In the news

Jolene Lamb, director, LLCC Community Education, wrote the Dec. 26 essay in the Illinois Times, “New year, new opportunities, new you.”

Chad Jones, professor of exercise and sports science and head women’s basketball coach, authored the Dec. 24 essay in the State Journal-Register, “The importance of sport and fitness.”

Ty Bergman, adjunct instructor culinary and special events consultant, wrote this week’s Epicuriosity 101 column in the State Journal-Register, “A coffee tradition.” Over winter recess, Jay Kitterman, culinary and special events consultant, turned his Dec. 27 Epicuriosity 101 column over to Charlyn Fargo Ware, who wrote “Favorite cookbooks.” Joshua Dineen, chef specialist, wrote the Dec. 20 Epicuriosity 101 column, “Favorite French side dishes for the holidays.”

Nursing pinning ceremony held Tuesday

Group of nursing students, faculty and staff at pinning ceremony
Congratulations to our nursing students who received their pins Tuesday! We celebrate you and your accomplishments. 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.

Three LLCC nursing students inducted into honor society

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023,  three LLCC nursing students were inducted into the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society. The students have excelled in their general education and nursing studies and completed a community service project. Family, friends and faculty gathered to celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations!

Natasha Guenther, Faculty Advisor Dr. Ana Till, Katlyn McQuern and Michael Corredato

l-r: Natasha Guenther (secretary), Dr. Ana Till (faculty advisor), Katlyn McQuern (president) and Michael Corredato (vice president)

Congratulations OTA class of 2023!

Ashley Ware, Mellissa Starkey, Rylie Jagosh, Emma Brink, Brock Ripple, and Katy Bollman.LLCC has been graduating OTA students since 1999, and the class of 2023 has completed its educational journey! A pinning ceremony was conducted at the Trutter Center on Saturday, Dec. 9 to celebrate the six students who successfully completed the two-year occupational therapy assistant Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The event was made even more special as the six graduates were surrounded by the love and support of over 100 family members and friends.

Next steps for the graduates include sitting for the National Board For Certification in Occupational Therapy exam leading to state licensure. Once licensed, these students officially join the occupational therapy profession dedicated to improving the lives of others since 1917.

Pictured left to right: Ashley Ware, Mellissa Starkey, Rylie Jagosh, Emma Brink, Brock Ripple and Katy Bollman.

IDI Grant spotlight: BSU event for D186 seniors

Be the Change. Twelve LLCC faculty and staff members pictured.

BSU event for D186 seniors

submitted by Kim Wilson and written by Dr. David Leitner on behalf of BSU

Students at hot chocolate bar and exhibits in TrutterMembers of the LLCC Black Student Union (BSU) welcomed approximately 60 District 186 seniors to BSU Fest Friday, April 21, 2023, on the Springfield campus.

The event was held to help students explore educational options and enhance community connection and inclusion among Black students.

Participants toured campus; participated in sonography, poetry or natural hair care workshops; and heard from BSU alumni, faculty and staff.

Kim Wilson talking to tables of students in the Trutter CenterThe recruitment event covered two needs: to recruit more minority students to attend LLCC and to recruit students to join LLCC’s Black Student Union while attending the college. The overall event was geared toward helping students make sound financial decisions when deciding where to attend college. Students also learned that by attending LLCC their first two years, they can have a sense of belonging by joining BSU, a quality education at little or no out-of-pocket expense and still transfer to an HBCU as a junior to fulfill their educational dream. Community vendors, faculty and staff were invited to engage with the students and show the diverse environment that LLCC can build for its students to succeed.

Be the change

idi Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant ProgramApplications are currently being accepted through Nov. 30, 2023, for LLCC’s IDI Grant program for 2023-24! The goal of the grant is to prompt, identify and support innovative proposals that incorporate inclusivity and enhance diversity at LLCC.

Apply for an IDI Grant.
View project examples.

IDI Grant spotlight: Healthy Minds, Hearts and Hands

Be the Change. Twelve LLCC faculty and staff members pictured.

Healthy Minds, Hearts and Hands

Yvonne Cosentino, OTA program director

Student standing in a big circle in the gymThis community-based service learning project was selected for LLCC Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion (IDI) Grant funding in 2022-23 and enabled a partnership between the LLCC Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois to increase diversity of OTA student applications by increasing community awareness of the occupational therapy profession. The project, “Healthy Minds, Hearts and Hands,” brought engaging activities promoting fitness, emotional well-being and social language development for building student confidence and success at school. Additionally, the program offered traditional school-based occupational therapy strategies to help students who struggle with homework to build skills that will carry over into the classroom.

Student with their hands over their heads as they stand in a big circle in the gymAs a result of the project, the college gained two interested candidates for the OTA program cohort beginning in January 2024. Additionally, pre- and
post-testsof third, fourth and fifth graders identified that 54% of students reported an improvement in executive function skills, 50% of students reported improved sensory-motor performances and 36% of students reported improved success with academic subjects.

Children on a playground holding cupsBoys & Girls Clubs staff members overwhelmingly “strongly agreed” that the program was beneficial, and they would recommend it to other after-school sites. The LLCC first-semester OTA student reflections identified the strengths and challenges of working with such a large group of children and are looking forward to continuing to grow the program with additional strategies for organization, management and activity development.

Be the change

idi Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant ProgramApplications are currently being accepted through Nov. 30, 2023, for LLCC’s IDI Grant program for 2023-24! The goal of the grant is to prompt, identify and support innovative proposals that incorporate inclusivity and enhance diversity at LLCC.

Apply for an IDI Grant.
View project examples.

LLCC’s Student Radiographers Association is in the community

On Thursday, Nov. 9, 11 members of the LLCC Student Radiographers Association and Janelle Murphy, program director, radiography, volunteered at HSHS Mission Outreach.  Mission Outreach is an organization that accepts medical supply donations from all over the U.S. These donations are sorted at the center and then shipped overseas to various countries in need. The club members sorted, counted, weighed and boxed supplies to help expedite the process. They are current students of LLCC’s associate degree radiography program and demonstrated a strong commitment to bettering health care concerns across the world!

Eleven radiography students at HSHS Mission Outreach

Front row (l-r): Macy Mullally, Grace Cox, Allison Vaira and Jordan Broaddus; back row (l-r): Gabby Carroll, Olivia Hickman, Syndey Skeeters, Kayla Wittenauer, Kori Estes, Katie Lindsey and Erin Quinn.

Janelle and five students packing boxesFour students packing boxesGive students taping boxesFour students standing behind table of supplies

 

Beta Nu nursing honor students are in the community

On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Beta Nu nursing honor students volunteered at the Girls on the Run 5K in the first aid tent. This sunny morning had some chilly winds, but that did not deter participation! While waiting for the race to begin, Beta Nu students invited children in attendance to roll the dice and complete the corresponding yoga pose.

Beta Nu students Maggie Crocker, Sarina Sloman and Jackie Romer

Beta Nu students (l to r) Maggie Crocker, Sarina Sloman and Jackie Romer.

Radiologic Technology Week

Today kicks off National Radiologic Technology Week. Let’s celebrate LLCC’s future radiographers!

Radiography class of 2024

LLCC Radiography class of 2024

Radiography class of 2025

LLCC Radiography class of 2025

OTA visits car seat clinic

When it comes to selecting the right car seat for your child, one size does not fit all. The LLCC Occupational Therapy Assistant students recently visited the Sangamon County Department of Public Health for instruction in fitting and securing infant/child safety car seats. Experienced child passenger safety technicians volunteer their time several times each month to provide this service free of charge to the community and were on hand to provide education and observations for our OTA students. Dr. Cynthia Maskey even got in on the fun as she had a new car seat installed by the experts to keep her granddaughter safe when she visits! This skill is a necessary part of an OTA’s job when working in the field of pediatrics. Special needs children often require adaptive car seats or additional positioning supports to keep them safe and secure as they travel on Illinois roads — and your LLCC OTA students will be up to the task!

Dr. Maskey with students and volunteer and car seat clinicStudents getting instruction on installing car seats