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���챬�� freshman Jorri VanDyke was seated as the new Student Trustee for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges during the Board of Trustees meeting on April 16. Elected by the OCC student body on March 19, VanDyke is eager to represent students across the district, giving them a voice in the decision-making process. “I am excited and looking forward to this opportunity,” VanDyke said. “It’s a great way to be informed about what is going on in the district. As student trustee, I want to help bridge the gap between students, administration and the board.”

���챬��’s Music Department will host its Contemporary Music Ensembles and Brass Band Concert on April 10, while the Big Band and Concert/Community Band will perform on April 24. Both performances will begin at 7 p.m. in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. The Contemporary Music Ensembles will feature two separate bands under the direction of adjunct faculty Josh Moats and Trevor Parrent, both OCC graduates.

���챬�� students can now perform genomic sequencing and DNA analysis with cutting-edge biotechnology purchased through a $5,000 OCC Foundation mini grant. Foundation members Sherry Brauer and Brenda Glover along with Executive Director Beth Miller witnessed these capabilities firsthand as students used the new portable PCR thermocycler and gel electrophoresis to solve a crime.

PURCHASE TICKETS OLNEY, IL – ���챬�� Theater will present the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof on March 15-17 and 21-24 at the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center.

Students from 11 area high schools participated in the 2024 Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science Competition at ���챬��. The state-wide event is sponsored by Eastern Illinois University. Division 300 schools competing this year were: Clay City, Edwards County, Hutsonville, Lawrenceville, Oblong and Palestine. Division 700 schools were: Fairfield Community, Flora, Newton Community and Robinson. Richland County competed in Division 1,500.

���챬��’s Massage Therapy Program is accepting appointments for Spring clinicals at the Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center in Noble. Appointments are available on the following dates and times: • February 27 — 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. • March 12 — 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. • April 13 — 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. The cost is $40 for a 60-minute, full-body massage and $20 for a 30-minute body massage. A 20-minute chair massage is $15.

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. ���챬�� along with community colleges across the nation will be celebrating and recognizing their CTE programs that successfully prepare students to enter the workforce.  CTE programs often differentiate themselves from others by providing a more hands-on opportunity for students as they learn and gain experience before joining their respective industries. 

OLNEY, Ill. — Outstanding students at ���챬�� have received academic honors for the Fall 2023 Semester. Students named to the Chancellor’s List have attained a grade point average of 3.90 or higher, on a 4.0 scale. Those on the President’s List have achieved a grade point average between 3.75 and 3.89, while those students named to the Dean’s List have earned a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.74. Chancellor’s List: Albion: Emma Gill and Isabel Shepherd Bellmont: Greta Claywell Bridgeport: HL Hager

���챬�� dual-credit student Weston Miller finished the fall semester having earned every plate certification the Welding Program offers. “While most dual-credit students leave with some qualifications, Weston is the first to leave with them all,” said Instructor Maverick Fisher. “He has put in significant extra time outside of class to make this happen.” Now a senior at Clay City High School, Miller was preparing for the second semester of his junior year, when his guidance counselor suggested he enroll in dual-credit welding courses at OCC.

Students in ���챬��’s Welding Program are gaining real-world experience through projects that are benefiting not only the college, but the community. Instructor Curtis Marshall said students spent numerous hours this semester on the fabrication of two new batting cages for the OCC Baseball team. Baseball Coach Phil Britton received an OCC Foundation mini grant to help fund the updates and requested Marshall’s assistance with the project.