Jane McCormick is serving as Olney Central College’s new Information Systems Technology (IST) Instructor. An Olney native, McCormick possesses both technical and educational experience in the field. After graduating from college, she began her career with AT&T and later moved to its subsidiary Lucent Technologies in Naperville. McCormick served as a software engineer working at the telecommunications equipment firm before transitioning into technical management.

The website Online Schools Guide rated Lincoln Trail College as the sixth-best online community college in the nation for 2022. They rated community colleges offering online or hybrid degree programs. Their rankings are based on the number of programs offered followed by cost, student reviews, and salary.

Eric Badger came to Lincoln Trail College late in life. He found himself out of a job after the company he was working for was bought out by another company. He turned to Maureen Hays and the CEFS organization to begin a new career and enrolled in classes at LTC in September of 2019. “It was a lot of work at the beginning,” says Badger. “There was a lot of paperwork that I had to fill out, but it went quickly thanks to the help of Maureen.” 

Olney Central College is currently accepting applications for Fall 2022 entry into the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges/OCC Nursing Program. Applicants must attend an informational meeting which will be scheduled for some time in January and February. Please check with Nursing Advisor Linda Horn as to the dates.

Title III Advising Specialist Ashley Bigard shared Illinois Eastern Community College’s success with Appreciative Advising during a webinar on Oct. 13. The event was hosted by Signal Vine, the provider of IECC’s text messaging platform. Olney Central College began utilizing the service in 2019. Its implementation coincided with the district’s move toward Appreciative Advising under the IECC Title III Block Grant initiative to enhance academic advising.

Title III Advisor Ashley Bigard hopes to raise mental health awareness at Olney Central College by establishing an Active Minds chapter on campus. Founded by Alison Malmon following her older brother Brian’s suicide in 2000, Active Minds is the nation’s premier nonprofit organization promoting mental health for young adults.

Spring semester registration opens October 19 at Olney Central College. To schedule an advisement appointment, call 618-395-7777.  New students can apply for free at www.iecc.edu/apply. The Spring 2022 schedule is available at www.iecc.edu/schedules.

The Olney Central College Student Senate will host a Halloween Movie Knight on Oct. 30 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. A family-friendly event featuring, Casper, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. with a costume contest. Categories are Most Creative, Scariest and Cutest. Prizes will be awarded following the movie. Children must be accompanied by a family member. A freewill donation will be accepted at the door. OCC students are invited to watch Freddy vs. Jason at 6 p.m. Students must present their OCC ID at the door. Each student may bring one guest.

A building on the campus of Frontier Community College has a new name thanks to the generosity of an area resident. Clemence Elizabeth Cox Hall, named in memory of the mother of Jerry Cox, will serve as the home for FCC’s Center for Nursing, Learning Resource Center, and Academic Success Center. “I wanted to do something to honor my mother and continue to honor nurses,” said Mr. Cox. “I hold nurses in high regard after serving in Vietnam and seeing firsthand what nurses do for our country. I still see how important nurses are through my own health while receiving care through VA services.