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Hot Jobsand TrainingLearn on the jobAt LLCC, you can get training at the college and on the job. TheLLCC Office of Work-Based Learning establishes partnershipswith local businesses who have IT opportunities and connectsthem with students who have a foundation in the field.career preparation, we also collaborate to give our employers thebest chance to recruit our students.”The market for job seekers is hot! Localbusinesses have job opportunities butare having difficulty finding qualifiedapplicants. These conditions make nowa great time to prepare and positionyourself for a new career.LLCC provided Microsoft Teams training for Litchfield National Bankemployees.Train current employeesConnect with futureemployeesConnect with arn on the jobbrenda.elliott@llcc.edu217-786-2326Train 611FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022Computer science student RobertWhite (left) also works in IT atSystemax, supervised by SystemaxChief Operating Officer BryanMesecher.LLCC also has courses and customized training options thatcan help current employees upskill and advance within theirorganizations.Career training programsat LLCC have programadvisory committees thathelp develop and implementstrategies to create a highlyskilled workforce andpromote a robust industry.“We’re working to provideour graduates with thetraining that local businessesare looking for,” says Collins.“In addition to working withlocal businesses to enhanceFOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202212

Gen EdsGETAHEADWITHalum quoteOn average, studentswho transfer from acommunity collegedo as well or betterat their four-yearinstitution thanstudents who startedthere as freshmen.While gen eds provide the foundation, higher level classes in a major are more specialized.“They are more content focused, while gen eds are often more about concepts,” explains AlexBerry, director, student success.At LLCC I had small classeswith really smart professorswho walked us through howto gather information andcritically profile it. Youacquire the foundational skillsto further expertise on yourown – and at a reasonableprice. And when hiring, thoseare skills we look for.Frank HopperLLCC alumManaging Director, Capital InnovatorsAlex Berry (right), directorof student success, discussescourse options with studentKaitlyn Austin.Attend community college for savings ofapproximately 10,000- 35,000Private University 40,380PublicUniversity 14,125Community College 4,48013Based on averageundergraduate tuition andfees in Illinois for 30semester hours in FY2021.Source: t FY21.pdfFOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022General education classes,or gen eds, are the firstpart — the foundation —in earning a bachelor’sdegree. They includecourses in: Social sciences Communications Fine arts Humanities Science MathIn addition to a solid foundation, those who take geneds at LLCC are getting great value — in low cost,high-quality classes. Cost savings alone can rangefrom almost 6,000- 35,000 a year when comparedto online, public and private university options inthe state.Students who completean associate degree ata community college,transfer to a four-yearpublic university andcomplete a bachelor’sdegree within six yearsreport the highestearnings and lowest costof education.The Center for Analysis of PostsecondaryEducation and EmploymentTransferLLCC has many courses designed for transfer. “When you know what university you want totransfer to, meet with one of our success coaches. We’ll help you optimize class selections tomeet the requirements of that university,” says Berry. “If already at another institution, youcan pick up a few of these courses online or in-person over the summer.”17:1Undergraduatetuition and feesfor academic year2020-2021Best ValueStudentto facultyratio77:1 9,552 3,456LLCC (in-district)University of PhoenixSource: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigatorFOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202214

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTDiesel/AutoGet your motor runningLLCC to fill workforceneed with new diesel technologiesprogramyears of teaching experience to the college.When it comes to diesel technologies, Jeff Gardner knows hisway around an engine and a classroom. Gardner recently beganas LLCC’s program director of diesel technologies, bringing 23technicians,” says Gardner.Automotive technologyLLCC automotive technology graduate John Wyness knew hewanted to work with his hands.Diesel technologies program director Jeff Gardnerwith a diesel-powered tractor.15FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022www.llcc.edu/automotive-technologyFOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202216

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTEmergency Medical Services (EMS)Saving lives every dayA pathway to other careers“The term Emergency Medical Services (EMS) includes all thepersonnel who take care of patients in first responder capacitiesor the prehospital setting,” says Christopher McDowell, M.D.,associate professor and chair of emergency medicine, SIUSchool of Medicine. “These first responders and their lifesavingpatient care skills are an essential part of emergency care for anycommunity.”required clinical time I met some fantastic staff members andgained experience that led me to apply for the emergency medicalspecialist position in the local emergency department. There,I was truly exposed to nursing for the first time in my life. Theexperience I gained in the ED gave me a ton of knowledge thatgave me a great foundation to learn in the nursing program.”“We are experiencing a criticalshortage of these providers inour region. Any day we may needthese patient care heroes totransport ourselves or our lovedones. It is critical for us to increasethe supply of these EMS providersso that we are always ready toanswer the call for help.”Erica Bunch, EMS graduate,worked as an EMT and is nowenrolled in the registerednurse program.Christopher McDowell, M.D., chair of emergency medicine, SIU School of MedicineThe hero who rushes to your door when you call 9-1-1with a medical emergency arrives first at a traffic crash to administerlifesaving care immediately administers CPR when you’vestopped breathingwww.llcc.edu/ems17FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202218

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTHelp DeskHelp desk professionalsA quick path to an IT jobtroubleshooting, customer service, networking fundamentals,operating systems, system administration and security.You probably know the feeling — you’re working on yourcomputer and something happens. The screen goes black.Your keyboard stops responding. A program freezes andwon’t reboot. Frustration and panic set in what do you do?www.llcc.edu/computer-scienceAccording to the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics,about 70,400 jobopenings for help desktechnicians are projectedeach year through 2030,with a median annualsalary of 55,510.19FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022help desk certificate is the most beginner-friendly option. You canquickly get into the IT field and work your way up the ladder.”FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202220

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTAndrew HarmonALUM SPOTLIGHTSeeing what’s insideDr. Karla IvankovichCrusader for mental healthTribune, Dr. Oz – The Good Life, ElleMagazine, Fitbit, Glamour, HealthMagazine, Health Technology Magazine,Huffington Post, Men’s Health Magazine,New Parent, The Science of Relationships,Self Magazine, Teen Vogue, Women’sDay, Yahoo and Psychology Today. InJuly 2020, she became an internationalbest-selling author with the book, “Let’sFINALLY Talk About Sex.” She alsoserves as relationship advice blogger forPsychology Today.“It began with wanting to give backand help people,” says AndrewHarmon, LLCC instructor ofradiography. And he has done justthat — helping patients, colleaguesand now students.“I look at it from the student point of view, from wherethey’re starting, to help them build a foundation in radiographyand then expand on that,” he says.An LLCC alumna has received the highestnational honor bestowed on a communitycollege graduate from the AmericanAssociation of Community Colleges(AACC).programs of mental and physical healthcare in Chicago and Haiti.CongratulationsDr. Ivankovich!21FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202222

STAFF SPOTLIGHTRon BrownSTUDENT SPOTLIGHTSCoaching for COLLEGE SUCCESSDenmark Mahilom’s journey to LLCCbegins in the Philippines where he wasborn. At age 15, he moved with his familyto Beardstown. At the time, he couldunderstand some English but wasn’t usedto speaking it. Three days after arriving,he enrolled at Beardstown High Schooland despite initial language challenges,eventually became active in Key Club,Business Club and several sports teams.Looking to attend college, he wasaccepted at UIUC, “but my parentsconvinced me starting at LLCC wasthe best choice; it’s less expensive, butyou still get the full college experience.”He moved to Springfield so he couldbe active on campus. He works in theLLCC Student Life office and can be seenthe same interests and goals buildsyou up, gets you excited about beingpart of the college. It also translates tothe real world. There aren’t too manycareers where you’ll be by yourself.Being in that team environment is awonderful opportunity to thrive.”www.llcc.edu/student-successRon Brown had coaches and mentors who pushed him to succeed,both on and off the football field. Now he’s doing the same forLLCC students as a success coach.Success Coach Ron Brown (right) often checks in with students like ChristianMahini (left) to see how they’re doing and if they need assistance, pointingthem toward the college’s many resources.them to the many resources the college has to help, including theLLCC Math Center, Writing Center, peer tutoring and the Centerfor Academic Success. He often checks in with students. “I’ll send atext, ‘This is Ron Brown, your success coach, how are you doing?’I want them to feel comfortable coming to me for help scheduling,finding a tutor, or for a laptop or hotspot if they need one.Contact Ron Brown, student success coach, at daron.brown@llcc.edu.23FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022Emily Reynolds of Hillsboro isable to schedule a mixture of onlineand in-person classes to work bestfor her schedule. She is active inboth the LLCC Honors Program,as its secretary, and vice presidentof scholarship in Phi Theta KappaHonors Society. For PTK, she ledan “Honors in Action” projectto encourage organ donations.“Collaborating with the Illinois LifeGoes On organization, we held anall-day drive to sign up new organdonors. That evening, we invitedan organ donor and her recipient,helping with many student activities. He’sleaning toward a major in psychologyand an eventual career in sports science.“LLCC is definitely the best place if you’retrying to figure out what your major isgoing to be, if you want to save moneyand get a great education. It feels likeyou’re at a university. It makes me happyto see students want to get involved like Ido. It’s fun! I was actually involved in somuch, I was having trouble finding timeto study. The LLCC Center for AcademicSuccess helped me get better organized,taught me when and how to study. I tellstudents, if you need help, talk to yoursuccess coach or contact the Center forAcademic Success. LLCC will get youwhere you want to be!”along with the parents of a deceasedorgan donor, to speak. It wasvery fulfilling to know our effortsincreased the number of peopleon the organ donor registry.” Sheplans to complete an associate inarts degree at LLCC this spring andthen transfer to a nursing school.She credits her LLCC professorswith having a positive impact onher and her education, in particularMatt Vespa, Becky Croteau, Dr.Claire Gordon, Barb Bernardi, TimHumphrey, Michael Ramm andAdrienne Range.Jake Curtis is part of a Loggersbaseball legacy. He was namedfirst team All-American and alsothe Dick Dhabalt Athlete of theYear. The pitcher/second basemanwas an integral part of the Loggersfinishing in seventh place at the2021 NJCAA national tournament.Jake’s father played on the Loggers’fifth place finishing team in 1993,and his uncle also played Loggersbaseball. Jake’s brother Eli will jointhe Loggers next year. Jake plansto follow his father’s and uncle’slead in transferring to MemphisUniversity to play baseball. Abusiness major, Jake says he wasn’tthe best player in high school, buthis LLCC “coaches and teammatespushed me every day to get better.”He says LLCC “is literally one ofmy favorite places to be. When Igo to sleep, I’m looking forward tocoming back every day.” The 2022Loggers have so far been rankedbetween No. 3 and No. 10 for theupcoming season. “Now it’s livingup to the hype,” says Jake. “We’rein a good position to get wherewe want to go.” He hopes to playbaseball at the professional levelafter college.FOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202224

Arts andCommunicationCareer and Tech Degrees (AAS)Associate in ArtsArtDigital Media DesignMusicSpeech CommunicationWorld LanguagesAssociate in Fine ArtsMusic PerformanceStudio ArtAssociate in Applied ScienceIntegrated Media DesignCertificates of CompletionAudio ProductionCareer and Tech CertificatesEnglish andHumanitiesLLCC offersTransfer Degrees (AA, AS, AFA, AES)(Certificates of Achievement/Completion)Short-term Career TrainingOnline Degrees and CertificatesCommunity Education(personal enrichment classes)College for Kids25F O R WA R D MAG A Z I N E - A P R I L 2022Associate in ArtsEnglishJournalismLiberal ArtsPhilosophyAssociate in General EducationLiberal ArtsOnline DegreesEnglish - Associate in ArtsLiberal Arts - Associate in ArtsPhilosophy - Associate in ArtsHealthProfessionsAssociate in Applied ScienceAssociate Degree NursingAssociate Degree RadiographyAssociate Degree Surgical TechnologyEmergency Medical ServicesFire Science TechnologyNeurodiagnostic TechnologyOccupational Therapy AssistantRespiratory CareAssociate in ArtsExercise and Sports ScienceAssociate in SciencePre-NursingCertificates of AchievementDiagnostic Medical SonographyMedical Coding SpecialistParamedicPractical NurseCertificates of CompletionAdvanced Emergency Medical TechnicianAdvanced Technician FirefighterBasic Nurse AssistantBasic Operations FirefighterCentral Sterile Service TechnicianClinical Medical AssistantCNA to Medical AssistantEmergency Medical ResponderEmergency Medical TechnicianFire Apparatus EngineerFire Prevention PrinciplesFire Service Instructor IFire Service Instructor IIFire Service Vehicle OperatorFire Tactics and Strategy ITechnical Rescue AwarenessVascular SonographyVehicle/Machinery OperationsShort-term Career TrainingDental AssistantECG TechnicianMassage TherapyPersonal TrainerPharmacy TechnicianPhlebotomy TechnicianVeterinary AssistantOnline DegreeLPN to ADN Transition Specialty ProgramOnline Certificates of CompletionFire Prevention PrinciplesFire Service Instructor IFire Service Instructor IIFire Tactics & Strategy IMathematics andComputer ScienceAssociate in ArtsComputer ScienceAssociate in ScienceEngineeringMathematicsAssociate in Engineering ScienceEngineering ScienceAssociate in Applied ScienceComputer SystemsCertificates of AchievementComputer ScienceCybersecurityCertificates of CompletionCISCO NetworkAdministration TrainingHelp DeskOnline DegreesComputer Science Associate in ArtsComputer Systems Associate in Applied ScienceOnline CertificatesCISCO Network AdministratorTraining Certificate of CompletionComputer Administration Certificate of AchievementNatural andAgricultural SciencesAssociate in ArtsAgricultureGeographyAssociate in ScienceBiologyChemistry and ChemicalEngineeringGeologyPhysicsAssociate in Applied ScienceAgri-BusinessHorticulture and CultivationPrecision Agronomy &Custom ApplicationCertificates of CompletionCultivationGeographic InformationSystems (GIS)Precision Agronomy OperatorSocial Sciencesand BusinessAssociate in ArtsAccountingBusiness AdministrationCriminal JusticeEarly Childhood EducationElementary EducationHistoryHuman ServicesPolitical SciencePsychologySecondary EducationSociologyAssociate in Applied ScienceAccounting SpecialistBusinessCriminal JusticeEarly Childhood Care and EducationCertificates of AchievementEntrepreneurshipCertificates of CompletionBusiness Operations FacilitatorECE Credential Level IIECE Credential Level IIIManagementOnline DegreesAccounting - Associate in ArtsBusiness Administration Associate in ArtsCriminal Justice Associate in ArtsCriminal Justice Associate in Applied ScienceHistory - Associate in ArtsPsychology - Associate in ArtsSociology - Associate in ArtsTUITION & FEES vary by program.Visit www.llcc.edu/tuition.FINANCIAL AID is available to those whoAssociate in Applied Science 25% MAX REDUCTIONqualify.Visit www.llcc.edu/financial-aid orAirframe and Powerplant Aviationcall217-786-2237.Payment plans available.MechanicsAutomotive TechnologySCHOLARSHIPS are available through theAviation ManagementCommercial Electrical MaintenanceLLCC Foundation. VisitConstruction Occupations 10% MAX ary ArtsCustomized Applied TechnologyLLCC LOCATIONSElectrical Distribution LinemanMain campus, 5250 Shepherd Rd.,Hospitality ManagementSpringfield.Certificates of Achievement217-786-2200. www.llcc.eduAutomotive Technician 10% MAX REDUCTIONAviation Airframe TechnicianMedical District, 130 W. Mason,Aviation Powerplant TechnicianSpringfield.Advanced-Level Welding217-782-7436. www.llcc.edu/medical-districtBaking and PastryCulinary ManagerLRS Aviation Center, 815 S. Airport Dr.,10% MAX REDUCTIONElectrical Distribution LinemanHangar 4, Springfield.Maintenance217-544-4965. www.llcc.edu/aviationHeating, Ventilation, Air ConditioningNeurodiagnostic Technology, Respiratoryand RefrigerationCare programs located at HSHS St. John’sHospitality SupervisorIndustrial Maintenance TechnologiesHospital, Springfield.MechatronicsJacksonville, 32 N. Central Park Plaza.Residential Construction217-243-6699. www.llcc.edu/jacksonvilleValue-Added Local FoodCertificates of CompletionTaylorville, 800 S. Spresser.Auto Heating and Air Conditioning217-786-2754. www.llcc.edu/taylorvilleBasic Multipractice WeldingBrakesLitchfield, 1 Lincoln Land Dr.Certified Production Technician217-786-3401. www.llcc.edu/litchfield25% MAX REDUCTIONCommercial Electrical Maintenance(some classes offered in Hillsboro)First CookBeardstown, 109 White Pine Ln.Hospitality ProfessionalIndustrial Technologies217-323-4103. www.llcc.edu/beardstownIntermediate-Level WeldingShielded Metal Arc WeldingSteering and AlignmentTire Service and Suspension25%SystemsMAX REDUCTIONTruck Driver Training CDL BasicWorkforce Development ProgramsAerial Scissor Lift Training CertificationCPR/First Aid CertificationForklift Training CertificationIntro to Solar PhotovoltaicOSHA 10 CertificationSolar Site Assessor TrainingFOR EMBROIDERYLLCC is accredited by the Higher LearningCommission (hlcommission.org), an institutionalaccreditation agency recognized by the U.S.Department of Education and is an equalopportunity employer that does not discriminateagainst any student, employee or prospectiveemployee. www.llcc.edu/equal-opportunityFOR WARD MAGAZINE - APRIL 202226

CESSTHE BRIGEUCLLCCULT EDUCAADONTIDT O YO U RSAdultEducationCommunityEducationTue, 8/9, 6-10 p.m.Wed, 8/24, 6-10 p.m.Mon, 9/12, 6

LLCC nursing students Luke Ridge and Lisa Robison-Carter spoke at a press event Feb. 16 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker visited the LLCC Nursing Education Center to highlight his proposals to increase MAP grants and provide 25 million to assist community college health care students. Ridge said he was inspired to become a nurse after witnessing the .