INA, Ill. (May 15, 2025) — More than 100 students from Rend Lake College's STARS (Student Transfer and Retention Support) program were honored and some received awards at the 2025 STARS Academic Celebration.
Front Row (L-R): Audrey Whaley, Madeleine Miles, Mallory Settles
Back Row (L-R): Morgan Jung, Gaige Sisney, Jaelynn Wallace, DeRay Travelstead, Chris King, Jr, Robert Bowman, Lucas Sloan, Bethany Flowers, Brittanie Skaggs, Autumn Travelstead, Melita McCabe
To begin the celebration, Morgan Jung and Melita McCabe were recognized and welcomed as new STARS students. They started the program in the Spring 2025 semester.
*Use arrows to view next image
The Perseverance Award is given to students who demonstrate determination in successfully completing their classes, often while overcoming difficult circumstances. The students that received this award were Lucas Sloan and DeRay Travelstead.
*Use arrows to view next image
Awards were also given to students for their outstanding grades and GPAs.
3.00 – 3.49 GPA Award recipients: Robert Bowman, Bethany Flowers, Chris King Jr, Madeleine Miles, Brittanie Skaggs and Jaelynn Wallace
3.50 – 3.99 GPA Award recipients: Mallory Settles, Gaige Sisney and Autumn Travelstead
4.00 GPA Award recipient: Audrey Whaley
*Use arrows to view next image
*Use arrows to view next image
Audrey Whaley received 4.0 GPA Award
The George Cybulski Scholarship Award is named in honor of the late George Cybulski, an 81-year-old RLC student who had a dream to go back to school and earn a degree. The award is given annually to a dedicated student. This year, Robert Bowman was honored as the George Cybulski Scholarship Award recipient.
Pictured (L-R): Amy Newell, RLC Foundation Director, Robert Bowman, Jessica Jackanicz, RLC Foundation Assistant Director
To round off the STARS Academic Celebration, two students, Lucas Sloan and Chris King, Jr., received the STAR of the Year Award. This award is voted on by the STARS staff every year and is given to one or two students who exemplify dedication to the program, hard work in the classroom and great communication skills.
*Use arrows to view next image
About STARS
The STARS program is a federally funded program designed to provide participants with the support services they need to successfully complete an associate degree and transfer to a four-year college or university. Eligibility requirements include meeting low-income guidelines, being a first-generation college student (meaning neither parent graduated from a four-year university) or having a documented disability. The program serves 160 students each year. The goal of STARS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.
For more information, visit rlc.edu/stars or email Mallory Moddelmog, RLC Director of TRiO Programs, at moddelmogm@rlc.edu.
