paradigm Shift"Two new sculptures will be soon be adding to the beauty and interest of the LLCC campus in Springfield. These sculptures, “Take Five” and “Paradigm Shift,” are being donated by Dr. Terry Travis. They will join Barry Tinsley’s “La Terra” and be placed between Menard Hall and Millennium Center. “Stele Head” will also be moved from its current location near the Workforce Careers Center to the area near the A. Lincoln Commons.

“Take Five” is by artist Pat McDonald. The sculpture is made of steel, wood and paint. It is 12 ft. by 8 ft. by 8 ft.

Highway Construction Careers class“Paradigm Shift” is by artist Bruce Chaban. The sculpture was first exhibited in the 1999 Pier Walk Exhibition at Chicago’s Historic Navy Pier. It is 22 ft. by 4½ ft. by 5 ¼ ft. and weighs one ton.

LLCC students in Tom Spear‘s highway construction careers training class began work yesterday digging out the dirt and starting the forms for the concrete pads. Today they will complete the forms and compact rock, and on Wednesday they plan to pour concrete.

Students begin digging foundations for new sculpture placement.Students digging to create forms for sculptures.
Students working on digging a base for "Take Five"Prepping ground for a form and pouring of concrete.

DiSC sessions on Professional Development Day

For those who wish to attend one of the two DiSC sessions on Professional Development Day, registration should occur no later than Monday, March 29. There are some pre-session activities that will need to be completed prior to the live session on March 30. Please refer to the informational email from Nicole Ralph sent on March 5 for registration information.

Posted in PDD |

Congratulations Coach Dietz!

Coach Jim DietzCongratulations to Jim Dietz, head coach of LLCC volleyball, on his recent milestone of 700 victories! He has now won over 700 games in his coaching career, with 487 of those victories at LLCC.

Our sympathy to Michele Layton

We extend our condolences to Michele Layton, program assistant, LLCC Applied and Emerging Technologies, on the passing of her mother, Betty Lee Sphar, on March 20.  A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Pana. A service will follow at 11 a.m., and burial will be at Linwood Cemetery in Pana. Masks will be required. Read the obituary.

“The Power of Curiosity” with Emily Graslie

On Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m., Emily Graslie will deliver a live-virtual presentation on “The Power of Curiosity” as a part of the NEA Big Read: Sangamon County. Join us as we learn about Emily’s creative journey as a lifelong champion of curiosity, through the lenses of fine art and science communication. Please pre-register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYUxB-qPTWuHIFBGiaRDOQ

Emily Graslie was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. After moving to Missoula, Montana to pursue an undergraduate degree in fine art painting, she fell in love with the campus vertebrate research collection as a place of artistic inspiration. What started off as a passionate volunteering position within a small museum eventually transformed into a career as an advocate for these under-appreciated repositories. As Chief Curiosity Correspondent for the Field Museum in Chicago, she served as creator, host and writer of The Brain Scoop, an educational YouTube channel with 200+ episodes about natural history that have been viewed more than 32 million times. In 2020 she made her broadcast television debut on PBS as Executive Producer, Host and Writer of Prehistoric Road Trip, a new series by WTTW Chicago about paleontology and geology in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. Emily has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the American Alliance of Museum’s Nancy Hanks Award for Professional Excellence. She’s a six-time Webby Award nominee and honoree in the ‘Online Science/Education Channel’ and ‘Web Personality/Host’ categories; a member of the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list in Education; and was named as one of the Chicagoans of the Year in the Arts in 2017 by the Chicago Tribune. Recently, in recognition of her outreach efforts, scientists at the Universities of Florida and Paraná in Brazil named a new species of butterfly in her honor: Wahydra graslieae.