By Steven Stilt
Kaskaskia College will add a new certificate program to its offerings next school year, following action Monday night by the college’s board of trustees.
The board voted in favor of adding a Machining Technology certificate as a permanent part of the Career and Technical Education curriculum, effective with the fall 2026 semester.
KC President George Evans says the addition of the Machining Technology certificate will complement the welding and industrial technology programs already offered by the college and make graduates even more equipped to join the workforce.
“Machining is for those individuals that have to be able to create or fix that small part in that million-dollar piece of machinery that breaks down. It’s not just welding a couple of seams together or having your CNC press print something out; it’s actually getting in and understanding the gears and what needs to either fix that machine and get it up and running or create that machine from new, so it’s more of a precision blend of both.”
Courses for the new certificate will be taught by professors Cory Wellen and Lyle Gross at the Crisp Technology Center.
Also on Monday, the board of trustees approved the charter for the new Kaskaskia Ecology Club. According to the club’s charter, the organization is dedicated to restoring and maintaining campus ecosystems and fostering environmental literacy among the KC community.
In personnel items, the board approved the employment of Michelle Hill as assistant professor of dental assisting and Tara Garner as assistant professor of respiratory therapy. Trustees also accepted the resignation of TRIO program director Nick Rahar and accepted the retirement of building and grounds technician Tammy Lyons.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the board heard from Future Business Leaders of America advisor Kerri Richards, who reported that four students — Gabriella Curtner, Gracie Lowery, Calvin Endres, and Evelyn Ribbing — advanced in various categories from the state leadership conference competition at Lewis and Clark Community College, held last month, and will take part in the national conference in Las Vegas this June.
