Lake Land College students facing financial emergencies will now have additional support thanks to a $15,000 grant from Earthrise Energy. The funding will go toward the college’s Student Emergency Fund, which provides aid to students dealing with unexpected expenses that could jeopardize their education.

The grant, awarded to the Lake Land College Foundation, is aimed at helping students cover urgent costs such as medical bills, car repairs, or housing challenges. School officials say the fund is a crucial resource for keeping students on track academically during times of crisis.

Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement says that with this grant from Earthrise Energy, they can offer critical support to students facing emergencies, allowing them to focus on their education instead of worrying about financial instability.”

Nicole Vaughn, Senior Project Development Manager at Earthrise Energy, said the company is proud to support Lake Land’s efforts. “This program empowers students to focus on their education and future success.

Earthrise Energy, which owns five natural gas plants across Illinois—including the Shelby Energy Center in Neoga—is also developing over 1.5 gigawatts of solar power in the state. Several Lake Land alumni currently operate the Shelby facility and recently led a special tour of the site for college leadership.

The grant is part of Earthrise Energy’s RISE Grant program, which has provided more than $235,000 to support education, financial resilience, and community development in Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby counties.