CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) – Parkland College is celebrating a major milestone this year, marking 60 years of serving central Illinois students and communities.
Founded after a community referendum in the 1960s, the college has grown into a hub for higher education, workforce training and lifelong learning, all while staying rooted in its original mission.
Parkland College President Pamela Lau said her own journey reflects the institution’s impact. She began as a part-time faculty member in 1995 and has spent decades watching the college evolve.
“What has always stayed with me … is that people here are truly interested in the success of students,” Lau said.
That student-centered focus is what leaders say defines Parkland, even as it adapts to changing industries and technology.
As the college celebrates six decades, Lau said the mission remains twofold, helping students transfer to four-year universities and preparing others to enter the workforce directly with in-demand skills.
“We have to keep up with what’s happening … the emerging technologies and the emerging industries,” Lau said. “We’re not preparing students for jobs that are no longer there.”
Over the years, Parkland has expanded its academic programs, workforce training opportunities and partnerships with local businesses. It's those efforts leaders say are driven by listening to community needs.
Danielle Wilberg, executive director of the Parkland College Foundation, said that connection has been key to the college’s growth.
“We listen to the community and the needs of our businesses, as well as our young people,” Wilberg said. “We are adaptable … and that’s been a really important part of what we’ve been for 60 years.”
Wilberg said the college serves a wide range of students. Those students are recent high school graduates and adults looking to change careers or gain new skills.
“There’s just an energy here of people that are really doing what’s best for them personally,” she said.
That impact is visible across the region. Lau shared that Parkland graduates are working in hospitals, businesses and industries throughout central Illinois. They are also often serving the same communities where they were trained. She recalled going to a local hospital for a simple procedure, and one of the staff members mentioned being a Parkland graduate.
“Parkland is not a place and a physical building … Parkland is a community,” Lau said.
Looking ahead, leaders said the focus will remain on innovation, expanding programs, upgrading facilities and preparing students for careers that may not yet exist.
“We’re following what we know needs to happen,” Wilberg said, “and how we can train our community members to step into those roles.”
As part of the anniversary celebration, the college plans to highlight alumni, faculty, and staff stories throughout the year, culminating in a large gala celebration in November.
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