INA, Ill. (June 2, 2026) — For the second year in a row, Chris Sink, Director of the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA) at Rend Lake College, has been nominated for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center's (IMEC) Educator of the Year.
Chris Sink (center) named the 2025 Educator of the Year, pictured with IMEC President David Boulay (left) and IMA President Mark Denzler (right). Photo by Ryan Moore Photography
Sink was previously named the 2025 IMA and IMEC Educator of the Year during the 2nd Annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards on June 26, 2025. He was recognized and honored for his outstanding contributions within the manufacturing sector by highlighting a crucial aspect of excellence in manufacturing.
The Excellence Awards winners will be honored during the 3rd Annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards ceremony on June 25 in the Westin Chicago Lombard.
Other nominees for Educator of the Year include:
- Kerri Peters (University of Illinois Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab)
- Nancy Awdziejczyk (Northwest Educational Council for Student Success)
Additional information is available here. To wish Sink luck on Facebook, click here.
Under Sink's leadership, SIMA plays a crucial role in filling the skills gap and preparing workers for in-demand jobs by working in tandem with the RLC apprenticeship program. Through the apprenticeship program, students advance their skill sets while receiving industry-aligned education to meet industry and employer needs as they graduate from RLC.
For more information about SIMA, visit rlc.edu/southern-illinois-manufacturing-academy, or email Sink at sink@rlc.edu.
