Illinois Central College

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.

Sixty-five Illinois Central College students showcased their skills at the SkillsUSA Elite Career Connections Competition held in Peoria, IL, in May. SkillsUSA Illinois recognizes career and technical education students who excel in their fields. Each year, thousands of top students from across the state compete in more than 100 hands-on events designed to test real-world career skills.

The Illinois Central College women's softball team capped a phenomenal 2024-25 season with a return to the NJCAA Division II World Series-reaffirming their place among the nation's elite. After a fierce battle in the elimination bracket, the No. 13 seeded Cougars fell 3-1 to No. 8 seeded Phoenix College, ending their World Series run but cementing a legacy of resilience and teamwork.

The sixth-ranked Illinois Central College Men's Golf team made history last week with a best-ever National Runner-Up finish at the NJCAA National Championship, held at Swan Lake Resort in Indiana. The Cougars battled through four intense rounds of play, holding steady near the top of the leaderboard and ultimately finishing just one stroke behind three-time champion Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Illinois Central College is pleased to welcome the newly elected members of the 2025 Student Government Association Executive Board and Student Trustee. Officially installed at this year's Student Leadership Awards, these student leaders will represent the voice of the student body and help shape the future of ICC.

Congratulations to the Dungeons & Dragons Club, winner of the 2025 Student Organization of the Year Award. This vibrant and inclusive community has gone above and beyond to foster connection, creativity, and fun on campus.

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

Each year, Illinois Central College recognizes student voices through its annual Writing Contest, honoring excellence in creative writing, poetry, and essay composition. These students demonstrated exceptional skill, imagination, and expression in their work, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.

Madison Shaw has been named Illinois Central College's 2025 Outstanding First-Year Organization Member of the Year for her remarkable contributions to campus and community during her first year as a student and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) member.

Illinois Central College proudly recognizes Kloey Burgess and Keiton Hamilton as the 2025 Organization Officers of the Year for their outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to creating a more inclusive, engaged, and empowered campus community.

Driven by a desire to continue helping others, Eliza turned to ICC to explore the connection between art and healing. Through supportive faculty and flexible programs, she discovered her calling in art therapy-blending creativity with compassion to make a difference. Inspired by her coursework and encouraged by her professors, Eliza gained the confidence to teach, present, and lead with purpose. Now on a mission to bring the healing power of art to schools and organizations, she credits ICC with helping her turn passion into impact.

Illinois Central College proudly recognizes Emily Bandy as the 2025 Transfer Degree Student of the Year for her exceptional academic performance, leadership, and service. A Pre-Medicine student, Emily has excelled in a rigorous course load while actively shaping campus life and pursuing meaningful work in the healthcare field.

Kaylin Turner has been named Illinois Central College's 2025 Applied Science Student of the Year in recognition of her exceptional academic performance, leadership, and dedication to the field of horticulture.

Noah turned a career pivot into a cybersecurity breakthrough-thanks to an ICC apprenticeship. With a Finance degree and Cybersecurity minor, he was working in accounting at Caterpillar when a Secure Software apprenticeship, made possible through a partnership between ICC and Caterpillar, opened the door to his dream career. He tackled new coding languages, applied his skills in real-world settings, and found unexpected mentorship from ICC faculty. Now, he's on track to become a leader in the field-and hopes to help others into life-changing opportunities. Read his success story.

First-year students from Illinois Central College's General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) recently took a deep dive into the past, present, and future of the automotive industry. Accompanied by Professors Trevor Imm and Matt Wier, they explored the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago, followed by a visit to the 117th Annual Chicago Auto Show. This immersive experience provided valuable insight into automotive history, innovation, and industry trends, bridging the gap between past and future technologies.

Illinois Central College students in the Diesel Powered Equipment Technology (DPET) program recently gained hands-on experience with the latest advancements in diesel and agricultural equipment at the 59th Annual National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Led by Professors Colin Campbell and Tyler Smith, the trip continued a long-standing tradition of connecting students with real-world industry innovations.

Illinois Central College is proud to announce that Zoe Vo has been named a 2025 Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar, a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding academic achievement and leadership.

Isaiah's journey to ICC started with Dual Credit classes, but life and COVID-19 put his plans on hold. When he returned in 2021, he found the flexibility and support he needed to explore his options, reignite his passion for English, and discover his calling as a middle school teacher. With newfound confidence and a clear direction, he's now his way to making a difference. Read his story.

Four Illinois Central College agriculture students recently had the opportunity to engage with top industry leaders at the USDA's 101st Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, held February 27-28, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Themed "Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges, Today," the forum brought together over 1,600 global agricultural stakeholders to discuss pressing issues and future trends in the industry.

Ronan developed a passion for IT during high school, but training costs made it challenging to pursue-until he discovered Dual Credit IT classes at ICC. Through expert instruction and support, he excelled in Cisco Computer Networking, gained real-world experience through national cybersecurity competitions, and earned gold at both the state and national levels with SkillsUSA. With mentorship from ICC faculty and free tutoring from the Academic Support Center, Ronan gained the confidence and skills to turn his passion into a successful future in IT. Read his story.

With support from ICC, Sara overcame challenges to achieve her nursing dreams. After earning her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, she put her education on hold to focus on her family, but her dream never wavered. Through scholarships, mentoring, and academic support, she built the confidence to return to ICC for her Licensed Practical Nurse degree. Now on the path to becoming a neonatal RN, she looks ahead to earning a bachelor's-maybe even a master's-and she credits ICC for her success. Read her story.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned Dean's List honors during the Fall 2024 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.

Cil's journey began with Dual Credit IT courses through ICC, which transformed her career path. With the support of skilled instructors and a grant covering her training costs, she excelled in cybersecurity and won a national gold at SkillsUSA. By age 18, Cil had secured a full-time IT position, and she encourages others to explore the many opportunities that ICC offers for career growth. Read her story.

Illinois Central College congratulates students who earned President's List honors during the Fall 2024 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.

At ICC, Andrea combined her love for sustainable agriculture and environmental science, gaining both independence and clarity about her career path. With the guidance of ICC and mentorship from the Illinois Soybean Association, she discovered her passion for soil conservation. Now, Andrea's preparing to transfer to Illinois State University to study soil science and inspire others along the way. Read her story.

Illinois Central College proudly celebrates the achievements of the Harbinger Student Media staff, who earned eight awards at the Illinois Community College Journalism Association Conference held at Moraine Valley Community College in November: Podcast: Grace Parker and Grace Zeithammer - 1st place Front Page Design, Division 1: Charlize Ashenbremer - 2nd place Sports Photo, Division 1: Noah Markunas - 3rd place Multimedia Story: Harbinger Student Media staff - 3rd place Front Page Design, Division 1: Brennan Tuma - Honorable Mention News Story of the Year: Brock Alkire - Honorable Mention Feature Writing, Division 1: Micah Weidner - Honorable Mention Reporter of the Year: Micah Weidner - Honorable Mention Congratulations to the talented Harbinger student staff on these outstanding accomplishments.

Illinois Central College proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of its Agri-Business Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau members at the Illinois Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) Conference. Held at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, on Thursday, November 14, 2024, the event showcased the skills and professionalism of ICC students as they competed against peers from both community colleges and four-year universities in job interviews and specialty contests. Congratulations to the eighteen talented ICC students who competed: Talena Sprecher, Morgan Baer, Rafael Vidal, Bryce Lawles, Kaylin Turner, Luke Schroder, Brock Byrd, Kaitlynn Whitecotton, Slone Windish, Nick Bunnell, Ty Hodel, Ayden Nettles, Gabe Stephens-Sutter, Britt Beard, Lydia Rogers, Ryan Zehr, Madeline Wallington, and Sam Zurski. Job Interview Competition Students showcased their career readiness by submitting resumes and cover letters and participating in industry-led interviews across 11 categories. ICC students excelled, earning impressive placements: Agribusiness Administration: Talena Sprecher - 1st place Agronomic Services: Morgan Baer - 1st place Livestock Production: Rafael Vidal - 1st place Agricultural Equipment and Machinery: Bryce Lawles - 1st place Floriculture, Landscaping, and Nursery: Kaylin Turner - 1st place Ag Sales: Luke Schroeder - 2nd place Agronomic Production: Brock Byrd - 2nd place Specialty Crop Production: Kaitlynn Whitecotton - 2nd place Livestock Production: Slone Windish - 3rd place Forestry and Natural Resources: Nick Bunnell - 3rd place Specialist Areas Competition Participants solved problems, completed tests, and identified specimens in their chosen fields. ICC students earned top honors in multiple categories: Landscape: Individual Awards: 1st place: Kaylin Turner 2nd place: Nick Bunnell Team Awards: 1st place: Nick Bunnell and Gabe Stephens-Sutter 3rd place: Kaylin Turner and Kaitlynn Whitecotton Crops: Individual Awards: 2nd place: Lydia Rogers Team Awards: 3rd place: Lydia Rogers, Ty Hodel, and Ryan Zehr Equine: Individual Awards: 1st place: Madeline Wallington Team Awards: 1st place: Madeline Wallington, Rafael Vidal, and Talena Sprecher ICC applauds these remarkable students for earning top honors and representing the College with distinction. Their achievements exemplify the dedication and excellence of the Agri-Business and Collegiate Farm Bureau students.

Illinois Central College is proud to celebrate the success of recent Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology graduates Gunner Dunnett and Josh Powell. Gunner earned first place, and Josh placed third in the prestigious ThinkBIG Top Tech Challenge held in November. Participants qualified to compete based on their Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) exam scores. The ThinkBIG Top Tech Challenge is a highly competitive national competition for students in the Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician training program. It evaluates students' skills in eight categories, including failure analysis, emissions and electronics troubleshooting, hydraulics, and customer service. Thanks to their outstanding performance, Gunner and Josh qualified to compete in the international Dealer Top Apprentice Program in Melbourne, Australia, in February 2025, where they will represent ICC on a global stage. Congratulations to Gunner and Josh for this incredible achievement.

Kimah transitioned from teaching English abroad to pursuing her passion for technology at ICC. With supportive instructors and an apprenticeship at Caterpillar, she's gaining real-world experience and bold aspirations in quantum computing, launching an exciting new career. Read Kimah's story.