INA, Ill. (February 13, 2023) — Rend Lake College has received a generous donation of a 12,000 pound two-post truck lift from the Farm Bureaus of several counties, including St. Clair, Clinton, Marion, Monroe, Perry, and Washington. The lift has already made a significant impact for the college. According to Zack Vahlkamp, Heavy Equipment Technology Associate Professor at RLC, the lift has allowed students to perform engine service safely, including the removal of the cab on newer trucks.
The donation came about when Fred Helms from the St. Clair County Board toured the college's shop and asked if they needed any equipment. Cassie Luechtefeld, a Farm Bureau representative, coordinated the donation with the college and all the Farm Bureaus. Although the original estimate for the lift was $12,822, by the time of purchase the cost went up to $13,628. Zack discussed it with RLC Agriculture Professor, Kathy Helmers, and they decided that their two families would donate the difference. The lift was installed in December and has been used daily by students in the Diesel Tech, Ag Mechanics, and Heavy Equipment programs.
Zack expressed his gratitude, saying, ""I am incredibly grateful for the generous donation of a 12,000-pound two-post truck lift by the Farm Bureaus of St. Clair, Clinton, Marion, Monroe, Perry, and Washington counties. I extend my thanks to Fred Helms from the St. Clair County Board for suggesting the possibility of a donation when he toured our shop, and to Cassie Luechtefeld for her hard work in coordinating the donation with the college and all the Farm Bureaus. The lift donation has been a game-changer for our diesel tech program, enabling us to perform engine service safely, including the removal of the cab on modern diesel trucks. This lift is used daily by students in Diesel Tech, Ag Mechanics, and Heavy Equipment programs, and we are proud to be a regional program as one of the few colleges offering these programs."
Kathy Helmers expressed her support for the donation and mentioned that the new equipment provides students with opportunities to grow in their education. She said, "My husband, John, and I were both students at RLC and know that we received a great education while being here. We want to give students the same opportunities that were given to us."
The lift donation has had a significant impact on Rend Lake College, and the college is grateful for the support of the Farm Bureaus and the Helmers and Vahlkamp families.
To learn more about the programs offered by Rend Lake College's Applied Science and Technology Division, visit rlc.edu/asat.