East Central Reporter

On Saturday, Kaskaskia College marked its 85th anniversary with an event at its Centralia campus. The celebration brought together students, alumni, faculty, staff, community leaders, and members of the public.

Kaskaskia College president George Evans welcomed attendees to commemorate the institution's history. Founded in 1940 as Centralia Township Junior College, Kaskaskia College became Illinois’ first recognized community college in 1965 and is celebrating six decades as part of the state’s Community College System.

Board of Trustees president Bill Hawley and other elected officials discussed the college’s impact on Centralia and the surrounding region. Rep. Blaine Wilhour commented, “Congratulations to Kaskaskia College on your 85th Anniversary and your impact on the educational opportunities and economic impact for our region in south central Illinois.”

Student ambassadors led tours of campus facilities during the event. Some visitors viewed new equipment that uses artificial intelligence to create virtual cadavers for anatomy education. These digital platforms offer interactive three-dimensional models based on real human bodies, allowing students to explore anatomical structures in detail without using physical cadavers. The AI-powered system can analyze student performance and provide personalized feedback.

The digital tools are accessible remotely at any time, increasing flexibility for students and reducing costs associated with maintaining physical lab resources.

Rep. Wilhour has represented Illinois’ 110th House District since his election in 2023, succeeding Chris Miller.