RLC Advisory Councils honor two professionals, local hospital for support

INA, Ill. (March 26, 2018) - Two outstanding individuals and one local hospital were recognized last week for their support of Rend Lake College and our students. The three acknowledgements were made at the annual RLC Advisory Council meetings on Tuesday, March 20.

Pinckneyville Community Hospital was the recipient of the second Presidential Advisory Award for continued support of RLC. The hospital itself has supported several grant projects at RLC, plus direct and gift-in-kind contributions for scholarships, instructional supplies, and monetary support of the RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus (MWPC).

The hospital has also partnered with the college to host the Allied Health Discovery Camp for local youth to get involved and learn about many different health care careers. Discovery Camp, usually attended by approximately 50 students, gives campers the chance to get hands-on at the college’s Ina campus before visiting the hospital and working one-on-one with staff.

As if that weren’t enough, staff and administrators at Pinckneyville Community Hospital also serve on numerous Advisory Councils, including the nursing, phlebotomy, and radiologic technology programs and the MWPC.

Staff and administration from Pinckneyville Community Hospital accept the Presidential Advisory Award. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, RLC Vice President of Instruction Lori Ragland, Clinical Education Coordinator Janet Morrison, Chief Executive Officer Randy Dauby, Chief Nurse Executive Eva Hopp, Acute Care Nurse Manager Henry Clark, Emergency Department Manager Nancy Keller, and RLC President Terry Wilkerson. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Chad Copple / RLC Public Information)

Lori Ragland, RLC Vice President of Instruction, said the continued support from Pinckneyville Community Hospital is vital for students of all ages and is an important ingredient in the success of many college programs and events.

“The partnership between Pinckneyville Hospital and Rend Lake College has made a positive impact within our community,” said Ragland. “We thank them for all their support and look forward to future endeavors.”

Pinckneyville Community Hospital’s Chief Executive Office Randy Dauby added the partnership is not only a one-way street.

“Partnering with the college is just the right thing to do,” said Dauby. “Putting the work in on our end, to invest in the education of the community, is as invaluable to us as a health care facility. We are very fortunate to have such fantastic vocational training available to our community.  Anything we can do to help encourage young people to consider a career in health care, and anything we can do to help foster that interest is a good thing.”

Two local women were also recognized with Certificates of Appreciation during the Advisory Council meetings.

The first went to Kristi Rapp of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The 2013 graduate of RLC’s Office Systems Technology (OFTC) program returned to college in 2012 after finding herself laid-off and decided to make a career change into health care.

In her nomination letter, RLC Professor Sarah Bilderbeck spoke highly of Rapp and her dedication to RLC students, even after her own graduation.

“A few years ago, Kristi found her way back to RLC where she spent two years completing an OFTC degree and multiple certificates. She was hired at SSM Health in Mt. Vernon and, during her time there, she spearheaded a program within her department that would allow current OFTC students an opportunity to complete an internship with her organization, many of which turned into full-time employment.”

Kristi Rapp accepts her Certificate of Appreciation during the Advisory Council meeting. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Vice President of Instruction Lori Ragland, Rapp, Professor Sarah Bilderbeck, and President Terry Wilkerson. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Chad Copple / RLC Public Information)

Bilderbeck continued, “Kristi has also served on the OFTC Advisory Council since graduating and promotes the OFTC programs in our community when given the opportunity. I’m proud of her commitment to continuing her education and finding her way back into the workforce where she thrived. I’m proud to say she is an OFTC graduate without a doubt and I’m thankful for her leadership and input within our advisory council.”

The second certificate of appreciation was awarded to Jenny White of SSM Good Samaritan Hospital. White is one of RLC’s radiologic technology clinical instructors who has sat on the Advisory Council since the program’s inception.

Jenny White accepts her Certificate of Appreciation during the Advisory Council meeting. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Vice President of Instruction Lori Ragland, White, Radiologic Technology Director Holly Heisner, and President Terry Wilkerson. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Chad Copple / RLC Public Information)

Holly Heisner, RLC Professor of Radiologic Technology, expressed words of thanks to White on behalf of the college and her students in her letter of nomination.

“Jenny has allowed our students to come and experiment with the equipment at Good Samaritan Hospital. It is essential to introduce students to what the majority of sites will have,” said Heisner. “Jenny also comes to speak with the freshman students prior to clinical to tell them what they should expect from a clinical instructor and vice versa. I truly feel that Jenny has helped enhance the program.”

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