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 individual's RLC story and how it's led them to where they are today. Listed below are recipients of this award throughout the years.
Alumnus of the Year
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
How Can You Give Back?
Donate to the RLC Foundation
The Rend Lake College Foundation does not merely seek gifts or donations. It asks that you consider investing in:
• Campus Growth
• Economic Development
• Community Growth
The Foundation asks that you invest in the individual growth of the many students who attend the college. Thanks to the generosity of our contributors, Rend Lake College has been able to help students see their dreams turn into reality and will continue to be able to do so in the years ahead.
The Foundation represents a partnership between public and private interests for the benefit of Rend Lake College students. We invite and encourage your participation, interest, and support. Please join the many generous individuals, corporations and foundations who have given their support to the Foundation and the mission of Rend Lake College.
Share Scholarship Opportunities
We want to provide information to the next generation of Warriors.
If you know of a student who would be interested in applying for a scholarship, please direct them to scholarships.
For a list of individuals who have graciously given scholarship gifts, please click foundation
Donate to the RLC Foundation
The Rend Lake College Foundation does not merely seek gifts or donations. It asks that you consider investing in:
• Campus Growth
• Economic Development
• Community Growth
The Foundation asks that you invest in the individual growth of the many students who attend the college. Thanks to the generosity of our contributors, Rend Lake College has been able to help students see their dreams turn into reality and will continue to be able to do so in the years ahead.
The Foundation represents a partnership between public and private interests for the benefit of Rend Lake College students. We invite and encourage your participation, interest, and support. Please join the many generous individuals, corporations and foundations who have given their support to the Foundation and the mission of Rend Lake College.
Share Scholarship Opportunities
We want to provide information to the next generation of Warriors.
If you know of a student who would be interested in applying for a scholarship, please direct them to scholarships.
For a list of individuals who have graciously given scholarship gifts, please click foundation