Recognizes service anniversaries and retirees

May 20, 2025

Press contact: Kyla Kruse

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College honored 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners, employees with service anniversaries and retirees at the LLCC Employee Recognition Ceremony May 15.

The college presented five Distinguished Service Awards to individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to the college community, promote a student-focused environment and exhibit a strong commitment to the college’s core values.

Distinguished Service Award recipients: 

Chatham: Administrative – Andy Mitkos, director of academic technology systems
Dawson: Professional Staff – Debra Bell, custodial operations supervisor  Riverton: Classified Staff – Crystal Norris, administrative assistant to the dean of social sciences and business
Springfield: Faculty – Leslie Stalter, professor of art
Worden: Adjunct Faculty – Amy Delap, adjunct instructor of biology

Thirty-year service honorees:

Springfield: Rebecca Parton, dean, academic innovation & eLearning

Twenty-five-year service honorees: 

Auburn: Richard C. Hayes II, student success advisor I
Girard: Danny Guthals, central receiving technician
Hillsboro: Tisha Miller, enrollment coordinator, LLCC-Taylorville
Springfield: Dr. Deborah Brothers, professor of English; Tamie Penning, systems administrator I; Al Shull, professor of art
Williamsville: Ryan Roberts, professor, librarian

Twenty-year service honorees: 

Chatham: Misty Schierer, graphic and website coordinator
Rochester: Shawn Allen, registrar
Springfield: Anne Armbruster, director, student support services; John Paul Jaramillo, professor of English; Craig Norman, truck driver training specialist; David Reynolds, professor of sociology; Katie Tice, professor of accounting; Amanda Wiesenhofer, director, library digital and technical services
Taylorville: Curt Robinson, director, truck driver training program

Retirees: 

Megan McCann, database and financial reporting analyst, 28 years; Karie Longhta, associate vice president, finance, 26 years
Beardstown: Rick Lashbrook, general maintenance technician, 27 years
Carlinville: Gary Wendt, general maintenance technician, 28 years
Diamondhead, Miss.: Brendan Lee, community service officer, 31 years
Edinburg: Marcy Koches, administrative assistant, LLCC-Taylorville, 23 years; Elaine Higgason, program assistant, accessibility services, 21 years
Girard: Darlene Sim, adult education coordinator, two years
Harmony, Fla: Ron Riggle, director, athletics, 29 years
Hillsboro: Brenda Loschen, administrative assistant to the dean, arts and communication, 17 years
Litchfield: Michael Bates, public safety assistant, nine years
Springfield: Dr. Carmen Allen, professor, computer science, 29 years; Tammy Kuhn, dean, library, 23 years; Kim Eddings, director, accessibility services, nine years
Taylorville: Dee Krueger, director, LLCC-Taylorville, 32 years
Virginia: Vanessa Avery, administrative assistant, LLCC-Jacksonville, 23 years
Williamsville: Karla Wilham, information technology specialist, 24 years