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

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...
Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois bill, the “Let the People Lift the Ban Act," SB2884, would let local...
Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls...
Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a 4.5% spending increase in its budget for fiscal...
lake land college.2

Policy Change Relaxes Grade Exclusion Requirements for Returning Students

Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | Dec. 8, 2025 Article Summary: Trustees voted to reduce the waiting period required for students to apply for grade exclusion, lowering the...
Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day after an Illinois state representative said there was no budget transparency from J.B. Pritzker’s office,...
Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has notified Illinois officials that the state is violating...

WATCH: Resolution condemning federal immigration law enforcement sparks debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Democrats are calling for investigation, prosecution and impeachment of federal immigration law enforcement. State Rep....
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.00 PM

Casey City Council Bans Sale and Possession of Kratom Products

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council on Monday unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale, possession, and delivery of Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine...
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.46 PM

Council Pursues Site Readiness Grant; Discusses Outsourcing Code Enforcement

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council approved a resolution to support a Regional Site Readiness Grant application and began discussions on potentially...
Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Saint Charles, worries Chicago’s newfound plan to divide annual advance supplemental...
Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget says it has identified more than $480 million of budget...
Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Pritzker administration’s recent announcement of $36 million in state grants for local park projects is...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general has advised the city’s human resources and finance departments that from 2020 through 2024,...
The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Jay Hopper, Mattoon, as the College’s Director of Strategic Initiatives during the regular board meeting on Monday, January 12. Pictured is Hopper.

Jay Hopper Hired as Director of Strategic Initiatives

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Jay Hopper, Mattoon, as the College’s Director of Strategic Initiatives during the regular board meeting on Monday, January 12....