Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Wabash Valley College’s summer enrollment numbers are up nearly 20 percent! As the summer semester reaches the halfway mark, WVC anticipates this upward trend in enrollment to continue into the fall semester. Assistant Dean of Student Services Steve Patberg reported the increased enrollment was most notable in the math, science and communications classes.

Wabash Valley College’s Ag program, in conjunction with Wabash Valley Service Company, IB Executive Turf and Landscape, Wabash Valley Stewardship Alliance and southeastern Illinois Farm Bureaus, saw the planting of a new pollinator plot on WVC’s campus. Mike Wilson, CCA, from Wabash Valley Service Company, planted a pollinator plot on campus on May 12. Look for it next time you drive past the college on Oak Street!

Each year, three instructors from Wabash Valley College are selected as instructors of the year: a transfer instructor, a career and technical education instructor and an adjunct instructor. WVC is proud to announce this year’s instructors of the year. The members of the WVC student body have selected Ms. Jill Winter as the Outstanding Transfer Instructor of the Year, Ms. Ronda Hockgeiger as the Outstanding Career and Technical Education Instructor of the Year and Mr. D-Ray Etzkorn as the Outstanding Adjunct Instructor of the Year.

As of today, across the district, students have access to a new tutoring and e-learning platform developed by Brainfuse called TutorMatch. TutorMatch allows students to schedule their own tutoring appointments through Canvas. Tutors and students can communicate via a chat function or with audio. The program enables tutors and students to exchange files and share their screen while they work.

On Saturday, Feb. 29, the Wabash Valley College bass team hosted a bass fishing workshop with Major League Fishing, Bass Pro Tour angler Bradley Roy. The event was held in the Brubeck Arts Center Auditorium with around 100 anglers and fishing enthusiasts in attendance.

More than 400 students from area high schools filled Wabash Valley College’s Brubeck Arts Center Theatre for the 7th annual health care career expo and cadaver surgery on Feb. 21. The annual event, which is hosted in conjunction with Wabash General Hospital, allowed students to hear from industry professionals about their specific roles in the medical field, tour Wabash Valley College’s life sciences and nursing facilities and watch a total knee replacement surgery performed on one of the college’s cadavers.

Paul Schnarre has been a fixture of the Wabash Valley College athletic department since 1973, when he was hired as the head baseball coach. He later became WVC athletic director in 1976, a position he held for 37 years before stepping down in 2013. Now, after 36 seasons as the head softball coach, Coach Paul Schnarre, the All-Time wins leader in NJCAA History, has made the decision to step down at Wabash Valley College.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named Wabash Valley College as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.  Based on strong and improving in student outcomes—including in learning, completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and equity—15 percent of community colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize.

Infrastructure improvements related to the Truck Driving program at IECC’s West Richland Center are underway thanks to a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development grant providing $300,000 (50% of the $600,000 total funds). Construction of a concrete ramp and pad that connect to a new loading dock are timely investments as The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the economy will need more truckers as the demand for goods increases.

Wabash Valley College’s Radio/TV department’s TV station, News Channel 15, has been nominated by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System for the national award “Best Community College TV Station.” In addition, student Tristan Thomas has been individually nominated in the category “Best Video Sports Report.”