Lincoln Trail College will welcome new and returning students back to the College on August 17 with the annual Welcome Back Blast. “We want students to kick off the year on a high note and see what college life is like at Lincoln Trail College,” said Director of Marketing Chris Forde. “We want to make sure our students have fun during the event and also learn how they can get involved on campus and throughout the community.”

The Fall Semester at Lincoln Trail College begins on August 18 and the College will help new students prepare for college at New Student Orientation on August 17.  “We’re giving students some flexibility with orientation this year,” said Director of Marketing Chris Forde. “Instead of having one session, we’re offering students a choice of three different times.”

High school students taking dual credit classes at Lincoln Trail College will get the chance to prepare with LTC’s Dual Credit Orientation on August 2 at 6 p.m. “Dual Credit Orientation is an introduction to what college classes are like,” says LTC Director of Instructional Services Erin Volk. “College classes are a change for high school students, and we want them to be prepared so they can be successful.”

Lincoln Trail College’s Mackenzi McIntosh (’22) finished seventh in the nation at the Future Business Leaders of American Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Organizational Behavior and Leadership. The six people that finished ahead of her were all students from four-year universities.  

Roger Eddy is serving as the Interim President at Olney Central College following his appointment by the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees. A longtime educator, administrator and five-term state representative, Eddy served as Interim President at Lincoln Trail College during the 2020-21 academic year, and most recently worked on special projects for the IECC District.

The Anderson Library is reorganizing Olney Central College’s Historical Archives to make items more accessible and easier to locate. Library Assistant Kaitlyn Weger started the project in early June. The collection ranges from photographs and negatives to old board minutes and video tapes of past productions by the OCC Theater. “We really wanted to get the items organized so people could find what they are interested in,” Weger said. “We’re trying to identify and arrange the photographs by departments like Allied Health and Music and Theater.”

Students in Olney Central College’s Unmanned Aerial Technology Program will gain hands-on experience working with a new ag-specific drone this fall. The DJI Agras T30 is the largest unmanned aerial vehicle acquired to date, weighing 55 pounds, and spanning 8 feet by 7 feet, with the arms fully extended.

Olney Central College will offer beginning and advanced woodworking courses during the fall semester. TRA 1604 Woodworking I and TRA 1605 Woodworking II will meet from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the West Richland Center in Noble, beginning Aug. 24.  Instructor Kyle Kuenstler will assist students in completing a project of their choice.

Curtis Miller is looking forward to connecting with students and supporting them in the admissions process as Olney Central College’s Admissions Representative. Miller joined Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, in the newly created position, in late May. He worked in the banking industry for five years and had previously been employed at Audibel Hearing Aids in Effingham.

Olney Central College student Camden Cowger, of Albion, has been named to the All-USA Illinois Academic Team by Phi Theta Kappa, the international two-year college honor society. Cowger was recognized for his accomplishment, receiving a medallion and certificate at the annual Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Illinois awards banquet at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. Cowger was selected from among community college students across the state on the basis of academic achievement, volunteer work, campus activities, honors and awards.