Illinois Central College

Illinois Central College proudly recognizes the winners of the 2026 Student Writing Contest for their outstanding creativity, research, and written expression. This year's first-place winners included Gracie Brinker in Creative Writing, Shephrah Foster in Documented Research, Mercy Dringinberg in Poetry, and Jessica Deininger in the Paul Simon Essay Contest.

The Campus Activities Board has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Student Organization of the Year for its dedication to creating engaging and inclusive experiences for students. Through campus events, themed activities, and community-building programs, CAB has helped strengthen student involvement while creating a welcoming and connected campus environment.

Illinois Central College is pleased to welcome the newly elected members of the 2026-2027 Student Government Association Executive Board and Student Trustee. Officially installed during this year's Student Leadership Awards, the leadership team includes Student Trustee Alberto Sepulveda, President Nathan Ninnam, Vice-President Internal Kayla Young, and External Vice-President Eve Nwankwo.

Mary-Claire Murray has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Transfer Degree Student of the Year in recognition of her leadership, professionalism, and commitment to serving others. As a Student Ambassador in the Admissions Office, Mary-Claire has helped prospective students and families feel welcomed and supported while representing ICC with confidence and positivity. Her involvement in campus life, including Cru, reflects her passion for building meaningful connections across the college community.

Sage Bollenbach has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Transfer Degree Student of the Year for his leadership, resilience, and dedication to service. A Student Ambassador and participant in the Disney College Program, Sage has made a lasting impact through his professionalism, strong work ethic, and commitment to helping others. His volunteer work with OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois and mentoring experience at Bloom Community School further reflects his passion for leadership and community involvement.

Sarah Linnemann has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Outstanding First Year Organization Member for her exceptional involvement and leadership during her first year at ICC. As a member of Rotaract, Sarah has made a strong impact through her passion for service, positive attitude, and dedication to supporting both her organization and the campus community.

Elizabeth Bouchez has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Organization Officer of the Year for her outstanding leadership as President of the ICC Art Club. Throughout the year, Elizabeth led creative events, exhibitions, and collaborative projects that strengthened student involvement and showcased student creativity across campus. Her leadership helped foster a welcoming and collaborative environment within the organization.

Kaitlyn von Nordheim has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Applied Science Student of the Year in recognition of her academic excellence, leadership, and campus involvement. As a student employee in the ICC Library, Kaitlyn is known for her initiative, professionalism, and reliability. She is also actively involved in campus life through the Therapeutic Gaming Group, where she helps foster connections and belonging among students.

Bryce Lawles has been named Illinois Central College's 2026 Certificate Student of the Year for his outstanding leadership, reliability, and dedication within the Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology program. Known for his strong work ethic and willingness to help others, Bryce consistently goes above and beyond in the classroom, lab, and internship setting. He is respected by both faculty and classmates for his professionalism, technical skills, and commitment to creating a supportive learning environment.

The Illinois Central College Livestock Judging Team delivered a standout performance at the prestigious All-East Contest, hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. ICC students demonstrated excellence in livestock evaluation across three contests: Market Animal Evaluation, Breeding Animal Selection, and Livestock Judging.

Smiles, Strength, and Second Chances: Kaylin's Path to Dental Hygiene After starting her college journey through Dual Credit and enrolling full-time at Illinois Central College, Kaylin began turning her passion for oral health into a career focused on confidence and care. Following a life-changing car accident and months of recovery, she returned to ICC with determination and resilience. With support from Counseling Services, her advisor and coach, and her campus community, Kaylin is once again moving forward toward her goal. Read Kaylin's full story to see how perseverance and support helped her reclaim her path.

Discovering Possibility Through Design: Sasha's Journey at ICC Through Illinois Central College, Sasha built a strong foundation for her future in graphic design after moving from South Carolina to Illinois and graduating from a private high school. Starting early with Dual Credit classes, she eased her transition into college life and created a smoother path into full-time coursework. Support from instructors and supervisors, along with hands-on experience through a campus job, helped Sasha grow her confidence and see how versatile graphic design can be. Read Sasha's full story to see how ICC helped her balance work and school while preparing for her next step at Bob Jones University.

Finding Her Path in Law and Leadership: Kyrah's Journey at ICC Through Illinois Central College's Legal Studies and Criminal Justice programs, Kyrah found the clarity, confidence, and support she needed to pursue a future in law while balancing work, military training, and school. Encouragement from her instructors and one-on-one advising and tutoring helped her strengthen her writing skills, stay on track academically, and discover new possibilities for her career. Read Kyrah's full story to see how changing direction helped her move forward with purpose.

Carter's Path from Startup to ICC After starting a screen printing and graphic design business at just thirteen, Carter came to Illinois Central College to gain the business knowledge needed to strengthen and grow his company. The welcoming environment, supportive enrollment process, and early access to business coursework at ICC helped him feel confident in his choice. With guidance from advising and hands-on learning in the classroom, Carter is building a strong foundation for whatever comes next. Read his full story to see how passion and initiative are shaping his journey.

Illinois Central College students earned top honors at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference held February 27-28 at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. Eleven ICC students competed in presentations and competency tests across a range of business disciplines. Their strong performance resulted in multiple top finishes across competitive events and qualified each participant to advance to the national competition.

The Illinois Central College Livestock Judging Team earned top honors at the North Central Meat Animal Evaluation Contest held February 16-17 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, placing 2nd Overall among seven colleges and universities and 97 individual competitors. The contest challenges students from both two-year colleges and four-year universities to apply industry knowledge in multiple areas of livestock and carcass evaluation. Participants estimate carcass merit and market value for beef, swine, and sheep; evaluate breeding animals based on structural and genetic merit; and analyze carcasses in a meats evaluation division. Students also answer questions from contest officials to demonstrate their reasoning and decision-making.

Through Illinois Central College's HVAC program and the Workforce Empowerment Initiative, Dakota found the opportunity to pursue a career that's meaningful, hands-on, and built for long-term success. Support from ICC instructors and staff helped him stay focused and confident as he worked toward his goals. Read Dakota's full story to see how he's turning ambition into action one step at a time.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned President's List honors during the Fall 2025 semester. President's List recognition is achieved with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this impressive academic achievement.

Illinois Central College agriculture students earned top honors at both the Illinois Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) State Conference and the National PAS Competition, demonstrating strong technical knowledge, career preparation, and teamwork across multiple agricultural disciplines. Twenty-two ICC students competed at the Illinois PAS Conference held February 12 at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. Students completed written tests, solved applied problems, identified specimens, and delivered presentations across a wide range of agricultural specialty areas while competing against students from both community colleges and four-year universities. ICC students earned seven state championships in individual and team competitions.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned Dean's List honors during the Fall 2025 semester. Dean's List recognition is earned with a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this academic achievement.

Illinois Central College proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of its Agri-Business Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau members, Horticulture Club, and Diesel Powered Equipment Technology students at the Illinois Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) Conference. The event was held Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

After surviving a severe car accident, Jamie enrolled in the Social Work program at ICC to find a new direction and discovered more than she imagined. At ICC, she found a safe, supportive space where she could heal, grow, and dream again. With encouragement from her instructors and classmates, Jamie rebuilt her confidence and found her calling in helping others. Now, she's using everything she's learned to turn her own journey into hope for someone else's. Read her story.

Kenwon is a Business student at Illinois Central College who launched his own skincare business with passion and drive, -but quickly realized he needed more knowledge and structure to take it further. At ICC, he found the tools, support, and mentorship to grow not only as an entrepreneur but as a student and leader. He took advantage of organizations like Harvesting Dreams and Black Legacy and credits his professors for pushing him to think more deeply and sharpen his strategy. By choosing to invest in his education now, Kenwon is building a stronger foundation for long-term success. His story is proof that sometimes the best way forward is to pause, learn, and grow. Read his story.

Eli Murray is pursuing a degree in Fire Science at Illinois Central College. A high school dropout turned driven student, after completing his GED at ICC, he converted to a full-time student. He found a renewed sense of purpose and confidence through the supportive environment at ICC. His instructors went above and beyond-offering extra help outside of the classroom and even helping navigate financial challenges. Inspired by this investment in his success, Eli plans to become a firefighter and eventually pursue a bachelor's degree. His journey is a powerful example of how second chances and strong support systems can lead to lasting transformation. Read his story.

Megan found her second start at Illinois Central College through the 100% online Interpreter Preparation Program. After earning a bachelor's degree and working in research, she stepped away from her career to focus on family-but her desire to make a difference never faded. ICC gave her the space to restart with purpose. With scholarship support, flexible learning, and instructors who believed in her, Megan is now preparing for a future as a professional interpreter, ready to advocate for individuals with hearing impairments and language delays. Her story proves it's never too late to find a new path. Read her story.

Naethan Yu completed the Industrial Electrical Technology Apprenticeship program at Illinois Central College after serving four years in the military and finding that a traditional classroom wasn't the right fit. Through a hands-on apprenticeship with Liberty Steel & Wire, he developed in-demand skills, built confidence, and found purpose in a new career path. Naethan embraced the program's supportive environment and practical instruction, crediting instructor Zachary Flinn for making the learning process approachable and impactful. Now, with a five-year contract at Liberty Steel & Wire and a strong foundation in the field, Naethan is proud of the progress he's made. His story is proof that learning by doing-and finding the right support-can set the stage for lifelong success. Read his story.

Illinois Central College proudly celebrates the achievements of 11 talented students who competed in the 61st Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA, in June 2025.

Benjamin discovered new purpose at Illinois Central College after spending some time in the workforce. A first-generation college student, he enrolled in Business courses with a bold vision: to launch a medical technology company that serves people with disabilities. With encouragement from faculty, he joined Future Business Leaders of America and quickly excelled-earning first place at state and third nationally in Foundations of Selling. Despite challenges like ADHD and dyslexia, Benjamin has thrived at ICC with support from Access Services, the Academic Support Center, and inspiring instructors. His ICC journey is helping him think bigger-and dream bolder. Read his story.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned President's List honors during the Spring 2025 semester. President's List recognition is achieved with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this impressive academic achievement.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned Dean's List honors during the Spring 2025 semester. Dean's List recognition is earned with a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this academic achievement.