Lincoln Trail College alumna Krista Phillips ('24) was crowned Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, a moment she described as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and a powerful reflection of her journey as both a student and competitor. “I was in disbelief that my name was called,” Phillips said. “I kept thinking, I really did it. My dreams were fulfilled, prayers answered, and waves of gratitude kept pouring over me.”

Lincoln Trail College has announced the cast for its spring production of Disney’s Newsies, the Tony Award-winning musical based on the 1992 Disney film. Performances will take place April 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7 p.m., with matinees April 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. in the Zwermann Arts Center Theater.

Olney Central College’s Massage Therapy Program is accepting appointments for Spring clinicals. The clinics are open to the public and will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 21, March 20, April 11 and April 24 at the West Richland Center in Noble. The cost for a relaxing massage is $45 for an hour and $30 for half an hour. A 20-minute chair massage is $20.

The Learning Commons at Lincoln Trail College was filled with creativity and community earlier this month as the college hosted its annual Children’s Art Show, featuring artwork from students across the region. The exhibit included 103 pieces of art created by students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. Participating schools were Hutsonville Junior High, New Hebron Christian School, Nuttall Middle School, Oblong Grade School and Junior High, and Palestine Grade School and Junior High.

High school musicians from across the region will gather at Lincoln Trail College on Feb. 10 for the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Jazz Festival, a one-day immersive event designed to give students a collegiate-style jazz experience.

Wabash Valley College (WVC) Foundation scholarship applications are now available on the WVC website. Students may apply by visiting www.iecc.edu/wvc/scholarships and navigating to the Current High School Students tab. From there, applicants will find a complete list of available Foundation scholarships. 

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges will launch a new generation of transfer-focused programs beginning Fall 2026, following formal approval by the IECC Board of Trustees. The newly approved Transfer Pathways represent a major step forward in helping students move seamlessly from IECC to four-year universities. Each pathway is a clearly structured, 64-credit degree plan designed to align with university requirements, reduce excess credits and provide students with a clear and intentional route to a bachelor’s degree.

Nathan Legg, of Fairfield, was among accounting students from across the nation selected to participate in the 2025 Two-Year Bridge Symposium hosted by the American Accounting Association Foundation. The one-day event is designed for two-year college students, providing the opportunity to connect with accounting professionals, learn about career and transfer pathways and get real-world advice on how to succeed in the accounting field.

Stepping outside her comfort zone paid off in a big way for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges student Jessica Wagner. Wagner earned first place in the community college division at the Southern Illinois University Accounting Competition and helped her team to a second-place finish in the Accounting II Team Building Competition. For Associate Professor of Business Amie Mayhall, who accompanied Wagner to the event, the performance was as impressive as it was meaningful.

Lincoln Trail College’s Broadband Telecom program has received a significant equipment donation from Metro Communications, made possible through program alumnus Collin Alger, a 2025 graduate now employed by the company. The contribution provides critical Outside Plant Construction tools that will expand hands-on learning opportunities and strengthen workforce preparation for future students.