Press contact: Angela Try

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College recognized students with academic, leadership and special awards at the Student Recognition Ceremony April 30.

The top award of 2026 Outstanding Graduate was presented to Yuji Lee of Chatham. The award recognizes a graduate’s excellent grade point average, leadership, motivation, service to the college community, extracurricular activities and ability to overcome obstacles. Lee began her educational journey at LLCC in the college’s English Language Learning (ELL) program. She went from learning to speak English to excelling in computer science coursework. She has served as an officer for the Student Government Association and as a TRIO ambassador. As a current program assistant in LLCC Student Support, she motivates other students to reach their potential. She plans to continue her educational journey at the University of Illinois Springfield this fall.

(Student honorees and their awards are listed in hometown order.)

Athens
Olivia A. Baker, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Kaydence J. Richardson, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Bailey R. Smith, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Cody J. Tobias, Workforce Institute Department Honors

Auburn
Laynie R. Durkin, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Lauren C. Spellbrink, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Samantha E. Ulm, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Emily G. Webber, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors

Beardstown
Enrique Camacho, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Andrea Snyder, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Benld
Christopher A. Young, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Bloomington
Kylie Masters, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Cantrall
Collin Fisher, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors

Carrollton
Allie Emilia Angle, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Chatham
Simone Lammerse, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Yuji Lee, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors, Outstanding Graduate; Abigail Martin, Gay-Straight Alliance Outstanding Officer; Amanda C. Miller, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Apollo T. Nicholson, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Camryn Patterson, Outstanding Student Athlete; Jose Salgado, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors; Jackson Winston, Biology Club Outstanding Officer

Chesterfield
Evan M. Gahr, Workforce Institute Department Honors

Concord
Hannah P. Workman, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Cropsey
Brittney A. Slagel, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors

Divernon
Mya G. Wilcockson, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors, Outstanding Ambassador for Student Engagement

Edinburg
Emma G. Rafferty, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors

Farmersville
Hope H. Cherry, IV Leaguers Nursing Club Outstanding Officer, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Glenarm
Nathan Michael, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Hillsboro
Logan A. Hollo, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Meagan R. Jorn, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors

Jacksonville
Tayler B. Day, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Chasey M. Tabit, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Emma R. Wyman, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors

Lewistown
Carmyn Baldwin, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Litchfield
Jonathan Conlee, Social Science and Business Department Honors; Addisyn P. Fenton, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Josie Reichenbach, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Milford
Hunter Mowrey, Outstanding Student Athlete

Morrisonville
Veronica M. Menossi, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

Mount Pulaski
Nathan Golden, Joe Semanik Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Murrayville
Addy Blimling, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

New Berlin
Nicolas J. Babbs, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Samuel J. Kaitschuk, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

Nokomis
MacKenzie L. Oakley, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Palmyra
Alexis R. Bowman, Workforce Institute Department Honors

Pekin
Luke Goss, Outstanding Student Athlete

Petersburg
Layken A. Buch, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors

Pleasant Plains
Adilynn Fraase, Outstanding Student Athlete

Riverton
Boston M. Williams, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Rochester
Parker A. Lyons, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Madison K. Parnell, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors; Nichole L. Tamosaitis, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

Sherman
Wyatt A. Arnberger, Workforce Institute Department Honors

South Jacksonville
Jeremy E. Schofield, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors

Springfield
Victoria B. Alamu, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Jasper Anderson, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors; Benjamin C. Armbruster; Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors; Taylor M. Armstrong, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors; Kelsey J. Avera, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Dakota D. Barker, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors; Bethany Blankenbaker, Stephen A. Little Memorial Award Recipient; Sarah A. Cavanagh, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Journey L. Curry, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Sophia E. Dukett, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Kayson C. Elam, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors, Ron Coffman Memorial Scholarship Recipient; Robert D. Gathard, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Brooke M. Goetter, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Ben Gorden, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors; Zachary D. Hamilton, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Clay P. Higginson, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Seth Impson, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Seth Jacobs, IV Leaguers Nursing Club Outstanding Officer; Nora Jasim, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Yannick Kabakaba, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Sophie R. Kink, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Allissa J. Krouse-Schafer, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Adrianne M. Matheis, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Morgan Dell Mollohan, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Cassidy Neale, Gay-Straight Alliance Outstanding Officer; Jamarui Nelson, Black Student Union Outstanding Officer; Braden Nicoll, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Ryan N. O’Neal, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Abby Oller, Film Club Outstanding Officer; Nathen E. Powell, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Walker A. Quimby, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Rae Richards, Chemistry Club Outstanding Officer, Biology Club Outstanding Officer, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors; Laniese A. Robinson, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Marques Robinson, Black Student Union Outstanding Officer; Austin Smith, Chemistry Club Outstanding Officer; Victoria L. Speller, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Margarite L. Suarez, Humanities, Arts, Communication and English Departmental Honors; Maretta Sullivan, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Isaiah M. Thomas, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors; Elle Walker, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Alex Watts, Black Student Union Outstanding Officer; Jayden Z. Wdowiarz, Workforce Institute Department Honors, Student Worker of the Year; Daevion Williams, Math and Computer Science Departmental Honors

Staunton
Michael J. Matesa, Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department Honors

Streator
Sophia M. Pence, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors, Outstanding Student Athlete

Taylorville
Skyler J. Bruner, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate; Ashleigh J. Drysdale, Workforce Institute Department Honors; Sherry Mathon, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

Vincennes, Ind.
Gus McCrary, Outstanding Student Athlete

Virginia
Joel S. Garnot, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors; Gabrielle E. Young, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

Williamsville
Dailee N. Daigh, Social Sciences and Business Department Honors

Winchester
Hanna A. Cockerill, Health Professions Department Honor Graduate

An award was also given to a member of LLCC faculty and staff. Dr. Chris McDonald, of Rochester, was recognized as Advisor of the Year for his work with the LLCC Honors Club. Dr. McDonald is professor of political science. Three retiring advisors were also recognized for their work with student organizations; Jennifer Ramm of Springfield, professor of chemistry; Dr. Michael Ramm of Springfield, professor of chemistry; and Bill Harmon of Morrisonville, professor of agriculture.