Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- On Wednesday, June 24, Lake Land College dedicated its nursing simulation lab at the Effingham Technology Center in honor of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. During the event, the lab was officially named the HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital High-Fidelity Nursing Simulation Lab.
The HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital High-Fidelity Nursing Simulation Lab is a state-of-the-art training facility designed to prepare the next generation of nurses to provide excellent care throughout the local region. Thanks to a generous donation by St. Anthony’s, Lake Land College has equipped the lab with high-tech, hospital-grade equipment including a high-fidelity patient mannequin, crash carts, dressing carts, a patient lift and hospital beds. To date, St. Anthony’s donation represents one of its largest educational gifts in its ongoing partnership with Lake land College.
“We’re proud to strengthen that relationship through this investment, and to help develop the next generation of clinical professionals in our community – people, who, like our staff at St. Anthony’s – care for others with both excellence and compassion,” said Anthony Powers, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Chief Administrative Officer.
The equipment acquired through HSHS St. Anthony’s donation will help Lake Land College bridge the gap between education and real nursing care. With the high-fidelity mannequin, students can learn through advanced simulations as the mannequin responds to treatment, gives measurable vitals and even replicates high-stress scenarios such as heart attacks, strokes and childbirth. The simulations provide nursing students with a risk-free environment to make and learn from mistakes as they practice skills previously only teachable through real patient care.
“It’s impossible to overstate just how much of an impact this equipment has on the confidence of our nursing students as they prepare for crucial healthcare careers,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We are so grateful for HSHS St. Anthony’s generous gift, and we look forward to seeing its impact for decades to come as our graduates care for the people in our communities.”
The new high-tech simulation equipment elevates Lake Land College’s long-running tradition of excellence in nursing education. In 2025, Lake Land College nursing graduates achieved a collective 95% pass rate on their national NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-LPN licensing exams, far above the national and statewide averages. As such, HSHS St. Anthony’s gift represents a powerful investment in one of the state’s premier destinations for nursing education and strengthens the pipeline of highly qualified nurses to the local healthcare industry.
“This gift is a prime example of the life-changing impact that is possible when the Lake Land College Foundation and our community partners work together to leave a lasting legacy in our region,” said Executive Director for College Advancement Christi Donsbach.
More information about Lake Land College nursing and other healthcare programs is available on the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/Guided-Pathways/.
To learn more about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit the St. Anthony’s website at stanthonyshospital.org/.
To learn about opportunities through the Lake Land College Foundation Community Partner program or to become a community partner, visit the Lake Land College Foundation webpage at LakeLandCollege.edu/Foundation/CommunityPartners/.
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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