On Sept. 11, 2021, Tayna Smith, the Academic Counselor for the WVC TRIO Student Support Services program, noted several reflections on her students’ recent visit to the nation’s capital. As part of the trip in July, the group, along with the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges TRIO Student Support Services, went to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. It was a sobering experience. One of the first students who posted was Katelyn Wagner, a Peer Mentor of the TRIO SSS program at Wabash Valley College.  

Olney Central College’s Welding Technology Building underwent renovations this summer that not only improved its aesthetics, but created more usable space for the program. “This project has been a long time coming,” said Instructor Curtis Marshall. “Maverick (Fisher) came out over the summer and put a lot of time and effort into this. It has made for a cleaner shop and the logistics are much better.” The building’s extensive overhaul included power washing and sealing the original cement floors, painting the walls and reorganizing workspaces.

Olney Central College will celebrate Constitution Day on Friday, Sept. 17. A Constitution Day exhibit will be on display in the Anderson Library Gallery and free booklets of the Constitution will be available to students. The video “Creating the Constitution” will be played on monitors in the Library Gallery and the hallways of the campus. Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

The website Medical Assistant Advice ranked Lincoln Trail College’s Medical Assistant program among the top 15 offered in the state of Illinois. The website is designed to give students interested in a medical assisting career a place to find up-to-date information on education and careers. Of the 40 programs available in Illinois, Lincoln Trail College’s program ranked 15th. Medical Assistant Advice looked at colleges offering certificates, degrees, and diplomas. LTC offers both a certificate and an associate degree. 

The Olney Central College Theater will hold auditions for “Curious George and the Golden Meatball” at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27-28 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. Call backs, if necessary, will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30. Roles are available for high school freshmen through adults. Dialogue cuts, better known as sides, are available at www.iecc.edu/occtheater for the prepared readings. Adult and high school actors should also be prepared to sing 60 seconds from any song with sheet music for the accompanist.

Olney Central College Softball is raising funds to construct a press box for their field. “In the nearly 40 years of softball being played at OCC, there has never been a press box,” said Coach Nick Short. “We are looking to change that and are hoping the community can help. This is something I feel is needed and hopefully we can get it completed this fall.”

Olney Central College’s Knight Kafe is expanding its menu this fall to include homemade pizza. The medium-sized pizzas contain eight slices each and come with a choice of one to three toppings for $10. Choose from traditional favorites like pepperoni and mushrooms or try new combinations like chicken and spinach. Specialty pizzas are $12 and include Hawaiian, Philly Cheese Steak, Taco, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Meat Lovers, BBQ and Italian Beef.

Olney Central College’s Operations and Maintenance Department has been busy undertaking several campus-wide improvement projects this summer, including two that will increase energy efficiency in Wattleworth Hall. O&M Team Leader Clay Atkins said OCC received 1,000 free LED lights through an Ameren Illinois sponsored program. Existing fluorescent tube lights in all hallways have been replaced with the new bulbs.

Dr. Michael Patilla joins Lincoln Trail College as the Director of Music and Performing Arts Coordinator. He has a diverse national and international teaching and performance career. Dr. Patilla comes to LTC from Lake Land College, where he served as the Associate Dean of Correctional Programs. Before that, he was a music professor at Mississippi State University for 18 years. 

Local artist Mari Yamato invites both college students and area residents to attend her fall ceramics course. “I am very excited about working with the students,” Yamato said. “For the past year, we haven’t had ceramics due to COVID. I taught TRIO students this summer and enjoyed it, but it was a very condensed month-long course. I’m looking forward to this fall when I’ll have four months to teach and work with the students. In a full semester, we can relax and you can see the gradual growth in the students.”