INA, Ill. (May 11, 2015) - Rend Lake College Student Transfer and Retention Support (STARS) students and graduates were honored last week at the 18th Annual STARS Recognition Ceremony in RLC's Theatre. During the ceremony, members of the program received awards and scholarships for another year of hard work.
The ceremony opened with Faith Matzker, keynote speaker and 2009 STAR of the Year, who encouraged the graduates and continuing STARS students to rely on their "STARS family" when the going gets tough and to remember to keep working, no matter the hardships.
"Before I came to Rend Lake College, I found myself middle-age, working three jobs with three kids. I was struggling at the low poverty line and I had lost my identity," said Matzker. "I read an article about kids whose parents had gone to college and how it bettered their future, but it had been 15 years since I'd been to any school. It was then that I realized I'd been supporting everyone else in my life, except myself."
Faith Matzker speaks during the Recognition Ceremony, an event she said brings her STARS experience "full circle." Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
"I learned after coming to Rend Lake that I was an enabler. I used every excuse for why I couldn't do it; go back to college. The STARS program showed me how to get back," continued Matzker. "The STARS staff were strong and firm with me when I needed it, and they were the shoulder to cry on too. You have to embrace the change. When you leave here, you'll take these connections with you forever. You always have support here."
After Matzker's speech, all STARS members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national community college scholastic honor fraternity, were recognized by standing. Those students are Laura Alverth (Thompsonville), Casey Brandt (Mt. Vernon), Emily Culbreth (Benton), Flor Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Brittany Goldsberry (Benton), Kristen Keele (Wayne City), Vanessa Lawrence (Benton), Natalie Meador (Mt. Vernon) , Evelyn Mendez (Benton), Kristin Odom (Benton), Christina Parr (McLeansboro), Mary Stanfield (Mt. Vernon), Whitney Webb (Benton), and Miriam Ziehm (Dahlgren).
Students were also recognized for being grant aid recipients before the awards portion of the ceremony began.
New Student Awards
Three RLC students were accepted into the STARS program in the Spring 2015 semester. They are, FROM LEFT, Marissa Small (McLeansboro), Chris Richard (Mulkeytown), and Emily Culbreth (Benton). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Other new students not pictured include Gregory McClain (Calumet City), Amberlee McKinley (Bluford), Alexis Porter (Mt. Vernon), Alyssa Russell (Broughton), and Javon Stribling (Harvey).
Perseverance Award
Fifteen students were honored with the Perseverance Award during the ceremony. Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Lilian Wilburn (Thompsonville), Rebecca Whitlock (Mt. Vernon), Adrian Rice (Mulkeytown), Elizabeth Pulley (Mt. Vernon), Heather Drew (Ina), Shania Ellis (Mt. Vernon), Brooke Docherty (Benton), and Jamie Brock (Ewing); BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, Damien Townley (Ewing), Quentin Overturf (Benton), Simon Miller (Mt. Vernon), Joshua Miller (McLeansboro), Brittany Knapp (Tamaroa), Taylor Colbert (Dix), and Lonny Bailey (Sesser). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
GPA 3.00 to 3.49
These students were honored for receiving GPAs (grade point averages) of 3.00 to 3.49. Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Mia Simms (Ewing), Mariann Cook (Benton), Barretta Chullen (Thompsonville), Autumn Byrn (Royalton), and Sierra Calloni (Mulkeytown); BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, Mariah Morris (Mt. Vernon), Austin Endicott (Benton), Laura Alverth (Thompsonville), Rebekah Busler (Bonnie), and Victoria Baird (Mt. Vernon). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Other 3.00 - 3.49 GPA award winners not pictured are Bria Allen (Bonnie), Matthew Bays (Sesser), Alison Blair (Benton), Austin Carlisle (Benton), Desiree Casey (Benton), Keri Hartleb (Mulkeytown), Brady Householder (Thompsonville), Shelby Mitchell (Woodlawn), Caitlin Olalde Mt. Vernon), Brittany Pedigo (Benton), Darcey Ross (Woodlawn), Kaelyn Sandy (Mt. Vernon), Troy Stickel (Benton), Brandon Terrien (Waltonville), Britney Tindall (Benton), and Whitney Webb (Benton).
GPA 3.50 - 3.99
Six students were honored for receiving a GPA of 3.50 to 3.99. They are, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Miriam Ziehm (Dahlgren), Cicely Lefler (Mulkeytown), and Flor Eldridge (Mulkeytown); BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, Christina Parr (McLeansboro), Kristin Odom (Benton), and Kristen Keele (Wayne City). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Other 3.50 - 3.99 GPA award winners not pictured are Casey Brandt (Mt. Vernon), Cassandra Halleran (Royalton), Vanessa Lawrence (Benton), Delaney Pierce (Pinckneyville), Mary Stanfield (Mt. Vernon), and Laci Zeidler (Pinckneyville).
GPA 4.0
Three Benton students earned straight As this year and were awarded the GPA 4.0 Award. They are, FROM LEFT, Mary Harrison, Evelyn Mendez, and Brittany Goldsberry. Not pictured is Natalie Meador of Mt. Vernon. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
STARS Graduates in 2015
The STARS graduates, RLC Class of 2015, will cross the stage Saturday, May 16 in Waugh Gymnasium at RLC. Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Lilian Wilburn (Thompsonville), Christina Parr (McLeansboro), Cicely Lefler (Mulkeytown), Kristen Keele (Wayne City), Flor Eldridge (Mulkeytown), Barretta Chullen (Thompsonville), and Laura Alverth (Thompsonville); BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, Quentin Overturf (Benton), Kristin Odom (Benton), Evelyn Mendez (Benton), and Austin Endicott (Benton). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
George Cybulski Scholarship Award
The George Cybulski Scholarship Award is named in honor of the late George Cybulski, an 81-year-old RLC student who had a dream to go back to school and earn a degree. The award was given to Miriam Ziehm of Dahlgren. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
STARS of the Year
Mulkeytown natives Cicely Lefler, LEFT, and Flor Eldridge were awarded the STARS of the Year award at the end of the Recognition Ceremony. The STARS of the Year are typically students who have played an active part in helping others and with recruitment through the last academic year. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
The STARS program is a federally funded program designed to provide participants with the support services they need to successfully complete an associate degree and transfer to a four-year college or university. Eligibility requirements include meeting low-income guidelines, being a first-generation college student (meaning neither parent graduated from a four-year university) or having a documented disability. The program serves 160 students each year. The goal of STARS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.
The STARS application is available online at www.rlc.edu/student-support-services. You can also add them on Facebook to get updates on events and services: www.facebook.com/rlcstars.
For more information about the STARS program, visit Leah Stallman in the South Oasis, Rom 108, call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1366 or email stallmanl@rlc.edu.
