Category Archives: Foundation

07.22.20

Edwards Family Memorial Scholarship established at LLCC

Cinda and Frank EdwardsAn endowed scholarship has been established at LLCC as a memorial to Frank and Cinda Edwards. The Edwards Family Memorial Scholarship is funded by contributions made by family and friends.

It is designated for a Chatham Glenwood High School graduate enrolled full-time in LLCC’s associate degree nursing program.

Frank and Cinda Edwards, Glenwood High School alums, were known for their community service. Cinda, an LLCC nursing alum, was a member of the LLCC Board of Trustees from 2007-2013 and served as chair for two years. She was appointed Sangamon County Coroner in 2011. Cinda was awarded the 2015 LLCC Honored Alum Award and was recognized as the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Honored Alum in 2016. Frank served in the Illinois National Guard and worked for the Springfield Fire Department, retiring as chief in 2002. He then served as Springfield’s Ward 1 Alderman. He also served as interim-mayor from December 2010 to April 2011.

Samantha McCarrelSamantha McCarrel of Pawnee has been named the first recipient of the Edwards Family Memorial Scholarship. She has worked as a certified nursing assistant in the cardiac unit at St. John’s Hospital while also attending classes full-time and maintaining a 3.82 GPA. In the last year, she has earned several awards from patients and colleagues.

“I have learned how much I enjoy helping people and working together in a team environment,” McCarrel says. She plans to continue working at St. John’s Hospital as a registered nurse after graduating from the LLCC associate degree nursing program in spring 2021. She also plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing to one day teach.

07.20.20

New LLCC scholarships available

Did you know that you can choose where your money goes when you donate to the annual faculty and staff campaign known as LEAGUE which stands for Leaders Establishing Gifts Underwriting Education? You can designate your LEAGUE gift for the Pay It Forward student emergency assistance fund, LEAGUE grants, the greatest needs of the college, the general scholarship fund or for one of these newly established scholarships:

  • Stand Together Scholarship (black students with financial need, any major)
  • Sam Germann Aviation Scholarship (powerplant and aviation mechanics majors)
  • Lorie Anne McDonald Scholarship (education majors),
  • Edwards Family Memorial Scholarship (nursing majors)
  • Kevin Cory Scholarship (past/present members of the Central Illinois Boys & Girls Club, any major)
  • Judith L. and Donald T. Anderson Scholarship (agriculture majors).

It’s not too late to make your annual gift to the LEAGUE campaign. To date, more than 100 faculty and staff have contributed over $40,000. Email or call the LLCC Foundation at 786-2797. For more information on designating your gift, please contact Barb Eades, at Barbara.Eades@llcc.edu or by phone at 786-2255.

07.08.20

Have you seen the LEAGUE video?

Star-studded cast delivers fetch LEAGUE video

Review by Barbara Eades, LLCC Foundation

Featuring a star-studded cast of LLCC faculty and staff, the LEAGUE video will have you rolling in the aisles … or rolling your eyes anyway.

The first half of the video is downright hilarious, but then it takes a turn focusing on a more serious note as the true meaning of the LEAGUE campaign is revealed. Spoiler alert: LEAGUE is an acronym for Leaders Establishing Gifts Annual Underwriting Education and is actually a campaign for the benefit of our students and programs. We see cameos from Dr. Warren, Stacey Olson, Dean Butzow and others who help us navigate through the twists and turns of making a donation.

Do yourself a favor during this time of social distancing, and check out the LEAGUE 90s video. It’s three and half minutes of pure entertainment! We give it five stars!

Note: It’s not too late to make your contribution or pledge to the LEAGUE campaign. To date, approximately 100 faculty and staff have pledged nearly $40,000 to help our students. Contact the LLCC Foundation at llccfoundation@llcc.edu or call 786-2797.

07.07.20

In the news

The $100,000 gift from The Brandt Foundation that will support scholarships for LLCC Agriculture’s precision agronomy/fertilizer program was covered in yesterday’s Morning Ag Clips.

The Mid-West Truckers Association named Bob Howard, recently retired director of the LLCC Truck Driver Training Program, the July 2020 “Trucker of the Month” and featured him and the Truck Driver Training program in the cover story of the July issue of “Keep on Truckin’ News” distributed to 4,000 member companies. LLCC Public Relations and Marketing provided photos and information for the article.

06.30.20

The BRANDT Foundation donates $100,000 to create legacy of support for LLCC Agriculture

Evelyn Brandt Thomas signing checkMore students will prepare for in-demand careers in agronomy and plant nutrition thanks to a $100,000 gift from The BRANDT Foundation to the Lincoln Land Community College Foundation.

The gift will create a legacy of support for the LLCC agriculture program through an endowed scholarship fund. Initially, two new BRANDT Foundation Scholarships will be awarded to LLCC students pursuing an associate in applied science degree in precision agronomy/fertilizer or a certificate in fertilizer.

Precision agronomy students historically have at least three job offers before graduation. LLCC’s precision agronomy and fertilizer programs prepare students to use ever-evolving technology including GPS, robotics and drones to forecast, monitor, map and improve yields to help farmers maximize profits.

Dr. Charlotte Warren and Evelyn Brandt Thomas“BRANDT has been a longstanding and highly valued partner in the success of LLCC’s nationally award-winning agriculture program,” said Dr. Charlotte Warren, president of LLCC, at yesterday’s check presentation ceremony held at BRANDT headquarters in Springfield. “This incredibly generous gift is the latest evidence of The BRANDT Foundation’s commitment to our ag students’ success. BRANDT continues to work hand-in-hand with us as we grow our agriculture program and prepare students for exciting careers in the high-tech future of agriculture.”

Yesterday, Evelyn Brandt Thomas symbolically presented a $100,000 check to Dr. Warren at BRANDT’s global headquarters in Springfield, Ill. The Foundation’s actual commitment will be paid to the LLCC Foundation over five years.

“LLCC is an incredible asset for our community,” said Mrs. Thomas. “We have long supported the college and have embraced their graduates for years. We know that when we hire someone from LLCC we are getting an immediate contributor to Team BRANDT … LLCC graduates hit the ground running, with the training and experience they need to make a difference.”

BRANDT’s support for LLCC agriculture students goes back for decades. For over 20 years, BRANDT has paid tuition and fees for students in the LLCC precision ag/fertilizer program who are then hired by the company. BRANDT also sponsors internships for LLCC ag students and opens its facilities to students studying fertilizer equipment and plant operations. BRANDT shares its precision map and soil test data sets with LLCC classes, and established research plots on the LLCC campus and at the LLCC research farm in Blue Mound, Ill.

Continuing this momentum, the college is developing an accelerated precision ag program that will run throughout the year, graduate students faster and improve the utilization of the LLCC land lab, giving students more hands-on training than ever before.

Agriculture is one of the original programs offered by LLCC and has continuously evolved to keep ahead of the latest technological trends in farming. The agriculture program offers students a hands-on education in the study of cutting-edge agriculture practices, with excellent facilities, dedicated full-time professors, career and internship opportunities, club activities and participation in national competitions. LLCC students can pursue a transfer degree in agriculture or degrees and certificates in agri-business management, precision agronomy/fertilizer and horticulture. More information is available at www.llcc.edu/agriculture.

The BRANDT Foundation is a private foundation designed to organize the giving of BRANDT, Inc., its employees and the family founders to provide meaningful assistance and support to the communities, farms and families where BRANDT has facilities.

06.30.20

In the news

Yesterday’s $100,000 check presentation outside the BRANDT, Inc. Springfield headquarters was covered by the State Journal-Register, WICS, WMAY, WFMB ag and Springfield Scene magazine. BRANDT, Inc. co-founder Evelyn Brandt Thomas presented the symbolic check to Dr. Charlotte Warren, LLCC president. Both were interviewed along with Bill Harmon, agronomy professor.

06.30.20

New LEAGUE video

Back to the 90s. LEAGUE. LLCC Foundation 2020Do you remember the 90s? Did you have a favorite TV show, band or movie? Watch the new LEAGUE video as LEAGUE committee members reminisce about their favorite memories of the 1990s.

LEAGUE, which is an acronym for Leaders Establishing Annual Gifts Underwriting Education, is the annual faculty and staff giving campaign. Donations benefit our students in the form of scholarships, various program funds, the Pay It Forward fund and LEAGUE grants which provide classroom materials, equipment and other enhancements. As a donor, you decide where you direct your contribution!

It’s not too late to make your contribution or pledge. Contact the LLCC Foundation at llccfoundation@llcc.edu or call 786-2797. Payroll deductions begin July 15. Anyone making a donation will be placed into a drawing for two $150 cash prizes donated by members of the LLCC Cabinet. Booyah!

06.23.20

LLCC Foundation announces 2020-2021 scholarship recipients

LLCC Foundation 2020-2021 Scholarship Winners CONGRATS! LLCC Lincoln Land Community College FoundationThe LLCC Foundation has announced the recipients of over 230 scholarships totaling more than $366,000 for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Foundation awards scholarships every year thanks to the support and generosity of individuals, community businesses and organizations.

For the 2021-2022 academic year, the application period for LLCC Foundation scholarships will be Dec. 1-March 1. For the online application, frequently asked questions, helpful scholarship resources and more, visit https://llccfoundation.org/scholarships.

View scholarship recipients, listed alphabetically in hometown order followed by the scholarship they received.

06.01.20

Do you know your 90s trivia?

Back to the 90s. LEAGUE. LLCC Foundation 2020Test your knowledge of LEAGUE 90s trivia. Everyone who guesses will be entered into a drawing for a prize. You don’t have to answer correctly to win! Watch for questions and submit your answer by email to llccfoundation@llcc.edu.

The answer to the previous LEAGUE 90s trivia question hairstyles popular in the 1990s was a.) Curtained hair – which featured a center part.

Today’s LEAGUE 90s trivia question:

Which artist had the most number one hit songs during the 90s?
a. Madonna
b. Janet Jackson
c. Whitney Houston
d. Mariah Carey

Submit your answer by email to llccfoundation@llcc.edu for a chance to win. Congratulations to the previous winner Bert Sneyd.

If you have not made your donation to LEAGUE, there is still time. Ask for a form when submitting your answer to the LLCC Foundation. Donations benefit our students and programs. If you make a donation to the LEAGUE campaign by June 30, your name will be entered into a drawing for two $150 cash prizes made available thanks to the LLCC Cabinet.