02.26.25

Watch for students in distress

This time of year can be a stressful and overwhelming time for our students. Please remember that if you notice a student needing extra mental health support or experiencing mental health challenges, we have a student care coordinator who can assist students in finding the appropriate mental health resources. You can refer the student to LLCC Student Care Coordinator Kellee Phillips.

If you notice a student in crisis (a potential harm/threat to themselves or others), please contact the LLCC Police Department immediately at 217-786-2222 or 911.

If you notice a student in distress (experiencing extreme emotions), please contact Kellee Phillips via teams at 217-786-2409.

Let’s make sure that we are looking out for one another!

02.26.25

15-Minute Fixes: Quick Tips to Improve Digital Accessibility (Alt Text)

Take 15 minutes out of your busy schedule this Thursday, Feb. 27, at 3:30 p.m., to learn more about how small practices can have a big impact in your courses. Each Zoom session will last 15 minutes, with an opportunity to stay after for questions and discussion. We will approach all of these topics with the understanding that digital accessibility is an issue of equity and inclusion, and while these practices are essential for some of our students, they are useful for all of them.

Thursday’s topic: Alt Text – Learn about best practices in writing alt text, including understanding appropriate use of figurative images.

Register for the Feb. 27, 15-Minute Fix.

02.26.25

In the News

If life keeps you running, there’s no better place to slow down, than in the kitchen. In this week’s Epicuriosity 101 article, “The beauty of slow cooking,” Channing Fullaway-Johnson, culinary coordinator, LLCC Community Education, explains how slow cooking can melt away stress.

02.26.25

LLCC BSU students attend Black and Latinx Summit

LLCC BSU students pose at the Black and Latinx Summit at UIUC.
LLCC’s BSU students attended the annual Black and Latinx Summit at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign last weekend. The summit seeks to bring students from all intersections into a shared space to learn and connect. This focus is an intentional understanding of the traumas that communities of color in the United States have faced both historically and contemporarily. It is also cognizant of the strides we take each day to heal our wounds and better prepare us for the next change in our circumstances. By creating this space, we hope others will join us in exploring the landscape of our communities and finding ways to make us stronger as a collective.

02.26.25

In the Community

WEI and PATH attended the One in a Million, Inc. 30th Anniversary Black History Ball on Saturday. They were a table sponsor and provided an information table for the event as well.
WEI Staff posing at their table at a gala.

02.25.25

Campus Visit Day – Monday, March 3

Campus Visit DayWe’re less than a week away to the next Campus Visit Day on March 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. LLCC Recruitment & Admissions has a full lineup planned including student panels, tours, breakout sessions and activities, plus all the great exhibit tables and faculty and staff ready to talk to prospective students and parents.

There is still time to register if you know somone interested in learning more about the programs offered at LLCC.

02.25.25

LLCC LEAGUE will be Hanging Ten on March 25

LEAGUE 2025 LLCC Foundation Catch the Wave.The LEAGUE Committee has been hard at work making plans for the upcoming kickoff of the LEAGUE campaign on Professional Development Day, Tuesday March 25. LEAGUE is an acronym for Leaders Establishing Annual Gifts Underwriting Education. It is the annual faculty and staff giving campaign, and the purpose is to raise money in support of our students and programs. Since the LEAGUE campaign began in 1995, nearly $950,000 has been donated by faculty and staff members.

This year’s theme for the campaign is surfing. The committee invites all faculty and staff to “catch the wave” and join them for lunch, entertainment and camaraderie on March 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LEAGUE Surfboard Decorating Contest

Calling all surfer dudes and dudettes … or departments who just like to be creative! The LEAGUE Committee is hosting a surfboard decorating contest — not real surfboards — but cardboard cutouts. Get your team together to decorate and decorate a surfboard by March 25. There will be a prize for the most popular surfboard. For more information, email Barb Eades or call 217-786-2255.

02.25.25

Nominate the 2025 Student Commencement Speaker

Faculty and staff,

As we prepare for the LLCC Commencement ceremonies in 2025, we are excited to begin the process of selecting our student speaker. The student speaker plays a key role in representing the voice of the graduating class, inspiring peers and celebrating the shared experience of our academic community.

We are looking for a student who exemplifies the values of LLCC — one who has shown leadership, perseverance and a commitment to personal growth. This year, we are particularly seeking a student whose journey aligns with the theme of “Change.” We are looking for someone who has experienced significant transformation in their life, whether through their academic work, connections with faculty, staff and peers, or by overcoming personal challenges. This student should have a unique perspective on how LLCC has helped shape or alter their outlook on life, their future, or their personal trajectory.

If you know a student who has demonstrated these qualities, someone who positively represents LLCC and embodies the spirit of growth and transformation, we invite you to submit a nomination for their consideration as the student speaker.

Please provide a brief rationale for your nomination, detailing how the student has embraced change and how their experiences at LLCC have impacted their path. Nominations should be submitted no later than March 22, 2025, to Gailyn Draper.

A nomination form is linked below, along with a list of graduating students for 2024-2025 school year.
Graduating Students 2025
MEMO Student Speakers APPLICATIONS 2025

If you have any questions, please reach out to Gailyn Draper at 217-786-2213 or Ashley Krzenski at 217-786-3479.

Thank you for your time and for helping us select a student speaker who will truly represent the transformative experience of our graduates.