Brian Earley, instructor, automotive technology, and Dave Pietrzak, program director, aviation, took students on a field trip to Southern Illinois University Carbondale last Friday. Students from automotive technology and aviation mechanics learned more about bachelor’s degree programs in auto tech and aviation and toured facilities. Students also toured Enhanced Aero’s hangar, a new aviation business located across from SIU Aviation.

Dual credit students from Nokomis High School participating in Pastry Arts CLA 142 and Food Pro 1 CLA 131 recently visited LLCC Culinary and Hospitality on the Springfield campus to complete finals for their prospective classes. In an effort to calibrate the teaching and learning occurring in both places, ongoing connection between the main campus program and the dual credit program is something that the culinary and hospitality program has focused on this school year. In the fall, Sheridan Lane, director of programs and operations, and Jeff Martin, workforce recruitment coordinator, visited the classrooms to talk about career pathways in the culinary and hospitality industry as well as available programing at the Workforce Institute and LLCC as a whole. Then this spring, students participated in the calibration/final exam at the Workforce Careers Center at the end of their learning periods on March 31 for Pastry Arts, and April 21 for Food Pro 1. We hope to use the results of students’ final exam data collected in both dual credit and on-campus classes to inform and guide the ongoing partnership.

LLCC welcomed 100 students from the Capital Area Career Center on Wednesdsay to the LRS Aviation Center to learn about our aviation mechanic training program and great careers in the field. They also toured the facilities of Standard Aero and the 183^rd Air National Guard while at the airport.

Info Tech Expo

The computer science program at LLCC is hosting the Info Tech Expo 2023 today, April 13, 1-3 p,m. at Kreher Agriculture Center.

The event will showcase the computer science program and its talented students. The expo will provide students with the opportunity to to learn more about the local IT industry and network with local employers and to explore different career paths in the field of computer science.

Employers such as the State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, SIU School of Medicine, Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Wing, United Community Bank, i3 Broadband, Computer Techniques LLC and MSF&W Consulting will be present at the event.

Workforce Institute Career Fair

The Workforce Institute at LLCC hosted a career fair yesterday, 9-11 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m., for LLCC students. Approximately 30 employers participated.

Photo: Dr. Nancy Sweet, dean, LLCC Workforce Institute; John Walters, aftermarket product manager, Deere and Company; Dr. Jason Dockter, interim vice president, LLCC academic services; Dr. Charlotte Warren, LLCC president; Jeff Gardner, program director, LLCC diesel technologies; Josh Collins, assistant vice president, LLCC business relations; Todd Crowley, corporate service manager, Prairie State Tractor; Karen Sanders, vice president, LLCC advancement and executive director, LLCC Foundation

John Deere Reman has donated a significant amount of machine components to be used as training aids in the new LLCC diesel technologies program.

“We can’t thank Deere and Company enough for this generous donation,” said Jeff Gardner, program director, LLCC diesel technologies. “The components will be put to use training the next generation of technicians when the diesel technologies program kicks off this fall. This donation would not have been possible without the cooperation of Deere and Company, Prairie State Tractor and Martin Equipment.”

LLCC diesel technologies is a two-year, associate degree program training students for well-paying jobs in the diesel industry. “The lack of trained technicians has reached a crisis level both locally and nationally,” said Gardner. “This severe lack of workers is leading to higher wage offers.”

John Walters, aftermarket product manager, Deere and Company World Headquarters in Moline, coordinated the donation. “It is a thrill to partner with Todd Crowley from Prairie State Tractor to identify and distribute the parts, components and training aids necessary to fuel the Diesel Technologies program at LLCC. Being included in the vision for the incoming students is both exciting and humbling. Thank you for the opportunity to see our John Deere Higher Purpose in action, to support, train, influence and educate the next generation of employees.”

Todd Crowley, corporate service manager, Prairie State Tractor, noted, “We have opportunities to help schools like LLCC who don’t need perfectly running engines — they need engines that will rotate and can be torn down. In fact, failed engines, transmissions, axles and other parts are best, because the students are forced to find the `why’ in failures.”

Rob Garlish, branch manager, Martin Equipment in Springfield, arranged the trucking of components from Springfield, Mo. to Springfield, Ill.

LLCC’s diesel technologies program combines classroom and hands-on learning experiences to train students to diagnose, service and repair diesel powered equipment. More information is available at www.llcc.edu/diesel-technologies.