Mattoon, IL-(Effingham Radio)- On Thursday, September 24, Lake Land College held its first-ever Founder’s Day celebration, honoring the 60th anniversary since the College was established.
The event marked the 60th year since the passing of the September 24, 1966 referendum that created Lake Land College.
The vote, passed by a three-to-one ratio among residents across 13 school districts, approved the establishment of a community college in the East Central Illinois area. The following year, Lake Land College officially opened its doors to its first class of students, with 629 enrolled for Lake Land’s first semester.
In recognition of the anniversary, Lake Land held a celebratory breakfast in the College’s Field House for both current and retired staff and faculty members, representing the full six-decade history of Lake Land College.
The Founder’s Day celebration also included an address from Lake Land College President Josh Bullock, who reflected on the distinguished history of the institution and shared the College’s vision for another 60 years of excellence.
“We know it’s the intersection of our past and present that has shaped Lake Land College to become not only a national leader, but a college that truly meets students where they are and provides an education that fits their lives,” Bullock said.
This year’s Founder’s Day celebration marks the start of a new tradition for Lake Land College, which will recognize the September 24 anniversary each year.
To learn more about the history of Lake Land College, visit the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu/History-of-Lake-Land-College/.
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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