INA, Ill. (Dec. 11, 2023) – With a generous gift to The Game Plan, Rend Lake College 2022 Alumnus of the Year Dean Merder has acquired naming rights to the Sports Hall of Fame at the Banterra Sports Complex.
Merder attended RLC from 1982 to 1984. He was the first in his family to attend college and was recruited on a basketball scholarship. He suffered from a severe illness as a child that left him unable to play sports for nearly four years. Overcoming that adversity drove him to work harder to make up for lost time and he found he had a gift for basketball. That gift led the Warriors to multiple wins during his time at RLC. His sophomore team — the 1983-1984 Warriors — finished 25-7, set nine team records, and was inducted into the RLC Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Last year when The Game Plan was announced at the banquet, Tim Wills made the comment that 40 years ago when we played here, the facilities aren’t much different than they were then,” Merder said. “I leaned over to my wife and I said, ‘We need to help.’ … This is where it all started for me. We’re happy to be able to help. We want our contribution to go toward the Hall of Fame Wall. Our 1983-1984 team was inducted into the Hall of Fame and that team means a lot to me. We’re excited and happy to be able to help The Game Plan.”
Merder’s motivation, humility, and leadership qualities paved the way to his success. RLC and the Foundation are thankful for his willingness to give back to the community and contribute to providing RLC student athletes with quality facilities.
Other Major Gift naming opportunities that are available include: the Event Center, Lobby Entrance, Tim Wills Coaches Corner, Training Room, Locker Plaques, Concessions, and tributes to coaches like Wayne Arnold, Waugh, Mike McClure and Mitch Haskins.
Construction is estimated to start in Fall 2024 with a goal of being finished by December 2025. Companies and donors who are interested in supporting The Game Plan capital campaign should contact Major Gift Officer Dawn Johnson at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1213, or by email at johnsond@rlc.edu. A website is also available for supporters to donate and learn more about The Game Plan. Visit rlc.edu/gameplan.
About Rend Lake College
Student journeys have started at Rend Lake College since 1955, when it was originally founded as Mt. Vernon Community College before its transformation to Rend Lake College in 1967. The college sits about 12 miles south of the intersection of Interstates 57 and 64 and covers a total of 1,850 square miles. Rend Lake College serves all or parts of eight counties, including the major portions of Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, and Perry counties.
Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degrees and occupational certificates for students wanting to earn a transfer degree or learn a skill or trade. Agriculture, welding, culinary arts, nursing, computers and many more career programs are available, plus transferable associate degrees for students seeking a bachelor’s degree.
About The Game Plan
The Game Plan is an opportunity to renovate and expand the facilities at Waugh Gymnasium on the Rend Lake College Campus.
It has been more than 50 years since the facilities at Waugh Gym have undergone any significant renovations. In that time, many talented players and coaches have rallied to bring wins on and off the court. In addition to the athletic accomplishments the gym has facilitated, it also brought in leaders that taught character development, teamwork, and academic importance. The lessons taught in the gym have gone on to help countless individuals, not only in their lives, but in the lives of others as well. In order to aid recruitment efforts, we aim to provide our student athletes a home that is fit for a Warrior.
About Rend Lake College Warriors and Banterra Sports Complex
Rend Lake College is a member of the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Rend Lake College Warrior and Lady Warrior teams compete in archery, men and women’s basketball, baseball, men and women’s golf, softball, trapshooting, and women’s volleyball. The 2021-2022 Warriors’ basketball team was named NJCAA Academic Team of the Year, finishing with a collective of 3.61 GPA. In 2013, the Warrior men's basketball team won the Division II national championship.
The planned Banterra Sports Complex at Rend Lake College will include the existing James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium as well as a new addition to the space. Waugh Gymnasium is one of the original buildings on the college’s campus and in 1995 was named after Waugh, a long-time coach and educator with nearly 50 combined athletic seasons to his credit when he retired. In addition to the gym, it includes athletic offices and locker rooms.
