January 8, 2026/

Foundation Announces Major Estate Gift; Board Accepts Workforce Grants

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Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | November 2025

Article Summary: The Lake Land College Foundation received a significant estate gift to support Mattoon students, while the board accepted state grants to support noncredit training and nursing education.

Donations and Grants Key Points:

  • Estate Gift: The Foundation received its second-largest cash gift ever from the estate of alumnus Randy Adkins.

  • ICCB Grant: A $109,978 grant was accepted for noncredit training strategies.

  • Nursing Grant: An $18,903 grant was accepted to increase the number of registered nurses in Illinois.

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees on Monday, November 10, 2025, acknowledged a transformative donation to the college foundation and formally accepted over $128,000 in new state grants.

Trustee Larry Lilly, reporting for the Foundation, announced the receipt of a major gift from the estate of Randy Adkins, a Lake Land alumnus and 25-year Alumni Board member. The donation is recorded as the Foundation’s second-largest cash gift and fourth-largest overall gift. It will support students from Mattoon High School in perpetuity.

In other business, the board accepted two state grants. Chief of Staff Jean Anne Highland presented a one-year grant of $109,978.80 from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) for the Noncredit Strategies at Work program. This marks the third year the college has received this funding to support business solution initiatives.

Additionally, the board accepted an $18,903.94 grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Nursing School Grant Program, aimed at increasing the number of registered nurses in the state.

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