Grace Pytlinski seated as new Student Trustee, succeeding Wayne City’s Eric Schumm

INA, Ill. (April 11, 2017) - Waltonville’s Grace Pytlinski was seated as the 2017-18 Rend Lake College Student Trustee tonight during the monthly meeting. Pytlinski replaced Eric Schumm of Wayne City and follows in the footsteps of her older sister Claire who sat on the board during the 2015-16 school year.

Pytlinski is a freshman double major, focusing on Agriculture Business and Production Management. At RLC, she is active in the Collegiate FFA (Future Farmers of America) and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In February, Pytlinski was also crowned RLC’s Homecoming Queen. In her spare time, she is completing internship hours at Syngenta as a general assistant.

Grace Pytlinski, CENTER, was seated tonight as the 2017-18 Student Trustee during the Board meeting. She is pictured with Board of Trustees Chair Eric Black, LEFT, and President Terry Wilkerson, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

After she leaves RLC, Pytlinski said she plans to attend a four-year university, possibly Murray State, to work on her bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science. She hopes to become an agronomist.

But before she leaves, she has a big seat to fill. As Student Trustee, Pytlinski represents the student body and has an advisory vote during each monthly Board of Trustees meeting. She said she’s excited for the new challenge.

“I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent both the Agriculture Department and the student body on such a large scale,” said Pytlinski. “I look forward to getting to work with the Board and staff at Rend Lake, on both a personal and professional level. It will be a new experience; however, I know the staff at RLC will be more than willing to help me along the way.”

Pytlinski said she initially heard about the position when her sister held it two years prior, but encouragement from one of her agriculture professors gave her the final push and she decided to run.

“[Associate Professor] Kathy Craig asked me to run for the position,” she said. “I was interested, because it is a great way to form relations with people who truly care about your best interest and will be there to help you, even after your time at Rend Lake is through. I also enjoy the idea of getting to represent the student body, getting to be their voice, and having the opportunity to make sure their voices are heard.”

Pytlinski continued, “I think Rend Lake is a spectacular college and I have greatly enjoyed my first year as a student. I look forward to having a chance to help the college continue to strive at its highest potential. I would also like to thank the student body for voting for me as their 2017-18 Student Trustee, and greatly look forward to getting to represent them.”

Outside of school, she enjoys farming, hunting, fishing, trapshooting, and spending time with her family and friends.

Eric Schumm, CENTER, received a plaque for his work as the 2016-17 Student Trustee during tonight's Board meeting. He is pictured with Black, LEFT, and Wilkerson, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

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