On April 28 at noon, Lake Land held the 2020-2021 Student Recognition Banquet through Zoom. Every year, Lake Land hosts a Student Recognition Banquet to recognize outstanding students in each academic division. This year due to COVID-19, the Student Recognition Banquet was hosted through Zoom.

Each year the Student Life office helps put together the Student Banquet, and this year Interim Director of Student Life Dave Seiler, Student Life Specialist Dustyn Fatheree and others helped organize the Student Banquet.

Each of the seven academic division’s faculty decided on a student to receive the Outstanding Student Award for that division. For the Agriculture Division, Hannah Tuppendorf was awarded the Outstanding Student Award. Tuppendorf is an Ag. Transfer major from Altamont, Ill. and will be transferring to the University of Illinois. Tuppendorf is a student representative on the Foundation board, a Student Ambassador for the past two years and is an active member of multiple agriculture clubs.

For the Business Division, Haleigh Miller was awarded Outstanding Student of the Business Division. Miller is a major in Business Management and will complete her certification in the Cosmetology Program this August. Miller is an active member of NSLS, is the coach to the Mattoon Middle School dance team and has dedicated her time to volunteering for the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. 

For the Math and Science Division, Lucas Duduit was awarded as the Outstanding Student of the Math and Science Division. Duduit is an Engineering Science major and will be transferring to the University of Illinois in the fall. Duduit is the current Student Trustee on Lake Land’s Board of Trustees, the President of PTK, a Student Ambassador for the last two years, and was a Freshman Delegate on SGA last year.

In the Humanities Division, Seth Bohnhoff received the Outstanding Student Award. Bohnhoff is from Dieterich, Ill. and has been heard frequently on Lake Land’s radio station, WLKL 98.9 FM, during this semester reporting on Spring sport events. Bohnhoff plans to study meteorology after he transfers to a four-year university.

In the Allied Health Division, Fatima Viramontes was awarded as the Outstanding Student of the division. Viramontes is in the Dental Hygiene Program and has high academic standards set for herself. Viramontes is also bilingual, which has benefited her work in the Dental Hygiene Program.

In the Technology Division, Steve Clinard was awarded the Outstanding Student Award. Clinard is one of many non-traditional students here at Lake Land, but he hasn’t let that slow him down. While at Lake Land he has been highly focused on his academic work and is known by instructors and classmates for being a kind and selfless student and classmate.

In the Social Sciences and Education Division, Rachel Buening received the Outstanding Student Award. Buening, an Effingham resident, is an Elementary Education major and will be transferring to Eastern Illinois University in the fall. Along with being the 2020-2021 Outstanding Student of the Social Sciences and Education Division, Buening was also awarded as one of the Outstanding Students of the Honors Experience Department. Buening will be graduating with full honors this spring, is a Presidential Scholar and is the Treasurer of PTK.

Along with Buening, Macy Vogt was the other student who received an Outstanding Student Award from the Honors Experience Department. Vogt is from Effingham, Ill. and will be graduating with full honors this spring. Vogt will also be transferring to Eastern Illinois University this fall along with Buening. Vogt is a Presidential Scholar and the Secretary of PTK.

Along with outstanding students from the academic divisions, the Student Ambassadors were also recognized during the event. Because of COVID-19, the Student Ambassadors weren’t able to hire any more members, so the seven current members were the returning members from last year. Out of the seven members, the Student Ambassadors vote on which member should receive the Outstanding Student Ambassador award and scholarship. The 2020-2021 Outstanding Student Ambassador is Kaitlyn Bobbett. Bobbett is a Pre-Dental major and will be transferring to SIU Edwardsville this fall.

Throughout the Student Recognition Banquet, the members of the Student Government, Student Activity Board and The Navigator were recognized for their hard work and dedication this past school year.

Congratulations to everyone awarded and recognized during the Student Recognition Banquet, and thank you to Seiler, Fatheree and many more faculty members that helped organize a Student Recognition Banquet this year.