Three is proving to be a lucky number for Lake Land College trustee Mike Sullivan of Mattoon, who was honored with three leadership awards during the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s June 2-3 convention in Normal.
Sullivan received ICCTA’s Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award, which recognizes exemplary service by a currently serving community college board member. He is only the second Lake Land trustee to receive this honor, following Leland Glazebrook in 1999.
He also received ICCTA’s 30-Year Trustee Award for his three decades of service to Lake Land College, and the Linden A. Warfel Trustee Education Award for his participation in 100 or more professional development seminars during his tenure as a community college trustee.
Mike Sullivan, Mattoon, Lake Land College Trustee, left, pictured with Kathy Spears, ICCTA secretary, was honored with ICCTA’s 2017 Ray Hartstein Trustee Achievement Award. Sullivan also received two other honors: the 30-Year Trustee Award for longtime service on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees and the Linden A. Warfel Trustee Education Award for completion of 100 ICCTA professional development seminars.
“Mike Sullivan has a tireless passion for the work of community colleges,” said ICCTA President Jim Endress. “We appreciate all the good work that Mike has done to help Lake Land, ICCTA, and our statewide system of higher education.”
Sullivan began his journey of service as a student leader during the early years of Lake Land College. In 1968, he was elected Student Government president and served on the very first Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee.
In 1987, he was elected to the Lake Land board, where his 30 years of visionary leadership and can-do spirit have led the college to become a nationally-recognized leader in education and service.
“A big congratulations to trustee Sullivan. Lake Land College is fortunate to have a trustee who has devoted so many years to consistently leading the college to grow beyond expectations, while keeping students at the heart of all decisions,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.
Sullivan and his wife have endowed a scholarship for Lake Land students through the Lake Land College Foundation. A charter member of Lake Land’s alumni association board, he has been honored with the college’s Distinguished Alumni and Golden Apple awards.
At the state level, Sullivan has chaired or served as a member of every ICCTA committee, including 25 years as a member of the ICCTA Government Relations Committee. He was one of three trustees who designed the framework of the College Insurance Program for community college retirees. He also served as ICCTA president during the historic transfer of adult education governance from the Illinois State Board of Education to ICCB in 2000.
“Education has helped me help others,” says Sullivan.” “Lake Land is the community’s college, and I devote my time and efforts to let others know this.”
