People of parkland

For the past six decades, generations of families have etched themselves into the Parkland College history books—attending class, earning degrees, and working at the college.

One father and daughter can now add retirement to their family history at Parkland.

Tawanna Nickens, assistant dean of Adult Education and Workforce Development, will retire from Parkland in June 2025 after a quarter-century of service. Prior to Parkland, she worked in the Admissions Office as an undergraduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

“That early exposure ignited my passion for higher education, which has continued to grow,” Nickens says. “This passion led me to pursue a graduate program in student services, along with valuable work at the Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education, where I first discovered the field of adult education.”

In those early years, she wore many hats and traveled often, dividing her time between the Adult Education office in Rantoul and the second floor of the X-wing on the main Parkland campus.

“That era was foundational, not only in terms of professional growth but also in developing lasting relationships with students, colleagues, and community partners,” she says. “Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to take on diverse roles, including student advising, GED instructor, and serving as the evening program assistant. These experiences have enriched my understanding of the field and reinforced my dedication to helping others succeed.”

Nickens added: “When Parkland assumed responsibility for the adult education grant in 2000, it allowed me to further grow and ultimately led me to the role of program administrator. This transition was a pivotal moment in my career, and I’m incredibly thankful for the guidance and mentorship I received along the way.”

What kept Nickens grounded through the years, she admits, is the incredible people she’s had the privilege to work with at Parkland, including her father, James Harden.

“Their dedication, compassion, and humor have made even the most challenging days meaningful,” she says. “The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose is something I will always cherish. We celebrated successes together, supported one another through difficult times, and remained committed to the mission of serving our students with excellence.”

Nickens and her father, James, are originally from South Bend, Ind., a city which shaped their values of hard work, integrity, and community. After serving 24 years in the United States Air Force and still feeling motivated to work, he began working in the Parkland Physical Plant in 1994.

“Although we did not work alongside each other, it still was a great blessing to have such an amazing life experience of being father and daughter working and retiring from the same institution,” Harden says. “I miss working in such a pleasant, professional environment with a dedicated team.”

Nickens recalls the moment she encouraged her father, who primarily worked the third shift, to apply for the supervisor position when it became available.

“It felt like the perfect fit—an opportunity to continue leading with the same discipline and quiet strength he had demonstrated throughout his military service,” she says. “Although we didn't often work side by side, we shared a special bond in knowing we were part of the same Parkland community. It was a unique and meaningful connection to know our paths, although different in nature, intersected in purpose. Even in passing, a wave in the parking lot or a shared conversation about campus happenings made the experience much richer.”

Harden retired from Parkland as Physical Plant supervisor in 2009. Continuing the family connection, Nickens’ brother, James, is a proud alumnus who served as a Student Ambassador, Vice President of Student Government and a student worker.

“Our family's ties to this institution run deep, and they’ve helped shape how I view education—not just as a job, but as a calling and a community mission.”

As Nickens prepares to close this chapter of her life, she reflects on not just the work, but the moments in between—conversations between classes, the laughter during team meetings, the satisfaction of watching a student achieve something they once thought impossible.

“These are the memories I’ll carry with me,” she says. “These are the moments that made the journey so worthwhile. Though I’ll miss being a part of the daily rhythm of Parkland life, I leave with a full heart and deep gratitude.”

–Noah Nelson, Communications Specialist

Whether in the Champaign-Urbana area or on campus, Parkland College Student Ambassadors continue to thrive, serving a vital role for the college and District 505.

In addition to campus events, Student Ambassadors are required to complete at least 10 hours of community service each semester. Past volunteer placements include the Crisis Nursery, local car shows, and senior citizen facilities, among others.

“The Student Ambassador program has allowed me to make connections and friendships with a wonderful group of people,” says Northbrook, Ill. native Bryce Balonick, a current Student Ambassador studying occupational therapy. “Meeting the wonderful folks in the Admissions Office has been a pleasure, as well as community members whom I would not have been able to interact with had I not been an ambassador.”

Tolono, Ill. native Madysen York decided to join the Student Ambassador program because she wanted to enhance her communication skills with others. “The program has allowed me to express myself in order to connect with peers,” says York, who studies kinesiology. “I feel a stronger sense of community within Parkland.”

Student Ambassadors have been part of Parkland’s campus culture for many years. Eric Ray has served as the group’s advisor since Fall 2023.

“Once I took over, I committed to making the group the best it can be for our students,” Ray says. “It’s a yearly commitment to develop their skillsets in organization, networking, leadership, communication, and confidence-building.”

Students interested in becoming a Student Ambassador must have at least a 3.0 GPA in college or in high school if starting as a freshman in college. They must also be registered for at least six credit hours. Ambassadors are eligible for four scholarships each semester, each $250. Ambassadors vote on which of them will be awarded these scholarships.

Any currently registered Parkland students or incoming freshmen interested in becoming an ambassador for the 2025–26 academic year can apply online at  parkland.edu/studentambassador.

For more information, contact Eric Ray at eray@parkland.edu or 217/351-2571.

Parkland Science Scholars explore their scientific areas of interest, from biological sciences to chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology, and even engineering sciences. Three students—Jeffery Lee, Kevin Rattin, Adrian Zzimbe—have recently benefited from the program.

“The Science Scholars program greatly enhanced my professionalism,” Lee says. “Through research opportunities, mentorship, and the friendships I formed, I became more mature and communicative. It encouraged me to actively pursue the opportunities I desire and work with others to form my personal network.”

Lee conducted research for the Robotics Engineering Team at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which focuses on designing autonomous platforms to assist soldiers with reconnaissance and construction during missions.

“My primary responsibility was to develop a mesh network utilizing military radios to facilitate data transmission across these autonomous platforms while ensuring strong radio signals,” Lee says. “Since these platforms are moving across different terrain, I developed a method to be able to calculate the signal strength of the radios dynamically. I also wrote a program to lessen traffic congestion among our workstations, addressing an issue where our computers were unnecessarily transmitting large volumes of data to one another.”

While he was able to implement some functionality, Lee says the program was only partially successful. Though research isn't too common for those like Lee in the information technology field, Lee admits his hesitation before beginning the research.

“I was exposed to a lot of new applications and subjects, which expanded my skillset,” Lee says. “Even though I did not know if my contributions were meaningful, I was able to do something without any assistance and from scratch. Also, this opportunity helped me gain visibility to employers and indirectly helped me get my current job.”

Lee currently works as a network administrator for General Dynamics in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, managing the entire Army's network in the U.S. and Europe. 

In summer 2023, Rattin shadowed two graduate students part-time in Dr. Sarah Hind’s lab. “This research opportunity has helped me in more ways than I can even think,” Rattin says. “I have gained invaluable laboratory experience in my field, which also is the field I will pursue a professional career in. I would be a very different person had I not had this experience, and I have grown in a way I am proud of.”

Rattin says the Science Scholars program helped him develop professionally, academically, and personally for the better.

“When I was a freshman at Parkland, I was struggling with a lot of things. Had it not been for the Science Scholars, I most likely would’ve failed out of college/lost my financial aid due to dropping/failing classes,” Rattin says. “The support network with mentors and fellow science scholars helped me stay on track during hard times. Science Scholars has greatly changed my life for the better. I don’t know what I would've done without it and all the amazing people that make it possible.”

 He has since worked in Dr. Hind’s lab and now has his own project involving hairy root and stable transformation of tomato plants.

Last summer, Adrian Zzimbe’s research in one of the U of I’s botany labs aimed at better crop growing in urban areas in the summer season, looking specifically at how to improve plant water retention to combat the summer heat and reduce the pest pressure. Zzimbe used vermicompost as a median and zucchinis as the primary crop during the research.

“This introduced me to group coordination and working together, which I have always considered a great skill to have,” Zzimbe says. “We did fieldwork, too, so that was a great adjustment to my skills, as we had to be precise and quick with some measurements.”

Zzimbe says he was also introduced to online data-taking tools, which he hadn't used before but were crucial for research. “It was great to have that,” Zzimbe says. “We also read a lot of papers, and that improved my reading skills. Before, I hadn't read that much, but after, I felt comfortable with reading and even understood the material matter that I read.”

Zzimbe added: “Science Scholars have been a great, if not the best, boost I have had in college. It opened my mind to a broader view of science and stem majors. It introduced me to a lot of opportunities I would have never known were available and that has improved my knowledge and connections as a STEM student.”

To learn more about Science Scholars, visit parkland.edu/sciencescholars.