Honored Alumni Award

LLCC 2024 Honored Alumnus

David Western

David Western

David Western, embedded software engineer for Lockheed Martin, was recognized with the 2024 LLCC Honored Alumni Award. After graduating from LLCC, Western earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2019.

During that time, he was a member of a spacecraft research team that supported a NASA-sponsored project. He then earned a master’s degree in space resources in 2021 from Colorado School of Mines. For the past three years, Western has been developing the flight software for the U.S. Space Force’s early warning missile detection and tracking satellite program.

Previous Honorees

Brice R. Huddleston

Rebecca L. Watts, Ph.D.

Catherine A. Creighton Kush

Tyson Manker

Samuel Wheeler

Timothy B. Smith

William D. McCarty, II

Andrew Thoron

Cinda Edwards

Karla Carwile

Jim Matheis

Gregg Humphrey

Brice R. Huddleston

LLCC 2023 Honored Alumnus

Brice R. Huddleston, retired Colonel, U.S. Air Force, earned an associate in applied science degree from LLCC. He later oversaw the National Guard Joint Operations Center, coordinating support in response to hurricanes, fires and floods.

Read more about Brice Huddleston.

Rebecca L. Watts, Ph.D.

LLCC 2022 Honored Alumna

Dr. Watts is a proud advocate for community colleges and always speaks proudly of her beginnings at LLCC. Watts is an innovator in education policy, educator preparation, post-secondary educational access, alignment across the P-16 continuum and concurrent enrollment.

Read more about Rebecca Watts.

Catherine A. Creighton Kush

LLCC 2021 Honored Alumna

Dr. Kush earned an R.N. from LLCC, a bachelor’s degree from Capital University, post-master’s certificates from St. Louis University and University of Missouri St. Louis, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from St. Louis University.

Read more about Dr. Kush.

Tyson Manker

LLCC 2020 Honored Alumnus

Tyson first came to Lincoln Land Community College in 2004. A 2000 graduate of Jacksonville High School, Tyson enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry.

Read more about Tyson Manker.

Samuel Wheeler

LLCC 2019 Honored Alumnus

Samuel Wheeler, Ph.D., became a part of Lincoln Land Community College history at commencement May 17, 2019.

Read more about Samuel Wheeler.

Timothy B. Smith

LLCC 2018 Honored Alumnus

Timothy B. Smith of Springfield was recognized with the 2018 Honored Alumni Award at the college commencement on May 18, 2018.

Read more about Timothy Smith.

William D. McCarty, II

LLCC 2017 Honored Alumnus

William “Bill” McCarty received an Associate degree in business from Lincoln Land and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, double majoring in Finance and Computer Applications, from the University of Notre Dame.

Read more about William D. McCarty, II.

Andrew Thoron

LLCC 2016 Honored Alumnus

Dr. Andrew Thoron earned his Associate in Science from Lincoln Land Community College in 2000, then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University.

Read more about Andrew Thoron.

Cinda Edwards

LLCC 2015 Honored Alumna

As a first generation college student, Cinda Edwards' perseverance made her a community college success story.

Karla Carwile

LLCC 2014 Honored Alumna

Karla Carwile earned her Associate in Science from Lincoln Land Community College in 1993.

Read more about Karla Carwile.

Jim Matheis

On Friday, May 17, 2013 Lincoln Land conferred diplomas to nearly 355 graduates participating in commencement at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

Read more about Jim Matheis.

Gregg Humphrey

LLCC 2012 Honored Alumnus

Gregg Humphrey of Springfield, director of the Springfield Metro Sanitary District has been named the 2012 Lincoln Land Community College Honored Alumnus.

Read more about Gregg Humphrey.