Image of Heartland's Agriculture Complex

AG SUCCESS

In the last five years, Heartland has expanded educational offerings in agriculture, adding certificate and degree programs, including an Associate in Applied Science.

It hasn’t taken long for ag-minded students to make their mark. In the spring of 2025, Heartland students competed in eight categories at the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) conference held in Sheridan, Wyoming.

The National Professional Agricultural Student Organization is a student-led organization that allows students to build and sharpen their skills so that they are ready for the workplace. Through competitive style learning and real-life application, members are skilled professionals and prepared to work in all areas of the agriculture industry.

The Heartland students who attended the conference produced two national winners, three national runners-up, and three more individuals who placed third nationally.

8

2

NATIONAL WINNERS

3

NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP

3

PLACED THIRD NATIONALLY

Student Winners included:

Kaylee Lewis

National Title - Career Progress - Natural Resources

Emily Pina

National Title - Employment
Interview - Floriculture, Landscape, and Nursery

Payton Wiltz

Second Place, Precision Agriculture

Cade Luginbuhl

Second Place, Career Planning - Natural Resources

Kaylee Lewis

Second Place, Employment
Interview - Natural Resources

Lauren Monk

Third Place, Agriculture Education

Brody Wilson

Third Place, Precision Agriculture

Kaden Farrell

Third Place, Employment Interview - Agronomic Services

“Every single one of our individual contest participants ended up in the top three in the nation. These students worked their tails off preparing for contests while keeping up with their classes, and most of them holding a part-time job.”

- Miranda Buss

Heartland PAS faculty advisor

STUDENT SKILLS
ON DISPLAY

Heartland students showed off their trade skills on a national stage this spring, posting impressive finishes against tough competition.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Each summer, top state finishers compete to showcase their ability to enter the workforce. Students test their skills in over 100 career competitions in the multi-day conference and competition.

The SkillsUSA Championships feature over 6,880 competitors in 114 hands-on events. The championships are considered the nation’s largest workforce development event in the world.

After posting impressive finishes in the Illinois Elite Career Competition, five Heartland students advanced to the national SkillsUSA competition held in Atlanta, Georgia.

6,880

COMPETITORS

100

CAREER COMPETITIONS

114

HANDS-ON EVENTS

5

HCC STUDENTS ADVANCED
TO NATIONALS

Placing at the national competition were:

Matthew Marciniak and Nick Mock

Silver Medal in Mechatronics

Andy Irving

4th in Telecommunication Cabling

Damon Keister

4th in Principles of Engineering-Technology

Cami Nowlin

5th in T-Shirt Design

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Mairen Mannon

It takes hard work and dedication to succeed as a student athlete. Heartland grad Mairen Mannon ’25 exhibited those traits to excel on the court as a collegiate volleyball player, and in the classroom to post a GPA of 4.0 in her sophomore year at Heartland.

While juggling her studies and her playing career, Mairen also had another important role: motherhood.

Becoming a mother just shortly before she started her first season of collegiate volleyball, Mairen impressed her coaches, teammates, advisors, and instructors with an uncommon level of tenacity and assuredness as she balanced family, academics, and athletics. An integral member of the Hawks Volleyball team that finished 3rd at Nationals, Mairen was named a First Team All-American and is the Region 24 Player of the Year.

“Beyond her incredible athletic achievements, what truly sets Mairen apart is her resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of life,” said Heartland Athletics Director Ryan Knox. “Balancing the demands of collegiate athletics is challenging on its own, but doing so while excelling in the classroom and raising a young child is nothing short of extraordinary.”

As a student at Heartland, Mairen served in several volunteer capacities with various organizations and events, including the Miller Park Zoo Foundation, Special Olympics of Central Illinois, the school food program at Mossville Elementary School, and the Heartland Child Development Lab Preschool program.

“Mairen’s experience has been the epitome of what you hope for a young athlete; one that is deeply defined by a relentless work ethic, a pursuit of excellence among adversity, and a consistent foundation of service to herself, along with those around her,” said Mary Frahm, Head Volleyball Coach.

“She simultaneously poured her soul into athletics, as well as her daughter, teammates, family, and community throughout her career. She has done it with grace, humility, and all while being a shining light of optimism to all she encounters."

- Mary Frahm

Head Volleyball Coach, Heartland Community College

Mairen Mannon at the volleyball net at a game

"Coaching her has been the honor of my career so far, and she has not only made me a better leader to our team but a better mother to my own children,” said Frahm.

Last summer, Mairen was named the recipient of the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award, a national honor given to a community college student athlete who “best exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, and academic excellence.”

After her Heartland graduation in the spring of 2025, Mairen transferred to Bradley University on a full athletic scholarship, where she is continuing her studies in Child Life Sciences.

AG SUCCESS

It hasn’t taken long for ag-minded students to make their mark. In the spring of 2025, Heartland students competed in eight categories at the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) conference held in Sheridan, Wyoming.

The Heartland students who attended the conference produced two national winners, three national runners-up, and three more individuals who placed third nationally.

8

CATEGORIES

2

NATIONAL WINNERS

3

NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP

3

PLACED THIRD NATIONALLY

Student Winners included:

Kaylee Lewis

Emily Pina

Payton Wiltz

Cade Luginbuhl

Kaylee Lewis

Lauren Monk

Brody Wilson

Kaden Farrell

STUDENT SKILLSON DISPLAY

The SkillsUSA Championships feature over 6,880 competitors in 114 hands-on events. The championships are considered the nation’s largest workforce development event in the world.

After posting impressive finishes in the Illinois Elite Career Competition, five Heartland students advanced to the national SkillsUSA competition held in Atlanta, Georgia.

6,880

COMPETITORS

100

CAREER COMPETITIONS

114

HANDS-ON EVENTS

5

HCC STUDENTS ADVANCEDTO NATIONALS

Placing at the national competition were:

Matthew Marciniak and Nick Mock

Andy Irving

Damon Keister

Cami Nowlin

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTMairen Mannon

While juggling her studies and her playing career, Mairen also had another important role: motherhood.

"Coaching her has been the honor of my career so far, and she has not only made me a better leader to our team but a better mother to my own children,” said Frahm.

Last summer, Mairen was named the recipient of the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award, a national honor given to a community college student athlete who “best exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, and academic excellence.”

After her Heartland graduation in the spring of 2025, Mairen transferred to Bradley University on a full athletic scholarship, where she is continuing her studies in Child Life Sciences.

Mairen Mannon is the second student athlete from Heartland to receive the Lea Plarski Award. Cassie Kuizin (Softball) won the award in 2015-2016.

STUDENT SKILLS
ON DISPLAY

HCC STUDENTS ADVANCED
TO NATIONALS

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Mairen Mannon