INA, IL (March 24, 2022) - Hundreds of Rend Lake College students were given the chance to get together and share their appreciation with scholarship donors at the annual RLC Foundation Scholarship Banquet.
This event, sponsored by Legence Bank, was held at the Benton Civic Center on March 3. The evening was even more special than usual, as it marked the first time that students and donors were able to meet face-to-face since the 2019 event, as COVID restrictions prevented the event in 2020 and 2021.
Kay Zibby-Damron, RLC Foundation CEO, remarked how thankful the foundation is for the support and partnership from Legence Bank, and for the strong and faithful support from the scholarship donors. She reminded students that their scholarship is a “hand-upâ€, not a “hand-out†and encouraged them to do their best to honor the gift they received. Zibby-Damron concluded by encouraging students to consider ways in which they can “pay it forward†and hopes that down the road they will consider being future scholarship supporters.
RLC nursing student and scholarship recipient Presley Allsopp spoke about her journey to become the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. She said she is grateful for the scholarships she has received as they go a long way to helping her specialize in oncology and realize her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner.
“The scholarships I have so graciously been given are helping me achieve my goal of nursing school without the stress of money being an issue,†Allsopp said. “I’ll never forget where I started and what got me here.â€
The RLC Foundation has awarded over $250,000 in scholarship support to Rend Lake College students this school year. Those who would like to learn more about how they could support RLC students may contact the RLC Foundation at 618-437-5321, ext. 1214, or email foundation@rlc.edu.
Scholarship Awards
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Adam Lee Lorance Memorial Art Scholarship recipient
Emily Jukes and
Alyssa Dawn Lorance Memorial Scholarship recipient
Imogen Perry are pictured with Peggy Davis. FROM LEFT: Jukes, Perry and Davis.
AGE Scholarship recipient
Payton Groennert is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Allison Bash State Farm Scholarship recipient
Wyatt McClintock is pictured with donors Robert Bornheimer and Allison Bash. FROM LEFT: Bornheimer, McClintock, Bash. McClintock also received the Benton BPW scholarship.
Amanda Peyton Memorial Scholarship recipient
Kaylee Lemons is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
AMVETS Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarship recipient
Jill Meadows is pictured with donors Joe Norris and Art Holloway. FROM LEFT: Norris, Meadows, and Holloway.
Andrea Bradley Memorial Scholarship recipient
Rylee Allen is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Arnistine Tolbert Memorial Scholarship recipient
Rebecca Bowers is pictured with donors Bonnie Tolbert and Denver Tolbert.
FROM LEFT: B. Tolbert, Bowers, D. Tolbert.
Austin Welch Scholarship recipient
Casslyn Pedigo is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Bank of Illinois Scholarship recipient
Emma Rush (not pictured due to playing in the Women's Midwest District Championship Basketball game).
Benton Lions Club Scholarship recipients
Madelin Hayes, Damian Roberson, and Zack Andrews are pictured with
RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Hayes, Roberson, Andrews, Kern.
Bill B. and Ruth O. Smith Memorial Scholarship recipient
Arlon Butts is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Brandon Dame Memorial Scholarship recipient
Ellyana Fitzpatrick is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Brenda Scarber Memorial Scholarship recipient
Kaylee Marshall is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Brian C. Fleri Memorial Scholarship recipient
Austin Schuster is pictured with donors Bill Fleri and Teresa Fleri.
FROM LEFT: B. Fleri, Schuster, T. Fleri.
Busby Family Scholarship recipient
Alyssa Karcher is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern
Carlos and Bonnie Tolbert Scholarship recipient
Kayla Valentine is pictured with donor Bonnie Tolbert.
Clayton Charles Ragland Memorial Scholarship recipient
Lillian Feltmeyer is pictured with donor Lori Ragland.
Cletis & Imogene Reed Memorial Scholarship recipient
Gage Harmon is pictured with donors Gary Wood and Jan Wood.
FROM LEFT: G. Wood, Harmon, J. Wood.
Coach Jim Waugh Memorial Scholarship recipients
Carson Prost and Race Rynski are pictured with RLCF CEO Kay Zibby-Damron.
FROM LEFT: Prost, Rynski, Zibby-Damron.
Coach Mike McClure Scholarship recipients
Braden Watts and Bishop Woods are pictured with RLCF CEO Kay Zibby-Damron.
FROM LEFT: Watts, Woods, Zibby-Damron.
Coach Wayne Arnold Scholarship recipient
Danielle Bieber is pictured with RLCF CEO Kay Zibby-Damron.
Community First Bank Scholarship recipients
Jillian Launay and Annibelle Harrison are pictured with donor Jason Newell.
FROM LEFT: Launay, Harrison, Newell. Not pictured is recipient Jaice McCowen (not pictured due to playing in the Women's Midwest District Championship Basketball game).
Continental Tire the Americas Scholarship recipients
Harlee Kujawa, Jadyn Hoppa, Katie Wimer, and Courtney Lynn are pictured with Plant Manager Nik Pearce and RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Pearce, Kujawa, Hoppa, Wimer, Lynn, Kern.
Craig Rudofski Memorial Scholarship recipient
Gracie Balakhani is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Crossroads Community Hospital Scholarship recipients
Kelsey Beal, Erica McCormick, and Haley Sharp are pictured with Crossroads CFO Rick Schumacher.
FROM LEFT: Schumacher, Beal, McCormick, Sharp.
Curtis Smith Memorial Scholarship recipient
Jacob Zinzilieta is pictured with donor Linda Smith.
Dallas Carl & Anna Bargesser Nursing Scholarship recipient
Breanna Bowers is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Dave and Penny Severin Scholarship in Memory of Roland Schwarz recipient
Allie Dial is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
David E. Hill, M.D. Memorial Scholarship recipient
Winter Pittman is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Donald “Digger†Donelson Memorial Scholarship recipient
Braden Watts is pictured with Debbie Rubenacker.
Donald E. Peacock Nursing Scholarship recipient
Hailey Timmons (absent).
Doris Welch Nursing Scholarship recipient
Faith Sanders is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Doug Leeck Memorial Scholarship recipient
Hayden Pilson is pictured with donor Henry “Buster†Leeck.
Douglas S. Carlson Memorial Scholarship recipient
Carlie Page is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Dr. Allen Y. Baker recipient
Brenden Ritter and
Stella M. Baker Scholarship recipient
Phoebe Keith are pictured with donor Bonnie Tolbert. FROM LEFT: Tolbert, Keith, Ritter.
Dr. Charles “Bill†and Mary Roe Scholarship recipients
Daniel Garavaglia and Megan Restoff are pictured with donors Dr. Bill Roe and Mary Roe. FROM LEFT: M. Roe, Garavaglia, Restoff, Dr. Roe.
Dr. Gary Ray Sweeten Isaiah 61 Scholarship recipients
Billie Hodges and Yvonne McDonnough are pictured with donor Matt Sweeten, RLCF Board Member Randy Dauby and his wife, Cretia. FROM LEFT: Sweeten, Hodges, McDonnough, C. Dauby, R. Dauby.
Dr. Leslie Johnson/Ed Kowanacki Scholarship recipient
Olivia Legrand is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Dr. Oliver D. Spitler Memorial Scholarship recipient
Ashlynn Depew is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Dr. Robert and Marilyn Parks Scholarship recipient
Jaleese McWilliams is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. McWilliams also was awarded the Charles and Martha Dee Ritchey Memorial Scholarship.
Dr. Warren E. Petty Memorial Scholarship recipient
Kayla Conner is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Drew Family Scholarship recipient
Kenzie Hamlin is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Delta Theta Tau Vermadel M. Wood Scholarship (Group 1) recipients
Shelby Taylor, Leslie Davis, Myeesa Jones, Teresa Nolen, Alyssa Karcher, Peyton Sieveking, Coltan Steinmetz, Hunter Roberts, and Amanda Egbert are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: Taylor, Davis, Jones, Nolen, Kern; BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Karcher, Sieveking, Steinmetz, Roberts, Egbert.
Delta Theta Tau Vermadel M. Wood Scholarship (Group 2) recipients
Damian Roberson, Jadyn Cole, Halle Hamm, Rylee Crisp, Raeghan Fitzjerrells, Austin Alverth, Miranda Maldonado, Holden Huntley, Philip Berberich, and Josilyn Wheat are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: Roberson, Cole, Hamm, Crisp, Fitzjerrells, Kern; BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Alverth, Maldonado, Huntley, Berberich, Wheat.
Eggemeyer Associates Architects Scholarship recipient
Damian Roberson is pictured with donors Ed Kirchner and Jackie Parten. FROM LEFT: Kirchner, Roberson, Parten.
Emil Perpich Family Memorial Scholarship recipient
Chloe Ragland is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Everett “Boogie†and Dolores Ames Scholarship recipient
Tyler Hacker is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
First Cellular of Southern Illinois recipient
Katelynn Langa is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Frankie Allan Minor Memorial Scholarship recipient Samantha Lingle and
The Armed Barbers Scholarship recipient Allison Hooper are pictured with donors Ray and Stacy Minor and RLC instructor Chris Edwards and his significant other, Alexis Royce.
FROM LEFT: Edwards, Royce, Hooper, Lingle, S.Minor, R. Minor.
Franklin County Medical Society Scholarship recipient
Chloe Mays is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
G. William “Billy†Rector Scholarship recipient
Hayden Locke is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Gene N. and Dortha Bailey Scholarship recipient
Casey Lenon is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
George/Anna Orshak and Paul/Bernice Petty Memorial Scholarship recipient
Sarah Billington is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
George Cybulski Memorial Scholarship recipients
Winter Pittman and Jillian Launay are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Pittman, Launay, Kern.
Hamilton County Telephone Foundation Scholarship recipients
Ashtyn Morgan and Kaylee Stewart with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Morgan, Stewart, Kern.
Henry and Fern Peacock Nursing Scholarship recipient
Laina McKinney is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Housing Authority of Jefferson County recipient
Myeesa Jones is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Howard L. Payne Nursing Scholarship recipients
Lucas Prior, Mareesa Ratajczyk and Presley Allsopp are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Prior, Ratajczyk, Allsopp, Kern.
Howard L. Payne Scholarship recipient
Amanda Egbert is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Howard L. Payne Vocational Scholarship recipients (Group 1)
Donson Morain, Dylan Harkins, Rylee White, Samantha Licka, Tyler Eckelberry, and Dominick Finney are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: Morain, Harkins, White, Kern; BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Licka, Eckelberry, Finney.
Howard L. Payne Vocational Scholarship recipients (Group 2)
Jeremy Schnierle, Korey Bunselmeyer, Chase Mulligan, Kade Gibson, and Colby White are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
FROM LEFT: Schnierle, Bunselmeyer, Mulligan, White, Gibson, Kern. Not pictured Rhett Timmerman.
Illinois Manufacturer’s Association Education Foundation Scholarship recipients
Parker Sieveking and Reed Raubach are pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern. FROM LEFT: Sieveking, Raubach, Kern.
International Police Association Region 57 Scholarship recipient
Mareesa Ratajczyk is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Jane Waugh Memorial Scholarship recipient
Shealyn Conway is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship recipient
Dylan Harkins is pictured with RLCF Board Member Pat Kern.
