INA, Ill. (August 20, 2026) — The Rend Lake College Foundation has welcomed another meaningful addition to its High 5 Scholarship Endowment campaign, honoring a dedicated community educator and expanding educational access through the Leeck Family Scholarship.
The story behind the scholarship traces back to 1997 following the passing of Henry Douglas "Doug" Leeck. A devoted educator, farmer and community leader, Doug served as the head of the Auto, Agriculture, and Architecture departments at Rend Lake College, as well as an instructor in the Agriculture Department. Outside the classroom, he was deeply engaged in local civic life, serving on the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board of Education, the Jefferson County Fire Protection District Board and numerous fraternal and agricultural organizations across Southern Illinois.
Following his passing, friends and family joined together to establish an endowed scholarship in his memory. Building upon that foundation, his wife, Cindy, and children, Roz and Buster (RLC Vice President - Academic & Student Services), established the Leeck Family Scholarship to continue expanding financial support for local students.
Buster (left), Cindy (center) and Roz Leeck (right) show their St. Louis Blues pride while attending a hockey game together at Enterprise Center.
For the Leeck family, supporting RLC is deeply personal. Having grown up around the campus, attended classes and now served the college for over 20 years, the institution has been a constant presence in their lives.
“Rend Lake College has been very good to our family,” Buster shared. “I like to say the college raised and has supported me throughout my life. Working in Student Services, I see firsthand the impact of scholarships and financial aid on our students.”
The Leeck family poses for a formal studio portrait in support of their Rend Lake College Foundation endowed scholarship.
That firsthand view of student needs inspired the family to join the Foundation’s High 5 Campaign, which centers on the power of a helping hand. The scholarship is structured to directly defray the cost of attendance, relieving financial stress so students can focus on their coursework during their time at RLC.
Beyond immediate tuition relief, the family hopes the award inspires recipients to pay that support forward down the road.
“We hope the scholarship serves as a helping hand to a student now,” said Buster. “Then, when the student can give a helping hand, we hope they will give back to the college and community that helped them.”
"It's incredibly meaningful to see the Leeck family build on a their family’s endowment that has already made a difference for RLC students," said Amy Newell, RLCF Director. "By adding to their existing endowment through the High 5 Scholarship Endowment Match, they are increasing its impact and creating opportunities for even more students. We are grateful for their continued commitment to Rend Lake College and our students.”
About the High 5 Campaign
Through the High 5 Campaign, donors established or strengthened endowed scholarships while the Rend Lake College Foundation amplified their generosity with matching funds, creating long-term impact that lasts for generations. RLCF offered 25 matching opportunities from a total match pool of $125,000. With all matches utilized, the campaign generated up to $375,000 in lasting scholarships.
