Lincoln Land Community College is gearing up for its annual graduation commencement set to take place on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.
This year, the spotlight will shine on Divina Sha Kluge, a local resident from Springfield, who has been chosen as the commencement speaker. Kluge, a dedicated student, is on the brink of earning her associate in applied science degree in integrated media design from LLCC. Apart from her academic pursuits, Kluge is also recognized as the weekend news anchor for WAX 93.9 FM.
Students Alexa Maher and Olivia Marchizza will also be honored, both hailing from Auburn. Maher, who has maintained an impressive 4.0 GPA, has been actively involved in various leadership roles, including president of the Honors Program Student Club and treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa. Marchizza, named a Phi Theta Kappa 2024 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar, has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills as Vice President of Scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa and Vice President of the Honors Program Student Club. Alongside her academic endeavors, Marchizza has been a valuable member of the women's basketball team and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is set to graduate with an associate in science degree and intends to pursue a master's degree to fulfill her dream of becoming an occupational or speech therapist.
The 2024 LLCC Honored Alumni Award will be presented to David Western, an embedded software engineer at Lockheed Martin. Western's journey began at LLCC, where he laid the foundation for his academic pursuits. He earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, followed by a Master's degree in Space Resources from Colorado School of Mines. During his academic tenure, Western was actively engaged in research projects, including one sponsored by NASA to develop a CubeSat. Currently, Western is deeply involved in developing flight software for the U.S. Space Force's early warning missile detection and tracking satellite program, slated for launch in 2025.
As the date for the commencement ceremony draws near, anticipation rises, celebrating the achievements of these individuals and marking the beginning of new chapters in their lives.
