INA, Ill. (April 11, 2014) - The 38th Annual Agricultural Banquet was held last night in Waugh Gymnasium in Ina. During the event, seven students were honored with outstanding awards; John Kabat was presented the Doug Leeck Service Award; and RLC graduate Cailah Brock was the featured keynote speaker.
The seven outstanding student awards were given to Brett Anderson (Johnston City), Overall Outstanding Agricultural Student; Keith Hamilton (Steeleville), Outstanding Agricultural Business; Andrew Hilmes (Carlyle), Outstanding Agricultural Mechanics; Mike Hetisimer (Belleville), Outstanding Heavy Equipment; Blake Kiselewski (Woodlawn), Outstanding Agricultural Production; Quinton Mathis (Du Quoin), Outstanding Heavy Equipment; Carolyn Overturf (Bonnie), Outstanding Horticulture; and Daniel Qualls (West Frankfort), Outstanding Diesel Technology.
Outstanding RLC Students
The seven student award winners posed with their RLC instructors after the 38th Annual Ag Banquet last night. Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Quinton Mathis (Du Quoin), Daniel Qualls (West Frankfort), and Blake Kiselewski (Woodlawn); SECOND ROW, Brett Anderson (Johnston City), Carolyn Overturf (Bonnie), Mike Hetisimer (Belleville), Andrew Hilmes (Carlyle), Keith Hamilton (Steeleville), and Kathy Craig, Agricultural Associate Professor; BACK ROW, Ryne Fullerton, Horticulture Instructor; Zack Vahlkamp, Heavy Equipment Technology Instructor; Mike Burris, Agriculture Mechanics and Diesel Technology Associate Professor; Dave Funk, Agriculture Instructor and Outstanding Part-Time Instructor winner; and John McKinney, Agricultural Instructor. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Sharing Words of Advice
Cailah Brock (Herrin) holds up one of her textbooks from Rend Lake College’s agriculture department, a book she would use in her classes at Southern Illinois University Carbondale after graduating from RLC in 2011. During her keynote address at the 38th Annual Ag Banquet, Brock shared several pieces of advice with the RLC ag students to use after graduating, whether they continue at a four-year institution or head into the workforce. “I was home here at Rend Lake College, and I knew it was either going to make or break me when I continued my education. It made all the difference to me, and I feel like you’re already a step ahead by choosing Rend Lake College,†said Brock. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Honored for Service
John Kabat (Scheller) received the Doug Leeck Service Award during the 38th Annual Ag Banquet for his dedication to the ag industry in Southern Illinois. The former RLC student has taught at Mt. Vernon Township High School for 29 years and was named the Outstanding Ad Student of the Year at the Annual Ag Banquet in 1982. He said the award is special to him because Leeck influenced him to continue his education after RLC and go into teaching. “You never know who it will be, but some people will touch your lives, and Doug Leeck did that for me. He convinced me to go into teaching many years ago and I didn’t have that idea in mind,†said Kabat. “I appreciate this award. It means a lot to me.†Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
