NORMAL, Ill. (September 18, 2026) — Rend Lake College has been awarded an Excellence in Collaboration from the Illinois Community College Board. A group of RLC staff accepted the honor last week at ICCB's annual Forum for Excellence. Staff included Kim Wilkerson, Vice President of CTE & Student Support; Matt Jackson, Director of Competency Based Education; Mindy Reach, Director of the SHINE program and tutoring; and Kristina Shelton, Director of Perkins and CTE.
FROM LEFT: Shelton, Wilkerson, Reach and Jackson proudly accept the Excellence in Collaboration Award.
The statewide conference brought together educators from across Illinois to highlight partnerships driving success in community colleges and adult education. The Excellence in Collaboration Award is an ICCB staff-nominated honor celebrating teamwork that creates opportunities for students, colleges and local communities.
RLC’s nomination spotlighted the college’s strong partnership with Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) 25 and the local one-stop center, reflecting a continuous drive to align education with real-world workforce needs.
For the team behind the effort, the recognition highlights the value of shared goals and mutual support.
"This award means a lot because it represents what can happen when we come together with a common goal," said Wilkerson. "It takes trust, teamwork and a willingness to support each other. I am very proud of what we have accomplished in the CTE area and the opportunities we have created for our students, the college and our community. This is something we can all be proud of."
In addition to accepting the award, members of the RLC team contributed to the conference's professional development lineup by leading informative sessions for peers from across Illinois.
Jackson presented "At My Pace: A Competency-Based Approach to Learning at RLC," sharing strategies for flexible, student-centered education. (See photo below)
Wilkerson and Reach led a session on "Supporting Neurodivergent Students," discussing inclusive practices and supportive frameworks for diverse learners. (See photo below)
To learn more about RLC's career and technical education programs and workforce partnerships, visit rlc.edu/all-programs.
