January 8, 2026/

Foundation Announces Major Estate Gift; Board Accepts Workforce Grants

Spread the love

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Chicago can’t ditch airlines’ suit vs ‘disruptive’ paid sick leave rules

Chicago can’t ditch airlines’ suit vs ‘disruptive’ paid sick leave rules

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Saying it appears likely the city's sick leave ordinance would disrupt airlines' ability to function, a federal judge has rejected Chicago City...
FEMA says funding debate didn't affect response to Hawaii

FEMA says funding debate didn’t affect response to Hawaii

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square The partial federal government shutdown did not impact the Federal Emergency Management Agency's immediate response to the severe flooding in Hawaii, a FEMA spokesperson told...
Maryland Supreme Court tosses Blue cities' climate lawsuits against energy companies

Maryland Supreme Court tosses Blue cities’ climate lawsuits against energy companies

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square The Maryland Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed three lawsuits filed by Democrat-run jurisdictions claiming oil and gas companies concealed information about their products’ contributions to...
Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Arizona Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh is criticizing the city of Phoenix for its resolution restricting federal immigration enforcement. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told The Center...
$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An agency focused on early childhood education created by state lawmakers in 2024 has made its first...
Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker and law enforcement officer is sharply criticizing the city of Elgin’s decision to...
Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square As a partial government shutdown continues, one major airline has suspended services for flying lawmakers as travel chaos builds at U.S. airports. The ongoing partial...
Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A North Carolina high school student is suing over alleged violations of her constitutional rights after her school painted over her Charlie Kirk tribute and...
Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Coalition calls for more action on data centers The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition says more action is needed from the Illinois...
Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square Immigration asylum advocates expressed disappointment with justices on the Supreme Court after arguments Tuesday regarding asylum protections. The case, Noem v. Al...
IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After the alleged murder of a Loyola University student by a migrant who was in the country...
EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas’ border security mission, Operation Lone Star, reached a milestone in March, its five-year anniversary. Gov. Greg Abbott first launched OLS in March 2021, in...
Many Republicans say proposed bipartisan DHS funding deal 'impossible'

Many Republicans say proposed bipartisan DHS funding deal ‘impossible’

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Republican leaders appear close to reaching a Department of Homeland Security funding deal with Democrats, but many rank-and-file Republicans view the proposed compromise as...
Mullin sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security

Mullin sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the Department of Homeland Security nears 40 days since a government stalemate shut it down, Markwayne Mullin has been sworn in as the ninth...
Gas spike continues for Illinoisans; state leaders offer no plan to help yet

Gas spike continues for Illinoisans; state leaders offer no plan to help yet

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As fuel prices continue rising, government leaders in Illinois have responded to growing concern over the impact...