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 To commemorate the realization of this goal, a large group
gathered in the atrium at the McKinstry College on the Lincoln
College Campus to hear from several of the major players in the
development of the program.
The afternoon began with college president Dr. David Gerlach
thanking the group for coming, and acknowledging the board of
trustees at the college for their continued commitment to education
through Lincoln College.
Gerlach spent a few minutes talking about when Lincoln College was
first established, it was a four-year degree university. He said
that the college is moving back to the four-year degree, and the
establishment of the television education being introduced will
include four-year baccalaureate degrees.
Gerlach also took the time to acknowledge noteworthy persons in the
crowd who included State Representative Tim Butler, and
representatives from U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood’s office as well
as Senator Duckworth’s office. Dr. Don Green from Lincoln Christian
University was also acknowledged as being in attendance.
Others attending included many members of the Lincoln College Staff,
representatives from the city of Lincoln, LC students, local
business people and members of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of
Commerce and Chamber Ambassadors.
President Gerlach said that the college is moving forward with
additional four-year degrees. He noted that the athletics programs
at the college are in the process of transitioning from the NJCAA
(National Junior College Athletics Association) to the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The four-year degree for the broadcasting programs was established
last year. He thanked Assistant Professor John Malone for his hard
work to accomplish those degrees.
President Gerlach also thanked Lincoln College Board of Trustees,
whom he said had supported investing approximately $350,000 in the
new television studio/station that the audience would be invited to
tour later in the celebration.
Gerlach then introduced Cathy Wilhite of the Chamber, who spoke
briefly. Wilhite said that on behalf of the chamber, its
ambassadors, and the chamber membership, she was there to
congratulate the college on this achievement, and said that the
chamber and its membership is looking forward to growing a strong
relationship with the college.
Gerlach then invited Mayor Marty Neitzel to the podium. Neitzel said
she was thankful for the college’s ability to offer this new program
and the new station. She said it enhanced the college, adding to the
choices available for its students, and in doing so also enhanced
the town.
Dr. Jeffery Walker from the LC Board of Trustees was the next person
to take the podium. Walker spoke saying that the broadcasting
programs have been a dream of the college for a few years. He noted
his son was a student at LC, and began his studies in radio, but has
found a passion for the television aspect along the way. Therefore,
Walker was particularly pleased that the college could offer
education for what his son wants to do with his life.
He concluded that he has watched the development of the
studio/station and has been excited to see it become what it is. He
noted that he felt that it would enhance the college's ability to
serve the students.
When Walker finished, Gerlach also noted that Walker had made
substantial financial support to the development of the
studio/station.
Malone, Associate Professor of Radio, TV, and New Media and General
Manager of WLNX and LCTV, was then called to the podium. Malone
began by saying that in establishing the broadcasting programs at
LC, there had been an advisory committee, which he appreciated very
much. He noted two members of that committee were present on
Thursday. They were WMBD TV News Anchor Bob Larson and morning news
anchor and statehouse reporter from WTAX Radio, Dave Dahl.
Malone talked about the time that has been invested in building this
program. He said that while he came in 2004 to the college to start
a program, it was 2010 when the effort started becoming a reality.
He noted in that time he had seen a number of college presidents,
and a number of city mayors. He said throughout the program; he has
been the common denominator present throughout the entire process.
Malone had several to thank including former Academic Vice-president
Tom Zurkhammer, Vice-President of Academic Affairs Dr. Gigi Fansler
and her staff and assistants, and also Dr. Gerlach.
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Malone commented about Gerlach, saying he has brought to
Lincoln College “a bold vision to return to our roots as a
baccalaureate granting institution. He immediately, when I first
met him in 2015, grasped the vision of what I was looking at for
this program, and encouraged…well if you know Dr. Gerlach, let
me use this phrase…brought extreme urgency to the idea that the
radio/television, and new media degree would be the first
baccalaureate degree approved, signaling that return to our
roots as Lincoln University.” The next speaker was Libby
Stein-Tumulty, the Government Affairs Manager at Comcast. The
college's position with cable television in Lincoln has come through
a cooperative agreement between Comcast, the college, and the city
of Lincoln.
Stein took the podium, saying that the agreement had been a long
time coming with talks about the cooperative starting in 2010 with
then-mayor Keith Snyder and former college president John Blackburn.
She recounted the timeline and concluded that Comcast was “very
proud to be a partner not only with Lincoln College and also with
the city of Lincoln, and we can’t wait to see what they do with the
channel in the future. Earlier, Malone had mentioned that he was
looking forward to working with Assistant Professor Deb Antoine, who
will be the LCTV Station Manager. After Tumulty had finished,
Gerlach introduced Antoine, who then offered up a few words.
Antoine said she appreciated those who had come to celebrate this
occasion. She said that like the radio program, LCTV would give
students real world experience in television programing. She said
that students are already working, writing scripts and preparing
programs for the new station. She noted that the degrees offered
include multi-media programs and those too are exciting and
developing well.
 The final person to address the group was student Andre Walker, who
is the LCTV Student Operations Manager.
Walker spoke quite briefly thanking everyone for attending, and
saying he was excited for the group to cross the street and tour the
new studio/station.
When Walker stepped away from the podium, President Gerlach
announced that everyone was invited to go across the street and tour
the new facility. There would also be a ribbon cutting ceremony
outside at the front door of the building.
The ribbon cut was conducted with Chamber Ambassadors, and guests
speakers for the day taking the front positions and all that wished
to join in were invited to gather behind.
When the cut was complete, the door was opened for everyone to take
the tour. The studio/station is set up with office areas and also a
large interview filming room with the traditional green backdrop for
projecting background images via computer during the broadcasting.
The room also features special lighting for filming as well as the
high-quality professional video cameras used in television
production.
Large glass windows at the back of the room show through to the
editing and control room. Going into that room, there is an
impressive array of sound equipment as well as multiple screens and
computer stations where editing can be done after filming.
The screens on this day showed cuts from several productions already
underway that featured several aspects of college life including
theater, music, and athletics.
The guests attending on Thursday included several Lincoln College
students. As one young man entered the control room, he commented
with great excitement that he could not wait to get into this
program and work with all the amazing equipment he saw.
Former president and college trustee, John Blackburn, said the
comments by the student were a great testament to what Lincoln
College is working to accomplish. The school wants its students to
be excited about what they are learning. He added that is the best
advertising, and will hopefully spark interest in other students as
time goes by.
Immediately following the tour, guests were all invited to attend a
Holiday Open House at the home of President and Mrs. Gerlach.
[Nila Smith]
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