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Heartland Community College
Celebrates Grads
[May 19, 2026]
NORMAL, IL, May 15, 2026 –
Heartland Community College celebrated 2026 graduates at Grossinger
Motors Arena in Bloomington on Friday, May 15, 2026.
“It is our mission at Heartland Community College to connect
students with the opportunity for and access to higher education.
Our graduates sitting here today have seized that opportunity,” said
Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille. “They’ve put
in the hours of hard work needed to meet their goals. So today we
are celebrating their achievements. But we should also celebrate
what these individuals bring to our community.”
Just under 500 of this year’s 900 Heartland graduates participated
in the ceremony. Students received degrees in Associate of Arts,
Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of
Engineering Science, and Associate of General Studies. Students
completing certificate programs, Adult Education programs, and the
Heartland Academy for Learning Opportunities (HALO) program were
also recognized. Students participating represented the graduates
from Heartland’s Main Campus in Normal and also the regional centers
in Pontiac and Lincoln.
Student Speaker David Helms grew up in Bloomington, and graduated
from Normal Community West High School. After serving four years in
the United States Navy, he returned to Heartland to further his
education.
“After returning from service in the United States Military, my goal
was simple: to find my career path,” Helms said. “Even with my life
pulled in different directions, Heartland Community College gave me
the support and flexibility to balance work, school, and everything
in between as it has done so for countless students before me.”
Heartland Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Sarah Diel-Hunt
also recognized the Heartland’s Outstanding Full-Time Faculty of the
year Chris Miller, and Outstanding Part-Time Faculty of the Year
Sonja Workman at the ceremony.
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(L-R) Graduates Mattea McFadden and Garrett Boward from Lincoln at the Heartland
Community College Commencement Ceremony.
“It is our mission at Heartland
Community College to connect students with the opportunity for and
access to higher education. Our graduates sitting here today have
seized that opportunity,” said Heartland Community College President
Keith Cornille. “They’ve put in the hours of hard work needed to
meet their goals. So today we are celebrating their achievements.
But we should also celebrate what these individuals bring to our
community.”
[Steve Fast
Heartland Community College
Assistant to the President, Public Information] |
