SOLAR-BRATION CELEBRATES NEW GREEN ENERGY
CLC celebrated all the work put into increasing the solar power at the Grayslake Campus Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Solar-bration. The celebration honored all partners who helped with the completion of the project. Representatives of government officials were also in attendance to recognize the college’s accomplishments. 

“The collaborative contributions of all of these individuals and organizations will result in a reduced electricity cost with 16 percent of electricity for CLC,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “This is a valuable return on investment for the Lake County community fiscally and environmentally, with a projected savings of approximately $50,000 a year.” 
TRUSTEE ELECTED TO NATIONAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
CLC Trustee Torrie Mark Newsome was elected to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Diversity Committee. With a background full of diverse experiences, he hopes to bring a fresh and new mindset to the committee.

“It’s very humbling, and at the same time very important for our college and our students,” Newsome said. “Diversity, equity and inclusion is a most important topic for not only our community and country, but the world, and it means a lot to sit at the table and discuss these issues and try to come up with solutions.”

CLC representatives pictured were among the 1,000 community college leaders who recently attended the Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Congress. 
WORTHY WELDING ARTIST
Moises Mercado came to CLC with dreams of having a career in welding. Already an artist, in the process of pursuing his degree, Mercado combined the two passions into a new one altogether.

Mercado finished first in the state in the SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture competition, and finished tenth overall in the national competition.

“I liked being part of the community,” Mercado said. “Competing was awesome, but so was seeing all of the people around the state and even the country who do it. When you see what other contestants make, it makes you confident, especially if you’re able to win.” 
HONORING NATIVES WITH LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
Starting this November during Native American Heritage Month, CLC adopted an official Land Acknowledgement statement to show respect for and honor Native Americans and their heritage. The statement honors the Indigenous Peoples of the land the college resides on.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by attending a virtual lecture on Nov. 9 with Dr. Richard Meyers, who will speak about high-context versus low-context cultural communications and their implications in the classroom. Register online.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR PUBLISHES FIRST-HAND RESEARCH
Chris Utecht, Criminal Justice department chair and instructor, published his own research documenting the working lives of correctional officers, an often overlooked group.

“One of my favorite parts of this research is it’s not just information I'm hanging out there to be in some journal I'm never going to be able to use. This is research I'm able to use right away in my class,” Utecht said. “It also inspires students who think it's pretty interesting that the research they're reading in the classroom was done by one of the instructors.”
METALLICA SCHOLAR DISCOVERS REWARDING WELDING CAREER
Welding and auto collision repair are stereotyped as masculine careers, but Karina Badillo, a Metallica Scholar studying auto collision repair and welding, is focused on changing that. She is pursuing a career in automotive restoration and dreams of opening an auto body and beauty salon business with her cosmologist sister.

“A welding career has so much to offer everyone, especially women,” Badillo said. “The career is ever growing and stable. Plus, it offers the opportunity for a rather lavish life. If anything, I've learned the benefits of working in the welding industry outweigh the scary aura surrounding the trade.” 
GRANT HELPS BUILD PATHWAYS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Thanks to the $2.3 million received over five years from the U.S. Department of Education's TRiO Educational Talent Search (ETS) grant, CLC can continue to provide access to post-secondary education for low-income and first-generation college students in Lake County high schools.

The grant funding helps to provide access to these students through a variety of academic and personal experiences and activities.

“I am beyond grateful and blessed to have participated in the TRiO ETS Program,” said Jocelyn Campos Diaz, a 2021 Round Lake High School graduate who is attending Northern Illinois University on a full-ride scholarship. “I honestly believe that this program is one of the biggest support systems.”
CLC PARTNERS WITH NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY
CLC and North Park University (NPU) signed an agreement that guarantees transfer into nearly 30 different undergraduate programs at NPU. Students transferring to NPU will receive personalized counseling and academic planning to ensure a seamless transition.

After meeting the requirements, students will be eligible to transfer into 24 traditional undergraduate degree programs or five accelerated undergraduate degree programs sponsored through NPU’s School of Professional Studies.

“We've created a great seamless pathway for meaningful, relevant degrees students can transition into,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “It's always a benefit to have guaranteed transfer opportunities for students with partners like North Park who are as deeply committed about doing the right thing for students as we are.”
COURSE SCHEDULING FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR OLYMPIANS
Laura Zeng, a rhythmic gymnast and two-time Olympian, wanted to continue her education after high school, but her training schedule made it hard to find time. Thankfully, CLC allowed her to take classes on her own time.

“I mostly took online classes, but the few that I did take in-person were easy to manage and very accommodating,” Zeng said. “CLC offers an opportunity to continue your education without having to sacrifice other priorities. You can really customize and tailor the curriculum to your needs and interests, and I'm grateful for the time I spent here.”
CLC Foundation
With your support, the CLC Foundation provides students in Lake County a clear pathway to a brighter, more promising future. Make a Gift.
Follow us