Olney Central College Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Sarah Bergbower has completed training as a citizen scientist in the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center's Illinois RiverWatch Program. The Illinois RiverWatch is a volunteer stream monitoring program administered by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC). Established in 2002, NGRREC’s scholars and scientists study the ecology of the big rivers, the workings of the watersheds that feed them and ties to the river communities that use them.

A photograph by Olney Central College student Troy Green is among the works included in Northern Illinois University’s Community College Student Juried Virtual Exhibition. Green, a student in Heather Sandy’s online Introduction to Photography course, was one of 79 artists whose works were selected from more than 150 submissions. “I was honored, impressed and humbled all at the same time,” said Green, who resides in Geismar, La. “I thought it was a good photo, but I didn’t know how it would compare to other photographers’ work. It’s a high honor to be included.”

Frontier Community College is excited to announce this summer's line-up of kid's summer classes. These are an excellent way for kids to learn about fun topics in a hands-on interactive course. If you would like to enroll your child in any of the courses listed below, stop by the records office at Frontier Community College.  

Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Dr. Theresa Marcotte is retiring after 22 years with the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District. During her career, Marcotte has worked in a variety of positions at all four colleges — Frontier, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central and Wabash Valley. She has been a nursing instructor, department head and administrator. She was Dean of Instruction at Wabash Valley College from 2007 to 2010 and has served the last five years in her current position at OCC.

Olney Central College’s Information Systems Technology Program recently refurbished and donated 10 computers to the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ TRIO Student Support Services Program. “We are thrilled PJ (Zeilstra) thought of us and our students,” said TRIO SSS Director Wain Davis. “These computers will help students get access to the technology they need to further their education.”

Lincoln Trail College is giving high school students the chance to make up credits this summer. LTC’s Secondary Education Academy runs from June 7 through July 30 and is broken up into four cohorts, each lasting two weeks. “We’ve heard from the high schools that there were some students that struggled with online learning during the pandemic,” says Lincoln Trail College Dean of Instruction Brent Todd. “We’re offering the SEA as a way that those students can take classes in a face-to-face setting and make up credits that they need.”

Lincoln Trail College announced the winners of this year’s student awards. Abbey McCord was awarded the Joseph C. Piland Excellence in Scholarship Award. Mallory Mundy was awarded the J. Rod Harmon Excellence in Service Award and Winter Harmsen was awarded the Bev L. Turkal Excellence in Leadership Award.

Lincoln Trail College honored faculty and staff members for their service at the 42nd Annual Service Recognition Night. Retiring English Professor Dr. Ann Wolven was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. It is awarded to faculty members who have demonstrated sustained excellence and have adopted innovative or highly effective practices to aid student learning.

Olney Central College is offering three summer hybrid math courses students can complete in just 6 weeks. MTH 1105 Trigonometry will meet from 8 to 8:50 a.m. and MTH 1102 College Algebra will meet from 9 to 10:50 a.m. OCC is offering MTH 1103 Liberal Arts Math for the first time as a summer course. The class, which meets math requirements for graduation, will be held from 11 to 11:50 a.m.  All three courses will meet Monday through Thursday, from June 7 to July 19, with Instructor Lisa Benson.

Top high school welders put their skills to the test during the First Brandon Blackford Memorial Welding Competition hosted by the Olney Central College Welding Program. Fourteen students from Richland County, Fairfield Community, Red Hill, Newton Community, Edwards County and Hutsonville high schools competed for scholarships and prizes during the event held at the West Richland Center in Noble.