Two win awards; five elected to leadership position

LLCC students participated in the 37th annual Model Illinois Government (MIG) simulation on Feb. 26-March 1 at the Illinois State Capitol. Two were honored with awards and five were elected to leadership positions.

Donald Shimkus of Petersburg earned the Lisa Tripp VanDuser Award-Outstanding Office of Management and Budget Analyst.

Elizabeth Roehrs of Springfield earned the Outstanding House Freshman Delegate Award and was also elected as the Democratic Committee spokesperson for the Education Committee.

Silas Tockey of Springfield was elected as a House whip responsible for communication and organization of the House of Representatives Democratic caucus. Emma Todd of Springfield was elected as the Democratic Committee spokesperson for the Senate. Josh Scaife of New Berlin was elected as Republican spokesperson of the Firearms, Gambling, Alcohol and Tobacco Committee for the House, and James Travis Heller of Petersburg was elected spokesperson for the same committee in the Senate.

Other members of the team were John DeRosa and Christian Todd of Springfield, Connor Benbrook of Chatham and Brendan Little of Riverton.

LLCC MIG team members are students in the Model Illinois Government class taught by John Vinzant, Ph.D., professor of political science, of Chatham.

The A-Team (Asperger’s and Autism Awareness and Support Group) meets today from noon-1 p.m. in MNRD 1179.

Please accept our sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s African-American History Month celebration a success. We could not have done it without you, and we look forward to working with you again this time next year.

Dear LLCC family,

Words cannot express my gratitude for the cards, phone calls, email messages, thoughts, prayers and the beautiful flowers that expressed your sympathy in my recent sorrow. Your kindness and thoughtfulness through this difficult time is truly appreciated and will always be remembered.

Tisha Miller, operations analyst, LLCC-Taylorville, Litchfield and Hillsboro

The A-Team will meet March 5 from 12 noon to 1 pm in MNRD 1179. We hope to see you there!

It might not feel like it, but severe weather season will soon be upon us. March 1-7 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. LLCC is hosting the National Weather Service Spotter Training class for Sangamon County on this evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union, Menard Hall.

Severe storm spotters are a VITAL part of the warning process and played a critical role in getting timely warnings and information out to the public during the deadly tornado outbreak on Nov. 17, 2013. The NWS in Lincoln, IL provides on-site spotter training classes annually in various locations across central and southeast Illinois between March and early April.

Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend a spotter class. Children (under the age of 18) are welcome to attend; however, they will not be considered official spotters. There is no cost for the training–just 2 to 2.5 hours of your time for the class. The spotter training class is designed for people new to severe storm spotting, as well as those that need refresher training. The training is comprised of all of the information that spotters need to be effective and stay safe.

The State Journal-Register and WICS ran stories on the LLCC Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 25 at which trustees voted down a motion to end the LLCC soccer program. Board Chair Justin Reichert was interviewed.

WICS covered the Ag Club’s Farmer’s Share Luncheon Feb. 25, interviewing club member and ag student Cole Baker.

A special alumni cast will present a benefit reading of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues” at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Trutter Center. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students with ID and may be purchased at the door beginning at 7 p.m. before the performance.

Amber Berman, Student Life program assistant and fiance Tony Lozzi, along with big brother Henry welcomed Aurelia Margaret Lozzi to their family on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Congratulations!

First-Year Experience Course forum, 9 a.m., Sangamon 2212. For more info, see LincIn article dated Feb. 20.

African-American Food and Vendor Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., A. Lincoln Commons. The event features free samples of African-American food, displays exhibiting the wares of African-American entrepreneurs, in addition to “Saxophone and African-American Poetry Improvisations” performed by LLCC retired business law professor and jazz musician Virgil Rhodes, J.D.

Farmer’s Share Luncheon, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Student Union, Menard Hall. Sen. Sam McCann will speak at noon on agriculture and its importance to central Illinois. Cost to diners is 50 cents, to illustrate what a farmer receives from the cost of a meal.

LLCC Board of Trustees meeting, 5:15 p.m., R.H. Stephens Room. For the agenda, click HERE.