Alumnus of the Year

At Rend Lake College, we are proud to recognize our Alumnus of the Year award. The allows us the opportunity to share the indivdual's RLC story and how it's led them to where they are today.

Listed below are receipents of this award throughout the years.

2023 — GLENN BOX ('96), Cairo
Head Coach, University of Miami (Ohio) Women's Basketball

2022 — DEAN MERDER ('84), Jasper, Ind.
Chief Executive Officer, TrueScripts

2021 — CLINT McDONNOUGH ('73), Pinckneyville
Retired Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP

2019 — CHAD W. KERN ('91), Whittington
President & CEO, Schirm USA

2018 — CURTIS SMITH ('82), Benton
(Awarded posthumously)
RLC Basketball legend and local coach, Correctional Officer - IL Dept. of Corrections

2017 — BOB KELLEY ('69), Mt. Vernon
Retired Director of Marketing & Public Information, Rend Lake College

2016 — RODNEY CABANESS ('90), Sesser
Co-Owner, Black Diamond Harley-Davidson

2015 — DR. BRIAN KERN ('94), Ewing
Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Institute of Western Kentucky

2014 — JAMES "JIM" MOUNIER ('72), Caledonia
Senior Vice President & Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch

2013 – TRISH REED (’87), Scheller
President, GM, UpTime Parts LLC

2012 – PETER JOHNSON (’85), Mt. Vernon
Instrumentation Engineer, NASA

2011 – RON SMITH (’74), Benton
Assistant Basketball Coach, SIUC; Entrepreneur

2010 – HON. MIKE D. McHANEY (’77), Salem
Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois

2009 – JIM MUIR (’97), Sesser
Publisher, Southern Illinois Sports Connection, Marion Living & Saluki Illustrated; Radio Broadcaster

2008 – RANDY RUBENACKER (’78), Dahlgren
Co-Owner, Rubenacker Farms/4R Equipment, McLeansboro

2007 – BRAD GESELL (’80), Benton
Co-Owner, Gesell’s Pump Sales & Service Inc., Whittington

2006 – CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON (’98), Valier
Distribution Center Manager, Walgreens, Mt. Vernon

2005 – BILL SHIELDS (MVCC ’58), Mt. Vernon
Assistant Professor/Workforce Ed Coordinator, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

2004 – LINDA L. SANDERS (’82), Mt. Vernon
Warden, Federal Correctional Complex, Forrest City, AR

2003 – DONALD H. DAME (’72 / ’76), Sesser
Vice President/Human Resources & Government Relations, Freeman unity Coal Mining Company

2002 – ROSE M. MYLES (’68), Mt. Vernon
Manager / Network Services, AT&T

2001 – CARL ROWLEY (’77), Sesser
Team Leader / Building Management Systems, Panduit Corporation

2000 – HOLLY McCANN (’76), Benton
Acting National Director, Internal Revenue Service Office of Interest and Penalty Administration

1999 – LAIRD D. WISELY (’71), Benton/Mt. Vernon
(Awarded posthumously)
Owner, Therapy Resource Associates & Physical Rehab Works

1998 – MARK MICHALIC (’78), West Frankfort
1999 ICCTA CO-“ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR”
Special Agent, U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

1997 – JOHNATHAN W. THOMAS (’71), Sesser
CEO (Executive Dean), Ivy Tech State College, Madison/Lawrenceburg, IN

1996 – TIM WILLS (’84), Benton
Associate Professor of Health/A.D./Coach, RLC

1995 – COURTNEY COX (’72), Benton
Partner, Hart and Hart Attorneys-At-Law, Benton

1994 – FLO DUDLEY (’76), Bonnie
Retired elementary school teacher
Mt. Vernon City Schools District 80

1993 – SEN. J. BRADLEY BURZYNSKI (’79), Benton
Illinois State Senator / 35th District, Sycamore

1992 – CINDA CHULLEN (’79), Benton
Technical Manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

1991 – CRAIG M. SINCLAIR (’74), Mt. Vernon
Vice President of Advertising, The Walgreen Company

1990 – GLORIA J. SLOAN-REEL (’74), McLeansboro
Product Brand Manager, Phone-Poulenc Ag Company, Research Triangle Park, NC

1989 – KEVIN DAVIS (’72), Mt. Vernon
Comptroller/Treasurer, Rend Lake Conservancy District

1988 – CAROL DILLEY-JAUDES (’75)
Stage actress, St. Louis, and New York

1987 – DR. MARY KAY WITGES BENGTSON (’71), Scheller
Staff/Athletic Physician, N. Carolina State U.

1986 – DR. GARY R. SWEETEN (MVCC ’60), Ina
Minister of Christian Growth, College Hill Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati

1985 – DR. HALE E. RYDER JR. (MVCC ’58), Mt. Vernon
Professor of Economics/Director of Graduate Studies, Brown University

1984 – DR. LESLIE JOHNSON (’74), Thompsonville
Family Practitioner, Mt. Vernon (now in Peoria)

1983 – ROBERT L. BROWN (MVCC ’66), Mt. Vernon
Guidance Counselor, Mt. Vernon Township H.S./Part-time Rend Lake College GED Instructor

1982 – DAVID N. JUNKINS (’71), Mt. Vernon
Social Worker, Illinois Dept. of Children & Family Services

Rend Lake College Alumni

Welcome back! Whether you are a recent graduate, finished a semester, or were part of our family when we were labeled Mt. Vernon Community College, you are a Rend Lake College Warrior!

Through this page, we want to highlight members of our RLC Alumni Family and pass along information on how YOU can give back.

We would love to hear what you’re up to, so join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

As well as checking in virtually, we invite you to visit our campus to see how we are progressing into the future!

Sincerely,
Rend Lake College

Alumnus of the Year

At Rend Lake College, we are proud to recognize our Alumnus of the Year award. The allows us the opportunity to share the indivdual's RLC story and how it's led them to where they are today.

Listed below are receipents of this award throughout the years.