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Ířşě±¬ÁĎ will hold its 61st commencement exercises at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 in the OCC Gymnasium. Friends and relatives of the graduates are invited to attend. OCC Dean of Instruction Amy Tarr will give the welcoming remarks while Chris Simpson will deliver the President’s Message. Julie A. Hill will present the 2025 Commencement Address. Hill is the Board Chair of GA Franchising and co-founder of Ginger Ale’s, a growing chain of specialty drink shops.

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges announced the appointment of Paul Tait as the district’s next Chief Information Officer, effective May 12, 2025. Tait will succeed Alex Cline, who is retiring after nearly three decades of service.

After nearly three decades of service to Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Chief Information Officer Alex Cline is preparing for retirement, leaving behind a legacy defined by innovation, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the institution and its people.

After more than two decades of planning, Lincoln Trail College is set to break ground later this year on a state-of-the-art Technology Center that will house high-demand programs in Welding, Process Technology, and Broadband Telecommunications. The new facility will enhance technical education across the region, offering hands-on training aligned with local industry needs and statewide workforce priorities.  

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) is proud to announce two major leadership appointments that reflect the district’s continued commitment to academic excellence, student success, and regional responsiveness.   Dr. Cathy Stennett Robb has been named the next Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Sharmila Kakac has been appointed President of Frontier Community College, where she will also serve as Vice Chancellor for Business and Industry for the district.  

Lincoln Trail College will celebrate the academic achievements of the Class of 2025 during its 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. The ceremony will take place in the LTC Sports Center. LTC President Tona Ambrose will preside over the ceremony, which will honor approximately 120 graduates receiving degrees and certificates. Of those, 60 students will graduate with academic distinction, earning recognition for Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors.

The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees recognized Jorri VanDyke for her outstanding service as Student Trustee during the March 18 meeting at Ířşě±¬ÁĎ. The OCC sophomore was sworn in last April after being elected by fellow students to serve as their representative to IECC’s governing body. “The experience has definitely been eye-opening,” said VanDyke. “It has been a valuable experience that has enabled me to utilize the leadership skills I learned in high school and take them to a more professional level.”

There’s something about Lincoln Trail College that stays with you. Maybe it’s the way instructors take the time to help after class. Or how faculty and staff show up to ball games and student events—not because they have to, but because they want to. Or maybe it’s the feeling of walking across the stage at graduation, knowing the whole campus has quietly cheered you on every step of the way.

The Ířşě±¬ÁĎ Music Department will present its Spring Musical Theater Showcase at 7 p.m. on April 26 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center.  Director of Choral Activities Dr. Andrew Pittman said the annual performance has become a highly anticipated tradition, offering students the opportunity to take on leading roles and to gain valuable performance experience.

Lincoln Trail College’s Zwermann Arts Center Theater will come alive with music this April as the College presents two end-of-semester concerts showcasing student and community talent. The LTC Concert Band will perform on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m., under the direction of Jena Combs. The concert features an energetic and eclectic program, including jazz favorites, classic pop arrangements, and student soloists.