Nominations are now open for the Illinois Times’ annual “Best of Springfield” poll! Click here to access the voting site and nominate LLCC in the Higher Education category. Nominations will be tallied and a final voting slate will be presented on Sept. 14.

A reminder that LLCC will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day.

The delegation from Guangzhou Career and Technical Institutions who visited LLCC Aug. 25 are shown here being greeted by Dr. Charlotte Warren, president, and enjoying visits to the commercial electrical maintenance and mechatronics labs, treats in the culinary labs, and a chance to climb into a semi-tractor in the truck driver training lot.

A delegation of 22 individuals from Guangzhou, China visited LLCC on Friday, Aug. 25 to learn about the role of community colleges in career and technical education and tour the Workforce Careers Center. The delegation represented six career and technical colleges and one government agency from Guangzhou, which is China’s third largest city with a population of 14 million people.

Members of the delegation heard presentations from Dr. Judy Jozaitis, vice president workforce development and community education; college president Dr. Charlotte Warren; Dave Green, dean of business and technologies; Julie Rourke, director of workforce development; Marnie Record, workforce specialist; Jay Kitterman, Culinary Institute consultant; David Bowman, workforce development program coordinator ; Mac Warren, assistant director, recruitment and response; and Bob Howard, director of truck driver training.

Visit the farm stand Monday, Aug. 28, in the A. Lincoln Commons from 1:30-4:15 p.m. to purchase produce that has been organically grown on the LLCC campus. Please note the stand accepts cash only, and small bills are appreciated.

On Thursday, Aug. 24, Dr. Karen Hunter Anderson, executive director of the Illinois Community College Board, visited LLCC to recognize the college’s Open Door Mentorship Program as a statewide and national model for community college engagement and alignment with business.

Anderson was joined by college president Dr. Charlotte Warren; Hy Bunn, president and CEO of BUNN; Jennifer Foster, ICCB Deputy Director for Adult Education and Workforce; Michael Phelon, Open Door program coordinator; and students in the Open Door program.

Dr. Warren discussed how LLCC has developed an innovative partnership with local businesses to support the academic success and workforce goals of African American male students. Hy Bunn spoke as one of the Open Door program’s business partners. Since the program’s inception, more than 30 local business and industry partners have signed on to mentor students, lead professional development sessions or offer internships.

Michael Phelon and students in the Open Door program shared their experiences with the program and provided interviews to media.  Read more.

The LLCC farm stand will re-open Monday, Aug. 28. You can visit the farm stand in A. Lincoln Commons from 1:30-4:15 p.m. to purchase produce that has been organically grown on the LLCC campus. Please note the stand accepts cash only, and small bills are appreciated.

Many thanks to all those who volunteered their time to greet and assist students in A. Lincoln Commons during Welcome Week. Volunteers helped create a great start for students’ fall semester at LLCC! Welcome Week volunteers included: Chris Barry, Jeris Creasey, Gailyn Draper, Barb Eades, Dr. Lesley Frederick, Leslie Johnson, Joanie Rogers, Leanne Roseberry, Karen Sanders, Denese Schaljo, Lori Smith, Kirsten Taylor and Dr. Eileen Tepatti.

A reminder of a couple important deadlines for students: the last withdrawal date for tuition refund is today, and the last day to add classes for the fall semester is tomorrow.

David Ferrill, IT specialist, shared these eclipse photos he took on campus Monday. He notes that he brought his DSLR camera and a welding helmet, and took the pictures through the welding glass.