Ag Banquet honors students, faculty member at 39th annual event

INA, Ill. (April 13, 2015) - Nine students and one instructor were honored last week at the 39th Annual Agricultural Banquet, held in Waugh Gymnasium on the Rend Lake College Ina campus. After an address from keynote speaker Dr. Tony Brannon, Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University, the outstanding students of the year and Associate Professor Barb Hampton were recognized for their work and dedication.

Brannon, focusing much of his address on the words of Dr. Seuss’s “One Beyond Zebra,” gave the students a several words and phrases to remember when continuing on with their education or careers - medicate yourself with laughter, communicate, educate and think for yourself, participate no matter where you go, appreciate, tolerate, deviate, and meditate.

Keynote Speaker Tony Brannon, Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University, donned a Dr. Seuss-inspired hat during his speech at the 39th Annual Agriculture Banquet held last Thursday in Waugh Gymnasium. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“I want to say thank you to your institution, students, faculty, and administration. They’ve invested in your education, and you should say thank you too,” said Brannon. “We’ve all got our strengths and weaknesses. Work to accentuate the positives and work on the negatives, and always remember to go ‘on beyond zebra’.”

Hampton was then presented the Doug Leeck Service Award for her dedication to the Ag students in an English class. Hampton said the class was one of the best she’s ever taught.

Barb Hampton, RIGHT, RLC Associate Professor, thanks the agriculture students during her acceptance speech for the Doug Leeck Service Award. Also pictured is Zach Vahlkamp, LEFT, RLC Heavy Equipment Technology Associate Professor; and Kathy Craig, CENTER, Agriculture Associate Professor. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“I think I learned more than they did,” said Hampton. “It was a privilege to be their teacher, and this class was a great experience for me and the highlight of my day. I will always remember them and the respect they had for me as a professor. It’s a distinct honor and privilege to be recognized here today.”

To close the Ag Banquet, nine outstanding student awards were given to individuals in each Ag program at RLC. Winning the Overall Outstanding Agricultural Student award was sophomore Eli Liske (Okawville) who started the Collegiate FFA Club on campus, as well as served as the RLC Board Student Trustee and was named the Homecoming King.

Eli Liske (Okawville) thanked the RLC faculty, staff, and students for their support during his last year as a Warrior. Liske was honored with the Outstanding Student Of The Year award. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“I’m proud to be a graduate of Rend Lake and the Ag Department,” said Liske. “And I’m proud to be a Warrior. Thank you guys for all you do, and to all the students, thank you for a great year.”

The other awards went to Kacey Jensen (Sims), Outstanding Agricultural Business; Austin Hagene (Nashville), Outstanding Agricultural Mechanics; Alex Digirolamo (Worden) and Harley Devoy (Enfield), Outstanding Heavy Equipment; Seth Shevlin (Sparta), Outstanding Agricultural Production; Tiffany Sponseller (Dix) and Breanne Whitley (Waltonville), Outstanding Horticulture students; and Clay Harris (Dongola), Outstanding Diesel Technology. Other students were awarded for class participation and for service in the U.S. Military.

Seven students were honored as Outstanding Agriculture students at the banquet. Pictured is, BACK FROM LEFT, John McKinney, Agriculture Instructor; Zach Vahlkamp, Heavy Equipment and Diesel Technology Associate Professor; Clay Harris (Dongola); Harley Devoy (Enfield); Seth Shevlin (Sparta); Kacey Jensen (Sims); Austin Hagene (Nashville); and Kathy Craig, Agriculture Associate Professor; FRONT, Eli Liske (Okawville) and Alex Digirolamo (Worden). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Breanne Whitley (Waltonville), LEFT, and Tiffany Sponseller (Dix), RIGHT, were awarded the Outstanding Horticulture student award by Horticulture Instructor Ryne Fullerton, CENTER. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Dr. Tony Brannon, FOURTH FROM LEFT, posed with several future RLC grads and Murray State University students after the banquet last week. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Kacey Jensen (Sims), Fallon Dublo (Mulkeytown), Eli Liske (Okawville), Brannon, Austin Hagene (Nashville), and Justin Knight (Norris City). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)