Join the LLCC Team at the Springfield Heart and Stroke Walk

Join the LLCC Has Heart Team, or start your own for the Springfield Heart and Stroke Walk on June 9. The event takes place at Erin’s Pavilion. Registration begins at 1 p.m., the walk starts at 1:30 p.m.

The Springfield Heart and Stroke Walk is a one or two mile fun walk. There is something for every member of the family: a fruit bar, balloon animals for kids, CPR basics and a warm-up with a WERQ instructor. The Heart and Stroke Walk benefits the American Heart Association.

05.29.24

Condolences to Leanne Roseberry

We extend our condolences to Leanne Roseberry, acquisitions specialist, LLCC Library, on the passing of her mother, Joyce Lee McIntosh on May 16. Visitation will be held 9:30-11 a.m., Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Staab Funeral Home in Springfield. Read the obituary.

05.23.24

Condolences to Michael and Jennifer Ramm

We extend our condolences to Michael and Jennifer Ramm, professors of chemistry, on the passing of Michael’s mother, Susan Ramm. Susan was an alumna and long-time employee of LLCC. She retired with 23 years of service to the college in academic advising, counseling and the Women’s Center. Visitation and services are planned for June 1. Read the obituary.

The Ramm family invites those attending to a luncheon afterwards. Please email Michael Ramm if you plan to attend.

05.23.24

Condolences to Diane M. Wilson

We extend our condolences to Diane M. Wilson, marketing specialist, LLCC Foundation, on the passing of her father, Robert Duane “Bob” Haas on May 13. Visitation and services will be held May 28 and 29. Read the obituary.

05.21.24

Milestone Nursing Class Receives Their Pins

Congratulations to our nursing students who received their pins Saturday! With 68 students in participation, this was the largest class to be pinned in the history of this program. Several of the pinner’s at Saturday’s ceremony are alum of the LLCC ADN program, it was nice to welcome them back for this full circle moment. To this year’s graduating nurses, we celebrate you and your accomplishments!

2024 LLCC Nursing cohort posing before their pinning ceremony.

Entire 2024 LLCC Nursing cohort, prior to the pinning ceremony.

LLCC 2024 nursing graduates taking their Florence Nightengale pledge.

Taking the Florence Nightengale Pledge.

A pinning ceremony is a symbolic welcoming of newly graduated or soon-to-be graduated nurses into the nursing profession. Students are pinned by an honored nurse of their choice. The ceremony is concluded with an alumni of the program taking stage to lead the new nurses in the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” while nurses in attendance are also invited to stand and recite pledge.

Outstanding Traditional Student recipient was Jackie Romer and Outstanding Transition Student recipient was Dustin Davenport.

05.20.24

Celebrating the Stars of LLCC

LLCC honored 2024 Distinguished Service Award winners, employees with service anniversaries and retirees at the 30th Annual LLCC Employee Recognition and Appreciation Ceremony on May 16.

The college presented four Distinguished Service Awards to individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to the college communityi, promote a student-focused environment and exhibity a strong commitment to the college’s core values.

Faculty – Bill Harmon, professor, agronomy, other nominees included; Eric Stachera, professor of English; Peter Embalabala, professor of mathematics; Laurie Lewis-Fritz, assistant professor of music; David Reynolds, professor of sociology and Cynthia Smock, instructor, neurodiagnostic technology.
Administrator – Chris Russell, LLCC chief of police, other nominees included; Shanda Byer, vice president of student services, Jessie Blackburn, director, LLCC Litchfield, Leigh Giles-Brown, program director, sonography, Cynthia Maskey, dean, health professions and Kirsten Taylor, director, employment and benefits.
Classified Staff – Brenda Loschen, administrative assistant to the dean of arts & communication, other nominees included; Matt Combs, duplication and mail center specialist; Julie Eason, administrative assistant to the vice president, administrative services and Jennifer Lewis, program assistant, community education.
Professional Staff – Samuel Penning, systems administrator, information technology, other nominees included; Laurie Myers, writing center specialist, Tricia Hardway, academic success professional; Claire Heffron-McKinney, student success coach and Amy Williams, academic services coordinator.
Adjunct Faculty – Raven Hinton, adjunct instructor, sonography, other nominees included, Elizabeth Fines-Workman, adjunct instructor of communication, Susan Flynn, adjunct instructor of sociology and Steve Green, adjunct instructor of philosophy.

Retirees recognized were:

Barb Bernardi, professor of biology, 16 years
Cindy Burger, administrative assistant to the dean of English and humanities, 6 years
Laurie Clemons, student success coach, 28 years
Cathleen Ferguson, associate professor, basic nurse assistant, 14 years
Dr. Mary Goldstein, professor, nursing, 21 years
Nina Koch, records specialist, 30 years
Jennifer Meyer; education services representative, LLCC Jacksonville, 14 years
Michael Meyers, assistant professor, respiratory care, 11 years
John Ryan, building custodian, 24 years
Lynn Whalen, chief communications officer, 18 years

During Employee Recognition Week, employee recognition video presentations were also shared. Employees celebrating service anniveraries:

Ira Bradley celebrates 30 years with LLCC.

30 years of service

35 years – Dr. Cynthia Maskey, dean, health professions

30 years – Ira Bradley, building custodian; Dr. Liesl Smith, professor, English

25 years of service

25 years – Julie Clevenger, executive director, center for academic success; Karie Longhta, associate vice president, finance; Samuel Penning, systems administrator; Tony Rothering, professor of biology; Matthew Shaver, professor of integrated media design; Lori Smith, financial and research analyst, LLCC Foundation.

20 years of service

20 years – Stephanie Cummings, placement and testing coordinator; Anita Glydewell, child development teacher; Tracy Kesinger, professor of nursing; Dr. Tricia Kujawa, assistant vice president, institutional research and effectiveness; Mary Beth Ponser, child development teacher; Karen Sanders, vice president, advancement/executive director, LLCC Foundation; Leslie Stalter, professor of art; Rich Teeter, professor of agri-business management; George Vaughn, professor of communication.

15 years of service

15 years – Sandra Chvala, administrative assistant to the dean, health professions; Shawn Floyd, course materials coordinator; Jamie McCoy, workforce development and health care continuing education program coordinator; Rebecca Miller, professor of psychology; Cara Swafford, professor of English; CC Tietjen St. Magnus, academic success professional; Doug Whitaker, maintenance operations supervisor.

10 years of service

10 years – Dr. Laurel Bretz, associate vice president, continuing, corporate and professional education; Brad Brickey, mechanical maintenance technician; Mary Dellert, executive administrative assistant and secretary to the Board of Trustees; Barbara Eades, assistant director, LLCC Foundation; Nick Ferreira, program director emergency services and health; Adrienne Frazier, education services represenetative, LLCC Litchfield; Dr. David Leitner, professor of English; Tim McKenzie, professor of philosophy; Janelle Murphy, program director, associate degree radiography.

Five years of service

Five years – Amber Babbs, program assistant health professions; Lucinda Caughey, associate professor of computer science; Cody Cox, research and analytics associate; Kelly Ellis, student records evaluator; Don Hohimer, horiculturist; Dr. Bridgette Hudson, professor of nursing; Jermain Jefferson, building custodian; Sheridan Lane, director, culinary program and operations; Lori Large Oldenettel, enrollment coordinator, LLCC Jacksonville; Laurie Lewis-Fritz, assistant professor of music; Dr. Teresa Liberati, professor of biology; Adam Nieto, police officer; Dr. Matt Schownir, professor of history; Dr. Bailey Shaw, professor of English; Dr. Karen Sisk, professor of English; Chris Tople, program director, surgical technology; Arnold Tullis, aviaion mechanics, training specialist; Lindsey Weihmeir, registration manager.

05.16.24

Lightboard system instructional video

If you have plans to work on your instructional videos this summer, please take a look at our Lightboard system, a transparent whiteboard made for video creation. Becky Miller and Matt Vespa have put together a demonstration video of the Lightboard. If you are interested in learning more about the Lightboard or would like to reserve time this summer to use it, please contact Andy Mitkos at andy.mitkos@llcc.edu or at (217)786-2763.

05.16.24

Join the LLCC Team at the Springfield Heart and Stroke Walk

05.14.24

Commencement Instructions for Faculty & Administrators

On Friday, May 17, 2024, the LLCC Commencement ceremony will be held at the Bank of Springfield Center,
1 Convention Center Plaza (8th Street between Adams and Washington Streets), Springfield, and will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. with the processional. If you are not planning to be at Commencement, please be reminded that you need to email President Warren for approval.

PLEASE BE AWARE: The Springfield PRIDEFEST is scheduled for May 18, and they will begin setting up the afternoon and evening of May 17. There will be street closures, so please allow sufficient time to find alternative routes and parking if necessary. Also please note that 4th Street and Adams is now two-way traffic.

Faculty should arrive no later than 7 p.m. so that you can assemble in line. Faculty and administrators will line up on the South Ramp. The seating in the Center will be graduates seated in two sections in front and the faculty will be seated behind the graduates in two sections. The line of March will be posted in the LincIn on Wednesday, May 15.

When you arrive, you will see the line of march posted in several places. The line of march will look like this:

Find your last name and determine whether you are in Line A or Line B.
Then locate your row and your specific place within that row. If you are Ruth Acerman, you would be in Line B (house right), Row 2 and the seventh person in that row.
If you were Cathy Allan, you would be in Line A (house left) , Row 3 and the 10th person in that row.

Lines and rows will be clearly marked in the designated area for assembly. Please refrain from congregating at the front of the line, as this obstructs the path for other faculty and administrators trying to find their place and reduces the space for the personnel that will be on the platform to assemble. Remember, faculty emeriti are always positioned at the front of the line.
We do our best to ensure that the line of march is correct. The line of march may change each year and up to the night of Commencement due to retirements, resignations, illnesses and other circumstances. Consider the line of march as a flexible guide rather than a strict rule. If you believe you should be positioned elsewhere in the line, feel free to stand where you think is appropriate. Amy Williams and Vickie Ward will be there to assist you with getting your regalia on and/or helping you find your position in the line of march.

There are 10 chairs in each row. Stand in front of one chair only. Your faculty marshals this year are Kirk Yenerall and Matt Shaver. They will lead you in.

Please note: Due to liability issues, there will NOT be a place to check your personal belongings. Please leave anything you do not wish to carry in your vehicle.

Processional

FIRST: The Board of Trustees and platform members will proceed into the Center’s main hall; graduating students, faculty and administrators will remain at their designated locations until the platform members are at their seats.
SECOND: When members of the platform party are at their seats, there will be a pause in the music followed by a fanfare, and then faculty and administrators will proceed to their row of seats, led by the two faculty marshals. A program will already be in your chairs. It will not be necessary to pick one up from the ushers.
THIRD: There will be a pause in the music, followed by a fanfare, and the graduating students, led by the marshals, will proceed to their rows of seats.

Recessional

FIRST: The Board of Trustees and platform members will recess to the lobby area.
SECOND: The graduating class who will recess between the two sections where faculty and administrators are seated.
THIRD: After the graduates have recessed the faculty and administrators will recess. Again, the two faculty marshals will lead the faculty and administrators out.
We kindly ask faculty members to be considerate of the staff and employees at the BOS Center. Please remember that there are individuals responsible for cleaning up after commencement. Before leaving, we request that you pick up your program, water bottle or any other trash near your chair and properly dispose of it in the designated trash receptacles. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Regalia

If you have not yet picked up your regalia from the bookstore, please do so ASAP! Also, please do not forget to return your regalia at the BOS Center at the completion of Commencement. Please be attentive when returning your regalia and place your regalia in the box, not beside or under the box, or just thrown on the floor.

Parking

There is free on street parking as well as several locations around the Bank of Springfield Center.

05.10.24

Student Recognition Ceremony Honorees

LLCC recognized students with academic leadership and special awards at the Student Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday. Alexa Maher was named the 2024 Oustanding Graduate. The award recognizes a graduate’s excellent grade point average, leadership, motivation, service to the college community, extracurricular activities and ability to overcome obstacles. Maher has served as the president of the Honors Student Club, a leader in Phi Theta Kappa and a member of the Honors Program Council, graduating with an associate in science degree. She plans to study accounting at the University of Illinois Springfield this fall.