INA, Ill. (September 21, 2022)
Students, staff, and the public were welcomed to Campus last Wednesday to celebrate the lasting legacy of Mr. Gene Alexander, better known as Mr. A.
The Rend Lake College Foundation paid tribute to Mr. A by inviting the students, staff, and the public to have lunch at the college to celebrate Mr. A Day, an official day on September 22, named by the RLC Board of Trustees in 2021.
Mr. A Scholarship Recipients gather near the Rend Lake College Clocktower to pay tribute to Mr. A. (Click for printable Image)
While Mr. A retired from teaching in 1990, his span of educational passion lasted long after. He is well known for his good deeds in education and beyond. He painted more than 350 maps across playgrounds and schools, painted more than 700 classrooms, and in recent years, was able to help more than 350 students attend Rend Lake College through the Mr. A Scholarship Fund. Students and staff spent their time reminiscing about their encounters with the local legend as they gathered for lunch.
"I didn’t know him for long, but Mr. A was the most selfless and humble man I have ever met, " said RLCF Development Coordinator Lexi Johnson. "His life goal was to help others, and you can definitely see he’s done just that here at the college and in local communities. My favorite memory of him was the first time we met on his 86th birthday. Every day at 2 pm, he would go to Burger King for a milkshake, so we joined him that day. He shared all these stories of when he was growing up, serving in the military, and eventually getting started in his education journey. I would love one more story from him. He will always be missed."
Lexi Johnson, Development Coordinator of the Rend Lake College Foundation (left), and Amy Newell, Rend Lake College Foundation Assistant Director of Development (Right), pose with a life-sized Mr. A cutout during Mr. A Day on the Rend Lake College Campus.
Mr. A was an avid supporter of individuals reaching their educational goals. If you would like to learn more about the Rend Lake College Foundation and how they support students' journeys in the community, visit them online at https://www.rlc.edu/foundation.
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