Brandon Townsend has recently joined LLCC as a bookstore stockroom technician. He previously worked as an assistant manager in the paint department at Menards and then transferred to receiving. Brandon is a former LLCC student. You may have seen him playing drums in the LLCC Big Band. Brandon can be reached by phone at 217-786-4919 or by email.
Welcome Brandon!
Congratulations to Misty (Hagstrom) Schierer, graphic design specialist, on her marriage to Doug Schierer Saturday, June 11, at their home in Chatham. They surprised family and friends that were in attendance at their annual Baconfest with the ceremony. Best wishes, Misty and Doug!
LLCC Student Success is pleased to share a great training opportunity for you: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)! MHFA training covers:
Many of the staff in LLCC Student Services have been through this training and feel that it is very useful in gaining some of the tools needed to recognize signs/symptoms of mental health challenges. We all play an important role in helping identify, support and refer students that may need additional assistance. This training is not intended to make anyone a counselor; rather, we believe that this provides great tools to help folks that are uniquely positioned in student-facing roles to feel more confident in providing initial support.
We have one training opportunity this summer for you (in-person), conducted by a certified MHFA trainer from Heritage Behavioral Health Center. There are only 20 spots for the training, so get signed up as soon as possible. Lunch will be provided! Please note that you will have to commit to be present during the entire training.
Monday, June 27 (Stephens Room)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (includes breaks and lunch break)
If interested, sign up for a training time at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DACAC2AA6FDCE9-mental2
The deadline to sign up is noon June 16. After you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email, and you will receive information before the training about setting up your profile.
Please reach out to Alex Berry if you have any questions!
“Freedom created other problems. Despite the announcement, Texas slave owners weren’t too eager to part with what they felt was their property. When freed people tried to leave, many of them were beaten, lynched or murdered. ‘They would catch [freed slaves] swimming across [the] Sabine River and shoot them,’ a former enslaved person named Susan Merritt recalled.” (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth)
Learn more at LLCC’s upcoming Juneteenth activities, including a celebration on June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons and a book read of “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed. Get more details.
June 17-19 is 217 Black Restaurant Weekend. Now in its third year, the event aims to counter economic disparity within black-owned businesses with fun and interactive solutions that engage, excite and ignite a deeper understanding and appreciation of Springfield’s food culture. LLCC is sponsoring Jerk Shop Go, located in downtown Springfield.
United Community Bank is offering four tickets to Anastasia at the UIS Performing Arts Center on June 23. Tickets are available on a first-come basis by contacting the LLCC Foundation at 217-786-2785.
Thanks to all those who donated to this year’s annual faculty and staff giving campaign. A total of nearly $48,000 was received in gifts and pledges from more than 100 donors.
Congratulations to Dr. Claire Gordon, the first winner of the $150 LEAGUE cash prize drawing and to Dr. Gillian Bauer who was the second winner. The money for the drawings was donated by members of the LLCC Cabinet. In addition, the following were winners of gift cards donated by various businesses: Shanda Byer, Katie McDannald, Tim Pierson, Brenda Protz, Laurenn York, Cathy Burke and Leslie Johnson.
Donations to the LEAGUE Campaign support students and programs in a variety of ways including emergency needs, scholarship support and through the awarding of grants for various programs and projects.
It’s not too late to make your donation. Payroll deductions begin July 15. Complete the 2022 LEAGUE Donation Form or if you have questions contact the Foundation at LLCCFoundation@llcc.edu or call 217-786-2785.
(Photos: Participants enjoy the LEAGUE Around the World activities on Professional Development Day March 23.)
A new mural commissioned by Jacksonville Main Street has been installed on the side of LLCC-Jacksonville, 32 N. Central Park Plaza. The mural honors Dr. Alonzo H. Kenniebrew, the first African American to own and operate a hospital in the U.S. He ran New Home Sanitarium in Jacksonville for nearly 20 years in the early 1900s. A ribbon cutting will be held June 18, 11 a.m. Read more about the mural and Kenniebrew in this Jacksonville Journal-Courier article.
Contractors will begin work in Sangamon 2313 removing/replacing science casework and installing new flooring on June 15. We anticipate minimal dust and noise during the renovation. While the new epoxy floor coating is installed, there might be a few days of a small (harmless) odor as the product cures. Any dust, noise and odor creation we anticipate to be complete by the end of June. Also, please use caution and follow all signs, caution tape, cones, barricades and barriers in this area during the project. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tim Ervin at 217-786-9605 or tim.ervin@llcc.edu.
LLCC Public Relations & Marketing thanks everyone who joined us in greeting and assisting students in A. Lincoln Commons last week. You helped students get a great start to summer session! It would not have been possible without all of you who took time out of your busy days to help students find classes, print off schedules and much more.
Those who helped greet students during Welcome Week included: Nikki Baker, Chris Barry, Alex Berry, Jeremy Bliss, Josh Collins, Barb Eades, Tiffany-Anne Elliott, Claire Heffron-McKinney, Leslie Johnson, LLCC Police Department, Leanne Roseberry, Scott Searcy and Kim Young.
“Not all enslaved people were freed instantly. Texas is a large state, and General Granger’s order (and the troops needed to enforce it) was slow to spread. According to historian James Smallwood, many enslavers deliberately suppressed the information until after the harvest, and some beyond that. In July 1867 there were two separate reports of enslaved people being freed, and one report of a Texas horse thief named Alex Simpson, whose enslaved people were only freed after his hanging in 1868.” (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth)
Learn more at LLCC’s upcoming Juneteenth activities, including a celebration on June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons and a book read of “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed. Get more details.
June 17-19 is 217 Black Restaurant Weekend. Now in its third year, the event aims to counter economic disparity within black-owned businesses with fun and interactive solutions that engage, excite and ignite a deeper understanding and appreciation of Springfield’s food culture. LLCC is sponsoring Jerk Shop Go, located in downtown Springfield.