Press contact: Kyla Kruse

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College recognized students with academic, leadership and special awards at the Student Recognition Ceremony May 3. 

The top award of 2023 Outstanding Graduate was presented to Trent Matthews of Mechanicsburg.

The award recognizes a graduate’s excellent grade point average, leadership, motivation, service to the college community, extracurricular activities and ability to overcome obstacles. Matthews is a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, graduating with an associate in arts degree. He plans to study exercise science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this fall.

Student honorees and their awards in hometown order

Arenzville

Daniel Wingert, Excellence in Jazz Band

Athens

Luke Adams, Phi Theta Kappa Treasurer, Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team; Lilly Alderman, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate

Auburn

Shianne Baker, Stephen A. Little Memorial Award; Makenna Buchanan, Outstanding Student Athlete

Cantrall

Molly Hughes, Outstanding Student Athlete

Chatham

Sondus Abu Saad, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Kierstyn Harmon, Outstanding Student Athlete; Madyson Hill, Outstanding Student Athlete; Garrett Kroeschel, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Jonah Pollock, Excellence in Music Theory

Dawson 

Jenna Vance, Chemistry Club Leadership

Divernon

Alexis Bramley, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate

Edinburg 

Erin Kurlakowsky, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Fillmore

Michael Lee Carlock, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate

Franklin

Holly Richardson, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Greenview

Claire Waibel, Alexis Wernsing Pinnacle Award, Arts & Communication Department Honor Graduate

Irving

Morgan A. Jolliff, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Jacksonville

Adam Christian, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Hannah R. Deeder, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Miranda K. Elliott, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Drew Ezard, Outstanding Student Athlete, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Jackson K. Ford, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Joey Gallo, Phi Theta Kappa President; Dee Goings, Phi Theta Kappa Public Relations Officer; Jacob D. Hembrough, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Kendall P. Jumper, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Ryan Maul, Outstanding Student Athlete; Alyssa Miller, Outstanding Student Athlete; William Rohlk, Outstanding Student Athlete; Evan Wyatt, Chemistry Club President, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate

Jerome

Hannah Tolan, Chemistry Club Secretary

Louisville

Madison Lovett, Outstanding Student Athlete, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate

Mechanicsburg

Trent Matthews, Outstanding Graduate

Mount Pulaski

Rylan Lindley, Outstanding Student Athlete

Nokomis

Evan Herpstreith, Outstanding Student Athlete

Owaneco

Jacob A. Muncy, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Palmyra

Devin Branstner, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate

Pawnee

Bailey Burris, Outstanding Student Radiographer Association Vice President & Secretary; Sydney Landrey, Outstanding Student Radiographer Association Treasurer; Brandon Sharp, Outstanding Computer Science Student 

Petersburg

Lydia Defreezer, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate

Pleasant Plains

Nathan Davis, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate

Rochester

Ace Cannon, Chemistry Club Vice President; Daren Hunter Rapp, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Mark Simpson, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Brett Wisecup, Excellence in Choir 

Sherman

Josie Dame, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate, Outstanding Student Radiographer Association Club Member; Jesse Dees, Phi Theta Kappa Secretary

South Jacksonville 

Carley Provo, Ron Coffman Memorial Scholarship, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate 

Springfield

Hannah Baer, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate; Beatriz Bartolome Kateb, Outstanding Student Athlete, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Joseph Brown, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Madalyn Buxton, Outstanding Student Athlete, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; AJ Colletti, Phi Theta Kappa Vice President of Service; Jazmyn Constant, Excellence in Choir; Ashlyn Cox, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Ryan Cozadd, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate; Mackenzie L. Crossland, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Ethan Davis, Outstanding Student Athlete; Alissa Egan, Arts & Communication Department Honors; Rayahna Foutch, Outstanding Student Athlete; Keziah Gragg, Student Worker of the Year; Jesus Gudino, English & Humanities Department Honor Graduate, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Honor Graduate; Amethyst J. Hamm, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Alivia Hemberger, Outstanding Student Athlete, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Lana L. Johnson, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Kayla Kodat, Outstanding Student Athlete; Cassidy Kretschmer, Outstanding Student Athlete, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Taylor A. Lawson, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Yuji Lee, Outstanding Ambassador for TRIO; Antonio Lewis, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate; Courtney Maltimore, Chemistry Club Leadership; Carly Michels, Outstanding Student Athlete; Griffin Neuweg, Outstanding Student Athlete; Luz Pineda, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Bryant Portis, Open Door – Workforce Equity Initiative Award; Karrie Prescott, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Addison Scarlette, Outstanding Student Athlete; Kiley Schanuel, Outstanding Student Athlete, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Colby William Sholtis, Social Sciences & Business Department Honor Graduate; Austin Simmons, Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team; Gretchen Sitki, Chemistry Club Leadership; Sarina Sloman, IV Leaguers Outstanding Fundraiser; Kodi Smith, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Elizabeth Squires, IV Leaguers Outstanding Service; Jordan Stapleton, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Honor Graduate; Carter Steele, Mathematics & Computer Science Department Honor Graduate; Rayel Tasker, Public Speaking Award; Isaiah Thomas, BSU Outstanding Leader; Marleigh Thompson, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Bre’ona Van, BSU Outstanding Leader; Bailey Wadlow, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Jackson Wilson, Interpersonal Communication Award; Alan Wong, Chemistry Club Leadership

Stonington

Crux May, Arts & Communication Department Honor Graduate

Tallula

Charles Gum, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate 

Taylorville

Lily Anderson, IV Leaguers Outstanding Leader; Victoria Anselm, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honor Graduate; Brianna N. Blades, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Kortney Fisher, Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate 

Tovey

Haley Prince, Outstanding Student Radiographer Association President

Virden

Farren Ackerman, Chemistry Club Leadership; Caitlin Little, Phi Theta Kappa Vice President of Fellowship, Arts & Communication Department Honor Graduate

Virginia

Nathan Danner, Workforce Institute Honor Graduate

Waverly

Jaime Lyons, PATH Program Award

Faculty and staff

Several recognitions were also given to LLCC faculty and staff, including: Kirk Yenerall, Advisor of the Year, Gaming Club, and Laurie Clemons, Retiring Advisor, Black Student Union.