Lincoln Trail College continues to empower students through innovative programs, diverse opportunities, and a commitment to academic excellence. Our 2023-24 Annual Report highlights achievements, community impact, and our ongoing dedication to shaping future leaders.
LINCOLN TRAIL COLLEGE 202324 ANNUAL REPORT
Student award winners: Madison Davis, Maya Curtright, Leticia Guimaraes, Abigail Vaughn, Sean Stone, and Madisyn McIntosh.
Employees, students, and visitors enjoyed the April 8 total eclipse in the LTC Triangle.
Kim C. Cox (‘75) presents a copy of his book I Remain, As Ever, Your Kinsman to LTC Foundation Executive Director Rod Harmon
LTC students have some fun in the snow.
Rowan Gray (left) as Toad and Brennan Seth Tracy as Frog delight in cookies during LTC’s production of A Year With Frog and Toad .
LTC volleyball players hand out candy during Trunk or Treat at the Trail. The event brought more than 2000 people to campus.
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100% PASS RATE FOR NURSING
AMICONE SERVES AS TRUSTEE
HARMON PREPARES TO RETIRE
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BUSY YEAR FOR FBLA-C
DOORS OPEN AT REC CENTER
HARNESS CREATES NATIONAL ORG
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LTC WINS REGIONAL TITLE
THE IMPACT OF MENTORSHIP
TELECOM LEARNS ON THE JOB
05 06 07 08 09 30
Welcome
From the President
From the VCs
From the Foundation By the Numbers From our Leaders
ON THE FRONT COVER: Grace Dudley (‘23) hugs Instructor Tina Lindley after LTC’s 53rd Annual Commencement. ON THE BACK COVER: Men’s soccer players celebrate after winning the Region XXIV Championship.
Forward Together 3
IECC Board of Trustees
Gary Carter, Chairman
Brenda Culver, Vice-Chair
Barbara Shimer, Secretary Pro Tempore
Dr. Susan Batchelor, Trustee
John Brooks, Trustee
Roger Browning, Trustee
Jan Ridgely, Trustee
Jorri VanDyke, Student Trustee
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Our Mission Our Vision
To deliver exceptional education and services to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our communities.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges is an institution that engages, challenges and supports faculty and students as they pursue excellence in teaching and learning. We place the needs of our students at the center of our decision-making, and will continue to be an organization committed to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
Our Values
These values, which are the foundation of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, have defined the District since its inception, and are affirmed by the faculty, students, staff, and administration. At IECC, we believe in and seek to embody these values: Stewardship : Accepting our responsibility to be good stewards of the public trust, we will sensibly use our financial, human, and physical resources to achieve our mission. Responsibility : Encouraging personal growth and learning through leadership, citizenship, and accountability. Integrity : Providing an environment where people are encouraged and empowered to do the right thing in their work and interactions with others. Respect : Recognizing and appreciating our similarities and our differences, we demonstrate mutual regard for others through our words and actions. Accessibility : Providing access to a high-quality college education for everyone who seeks one while providing the support needed to facilitate attainment of academic and professional goals.
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W elcome to the inaugural edition of Forward Together , the district-wide publication of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC). Here, we take pride in spotlighting the achievements of our alumni and the work happening at our four campuses: Frontier Community College, Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central College, and Wabash Valley College.
We invite you to explore the work happen- ing across our District and discover ways you can help us advance the teaching and learn- ing mission of our Colleges.
Forward Together,
Ryan Gower, Ph.D. Chancellor
At IECC, our purpose is clear: to empower students to reach their personal, academic, and professional aspirations. Through the hard work of our faculty and staff, we’ve garnered recognition for excellence at regional, state, and national levels. LTC and WVC were recognized among the top 25 colleges in the country, while OCC is once again an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College. FCC was recognized as the number two community college in Illinois. Our colleges are widely recognized as among the best in the state and nation, a testament to our unwavering dedication to student success. As we look to build on this tradition of excellence, we want to express our appreciation for the pivotal role played by our alumni and local businesses. Your support, whether through financial contributions, providing clinical or work experiences for our students, or helping us ensure our curricula meets industry demands, is crucial in our efforts to enhance the qual - ity of life in our communities.
To shape and secure the future of our organization, each of us must find the courage to embrace change today. It will be through our collective efforts, not the work of one or two people, that we will move IECC forward together.
Forward Together 5
T
he past year at Lincoln Trail College has proven to be an exciting time of growth, change, and new beginnings. Having just started my position as President ten months ago, it has also been a time of listening, learning, and relationship-building with our faculty, staff, students, and community members. In December, we watched the dreams of many committed, visionary individuals come true when the Crawford County Recreation Center (CCRC) opened its doors for business. It’s wonderful to see community members coming and going from our campus seven days a week to use the CCRC, and what a blessing this facility is for our students who now have access to a state-of-the-art recreational facility where some of them are even employed and gaining valuable work experience. Just after the winter break, in January, construction crews began arriving on campus to initiate construc- tion of the new Sports Performance Center for our student-athletes which will offer amenities such as locker rooms, batting cages, a sports performance center, athletic training room, a concession stand, and outdoor restrooms for our fans to use during baseball and soccer seasons. All of this comes just two years after opening Lackey Hall, the new addition to the Zwermann Arts Center which added much-needed space. Therefore, the aforementioned capital improvement projects unde- niably culminate into the term - growth.
Now, as is true with any higher education institution, growth and new additions to campus are exciting, yet they rarely come without change. Change is inevitable and can be hard, however, change can also take what might be viewed as a time of uncertainty and turn it into a time of new opportunities and this is my aspiration for Lincoln Trail College. Change stretches us, takes us out of our comfort zones, and opens doors that wouldn’t otherwise be opened, so may we embrace this time of change and press onward. Additionally, as a commu - nity college district, we strive for continuous improve- ment and in response have completely restructured our organizational framework by way of a Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP). With this SEP, four new divisions were launched in which the IECC Presidents are charged with leading via Vice Chancellor roles. As the Vice Chancellor of the Institutional Outreach division, I get to work collabora- tively with leaders from our Offices of Dual Credit, Adult Education, Enrollment Management, Marketing, TRIO Upward Bound, and Community Education. Working inter-departmentally and collectively with such a stellar team across the IECC district offers us endless possibili - ties for meaningful engagement, strategic bridge build- ing, and new beginnings that will lead to the fulfillment of the IECC mission to deliver exceptional education and services that will improve the lives of our students and strengthen our communities.
Tona Ambrose President and Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach
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The Academic Affairs Division of IECC was established on July 1, 2024 and the Vice-Chancellor (VCAA) and Chief Academic Officer (CAO) positions were created and assigned at this time. This was a new endeavor, as it is the first time all the academic functions of the District, except for dual credit and non-credit instruction, are housed in one unit. While it is the largest division of the organization, comprising over half of all IECC employees, it is also where the mission of the organization predominantly happens; it’s where “the
The Business Operations Division consists of the Vice Chancellor of Business Operations (VCBO), the busi- ness officer on each campus and his/ her staff, and the auxiliary units on each campus made up of campus bookstores and food service staff. As part of the IECC Strategic Engagement Plan, there are three prior - ity topics that the Business Operations Division will address. The first prior - ity is to simplify the IECC tuition and fee structure. Some of this work has already been accomplished as certain
rubber meets the road,” in my opinion. The first task of the unit was to build out the organizational struc - ture with respect to departments and hire personnel accordingly. Having the already established meta-majors provided guidance for Dean positions (Dr. Alani Frederick, Cyndi Boyce, and Robert Conn) as well as Directors of Instructional Services (Amy Tarr and Tim Zimmer). Simultaneously, Dr. Michael Conn was hired to lead the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). Dean Sharmila Kakac’s Business and Industry Training efforts complete the three main departments of Academic Affairs. The second main responsibility was to establish District processes for important functions, such as class scheduling, assigning faculty to classes, creating a major equipment inventory, and online course review and development. We are currently in the process of drafting language detailing these efforts. Dr. Jay Edgren
student fees have been eliminated and adjustments have been made to clarify what the fees are used for. A second priority is to conduct an in-depth review of the auxiliary units on each campus. The two primary auxiliary units are bookstores and food service. Both of these auxiliary units provide a valuable service to students, but they need to become more efficient in their operations so that they can continue to serve students’ needs. A third priority is to develop a uniform textbook adoption process. As the IECC moves into its new organizational structure and there is an increased sharing of resources among the four campuses, it is important that certain procedures become more consistent. The method by which textbooks are adopted and then distributed to students is a prime example. The end goal is for the Business Operations Division to increase efficiency, strengthen auxiliary units, and support the IECC mission to deliver exceptional education and services to improve the lives of our students and strengthen our communities. Chris Simpson Meta-Majors and Guided Pathway s: Five meta-majors and 18 departments were identified to arrange and cate - gorize our career and technical and transfer pathways. To help our students have clear direction when planning their academic plans, academic advi- sors have developed individual transfer pathways and are in the process of finalizing their recommendations for further vetting and approval. Scheduling : IECC has transitioned from campus-based scheduling to a District-based scheduling model. This involves a collaborative effort by the meta-major deans to look at course needs, scheduling efficiencies, delivery modalities, and class assignments which will all improve access to classes and the overall student experience. Major Equipment Rotation : Dr. Edgren and I met with CTE faculty and toured programs on all four campuses this spring. As a result of these visits, we are in the process of developing a major equipment needs list and a rotation plan for replacing existing equipment. New Offering: In the summer of 2025, IECC will launch a new certif- icate program: Gas Utility Construction and Service. This program will prepare students to install, maintain, and operate natural gas distribution systems used to supply residential, commercial, and industrial companies – stay tuned! Dr. Paul Bruinsma I am very excited to serve as the Chief Academic Officer of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. Since starting my role on July 1, 2023, my team has worked on a number of exciting initia- tives projects:
The Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT) was formed over the course of the 2023-24 academic year. Dr. Gower set forth a year for people to meet throughout the IECC District and begin the process of forming divisions. The process of determining which depart- ments and individuals were part of the Student Affairs Division underwent several iterations during the first six months of this fiscal year. There were many white board exercises at each college trying to figure out how our structure could best serve students.
The Student Affairs Division understands the call to provide “wrap- around” services that help transform the lives of our students. We are excited about the opportunity we have each day to impact the lives of our students and to build a robust student experience. It takes a team to build this experience for our students and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Student Affairs Leadership Team. Matt Fowler currently serves as the President and Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs. Amber Malone currently serves as the Associate Dean of Admissions and Records. Libby McVicker currently serves as the Program Director of Grants and Compliance. Cassandra Goldman currently serves as the Dean of Students at IECC. Chad Groves serves as the Director of Learning Commons at Olney Central College. Wain Davis currently serves as the Director of the TRIO Student Support Services program. Dr. Matt Fowler
Forward Together 7
2023-24 LTC Foundation Committees Executives Rod Harmon, Executive Director Tony Pleasant, President Dan McDonald, Vice President Entertainment Bill Holt, Chair Bill Sandiford Kevin McConnell Jerry Bailey Bill Thomas
Jerry Bailey, Treasurer Bill Thomas, Assistant Treasurer Bill Holt, Secretary Scholarship Diana Thompson, Chair
Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon Social Jeanette Berty, Chair Bill Sandiford Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon Farm Jim Knollenberg, Chair
Dan McDonald Cindy Grimm Esther Harmon Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon Nominating Jerry Bailey, Chair Jeanette Berty Bill Thomas Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon Finance Jerry Bailey, Chair Jeanette Berty Bill Thomas
Von Meeks Bill Thomas Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon
Tony Pleasant Rod Harmon
I n its fifty-four-year history, the Lincoln Trail College Foundation has had three Executive Directors. Rod Harmon has been an extremely active Executive Director during his tenure. He continues to be a pres - ence on campus and his passion for all things LTC is apparent. Attempting to fill his shoes by anyone will be a serious challenge. So, how do we measure that success? When Rod started his tenure, total scholarships awarded were less than $20,000. For the 2024-2025 school year, the Foundation will award $300,000.00 in scholarships. But, is the true measure in dollars? Or in impacts made? Lives changed? Opportunities presented? The answer to all of those is yes. What other avenues does the Foundation utilize to support Lincoln Trail? We recently invested $150,000 to help construct the Crawford County Recreation Center which is located on campus. A 30,000-square-foot building is being utilized by both the college and our local communities.
We are reviewing an addition to the library that will be an open area allowing networking and collaboration opportunities. Plus smaller spaces with large windows looking north towards the new Technical Center slated to begin construction in the next twelve months. The primary focus for the Foundation is to do what - ever it takes to work in conjunction with LTC to help educate youth and make that experience as beneficial as possible. Some of that is in scholarships, but what other ways can we use our resources? Maybe work in conjunction with employers from both inside as well as outside our area to help with the entire package needed to attract and educate students of all ages. We will certainly be looking for more partners. Our two primary focus points will be getting addi- tional housing on campus. We can’t attract students from outside our area without housing. And, building a stronger, more vibrant alumni base with better communication, support, and outcomes for
our current and past graduates. That in a nutshell is what we do.
The Foundation has been active with upgrades to the theatre/music department—another strong connection between the campus and our area residents. Presently we are discussing building housing on campus. The initial project will be adding forty small houses. Some two-bedroom, some four-bedroom that we can use to attract new students from outside of our area.
With your help and contributions, we can do more. Help us “Tell our stories about our time at The Trail”.
ABOVE: Outgoing LTC Foundation Executive Director Rod Harmon (left) shakes hands with incoming Executive Director Bill Sandiford.
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By the numbers
54% FEMALE
15% 81% OVER 25 UNDER 25
45% MALE
781
478.88 FTE
HEAD COUNT
18 6 STATES COUNTRIES
COST OF ATTENDANCE ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR TUITION & FEES FOR A FULL-TIME, IECC IN-DISTRICT STUDENT BASED ON 2023-24 EXPENSES FROM COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
LINCOLN TRAIL COLLEGE $4,390
$8,104
LAKE LAND COLLEGE
$7,770
KASKASKIA COLLEGE
$7,800
REND LAKE COLLEGE
262 DEGREES & CERTIFICATES AWARDED IN 2023
JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE
$5,920
$6,300
SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE
$16,289
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY
$9,465
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GRADUATION RATES
FULL-TIME RETENTION
LINCOLN TRAIL COLLEGE 53% LAKE LAND COLLEGE 47% KASKASKIA COLLEGE 37%
FUNDING SOURCES BY PERCENTAGE (IECC)
REND LAKE COLLEGE 56% JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE 31% SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE 42% VINCENNES UNIVERSITY 33% IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE 31%
LINCOLN TRAIL COLLEGE 67% LAKE LAND COLLEGE 73% KASKASKIA COLLEGE 64%
REND LAKE COLLEGE 65% JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE 63% SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE 74% VINCENNES UNIVERSITY 67% IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE 59%
STATE GOVERTNMENTAL SOURCES 31.04%
TUITION & FEES 18.77%
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES 16.64%
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES 15.49%
OTHER REVENUES 9.77%
SALES & SERVICE FEES 4.41%
GIFTS, GRANTS, AND BEQUESTS 2.44%
INVESTMENT REVENUE 1.37%
FACILITIES REVENUE 0.06%
Forward Together 9
Rod Harmon prepares for retirement
A fter dedicating nearly 50 years to Lincoln Trail College as an instructor and as the Executive Director of the Lincoln Trail College Rod Harmon is retiring in June. Here are some of Harmon’s memories of his career in his own words. Education is a wonderful occupation. I always said if you have a year and you change one or two people’s lives in that year in the classes that you teach. If you change one life, make one life better. It’s been a great year.
Lincoln Trail, I think there were seven who started the college. She was a graduate of Murray State University. We received a Title III grant. She wanted to administer that, kind of wanting to go into administration, but she was teaching history and math at Lincoln Trail. So she called the college. She called Murray to Dean Harrell, who was one of my advisors. And she said, “Do you have someone with a degree in history who might be inter- ested in coming to teach two quarters at Lincoln Trail?” Dean Harrell said, “Rod Harmon, just you got one in May, six months ago, or whatever he might be interested. I’ll give him a ring.” He called me at Murray, a very long story short and, I remember John Schulte and Bonnie and Lew Aukes was the Dean, and they interviewed me to teach two quarters. It was in the winter quarter and the spring quarter. And even though I had a good job at Murray, they had the idea of teaching history was so appealing that I said yes.
It’s funny how many students remember you. Students are always coming up to me and saying, “Rod I had you in 1993 and do you remember me?” And I gener - ally can say, I remember the face. I can’t always attach a name to a face, but it’s a good feeling.
On coming to Lincoln Trail College
Somewhere around ’77, I got a call from Olney Central and they invited me down to run their Studies Skills Center. Chuck Novak was the president at that particular time. I went down and interviewed, but that’s what I was doing at Murray State University already. It didn’t appeal to me, so I politely refused and went on. About two or three months later, Bonnie Burns, who was one of the original members of the faculty at
One of his favorite memories with coworkers
Some of the stories that came out of those staff meet - ings are just priceless. I remember one lady was at the staff meeting. She was very upset because she had found in a classroom chalk dust in the chalk tray. And then later, a week or so later, she got in the van and found cigarette ashes in the ashtray and she was going on about how we
ABOVE: Rod Harmon in a 2023 portrait taken for the Lincoln Trail Colelge Foundation.
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I always said if you have a year and you change one or two people’s lives in that year in the classes that you teach. If you change one life, make one life better. It’s been a great year.
ABOVE LEFT: Harmon’s photo in the 1979 edition of Lincoln’s Logue.
ABOVE RIGHT: Harmon sits at his desk in a photo from the 1981 Lincoln’s Logue.
were going to hell in a handbasket, what we’re going to do. Finally, Steve McDevitt, who is my favorite, favorite people, said, “You know, if all we have to do is worry about chalk dust and the cigarette ash in the ashtray, this would be the greatest community college in the history of the United States.” That kind of quieted her down a little bit.
TV, bring it out to put it in the room, hook it up to the tape and we’d be off and running. That was the routine. Well, one day, one Thursday, I put tape on the desk, went to get the TV, brought it in, plugged it in, took the tape, put the tape in, and it was a triple X porno, right in the middle of the tape. I’m up there and I’m trying like hell to get the TV turned off. The class is roaring. They’re down on the floor. And I’m thinking, how did that porno tape get in my Vietnam tapes? It turned out the students had made an exchange of the porno tape for the videotape while I was gone to get the TV. They thought that was the great - est coup, probably in academic history. Anyway, it was years, years later, one of my students came to me and said he was the one who had, he had dreamed up that little incident. But it was one of those funny things and what I remember most, though, was trying to turn the TV off, and I couldn’t find I couldn’t find the right button. My tests were always short answers and essays. I did three essay questions, pick two, and short answer ques - tions were, oh, something short answer. And one of the questions I always ask is what is history. What is history? You know, it’s a simple question, but you gotta think of history. What is it? And I got a lot of great answers over the years.
Shenanigans in the classroom
I developed a class called A History of Vietnam. I’d been drafted and, you know, and did a little stuff in the Army and well, I wasn’t a very good recruit. I’ve always often maintained that was probably the worst soldier in the history of the U.S. Army. Anyway, I developed this class on Vietnam and I went to the Foundation board and asked them for 13 tapes, the history, it was broken into PBS tapes and they had made 13 tapes. I think the whole shebang was worth about $130 to get the tapes. I built the class around the tapes and the way we were doing it was on a Tuesday, Thursday class, Tuesday, I came in and lecture, and then Thursday we would see a film of what I lectured on Tuesday. And so Thursday, the way it went, I would go to a little room where all the TVs were and the VCR. I’d come in, I’d throw the tape on the desk and my notes or whatever, and then I’d run to this room, unlock the door, get a camera and
Forward Together 11
On the Foundation
The best answer I ever got, and I don’t know if he read it somewhere or if it was his own answer, but he wrote “History is just one damn thing after another.” And I looked at that answer and I laughed. I still laugh about that because I don’t know how you grade that answer. You know, it certainly is accurate.
ABOVE LEFT: The state of Miller Lake circa 2006. ABOVE LEFT: Habitat and wetland conservation photo from FY 2009-10. (Both images shared by the Lincoln Trail College Foundation)
I just can’t tell you how much I appreciate that school and how much it’s done for me. And as a Foundation person. We’ve done some good stuff out there. The Foundation. And I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about the Foundation. When I started, we were doing maybe $15,000 in scholarships. And now, 20 years later, we’re doing $200,000 in scholarships. And, that’s the work of a lot of good people in the community and a lot of good people at Lincoln Trail College.
On fate
I served in one capacity or another with every presi- dent we’ve had at Lincoln Trail College from Piland on. Some were better than others. Some were outstanding. Some were less than outstanding. But, it was a great joy and a great 40 years. I often think if when I was working in the Study Skills Center at Murray and the phone rang, I wondered if I’d been in the bathroom or something had gone to do something else, and I missed Dean Harrell’s phone call asking me if I wanted to go to Robinson and check out a history job. I wonder if I missed that call, how my life would have changed.
On Miller Lake
If when I’m gone, I guess my legacy, I hope my legacy is Miller Lake. Because when I came, Miller Lite was a slough. It was a swamp. It was grown up and it was there were telephone poles in it and it was just a mess. And, when I got selected for the board, one of the questions that we raised was Miller Lake, and one of the things we had to decide what to do with it. Some of the board wanted to cut the levy, take a dozer, go in and cut the levy, fill it in, and sow it down with grass. I didn’t want to. I said, once we lose Miller Lake and the potential of Miller Lake, if we do that, we’ll never have a lake. It’ll be gone and we’ll never come back and revisit that and do it again. So we talked and talked and
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I think that when the end of the road comes, that what I’ll remember most is the few lives that we may have altered and made their lives better.
ABOVE: Miller Lake now features a picnic shelter, a fountain, and walking tracks.
I think contributing what little I’ve contributed to Lincoln Trail over the 35, 40 years, I think if we changed a few lives, and I believe we have, I think that that’s when the end of the road comes, that’s what I’ll remember most is, the few lives that we may have altered and made their lives better. Being on the faculty has brought enjoyment to my life. The stories and the history. I’m a good history teacher because I think history is basically stories. And I’ve always had good rapport, not bragging, but I’ve had a good rapport with students and students, they’ve always seemingly, developed something other than a teacher-student relationship. I think it’s all about personalities and my personality is history oriented. I love to tell a story. And that’s what history is, a story. And, so I’m proud of that and I’m proud of, I’m proud of the little role that I played in, in, changing lives, because I really do believe that education is about changing lives, and like I said, I couldn’t have picked a better occupation.
some people in the community indicated they would help. And finally, the board said, yeah, okay, we’ll spend some substantial money and we did. And what we see now is Miller Lake, and it’s a beautiful part of the campus. We have walking paths around it and we have the fountain. On legacy Very often we measure success, and we measure what we’ve done in our lives. And, I guess there are variables that you can look at: how much money you have, how big your house is, that sort of thing. Those are all good. All positive. But I think the thing that is most signifi - cant to me is I really believe we’ve made a difference in people’s lives.
Forward Together 13
Amicone completes year as Student Trustee
L incoln Trail College sophomore Guadalupe Amicone is wrapping up her one-year term as a Student Trustee on the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees. “My experience as Student Trustee has been a valua - ble journey, involving both understanding the needs of the student body and personal growth,” said Amicone. “Serving in this role gave me the opportunity to observe how a college works as a business. I realized how complicated is to turn an idea into a real project and finally make that project happen. Additionally, I gained insights into the student body’s desires for improve - ment, their feelings about college, and the significance of it in their lives.” Amicone says serving on the Board helped her develop her leadership skills. “When I reviewed policies and projects, I consistently questioned whether they truly benefited the students. This experience has equipped me with valuable skills, including effective communication, proper etiquette, the ability to act appropriately in formal meetings and my networking abilities have improved as well. I gained the skill of understanding perspectives from both sides - that of the students and the college.”
cafeteria in collaboration with PTK. As the President of this chapter, we have chosen to focus our 2024 College Project on cafeteria improvement. The collaboration with the administration in our college projects adds a lot of value. We have held two meetings with President Tona Ambrose so far, and I am committed to completing the college project before my transfer. I am sure this is the first step towards making the LTC cafeteria better in the future.”
Amicone has advice for her successor.
“For future Trustees, my advice is to acknowledge that you may not know everything discussed in board meetings, so do not hesitate to ask questions. Dr. Gower, despite a busy schedule, always makes time for Trustees, highlighting the importance of communication. The Board encourages you to share your perspective, so do not hesitate to speak up. I have experienced feeling nerv- ous about talking in front of experienced individuals, but the truth is, that learning involves both listening and communicating. Moreover, pay attention to the concerns and desires of the students you represent.” Amicone, who is from Buenos Aries, Argentina, plans to transfer to Mid-America Christian University to continue her academic and soccer career. She says she’s thankful for the students who had confidence in her and voted for her last year. “Two years ago, the idea of coming to the US as a student-athlete was unbelievable. But serving as the Student Trustee for IECC Colleges and representing the student body on the board has been an immense honor.”
She says when she was first elected to the Board, her goals were to improve the pantry, cafeteria, and contrib- ute to housing projects. “My significant achievements on the Board include playing a key role in the approval of housing-related poli- cies and enhancements to the LTC pantry. Additionally, I am currently involved in initiatives to enhance the
ABOVE: Guadalupa Amicone listens during an IECC Board of Trustees meeting at Lincoln Trail College.
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Nursing program achieves 100% pass rate
L incoln Trail College’s 2023 nursing class achieved a 100% RN pass rate for the National Council Licensure Exam. The Associate Degree Nursing program is designed to prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN exam to achieve licensure as a registered nurse. “Achieving a 100% RN pass rate is a significant accomplishment for both the program and our students and community we serve,” said Angie Williams, LTC’s Department Head of Nursing and Associate Professor. “It reflects the program’s dedication to producing highly competent/confi - dent nurses and demonstrates our commitment to students’ success.”
ABOVE: LTC Class of ‘23 Nursing Students take the Florence Nightengale Pledge at their Pinning Ceremony. BELOW : Angie Williams works with nursing students on how to properly administer injections.
Williams says that in order to make sure students are successful, the program employs a rigorous curriculum, hands-on clinical training, and indi- vidualized support. “Continuous assessment and feedback are crucial for improvement.” She says that the achievement speaks volumes about the nursing programs’ quality. “It signifies that it effectively equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for the nursing profession.”
Forward Together 15
Harness’s blockchain passion leads to organization
L incoln Trail College alumus Nicholas Harness (‘23) has a passion for blockchain and Web3 and that passion has led to him being an instrumental figure in the move - ment on campuses around the world. He’s the founder of the University Blockchain Alliance, now known as College DAO, an organization with the goal of making the blockchain space more accessible to students. Blockchain is a technology that allows people to share information securely and transparently without relying on a central authority. It’s like a digital ledger where transactions are recorded and verified by a network of computers, making it difficult to tamper with. This makes it a highly reliable and secure method for recording and sharing information, which is useful for applications like financial transactions, supply chain management, and digital identity verification. Web3 refers to the next generation of the internet, where data and applications are decentralized and powered by blockchain technology. It’s a new paradigm that shifts control from centralized entities to users, enabling greater privacy, security, and freedom online. In Web3, users have greater ownership and control over their data and are able to participate in a more open and democratic digital ecosystem.
and cryptocurrency resources for smaller universities and colleges. This led him to establish the DAO, which has since grown to include over 150 schools and has a presence in 30 countries. Harness believes that a lack of student interest can be a major obstacle for smaller universities that want to establish blockchain clubs. “The DAO’s role is to bring in connections, partnerships, and opportunities that would help smaller universities grow their blockchain clubs.” Through the DAO, students from any university can participate in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space and gain access to resources that were previously only available to large universities. Harness said, “our network allows students to participate in research, attend events, and connect with other blockchain clubs and industry professionals.” This has helped to promote the adoption of blockchain technology and has created a more equitable playing field for all students interested in the space. Harness’s goal is to promote the mass adoption of blockchain technology and to level the playing field for students interested in the space. He believes that organ- izations like the DAO will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the space. “As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the DAO will provide resources and opportunities to students from all back- grounds, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive
Harness’s passion for blockchain technology began in high school when he recognized the lack of blockchain
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As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the DAO will provide resources and opportunities to students from all backgrounds, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive blockchain community
ABOVE: The College DAO logo.
blockchain community.”
business, emerging technology, and the tech space in general. As for his future, Harness plans to continue his education at the University of Illinois where he will study economics. He plans to continue his work with the DAO and would like to start a business. Recently he’s been working with a company that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to help colleges and college students. He also wants to keep helping Lincoln Trail College and other Illinois Eastern Community College students. “DAO is working on a conference that would essentially rival some of the largest Web3 events in the US. We want it to be a mecca for the student space. We’re hoping to get a group of students from LTC to the event and give them an opportunity to get their foot in the door and learn more about the space. We’ll have speakers from all of the top companies, a lot of the most well-known people in the tech world, and a lot of the founders of the largest companies [at the event]. It will be a great opportunity and we intent to make the opportunity open to LTC and the other IECC schools.”
Harness says the growth of DAO has also given him a chance to grow. One of the areas where he’s seen growth has been in his communications and networking skills. Another area of growth has been in technology. “I’ve never been that technically minded. I’m awful when it comes to the computer science side of things. I’m an economics student and more interested in that facet and have better understanding the economic and financial outlook. In the last year and a half as we’ve built out DAO, I’ve gotten a lot more familiar with kind of that end of things. I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on work - shops led by some of the best minds in the space. We’re working with essentially some of the people who built this space, the original people who were at the univer- sities and putting out research papers when they were students or when they were in-house researchers. It’s like we’re working with some of the greatest academic minds where it’s like it’s hard not to improve, hard not to learn when you’re around those people and talking to them and you’re just nonstop getting in-depth explained on how out everything works.” Harness has used the connections he’s made through DAO to benefit students at Lincoln Trail College. He’s been involved in Student Senate, Phi Theta Kappa, and Future Business Leaders of America and has done things like bringing speakers to meetings virtually to talk about
Forward Together 17
LTC online degree tops in nation, LTC #8 overall
I Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for program rank- ings and higher education planning, awarded Lincoln Trail College another top national ranking. LTC was ranked number one in their Best Online Associate in General Studies Degree Programs of 2024. This comes in addition LTC earning their number 8 ranking in the Best Community Colleges of 2024 and number 6 as the Best Community Colleges in Illinois. “Receiving the number one ranking from Intelligent is a tremendous honor and a testament to the emphasis that Lincoln Trail College is putting on all online courses and programs,” said LTC President and Vice-Chancellor of Institutional Outreach Tona Ambrose. “We have seen a dramatic change in education since the pandemic, and a significant rise in the number of courses we deliver online. This ranking gives evidence to the fact that the course design, educational content, and student learn- ing outcomes have remained the highest priority and highlights Lincoln Trail College’s adaptability and resil - ience in responding to these changes.” Intelligent.com’s institutional rankings, which are set apart from other conventional ratings, are deemed the benchmark of academic evaluations for online and hybrid programs. An exclusive methodology is used to rank each institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories. Evaluations are based on quantitative measures such as academic quality, graduation rate,
cost and ROI, and student resources. With top picks that are highly regarded, affordable, and offer the tools and resources students need to successfully graduate and excel in their fields. Lincoln Trail College earned an Intelligent Score of 99.16 and was the only college in Illinois to earn a spot on the list of 39 colleges. “I believe that this is an affirmation that our goals, initiatives, and commitment to the IECC mission are being achieved,” said Ambrose. “This ranking in online education implies that Lincoln Trail College is effectively meeting the needs and expectations of online learners and suggests a student-centered approach that prior- itizes accessible, engaging, and effective online learn - ing experiences. The way that this happens is via the dedicated faculty and staff who work together towards these common goals. Our faculty members are not just educators; they are mentors and partners in the educa- tional journey of every student. Their passion for teach - ing, expertise in their respective fields, and dedication to student success have played a pivotal role in earning this recognition.” “Being ranked nationally and in the top ten in Illinois is a positive recognition for Lincoln Trail College and affirmation that our goals, initiatives and commitment to the IECC mission are being achieved,” said Ambrose.
ABOVE: Felipe Da Silva (‘23) works on an online class in a hallway study area outside of the Bookstore.
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It can reinforce for prospective students that Lincoln Trail College is a great place to consider.
ABOVE LEFT: Dr. Phil Thorsen gives a lecture about neurons. ABOVE RIGHT: Dennis York works with a student on cable pairs.
“This is also encouraging as it can reinforce for prospec - tive students that Lincoln Trail College is a great place to consider when choosing a postsecondary college and career path.” Ambrose says it is no surprise why LTC stands out among other community colleges. “Lincoln Trail College is committed to providing a quality education to students, as well as support and resources so that students can be empowered to accomplish their goals and succeed. We not only want to enroll students, but see them persist, complete their degrees and graduate. LTC is also directly tied to a supportive community dedi- cated to ensuring students attain a well-rounded educa- tional experience during their time on campus. Our student-centered approach and welcoming atmosphere, together with faculty, staff, and community members who care about each and every student, give evidence to LTC being such a good college.” Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher educa- tion programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs and information about financial aid, internships, and even study strate - gies. Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students with comprehensive, user- friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings.
Ambrose believes that this recognition should show prospective students that LTC is an excellent choice. “This speaks volumes to the quality of education that students can expect here. LTC is committed to helping all students, both traditional and non-traditional, and whether students are looking for programs within our Career and Technical Educational programs or taking general education courses to prepare to transfer on to a four-year university, our Student Services staff is ready to help. Choosing Lincoln Trail College means choosing a path to success.” She says that the College attracts students from diverse backgrounds and provides them with a variety of extracurricular opportunities such as clubs, performing arts, athletics, and activities, making the student body something to be proud of. “Additionally, our affordable tuition costs and schol - arship opportunities, many that are provided by our generous LTC Foundation, all make LTC an excellent choice for anyone,” said Ambrose. She says that the rankings will also help motivate the College to continue striving for success. “Our goal is to meet the needs of students where they are at, and we will move forward from here with ongoing efforts to enhance both traditional and online education and maintain the high standards that led to this recognition.”
Forward Together 19
Crawford County Recreation Center opens
A grassroots effort that started more than seven years ago will came to fruition in December when the Crawford County Recreation Center opened to the public. The new 25,000-square-foot facility is located on the campus of Lincoln Trail College and is designed to enhance the quality of life for Crawford County residents. That was the impetus for the project when a group of local leaders got together. They decided to move forward with the recreation center at LTC as a way to impact the physical and social health of all residents of Crawford County.
took over operations of the pool, making the new recre- ation center over 36-thousand-square feet. “We want the Crawford County Recreation Center to be welcoming to people of all ages and fitness levels,” says Sandiford. “We have a variety of fitness classes, including some, for example, geared specifically for seniors. We also want to use our multipurpose sport courts to offer league play for different sports.” One of the facility’s unique amenities is the child watch center, which allows parents of young children to bring their children to the CCRC for up to two hours while they are working out. It was built knowing that parents want to work out or enjoy a class but may not have a childcare option immediately available. Work on the center started in 2022 with a ground- breaking ceremony. Marathon Petroleum Senior Vice President of Refining Kevin Bogard was one of the original members of the Crawford County Recreation Center board. “Part of the vision here is to have more community-centric things here. It’s going to be a cornerstone of this community. It’s going to help this community continue growing and continue to be the great place that I’ve known for 30 years.”
“This facility is unlike anything else in Crawford County,” says CCRC Board President Bill Sandiford. “The Crawford County Recreation Center is so much more than just a gym. This is a recreational facility that will enhance the quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds in our community.” The CCRC features a well-equipped weight room, cutting-edge cardiovascular equipment, three fitness studios, an indoor aquatic center, and a full indoor gym and walking track. Additional amenities include a child watch center and a fully equipped locker room featuring individual wet and dry changing rooms. The new 25,000-square-foot facility is connected to the existing indoor swimming pool at LTC. The CCRC
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This is a facility that will enhance the quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds in our community.
ABOVE LEFT: CCRC worker Abbigail Shalhout works with two children in the child watch area. ABOVE RIGHT: A row of cardio
equipment awaits visitors to the CCRC days before it opened to the public.
He says the seed for this was first planted when the United Way held a series of community focus groups that asked the citizens of Crawford County questions like “what do you want the community to be?” and “where do we want to go?” The CCRC Board raised money for the project, includ - ing gifts from corporate partners like Marathon, Hershey, Lincolnland Agri-Energy, and Crawford Memorial Hospital along with organizations like the United Way, the Crawford County Development Association, and the Lincoln Trail College Foundation. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges also helped with a contribution to the project and they will oversee the construction. “I really appreciate the Crawford County Recreation Center board,” said Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees Chairman Gary Carter. “They have done so much legwork on this project. They have been out knocking on doors, putting plans together, dream- ing together and doing all kinds of activities. And they have really are the ones that really made this work. I and the Illinois Eastern Community College Board, appre- ciate your group so much for wanting to partner with us. We’re here to help to make your community better. And we’re glad that you partnered with us in order to try to accomplish that goal. I’m excited about what I see. I was excited the first time I saw the plans. I think this is going to be an excellent place.”
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Ryan Gower says this is just one more way to make Lincoln Trail College a hub of activities in Crawford County. He says that started with the addition of Statesmen Park and continued with the construction of Lackey Music Hall. “We want Lincoln Trail to be the hub for everything that is education and everything that is an enrichment to the quality of life.” Gower also believes that the Crawford County Recreation Center will have an impact on the growth of the College. “In order for our colleges to grow, we are going to have to have the capacity to reach outside of District 529 to actively fight outmigration. The Indiana border is just a stone’s throw away from us, and educational institutions can be a powerful tool to stop outmigration, to bring new talent in for other areas. But college students, particularly those who are not resi- dents of District 529, are not just looking for excellent educational programs. They need to see a campus where they can study and where they can live.”
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