RLC’s Robinson, Knapp honored with Outstanding Faculty awards

INA, Ill. (April 29, 2015) - Two members of Rend Lake College’s Applied Science and Technology Division will be honored this year for their dedication and service to the RLC community and students.

Nominated by their peers, Ricky Robinson and Eric Knapp - both of the computer science program - have been invited to attend the statewide awards banquet later this year.

The full-time Outstanding Faculty Excellence Award winner is Ricky Robinson, Computer Networking Professor. The Indiana native has lived in Benton for most of the last two decades while he helped begin and develop the Computer Networking program at RLC. In 1998, Robinson came to RLC from Continental Tire the Americas to work with electronics - a career change he never saw coming.

Ricky Robinson

“I never thought I would become an instructor. When I came to Rend Lake, the computer program was just starting, and it’s evolved so much since then,” said Robinson. “My favorite part is working with the students on the lab networking equipment. It’s very hands-on and gives them lots of experience.”

Since his start at RLC, Robinson has also become an integral part of the Criminal Justice program, helping to incorporate computer classes with a cybercrime certificate. Every semester he logs five or six courses, seeing hundreds of students every week.

“I don’t feel like I deserve this honor. I think they got the wrong person,” joked Robinson. “I do appreciate the nomination and I want to say thank you to those who did nominate me.”

Robinson is active in developing curriculum on campus, including helping with a security certificate, and teaching a training course called “Refuse to be a Victim” through RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division. He also volunteered as the administrator for the RLC’s Pearson VUE Testing Center for three years.

Chris Nielsen, Dean of Applied Science and Technology, said Robinson is a very talented instructor who takes a proactive approach when it comes to preparing his students for their future careers.

“Ricky Robinson has been a valued faculty member of our Computer Networking program area since 1998. A student who sits in Ricky’s class will gain a set of skills in which they can expect to be in-demand by employers across the nation,” said Nielsen. “Ricky has looked ahead to see changing technology in information systems and steered the program into the most relevant areas of study. He is a workman who produces quality work consistently and is worthy of the Outstanding Faculty Award.”

The Part-Time Teacher Excellence Award winner is Eric Knapp of Tamaroa, a computer science instructor. Best-known as the Introduction to Computers instructor - a class that nearly all general education students take - Knapp is a six-year veteran of the halls in the Advanced Technology Center.

Eric Knapp

Knapp graduated from RLC in May of 2008 and returned the following year to teach part-time in Computer Maintenance and Introduction to Computers. Every semester, Knapp teaches three classes, mostly to students planning to graduate and transfer to a four-year university. He says he’s happily surprised by the nomination.

“Thanks to my peers for the nomination. I was very surprised when I heard the news,” said Knapp. “I love teaching the Introduction to Computers class because I get to see the students make that realization that what I’m teaching them they can use in their everyday life. It’s a great moment as an instructor.”

Nielsen added that Knapp is an extremely reliable instructor who continues to have students completing his computer courses with high marks, due both to his knowledge of computer software and his teaching ability.

“Eric has the ability to meet students at their various knowledge levels, whether they are non-traditional students who have never turned on a computer or a tech-savvy millennial, he has the expertise to offer them quality instruction,” said Nielsen. “Eric has become a teacher who I rely on and is one of my first choices when staffing sections. He is a worthy recipient of the Part-Time Teacher Excellence Award.”

Robinson and Knapp will join other community college outstanding faculty members from across the state at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Awards Banquet on June 5 in Schaumburg. During the banquet, winners will be announced for the ICCTA Outstanding Faculty Member Awards.