Mattoon, IL -(Effingham Radio)- Lake Land College held a virtual Student Recognition Event via Zoom April 28 to recognize several students for their achievements in the classroom and beyond. Interim Director of Student Life Dave Seiler hosted the event with faculty and staff offering praise for the outstanding student leaders.
Lake Land College President Josh Bullock began the event with a few words of congratulations and appreciation to the students.
“The strength in Lake Land College truly lies in our students,” Bullock said in his remarks. “It lies in the quality and commitment of our students to their educational journey and their learning process.”
Interim Vice President for Student Service Valerie Lynch also expressed her gratitude to the students at the event, saying though the event was done in a different modality, the sentiment remained the same.
“We really want to recognize the amazing work that all of the student leaders do,” Lynch said. “Even students who maybe haven’t had a lot of time on campus-they’ve chosen to be involved, and that’s what is most important.”
Every year faculty from each of the seven divisions select one student to earn an Outstanding Student Award from the Lake Land College Faculty Association. The award recipient receives a certificate and a reward of $200.
The Agriculture Division Outstanding Student Award recipient was Hannah Tappendorf, Altamont. As an Agriculture Transfer major, Tappendorf will be transferring to the University of Illinois in May. Not only did Tappendorf excel in the Agriculture Division, she got involved at Lake Land as a Student Ambassador and served as a student representative on the Foundation Board.
“Hannah has been a great student in the classroom,” Division Chair Agriculture/Agriculture Instructor Ryan Orrick said. “She has a very pleasant demeanor, and she is very talented and responsible. Anything she does is very professional and outgoing.”
Haleigh Miller, Mattoon, earned the Outstanding Student Award for the Business Division. Having begun the Cosmetology program in August 2020, Miller had to adjust to hybrid learning from the start. She did so exceedingly well and, after graduating from the Cosmetology program in August 2021, plans to continue at Lake Land to earn an associate degree in Business Management.
“Haleigh is a very dedicated student who, when given tasks, is able to excel and complete additional projects,” Cosmetology Instructor/Director of Cosmetology Peggy Strange said. “Haleigh is always willing to work with clients in the student clinic with professionalism and excellent technical skills.”
For the Math & Science Division, Lucas Duduit, Pana, was the Outstanding Student Award recipient. Duduit will be transferring to Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois in May. During his time at Lake Land, Duduit served as Student Trustee on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees, PTK president, a Student Ambassador and a member of the Student Government Association.
The Lake Land College Cabinet members also recognized and thanked Duduit for his time as Student Trustee to the Board of Trustees.
“Lucas has been extremely involved in extracurricular leadership,” Mathematics Instructor Bambi Jones said. “He was an excellent student and hard worker. He also had a thirst for knowledge that went far beyond the classroom.”
Seth Bohnhoff, Dieterich, earned the Outstanding Student Award for the Humanities & Communications Division. Bohnhoff frequented Lake Land’s radio station, WLKL 98.9 FM, reporting on sporting events. After completing his time at Lake Land, Bohnhoff plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in meteorology.
“It was a pleasure to get to know Seth,” Speech Communication/Broadcasting Instructor/Broadcast Operations Director Greg Powers said. “On behalf of the Humanities and Communications Division Seth comes highly recommended and we wish him all the best.”
In the Social Science & Education Division, the Outstanding Student Award went to PTK Treasurer Rachel Buening, Effingham. Buening is majoring in elementary education and will be transferring to Eastern Illinois University in the fall after graduating with full honors from Lake Land.
“Rachel was very eager to participate and offer her opinions in class,” Division Chair Social Science/Education/Psychology Instructor Charlie Jarrell said. “She also took my online class where she continued to give fantastic answers to any question that I asked.”
The Allied Health Division Outstanding Student Award recipient was Fatima Viramontes, Farina. Graduating from the Dental Hygiene program in August, Viramontes has demonstrated her ability to provide strong leadership and performance under pressure during her time as a student. She has also been able to provide communication assistance in the clinic as she is bilingual.
“Fatima is a really stand-out student,” Division Chair Allied Health/Nursing Instructor Erin Swingler said. “She holds very high academic standards for herself, submitting stellar assignments in many different forms.”
For the Technology Division, Steve Clinard, Mattoon, earned the Outstanding Student Award. As a non-traditional student, Clinard returned to school after a career in the technology industry. With a great deal of attention to detail and his questions about procedure and results, Clinard made an impression on his instructors and fellow students.
“I witnessed firsthand Steve’s exceptionally earnest efforts in striving for academic excellence,” Renewable Energy Instructor/Program Coordinator Joe Tillman said. “His struggles to meet the various challenges faced by many non-traditional students, his joy when the challenges were successfully met, and the humility and kindness he showed to fellow students in need are the things I will remember most.”
Buening also earned the Outstanding Honors Student title alongside PTK Secretary Macy Vogt, Teutopolis, Vogt will also be transferring to Eastern Illinois University in the fall to major in exercise science. As well as being active in Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (PTK), both students were Presidential Scholars and achieved full status honors via the Honors Program courses.
“Macy was such a dedicated student and I saw tremendous growth in her throughout the time she was in my class,” Lotz said. “I cannot say enough nice things about her. She was fantastic.”
The Student Government Association was also recognized at the event, including SGA President Caralee Hayes, Effingham; Vice President Cassie Peters, Crescent City; Public Information Officer Calandra Donley, Linton, IN and Secretary Kambelle Ashmore, Mattoon.
Student Life Specialist Dustyn Fatheree also recognized The Navigator News staff including Editor-in-Chief Madelyn Kidd, Neoga; Layout and Design Editor Breanna Moore, Mattoon; Copy Editor Samantha Stokes, Ramsy; as well as photographers and reporters on the staff.
For the Student Activity Board, Chair Wyatt Zumbahlen, Newton, and Vice Chair Kierstin Clark, Newton, were recognized for their leadership.
The Student Ambassadors chose Kailynn Bobbett, Findley, as the Outstanding Student Ambassador. The six other members include Bloemer, Duduit, Tappendorf, Bobbett, Makenna Green, Arthur, Katherine Smith, Marion and Emmalynn Walk, Neoga. The seven ambassadors for the 2020-21 school year returned from the previous year when COVID-19 prevented the selection of new ambassadors.
Seiler closed with a thank you to the attendees and the students honored.
“Thank you to all the Lake Land College students,” Seiler said. “We are here because of you.”
Lake Land College District 517, located in Mattoon, Illinois, serves the second largest community college district in the state, with a total population of 189,869. The Lake Land College district comprises all or part of 15 counties and 31 public school districts in rural east central Illinois. Counties served by Lake Land College include: Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.
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