INA, Ill. (March 27, 2023) — Rend Lake College freshman Maggie Stacey (Sesser) was elected earlier this month as the next Student Trustee for the college. Outgoing Student Trustee Colt Henson (Wayne City) will turn the job over to Stacey at the Board of Trustees' April meeting.
Maggie Stacey
The RLC Student Trustee has represented the student body since 1973. Stacey is the 53rd student to serve in the office. She will attend meetings of the RLC Board of Trustees each month and will have an advisory vote on all action items. It is a great opportunity for a motivated student like Stacey to get involved in a service role.
Stacey is the daughter of John and Teresa Stacey, and has a sister, Alecia. The 2022 graduate of Sesser-Valier High School was salutatorian, managed the volleyball team and frequently had the honor of singing the National Anthem at athletic events.
She is on track to graduate from RLC in 2024 and will pursue more education and a career in hospitality management. She dreams of travelling to different parts of the world the profession might take her. Could her focus on hotel management and event coordination land Stacey a paid gig at Disney World (bucket list ✔)? Wherever she goes, the end goal is to return to southern Illinois and start a wedding planning business.
"I want to live in big cities and do all the fun stuff while I am young," she said.
Stacey said she was approached by RLC CFO John Gulley about running for the student trustee seat.
"I've known Maggie for several years, and she has always stood out among her peers as a leader," Gulley said. "She took an active role in the YMCA Youth and Government program while in high school, and has served the Sesser-Valier community through her volunteer work with organizations such as the Sesser Homecoming Association and Girl Scouts. She will be an asset as student trustee."
"We were always raised that community comes first," said Stacey. "I care about Rend Lake and want to serve the college and the students. I am really excited. My mom served on the school board at Sesser so it's not new to me. I know how boards are run and it's exciting to get to do some of that now."
Community service is also familiar territory for Stacey. She serves through her community's Mobile Market, a drive-through service to help with food insecurity. Other activities include the Outdoorsman Club's annual event for disabled hunters, and theatre at RLC and with the Pyramid Players. She also holds a student worker position in the campus bookstore.
The next chance to run for student trustee will come up in Spring 2024. Students interested in running can learn more about the position at rlc.edu/studenttrustee.
Student Leaders
Elected Student Trustees
Rend Lake College Board 1973 - Current
2023-2024 | Maggie Stacey (Sesser)
2022-2023 | Colt Henson (Wayne City)
2021-2022 | Nick Wimber (Henderson, Ky.)
2020-2021 | Dakota Tate (Bluford)
2019-2020 | Remington Henson (Wayne City)
2018-2019 | Mackenzie Trader (
2017-2018 | Grace Pytlinski (Waltonville)
2016-2017 | Eric Schumm (Wayne City)
2015-2016 | Claire Pytlinski (Waltonville)
2014-2015 | Elijah Liske (Sesser)
2013-2014 | Haden Smith (Wayne City)
2012-2013 | Kelsey Allen (Bonnie)
2011-2012 | Caleb Buntin (Thompsonville)
2010-2011 | Kody Schwarze (Valmeyer)
2009-2010 | Samantha York (McLeansboro)
2008-2009 | Luke Thomas (Springerton)
2007-2008 | Renee Ryterski (DuBois)
2006-2007 | Garrett Keck (Vandalia / Benton)
2005-2006 | Rachel Sveda (Christopher)
2004-2005 | Adam Nagreski (Benton)
2003-2004 | Cody Logan Chullen (Benton)
2002-2003 | Candice N. Fitch (Thompsonville)
2001-2002 | Keith J. Shasteen (McLeansboro)
2000-2001 | Steven Manning (Belle Rive)
1999-2000 | Kristin Rone (Benton)
1998-1999 | Greg Hollmann (Mt. Vernon)
1997-1998 | Russell Jay (Benton)
1996-1997 | John C. Thompson (McLeansboro)
1995-1996 | Joe Anderton (Christopher)
1994-1995 | Ryan Endsley (Mt. Vernon)
1993-1994 | Laura Drone (Tamaroa)
1992-1993 | Tracy Thompson (Christopher)
1991-1992 | Jason E. Newell (Belle Rive)
1990-1991 | Doris F. Troutt (Opdyke)
1989-1990 | Doris F. Troutt (Opdyke)
1988-1989 | Chris Stubblefield (Sesser)
1988-1988 | Amy Andrews (Benton)
1987-1988 | Kenneth Hill (Benton)
1986-1987 | Gary Piercy (Benton)
1985-1986 | Debbie Turner Kerley (Zeigler)
1984-1985 | Darin R. Lee (McLeansboro)
1983-1984 | LaDonna L. Wallace (Johnsonville / Wayne City H.S.)
1982-1983 | Susan Woodward (Mt. Vernon)
1981-1982 | Randy Herrin (Benton)
1980-1981 | Brad Rainwater (Wayne City)
1979-1980 | Douglas Dunbar (Benton)
1978-1979 | Mark Michalic (West Frankfort)
1977-1978 | Mark Michalic (West Frankfort)
1977-1977 | Frances Rightnowar (Mt. Vernon)
1976-1977 | Charles S. "Chuck" Eckert (Palestine / Hutsonville H.S.)
1975-1976 | Alecia Van Horn (Benton)
1974-1975 | J. Bradley Burzynski (Benton)
1973-1974 | Robert S. Munday (Benton)
