Local artist Mari Yamato will teach spring ceramics courses at Olney Central College. The classes are project-based and designed for both students and community members who want to learn basic ceramic techniques. During the semester, students will create their own pottery using pinch pot, coil, slab and sculpture techniques. They also will work with the potter’s wheel and will learn how to make bowls, vases, plates and mugs.

Lincoln Trail College Children’s Summer Theater will return in 2022 with two shows. LTC will perform Winnie the Pooh Kids and Lion King Jr. in June under the direction of Mindy Evans. Winnie the Pooh Kids will be for kids entering 1st through 4th grades. Performance dates are June 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals are May 31 through June 23 from 9-11 a.m. Lion King Jr. will be for kids entering 5th through 9th grades. Performances are June 25 at 7 p.m. and June 26 at 2 p.m. Rehearsals are May 31 through June 23 from 12-2 p.m.

Olney Central College’s Cosmetology Program is accepting new students for spring semester classes. Students enrolled in Cosmetology participate in both classroom and clinical experiences. The program focuses on all facets of the industry, including hair shaping, skin care, makeup, permanent waving, shampooing, scalp treatments, hair styling and chemical hair relaxing. Pedicures, manicures, massage and shop management also are covered.

Olney Central College is offering spring Line Dancing Classes starting Jan. 13. While line dancing is most closely associated with country music, Instructor Vickie Smith said her course encompasses much more. “I use a variety of music in the classes including Spanish, some Rock and Roll and some newer pop tunes,” she added.

Students at Frontier Community College, Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central College, and Wabash Valley College are getting a tremendous value according to the website Best Value Schools. They ranked Illinois Eastern Community Colleges as having the second-best valued Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in the nation.

A website that helps students make college decisions recognized Illinois Eastern Community Colleges for seven top programs in the United States. Intelligent.com, which is a resource for online and on-campus program rankings and higher education planning, included IECC in its programs assessed for 2022. The research identifies programs in the nation based on flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. 

Join the Olney Central College Men’s Basketball team on Dec 11 for its White Squirrel — White Out Night as the Blue Knights face Lake Land College in a 3 p.m. tipoff. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free White Squirrel T-shirt.

The Crawford County Recreation Center and Illinois Eastern Community College finalized the terms for the transfer of funds to start construction on a new recreation center on the campus of Lincoln Trail College. Construction work on the new facility will begin in the early spring and is expected to be completed by late 2022. “This is very exciting,” said CCRC president Bill Sandiford. “This has been a grassroots effort for several years and now we’re moving forward with the project.”

The Olney Central College Music Department will present The Many Moods of Christmas choral concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Richland County High School Auditorium. This special evening of holiday music will feature the OCC Concert and Community choirs along with the RCHS Concert Choir.

Frontier Community, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central, and Wabash Valley colleges awarded nearly $180,000 to area high school students in the first round of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ Priority Deadline Success Scholarships.