Several area students were recognized and celebrated at the recently held Lake Land College annual TRIO Student Support Services banquet.
During this event, Lake Land recognized students who participated in the program throughout the 2025-2026 school year.
Recognition to be received included the Visionary Award, recognizing students for their outstanding commitment to future success and educational goals.
The other recognition is for students who held a high Grade Point Average (GPA).
At the banquet, several students received awards for their outstanding leadership and academic achievements.
As far as our local area students, awards were given to 2 students from Shelbyville, one from Pana, and another student from Taylorville.
The Visionary Award was given to Grey Brault and Georgia Firnhaber from Shelbyville, Kyle Jackle-Hugh from Pana, and Ruth Ream from Taylorville.
Local students who received recognition for holding a high GPA included Grey Bault from Shelbyville and Ruth Ream from Taylorville.
Other Illinois students who received awards or recognition were from Mattoon, Charleston, Effingham, Shumway, Altamont, Bethany, Lerna, Casey, Urbana, Teutopolis, Stewardson, Westfield, Paris, and Tuscola.
TRIO Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to assist students in the completion of their academic goals and to graduate from Lake Land College.
In the Student Support Services, counselors and advisors work as a team with each individual student to provide and connect them with a variety of support services.
TRIO offers one-on-one meetings with staff. TRIO also gives students access to educational, social, and cultural opportunities that are available exclusively to TRIO students.
All of the services offered by TRIO are free of charge to eligible students.
To learn more about TRIO at Lake Land College, contact Director of TRIO Programs, Faisal Tariq, by calling 217-234-5048 or via email at ftariq@LakeLandCollege.edu.
TRIO Student Support Services Advisor Gavin Shawver (Left) presents the 2025-2026 TRIO Student of the Year Award to Kailyn Tracy (Right) of Mattoon.
