In the news

Matt Shaver, professor of digital media, and LLCC students Ryan Shereda and Blaine Melton were interviewed April 27 by the SJ-R about video gaming and the Video Game Design Tournament. Professor Shaver and LLCC student Binh Nguyen were interviewed by WICS about the tournament and females in the gaming field.

LLCC student receives plaque for heroism

LLCC President Charlotte Warren, Ph.D. and Dick Rogers, automotive technology professor, presented auto tech student Trevor Clardy with a plaque yesterday to honor his bravery and heroism.  Trevor saved the life of a man who crashed into Lake Springfield last week.

LLCC commencement planned for May 12

LLCC will conduct commencement exercises on Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

Olatayo Ajenifuja of Springfield and Alex Portwood of Sheldon have been selected as this year’s commencement speakers. Ajenifuja is graduating with an Associate in Science in pre-clinical laboratory science with a 3.57 GPA. He is a mathematics and sciences departmental honors graduate and plans to study neuroscience and neurobiology at a four-year university. Portwood is an LLCC basketball athlete graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in business with a 4.0 GPA. He plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in business economics and continue playing basketball.

Regina Suszko of Springfield and Catherine Wittler of Williamsville are serving as marshals. Suszko is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in philosophy with a 4.0 GPA. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before pursuing a degree in sign language interpretation for the deaf. Suszko is vice president of the PTK Illinois Region Central District, public relations officer of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, captain of LLCC’s Quiz Bowl team, treasurer of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Organization and ranks 12th in the nation as a quiz bowl player.

Wittler is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in business administration with a 4.0 GPA. Following graduation, she plans to study marketing and environmental sustainability at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Wittler serves as president of LLCC’s Honors Program Student Organization, vice president of scholarship of LLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and vice president of LLCC’s Student Government Association. In addition, she works as a student recruiter at LLCC and participated in a biological field studies research trip to Belize in January 2017.

William “Bill” D. McCarty II, is being recognized with the 2017 Honored Alumni Award. McCarty received an Associate in Science degree in liberal arts from LLCC in May 1995. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, double majoring in finance and computer applications, from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield. Following college, McCarty opened a restaurant in Lincoln, ran a small vending business and spent three years as village trustee in Williamsville. He was elected as Williamsville mayor before the age of 30 and served as mayor for four years. After working for the State of Illinois Bureau of Property Management as the chief financial officer, he was appointed in May of 2011 to serve the City of Springfield as director of budget and management where he is responsible for overseeing accounting, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, facilities maintenance and fleet services. Two years ago McCarty started a technology company called GOV311. In his spare time, he develops 311 smartphone apps that help local governmental entities better engage their constituents. McCarty is active in the community serving as The Parent Place board president and as a volunteer for a number of other organizations.

LLCC receives NCR-SARE grant

LLCC has recently been recommended to receive a $2,000 grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) for the project, “Sustainable Agriculture Youth Workforce Development Program.” The grant was awarded as part of NCR-SARE’s Youth Educator Program, which supports educators who seek to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth.

The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are based on how well the applicant presents the problem being addressed, the project’s relevance to sustainable agriculture in the 12-state North Central region, and how well it aligns with NCR-SARE’s goals, among other factors specific to each grant program.

The grant will be used for a hands-on sustainable agriculture training program for low-income, disadvantaged community youth in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois. Participants will be introduced to all aspects of gardening from soil to harvest. The students will be given entrepreneurial experience through the management of a farm stand. In addition, in order to develop leaders and future employees, the kids will learn life skills such as problem solving, working in a team, communication, and time management.

Radiography students attend ISSRT conference

Scholar Bowl competitors from bottom to top, Brooke Duea, Colin Chapman, Cheyenne Gaillard, and Allison Reible.

Electronic poster winners (L-R): Allison Reible and Brooke Duea.

Conference attendees (front row L-R) Sharon Cheek, Brie Stokes, Cheyenne Gaillard, Brooke Duea, Dalaney Caulk and Erin Maisenbacher. Second row L-R, Allison Reible, Colin Chapman, and Janelle Murphy with Austin Dhom in the back.

The second-year LLCC Radiography students attended the 82nd Annual Illinois State Society of Radiologic Technologists Conference in Peoria last week. The two-and-a-half day conference provides a great deal of education, networking, and friendly competition for the students.  As a requirement of attending the conference, each of the students submit an electronic poster and/or research paper on the topic of their choice.  Of the 22 electronic posters submitted, Allison Reible was awarded 2nd place with her poster on melorheostosis and Brooke Duea was awarded 3rd place with her poster on Paget’s disease. Four of the students competed in the Scholar Bowl with 11 other teams and did an admirable job but didn’t place in the top four to make the final round.  The students representing LLCC’s program at the conference were Dalaney Caulk, Colin Chapman, Austin Dhom, Brooke Duea, Cheyenne Gaillard, Erin Maisenbacher, Allison Reible and Brianna Stokes.

Retiring trustees honored; new trustees seated; new board officers elected

A reception yesterday honored retiring LLCC Trustees Kent Gray of District 3, who served on the Board for 18 years; Jerry Wesley of District 7, who served eight years;  and Brandon Lewis, student trustee for the past year. They were presented with framed resolutions and plaques by Chair Craig Findley at the Board of Trustees meeting following the reception.

Newly elected Trustees Gordon Gates, District 3; Ken Elmore, District 7; and Student Trustee Saleana Moore took the oath of office, along with re-elected Trustees Craig Findley, District 6; and Jeff Fulgenzi, District 5.

The newly seated Board then elected Dennis Shackelford as chair, Wayne Rosenthal as vice chair, and Ken Elmore as secretary. 

 

 

 

Try out students’ video games today and vote for your favorites!

LLCC will hold its second annual Video Game Design Tournament today from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons. A ribbon cutting at 10 will open the event.

More than 40 students from LLCC’s video game design course will make up 16 teams for this year’s tournament themed, “Don’t Stop Me Now.” The LLCC improvisational jazz band will provide music. Visitors can try out the games designed by LLCC students and vote via smartphone for best game, most innovative game and most enjoyable game. Prizes will be awarded to the top vote-getters.

More information is available from Professor Matthew Shaver at 6.9618.

LLCC-Taylorville 50th anniversary event Saturday cancelled

Due to the threat of wet and possibly severe weather this Saturday, April 29, officials of Lincoln Land Community College-Taylorville have cancelled a scheduled community event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the college’s founding.

The event was set to run from 1-3 p.m. at LLCC-Taylorville, 800 S. Spresser, and as many of the planned activities were outside, it was decided to cancel the event in light of the weather forecast. No rescheduled date has been announced at this time.

TV ad/video filming on campus today and Friday

Public Relations and Marketing will be filming several new TV ads and short videos on campus today and tomorrow in the new “An Educated Decision” campaign. Please be aware there will be drone footage and you may be included if you are in the area being filmed. Feel free to move out of the area if you prefer not to participate. Thank you!