Four Lincoln Trail College Process Technology students have qualified for the NAPTA Troubleshooting Skills Competition, earning the opportunity to compete against top programs from across the country. Hannah Potts, Natalie Ramsey, Korbin Alger and Dalton Spahn will represent LTC at the national competition, which is organized by the North American Process Technology Alliance and will be held April 29-May 1 in Pasadena, Texas.

The Lincoln Trail College Community Choir and Jazz Band will present a spring concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Zwermann Arts Center Theater. The concert will feature a blend of choral works and jazz standards performed by ensembles made up of community members and Lincoln Trail College students.

Students in the telecommunications program at Lincoln Trail College continue to demonstrate their readiness for the workforce, extending a six-year streak of passing the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Certification Exam on their first attempt.

For the third consecutive year, students at Lincoln Trail College are gaining real-world experience while making a tangible impact in the community through the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The VITA program offers free tax preparation services to qualifying individuals, particularly those with low incomes and elderly residents. At Lincoln Trail College, the program is led by Associate Professor of Business Amie Mayhall and supported by students who complete IRS training and certification.

Walking into the nation’s capital, Al Crosley knew he carried more than just his own story. The Lincoln Trail College student was one of four Illinois Eastern Community Colleges students selected to attend the 2026 TRIO Policy Seminar, where students from across the country met with lawmakers to advocate for continued funding for TRIO programs.  “It was really cool,” Crosley said. “It was scary because it’s a pretty important thing to be doing. But it made me feel like I was having a part in something.”

Lincoln Trail College will soon offer agriculture courses on its campus, creating a new pathway for students interested in careers in one of the region’s most important industries. Beginning this fall, Lincoln Trail College will offer agriculture courses designed to introduce students to the field and prepare them to continue their studies through Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ agriculture programs. LTC President Tona Ambrose said the launch reflects years of interest from students, schools and community members.

Lincoln Trail College is inviting alumni, community members, and supporters to come together on March 31 for the college’s first-ever Day of Giving. The 24-hour event will bring attention to the ways community support helps students succeed while strengthening the programs and opportunities available on campus. The effort is part of a coordinated Day of Giving across Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, with each campus foundation focusing on supporting its local students and priorities.

Lincoln Trail College welcomed high school students from across the region to campus for its annual Celebrate Art! Day, an event designed to showcase student artwork while providing an educational experience in the arts. Students in grades 9-12 from area schools, including Robinson, Oblong, Palestine, Hutsonville, Marshall, Lawrenceville, Red Hill and Richland County, participated in the event by submitting artwork for display and competition.

More than a century ago, two sisters from southern Illinois helped lay the foundation for nursing education in the region. Today, their legacy will continue through a new scholarship supporting the next generation of nurses at Lincoln Trail College. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, the Lincoln Trail College Foundation will award the Katharina and Philomina Weber Nursing Scholarship to a student enrolled in the college’s Nursing program. The scholarship honors the Weber sisters’ lasting contributions to nursing care and education in southeastern Illinois.

Lincoln Trail College hosted the Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science (ACES) Competition on March 2, welcoming more than 125 students from nine area high schools to campus. The ACES Competition provides high school students the opportunity to test their knowledge in subjects related to engineering and science, including mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. Students select subject areas and complete exams designed to challenge their understanding and problem-solving abilities.