A familiar face in the local and regional soccer scene is stepping in to lead the East Central College women’s soccer program.
Chris Lanemann, a longtime coach and educator at Washington High School, has been named the Falcons’ new head coach, bringing with him decades of experience in both high school and club soccer.
Lanemann joins ECC after 25 years of teaching social studies at WHS, where he also coached boys’ and girls’ soccer. Beyond the high school level, he has made a significant impact in club soccer, coaching for several well-respected St. Louis Metro area programs, including Panathinaikos Soccer Club, Squadra FC, Real STL Soccer Club, Lou Fusz Soccer Club, and JB Marine Soccer Club.
Currently, his JB Marine squad is the No. 1 ranked team in Missouri, a two-time finalist in the Missouri State Cup, and has qualified for USYS Soccer Regionals and Nationals.
A St. Louis native, Lanemann developed his skills playing for Pepsi, Voyagers, Spirits SC, and Skateland before continuing his career at St. Louis Community College–Forest Park, where he played under Hall of Fame coach Pat McBride and Tony Kuester. He later earned his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and a master’s from William Woods University in Fulton.
Off the field, Lanemann enjoys an active lifestyle, including running half marathons, hiking, trail running, and working out. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Mia, 21, and Avery, 19.
With deep roots in the region and a track record of success at the highest levels of competition, Lanemann is set to bring his winning mentality to ECC Women’s Soccer and build upon the program’s foundation.
East Central College is gearing up for its 17th annual Senior Expo and Health Fair, an event designed to connect area seniors with valuable resources, health screenings, and community organizations. The College is currently seeking sponsors and vendors to participate.
The Senior Expo and Health Fair will take place on Wednesday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Donald Shook Student Center. This free event will feature a variety of local vendors, informative speakers, and opportunities to win prizes.
Open to adults 55 and older, the expo focuses on health awareness, education, and prevention, while also highlighting programs and services available in the community. Attendees can take advantage of free health screenings and learn from experts on topics relevant to senior well-being.
The event will be held in the College’s gym, with elevator and shuttle services available for easy access from parking lots.
For more details, contact Cynthia Cubas, External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant, at 636-584-6742.
Information for Vendors
Each vendor is asked to provide informational or educational materials, demonstration, screening, or service. Although vendors may demonstrate products, our Board of Trustee policies prohibit sales on our campus of articles or services.
Vendors are welcome to gather contact information from anyone interested in purchasing products or services later.
The vendor set-up date is Tuesday, May 20, from 2-5 p.m. Staff will be available to assist, and the gymnasium will be locked overnight to protect equipment and materials.
Anyone who cannot set up until May 21 morning, should contact Cubas to make arrangements.
There will be presentation opportunities during the Expo and Health Fair. Anyone with expertise on a subject, or anyone who can recommend someone to give such a talk, are asked to indicate that on the reservation form. A committee will select five presentation topics from those proposed by the vendors to share in a 15- to 20-minute talk on a subject of interest to seniors.
Sponsorships
ECC also is seeking event sponsorships. Listed are the sponsorship levels and what each level will receive:
Gold $500 donation — Sponsorship recognition on ECC’s corner digital sign, KLPW radio interview the day of the event for first five Gold sponsors, sponsorship featured in event radio ad, sponsorship recognition in event advertising, company name and logo on sponsor recognition board, sponsorship acknowledgement on ECC’s website, sponsorship acknowledgement on social media and news releases and gold sponsorship acknowledgement in event program.
Silver $250 donation — KLPW radio i acknowledgment the day of the event, sponsorship featured in event radio ad, sponsorship recognition in event advertising, company name and logo on sponsor recognition board, sponsorship acknowledgement on ECC’s website, sponsorship acknowledgement on social media and news releases and silver sponsorship acknowledgement in event program.
Bronze $100 donation — sponsorship recognition in event advertising, company name on sponsor recognition board, sponsorship acknowledgement on ECC’s website, sponsorship acknowledgement on social media and news releases and silver sponsorship acknowledgement in event program.
To receive sponsorship recognition information must be received by Friday, March 28.
When Claire (Smith) and Eric Feldmann first met at East Central College’s Learning Center, romance wasn’t yet in the air. She was an English tutor, he was a math tutor, and their shared shifts were filled with assisting students, sneaking in homework, and plenty of good-natured banter.
But dating? Not on the agenda.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and ECC’s campus is more than just the place where they earned degrees—it’s where their love story began.
Beginning at ECC
Claire, an Owensville High School graduate, started at ECC in Fall 2013 and earned her Associate of Arts in Teaching before transferring to Mizzou in 2015. Eric, who attended Washington High School, began his ECC journey a year later, studying Pre-Engineering before transferring to Missouri S&T in 2017.
On Nov. 30, 2024, Claire (Smith) and Eric Feldmann married. Photo by Cinthya Navarro Photography.
Their paths crossed in a British Literature course with Dr. Bob Mahon, but it wasn’t until they both took tutoring jobs at the Learning Center in Spring 2015 that they truly got to know each other.
“We were really good friends, and we got along really well,” Claire said. “But we didn’t date.”
However, they did get to know each other during their shifts comprised of helping students navigate everything from math equations to essay revisions. Both credit their time at ECC for providing a strong academic foundation, and they agree that the Learning Center was a highlight.
“We loved working there—the staff was great, and the environment was supportive. Plus, getting paid to help others and do homework on the side wasn’t bad either,” Claire laughed.
Paths Cross Again
After ECC, Claire and Eric pursued their respective careers—Claire as a high school English teacher and Eric as a software engineer. Life took them in different directions, and for eight years, they didn’t speak.
That changed in May 2023 when Eric sent Claire an unexpected message on Snapchat. One conversation led to another, and soon they were meeting at the Washington Riverfront for ice cream and a walk with Claire’s dog, Sarge—who would later become their dog.
From that first reconnection, everything clicked.
Years in the Making
On Nov. 30, 2024, Claire and Eric officially tied the knot. ECC may not have been part of the wedding planning, but it was part of their journey.
“The Learning Center is where we really got to know each other,” Claire said. “It’s where we learned how similar our senses of humor are and how aligned our values and goals were. Even though life took us separate ways for a little while, ECC was the foundation for our relationship.”
Looking back, they wouldn’t change a thing about their time at ECC.
“It was financially smart, academically beneficial, and gave us opportunities we wouldn’t have had at a larger school,” Claire said. “And, of course, the Learning Center just might help you find the love of your life.”
ECC has played another role in their story: Claire’s mother, Dr. Michelle Smith, is the College’s Director of Institutional Effectiveness. A role she assumed in 2018 after Claire and Eric had graduated.
For current ECC students debating whether to take advantage of tutoring services, Eric and Claire have some advice: “Go to the Learning Center! You never know who you’ll meet.”
From study sessions to career success, and eventually finding each other again, Claire and Eric’s journey proves that sometimes, the best love stories aren’t the ones that happen instantly—they’re the ones that take time. And for these two, it all started at ECC.
The photographer at the Feldmann wedding was Cinthya Navarro Photography.
More than 50 students from three high schools competed in the annual Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science on Feb. 5.
The competition is designed to challenge the best and brightest high school students. This year, varsity teams from Washington High School and Warrenton High School competed in the 1,500-school category. Washington High School secured first place, with Warrenton High taking second.
In the small (300) school category, the Houston High School varsity squad claimed the top spot.
All three varsity teams will advance to the sectional competition, which will be held online in March. In addition to the varsity teams, junior varsity—or at-large—teams from Washington and Warrenton also participated in the Academic Challenge. Several at-large students will advance independently of the varsity teams.
About the Challenge
The Academic Challenge is a series of in-person, high school competitions organized by The School of Extended Learning at Eastern Illinois University, with assistance from ECC and other institutions in Missouri and Illinois.
Students participated in a series of tests across seven subject areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics, and physics. The tests are designed to challenge top-performing high school students with material drawn from high school senior and college freshman curricula, helping bridge the gap between secondary and higher education.
Tests are taken individually, and prizes are awarded for the highest individual scores in each subject area, as well as for top team scores. Alison Tucker, STEM Recruitment & Success Coordinator, who organizes the ECC event, explained that the tests are written by college-level faculty and designed to provide a rigorous challenge for students.
The Academic Challenge is divided into large (1,500), intermediate (700), and small (300) school categories. This year, schools competed in the 1,500 and 300 divisions at ECC, with the top teams and individual winners advancing to sectionals.
300 Division
1st Place – Houston High School, 500 points Team members: Ben Steelman, Gracyn McNiell, Hudson Volk, Kendal Johnson, Brody Adkison, Kristen Ely, Adyson Dailing, and Owen Wells.
1500 Division
1st Place – Washington High School, 493 points Team members: Nathaniel Oreskovic, Grace Gargrave, Adam Kassebaum, Eleanor Raeker, McLaine Graham, Luke Mauchenheimer, Cooper Guss, Sarah Stewart, Colton Warnecke, Peter Bush, Phineas Schneider, Christain Rennick, and Thomas Enkvetchakul.
2nd Place – Warrenton High School, 444 points Team members: Alice Briggs, Jeremiah Hunn, Malia Hopper, Jadyn Hopper, Bradyn Sanders, Rylan Arndt, Mykenzy Sebastian, Wade Petersmeyer, Becca Spencer, Shamad Henry, Joe Buechner, and Charlotte Sibert.
Crawford County detainees now have a new opportunity to turn their time behind bars into a steppingstone for success.
Through a partnership between the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and East Central College, detainees can work toward earning their GED while incarcerated, equipping them with valuable skills for a fresh start after release.
Administered through ECC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program, the initiative helps detainees prepare for and take the Missouri Department of Education’s HiSET exam. Participants are tested in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Writing—core subjects required to earn a high school equivalency diploma.
Jail Administrator Lt. Tammy Peart, who is spearheading the program, emphasized the importance of education in reducing recidivism and improving employment prospects.
“Many detainees lack basic academic credentials, which hinders their ability to obtain stable employment or pursue higher education,” Peart said. “By introducing the GED program, our office aims to help them achieve personal and professional goals, including securing full-time employment and reducing recidivism rates.”
Since its launch, the program has seen strong participation, with five students currently prepared to take the HiSET exam. Due to high demand, a waitlist has formed. To expand access, study guides and mock exams have been added to detainee tablets, allowing individuals to study at their own pace.
ECC’s AEL Director Alice Whalen highlighted the transformative power of education in rehabilitation efforts.
“Education is a key factor in breaking the cycle of incarceration,” Whalen said. “This program is more than just earning a diploma—it’s about building confidence, creating opportunities, and providing a second chance for those who need it most.”
Sheriff Layman has prioritized programs like this to address the root causes of repeat offenses, recognizing that providing detainees with educational resources before reentering society is a proactive approach to reducing recidivism.
“The ultimate goal is to give detainees the tools they need to build a stable and self-sufficient future,” Peart added. “By investing in their personal development, we are not only helping individuals but also contributing to safer communities.”
This collaboration between ECC and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office underscores a shared commitment to rehabilitation and second chances. By offering detainees the opportunity to earn their GED, the program serves as a critical steppingstone toward employment, education, and a brighter future beyond incarceration.
“Education is a key factor in breaking the cycle of incarceration,” Whalen said. “This program is more than just earning a diploma—it’s about building confidence, creating opportunities, and providing a second chance for those who need it most.”
Sheriff Layman has prioritized programs like this to address the root causes of repeat offenses. Providing detainees with educational resources before reentering society is a proactive approach to reducing recidivism.
“The ultimate goal is to give detainees the tools they need to build a stable and self-sufficient future,” Peart added. “By investing in their personal development, we are not only helping individuals but also contributing to safer communities.”
This collaboration between ECC and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office reflects a shared commitment to rehabilitation and second chances. By providing detainees with the opportunity to earn their GED, the program offers a critical steppingstone toward employment, education, and a brighter future beyond incarceration.
To learn more about ECC’s AEL program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/ael/, email ael@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6533.
