Parkland College

🎉 Welcome to the stage, Dr. Michael O’Brien! 🎭
Parkland College is excited to introduce our new Parkland College Theatre Productions Director arriving just in time for the 2026–27 season beginning this October. From Sweeney Todd inspiration to Little Shop of Horrors memories (and yes, puppets!), his journey is anything but ordinary.
🎟️ The upcoming Parkland Presents season is packed:
🍯Winnie the Pooh (October)
👕Dear Evan Hansen (November)
⏳Waiting for Godot (February-March)
🌳Sunday in the Park with George (April-May)
Let’s give Dr. O’Brien a warm welcome and make this season one to remember. Read more at https://www.parkland.edu/Main/About-Parkland/Newsroom/Parkland-News?ArtMID=1721&ArticleID=1370 and support the 2026–2027 Parkland Presents Theatre Season.

Parkland Presents

From course materials to Cobra fan gear, set your semester up for success at the Parkland College Bookstore.🐍💚
Be sure to check out the Bookstore FAQs and give yourself enough time (at least 48 hours) if you plan on ordering your books for pickup online. 📗
Fall classes start August 17! 🎒
Get started at parkland.edu/bookstore. 📚

Giertz Gallery at Parkland College proudly presents the 2026 Art and Design Faculty Exhibition, opening Monday, August 17. This annual showcase highlights the incredible work of Parkland faculty artists across multiple disciplines, including painting, drawing, ceramics, metalsmithing, and photography. 🎨
Featuring work from Carrie Byington, Bryan Heaton, Ruth Lantz, Stephen Pritchard, Josh Schutz, Denise Seif, and Matthew Watt, this exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the talent shaping our classrooms and community.

🎉 Join us for a public reception on Thursday, August 20, from 5:30–7 PM in the Gallery Lounge.

👉 Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.parkland.edu/Main/About-Parkland/Newsroom/Parkland-News?ArtMID=1721&ArticleID=1369

🖼️ [Image Info: Matthew Watt, "I Dream of Being Lost Indoors," 6x24 inches, watercolor and graphite on paper, mounted on wood panel, 2026]

For the last decade, United Way of Champaign County has sponsored the Summer Construction Program through Education for Employment System #330 and Parkland College, giving incoming juniors and seniors in high school the chance to explore careers in the construction trades. Students gain hands-on experience in framing walls, siding, window installation, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, and more.

We visited the demonstration site as students prepared to install shingles on their miniature roofs, putting their newly learned skills into practice.

Ken Buenting has led the program for many years in partnership with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 149. This year, 18 students completing the 3 week course will receive college credit and a $400 stipend. The program also steps in to provide free work boots and attire for students in need. Structured like a real job, it includes an application and interview process and operates with expectations of a construction site.

We're proud to invest in youth opportunities and education and work alongside EFE #330, Union Trades, and Parkland College.

🎓📚 Ready to take the next step toward your future? Discover what's possible at Parkland College!

Whether you're starting college for the first time, returning to school, or looking to build new skills, Parkland College offers opportunities to help you achieve your goals.

📅 Classes begin August 17
🌐 Learn more and get started at parkland.edu
From transfer degrees and career training to flexible class options, Parkland is here to help you discover what's possible.

Take the first step toward your future today! 🎉

👉 Want your business, organization, or event featured like this? Advertise in the newspaper AND reach our 15K+ Facebook followers!

📧 [email protected]

Attention incoming cobras! 🐍
There is still time to plan your schedule before fall classes start August 17! Enrollment Express is on Wednesdays at 9 am and 1 pm through next week August 5. We can't wait to meet you! 💚
RSVP for a morning or afternoon session at parkland.edu/visitus. ☀️

The Parkland College Foundation Women of Impact community came together to celebrate the collective difference they make for Parkland College students through scholarships. Every conversation, connection, and act of generosity helps create opportunities for students to achieve their goals.
A special thank you to Holly Birch Photography for generously capturing the evening and helping us preserve these memorable moments. Take a look back at this year's celebration!

For the Henderson family, Parkland College isn’t just a campus, it’s home. 💚
Triss Henderson first came to Parkland as a student more than 30 years ago. Since then, Parkland has shaped her education, career, family, and lifelong connections. Her husband, Andy, has worked across campus for 15 years, and their children, Ava and Cole, grew up exploring Parkland through Bring Your Kids to Work Day, College for Kids, campus jobs, and Parkland College Community Education. 🌎

This year, the family celebrated a full-circle moment when Ava graduated with honors and Triss and Andy presented her diploma on stage. 🥹

As Parkland celebrates 60 years, stories like the Hendersons’ remind us what the promise of Parkland is all about: opportunity, belonging, and generations of community. 🐍

Read more at parkland.edu/60years. 🗞️

Parkland College’s Board of Trustees convened Wednesday for its monthly meeting, approving new servers and related software for the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College's Digistar 2026 system. 🔭 🌌

The upgrade supports Parkland’s educational and institutional infrastructure, with initial funding provided by the Parkland College Foundation. Trustees also reviewed the tentative FY27 budget, heard leadership and legislative updates, and approved additional campus investments, grant applications, and personnel appointments. 💚

Stay informed about the decisions shaping Parkland’s future. Read more at https://www.parkland.edu/Main/About-Parkland/Newsroom/Parkland-News?ArtMID=1721&ArticleID=1368. 🗞️

Parkland College Trustees Approve Planetarium Servers, Review Tentative FY27 Budget At its regular meeting Wednesday, the Parkland College Board of Trustees approved the purchase of servers and related software for the William M. Staerkel Planetarium, among other agenda items. In support of the college’s educational and institutional infrastructure, Parkland College will purchas...