Olney Central College invites area students to explore new interests, develop hands-on skills and make lasting summer memories through the Ignite Curiosity Summer Camps. Registration is now underway for the camps, which offer engaging learning experiences designed to spark creativity, encourage exploration and introduce students to potential career pathways in a fun and interactive environment. The camps are designed for a variety of age groups and provide students with activities that blend education with creativity and teamwork.

Trustee Barbara Shimer reflects on a lifetime of learning, teaching, and service as she steps down from the IECC Board When Barbara Shimer talks about her time at Lincoln Trail College, she often starts with a teacher. Elsie Floreck was a professional opera singer who came to the United States after World War II with her husband, a musician, along with a baby, a box of music and $12. “She was amazing,” Shimer said.

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges is organizing a coordinated student support response following Oakland City University’s recent announcement that it will suspend undergraduate operations for the 2026-27 academic year.

For four Lincoln Trail College Process Technology students, a trip to Texas became more than a competition. It became a chance to experience the industry at a higher level. Hannah Potts, Natalie Ramsey, Korbin Alger and Dalton Spahn recently traveled to compete in the NAPTA Troubleshooting Skills Competition, held April 29-May 1. The group was one of just 12 teams from across the country to qualify for the national event.

For the Class of 2026 at Lincoln Trail College, commencement will serve as a celebration of achievement, perseverance and the next step forward. The college will host its 56th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. in the LTC Sports Center. Approximately 120 students are expected to receive degrees and certificates during the ceremony. Of those, 66 graduates will be recognized for academic distinction, earning Honors, High Honors or Highest Honors.

Olney Central College will hold its 62nd commencement exercises at 7 p.m. on May 15 in the OCC Gymnasium. Friends and relatives of the graduates are invited to attend.  OCC Dean of Instruction Amy Tarr will give the welcoming remarks while Chris Simpson will deliver the President’s Message. OCC alumnus Leon Stallard, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Olney, will present the 2026 Commencement Address. 

Mount Carmel, IL — Wabash Valley College is proud to share that WVC’s Cozy Corner has been named the winner of the Spring 2026 NILRC Photo Contest, hosted by the Network of Illinois Learning Resources in Community Colleges (NILRC).

For Landry Price, the classroom isn’t always defined by four walls and a lesson plan. Sometimes, it looks like a group of grade school students gathered around a table, hands covered in paint, learning about creativity, teamwork and even a little bit about college along the way.

For Elizabeth Womble, the path to becoming a teacher is clear. Getting there is the challenge. A student at Lincoln Trail College, Womble is working toward a degree in education with plans to become a high school home economics teacher. It’s a goal shaped not just by her interests, but by her life experience. “I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years,” Womble said. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I thought about what I’ve been doing that I wouldn’t mind teaching for a long time.”

Academic achievement took center stage as Lincoln Trail College welcomed a new class of students into the Alpha Iota Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa during its spring induction ceremony. The ceremony recognized students who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and a commitment to scholarship, leadership and service.