Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares individuals for high-skill, in-demand employment that furthers Illinois’ global competitiveness. Last year, about half of all Illinois community college graduates earned a CTE degree or certificate. CTE programs offer flexible scheduling, work-based learning, and stackable credentials that provide a pathway from education to employment not only for recent high school graduates, but also for returning adults, veterans, and workers wanting to update their skills.

The Lincoln Trail College Statesmen Singers are giving people a chance to share some love virtually this Valentine’s Day by offering musical virtual valentines. “We’re very excited about this,” says Statesmen Singers Director Rebecca Carmack. “This is a great way for people to share their friendship and love in a very fun way.”

With the construction of the Theater Renaissance Project underway and continued COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Lincoln Trail College Theater Department is making some changes to its spring production. Director Tara Gallion says instead of a typical on-stage production like in years past, this year there is going to be a collection of skits in a production playfully titled “Culture in a Cornfield.” “This will be a lighthearted collection of short comedy skits,” says Gallion. “It will also be completely pre-recorded.”

Lincoln Trail College has a new way to deliver classes to students. The new Synchronous Lecture Hall in Williams Hall provides students a way to take classes from instructors throughout District 529. Likewise, instructors will be able to use the room to teach classes for other students in the District.

Prospective students will have the chance to take a virtual visit to Lincoln Trail College on January 27. The virtual visit will focus on two of LTC’s most popular programs, Broadband Telecom and Process Technology. “COVID-19 has changed the college recruiting landscape,” says Director of College Access Tona Ambrose. “Like many other colleges, we’re using technology to adapt to highlight Lincoln Trail College and our programs to prospective students. The virtual visit on January 27 is just one of the ways we’re doing that.”

Lincoln Trail College student-athletes combined for a GPA above 3.0 for the 14th consecutive semester. In the Fall 2020 Semester, the department had a combined GPA of 3.25. “We had a lot of challenges this Fall,” says Baseball Coach and Athletic Director Kevin Bowers. “I’m proud of the fact that our athletes rose to the challenge. Their effort is very commendable.”

Lincoln Trail College has released its academic honor lists for the Fall 2020 Semester. Three lists have been established by Illinois Eastern Community Colleges to indicate students who have achieved academic excellence.

Lincoln Trail College prides itself on making sure that students get the opportunity to hear from experts in their fields. That’s no different in Tyler Browning’s Sport Communications class in the Sport Management program. He recently brought two speakers from the Miami Heat to his classroom via a Zoom teleconference.

Lincoln Trail College broke ground on an addition to the Zwermann Arts Center at a ceremony on December 1. “This is obviously a very, very momentous, important occasion for Lincoln Trail College,” said Interim President Roger Eddy in his opening remarks.

Lincoln Trail College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Theater Renaissance project on December 1 at 11 a.m. “We’re very excited about this project,” says Director of Marketing Chris Forde. “This marks the first new construction on our campus since 1975.”