INA, Ill. (Sept. 30, 2016) - The Rend Lake College Upward Bound program honored a record high number of students last night during their annual banquet, held in RLC’s James “Hummer†Waugh Gymnasium.
Every year at the banquet, students are recognized for their involvement in the academic year program, as well as the summer program. The academic year program focuses on achievement in the classroom, team building, and goal setting activities. The summer program is more intensive with five weeks of classes on the Ina campus. Some students also take part in trips throughout the year and others enroll in RLC credit courses.
During the awards aspect of the banquet, students received certificates for participation in the Upward Bound program and the summer program during the 2015-16 year, for earning straight As, for perfect attendance, for receiving RLC college credit, and many others.
Participants in the Upward Bound program last year were, in alphabetical order, Hannah Absher (Mulkeytown), Samantha Alverth (Thompsonville), Diamond Anderson (Benton), Ashley Arvai (Zeigler), Chase Bates (Zeigler), Gaibrielle Bates (Zeigler), Andrew Blackman (Benton), Madilyn Brown (Mt. Vernon), Jacob Bush (Zeigler), James Byers (McLeansboro), Whitney Byers (McLeansboro), Alexea Crawford (Benton), Abby Docherty (Christopher), Brittany Dorris (Benton), Angel Driver (Mt. Vernon), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Erin Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Dakota Emery (Zeigler), Madelyn Farmer (Benton), Alex Farthing (McLeansboro), Bethany Garrett (Benton), Kristin Gibson (McLeansboro), Lacey Grammer (Royalton), Erin Greathouse (Zeigler), Nick Greenwood (Benton), Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro), Honey Nichole Harvill (Benton), Jeffrey Hayes (Benton), Dustin Holder (McLeansboro), Jasmine Howard (Mt. Vernon), Asia Huggins (Mt. Vernon), A’Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), Alexis Jones (Whittington), Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon), Tahjayha King (Mt. Vernon), Hanna Leeper (Zeigler), Noah Leeper (Zeigler), Zane Mare (Royalton), Molly McGuire (Benton), Alexis McKinney (Mt. Vernon), Mariah Myers (Zeigler), Kennedy Moles (McLeansboro), Payce Morgan (Christopher), Andrew Morris (Royalton), Diamond Phillips (Mt. Vernon), Cheyenne Powers (Dahlgren), Nathan Raynor (Zeigler), Kendra-Jo Sanders (Benton), Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro), Rachel Savage (McLeansboro), Karli Slomka (Benton), Aleese Strumpher (McLeansboro), Joseph Sypert (Mt. Vernon), Dawson Thomas (West Frankfort), Ally Vuichard (Mt. Vernon), Madison Waters (Mt. Vernon), and Casey White (Mt. Vernon).
Leah Stallman, Director of the TRIO Programs at RLC, of which Upward Bound is one part, congratulated the students on another successful year.
“I want to thank our students for all the hard work they’ve done. Upward Bound is a huge commitment by these students. It is not something you can just show up to; it takes hard work and dedication,†said Stallman. “Thank you so much to these students, and we look forward to having many of you back next year.â€
Six Upward Bound students were also honored with a scholarship to continue their higher education after high school. They are Madelyn Farmer (Benton), Nick Greenwood (Benton), A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), Molly McGuire (Benton), and Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro).
Entertainment during dinner was provided by Hannah Absher (Mulkeytown), Lacey Grammer (Royalton), and Dawson Thomas (West Frankfort), all high school students at Zeigler-Royalton involved in the Upward Bound program.
The RLC Upward Bound program is a federally funded college preparatory program designed to provide academic support, personal and career counseling, and cultural and social enrichment to high school participants who have the academic ability to be successful in college. Services are provided at no cost to the student. To learn more about the Upward Bound program, contact Stallman at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1366 or stallmanl@rlc.edu.
Click on the images below for larger views.
Benton High School Participants
Benton High School had 14 participants in the Upward Bound program. They are, in alphabetical order, Diamond Anderson (Benton), Andrew Blackman (Benton), Alexea Crawford (Benton), Abby Docherty (Christopher), Brittany Dorris (Benton), Madelyn Farmer (Benton), Bethany Garrett (Benton), Nick Greenwood (Benton), Honey Nichole Harvill (Benton), Jeffrey Hayes (Benton), Alexis Jones (Whittington), Molly McGuire (Benton), Kendra-Jo Sanders (Benton), and Karli Slomka (Benton).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Hamilton County High School Participants
Hamilton County High School had 15 participants in the Upward Bound program. They are, in alphabetical order, Samantha Alverth (Thompsonville), James Byers (McLeansboro), Whitney Byers (McLeansboro), Alex Farthing (McLeansboro), Kristin Gibson (McLeansboro), Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro), Dustin Holder (McLeansboro), Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), Kennedy Moles (McLeansboro), Cheyenne Powers (Dahlgren), Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro), Rachel Savage (McLeansboro), and Alesse Strumpher (McLeansboro).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Mt. Vernon Township High School Participants
Mt. Vernon Township High School had 13 participants in Upward Bound. They are, in alphabetical order, Madilyn Brown (Mt. Vernon), Angel Driver (Mt. Vernon), Jasmine Howard (Mt. Vernon), Asia Huggins (Mt. Vernon), A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon), Tahjayha King (Mt. Vernon), Lexy McKinney (Mt. Vernon), Diamond Phillips (Mt. Vernon), Joseph Sypert (Mt. Vernon), Ally Vuichard (Mt. Vernon), Madison Waters (Mt. Vernon), and Casey White (Mt. Vernon).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Zeigler-Royalton High School Participants
Zeigler-Royalton High School had 18 participants in Upward Bound. They are, in alphabetical order, Hannah Absher (Mulkeytown), Ashley Arvai (Zeigler), Chase Bates (Zeigler), Gaibrielle Bates (Zeigler), Jacob Bush (Zeigler), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Erin Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Dakota Emery (Zeigler), Lacey Grammer (Royalton), Erin Greathouse (Zeigler), Hanna Leeper (Zeigler), Noah Leeper (Zeigler), Zane Mare (Royalton), Payce Morgan (Christopher), Andrew Morris (Royalton), Mariah Myers (Zeigler), Nathan Raynor (Zeigler), and Dawson Thomas (West Frankfort).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Upward Bound Bridge Program Participants
Seven students participated in the Upward Bound Bridge program last year, including, FROM LEFT, Madelyn Farmer (Benton), Nick Greenwood (Benton), Bethany Garrett (Benton), Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), and Molly McGuire (Benton). Not present at the banquet was Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Two Enroll in College-Level Courses
Dakota Emery of Zeigler, LEFT, and Alesse Strumpher of McLeansboro, RIGHT, were honored for taking college-level courses at RLC while still in high school. They were the only two participants in Upward Bound to do so last year.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Upward Bound, RLC Credit Class enrollees
Six high school students enrolled in both Upward Bound and RLC college-level courses last year. They are, FROM LEFT, Chase Bates (Zeigler), Erin Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Payce Morgan (Christopher), Andrew Morris (Royalton), and Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro). Not present at the banquet was Dustin Holder (McLeansboro).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Perfect Attendance Honorees
A dozen students earned honors for perfect attendance last year. Nine of those students attended the banquet last night. They are, FROM LEFT, Andrew Blackman (Benton), Samantha Alverth (Thompsonville), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Jeffrey Hayes (Benton), Diamond Anderson (Benton), Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Honey Nichole Harvill (Benton), Cheyenne Powers (Dahlgren), and Kennedy Moles (McLeansboro). Not present at the banquet was Ashley Arvai (Zeigler), Hanna Leeper (Zeigler), and Nathan Raynor (Zeigler).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Straight A Students
Four students worked hard to receive straight As in the Upward Bound program. They are, FROM LEFT, Erin Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Kristin Gibson (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), and Andrew Morris (Royalton).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Fourteen Awarded for Attendance, Grades
Thirteen of 14 honorees attended the banquet to receive certificates for perfect attendance and straight A grades. They are, FROM LEFT, Jasmine Howard (Mt. Vernon), Alexis McKinney (Mt. Vernon), Gaibrielle Bates (Zeigler), Mariah Myers (Zeigler), Alexis Jones (Whittington), Karli Slomka (Benton), Angel Driver (Mt. Vernon), Tahjayha King (Mt. Vernon), Lacey Grammer (Royalton), Joseph Sypert (Mt. Vernon), Ally Vuichard (Mt. Vernon), Dawson Thomas (West Frankfort), and Casey White (Mt. Vernon). Not present at the banquet was Madison Waters (Mt. Vernon).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
