INA, Ill. (April 30, 2018) - Dozens of students enrolled in Rend Lake College's STARS (Student Transfer and Retention Support) program were honored during the 21st Annual Recognition Ceremony last week in the James "Hummer" Waugh Gymnasium. During the ceremony, the students in attendance were honored with awards and scholarships for a successful year of hard work.
The ceremony opened with words from Leah Stallman, TRIO Director, who applauded the students for continuing to maintain high standards year after year.
"First and foremost, I want to thank our students for choosing Rend Lake College and for choosing to be part of the STARS family," said Stallman. "The program is voluntary, so our students chose to participate and receive the support we can give them. Of the 160 students we served on campus in 2016-2017, 95 percent of them are in good academic standing. It's evidence of the willingness of our students to stay motivated and work hard to achieve success at RLC."
Stallman also said 86 percent of STARS students from the 2016-17 year persisted from one academic year to the next, either by attending from freshman to sophomore year, graduating or transferring from RLC to a four-year institution. Persistence, along with good academic standing, are two objectives the STARS program upholds and reports to the Department of Education annually.
After Stallman's speech, the awarding of honors and scholarships began.
STARS of the Year Award
The STARS of the Year Award is voted on by the STARS staff every year and is given to a student or two who exemplify dedication to the program, hard work in the classroom, and great communication skills. This year, Bradley Phillips of Benton and Maude Wheeler of McLeansboro were honored as STARS of the Year.
Bradley Phillips of Benton, LEFT, is pictured with STARS Support Services Advisor Amy Cook during the 21st Annual STARS Recognition Banquet. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
Maude Wheeler of McLeansboro, RIGHT, is pictured with STARS Student Advisor Jessica Phillips during the 21st Annual STARS Recognition Banquet. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / 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 is given annually to a dedicated student. This year, Suzanna Lefebvre of Mt. Vernon was honored as the George Cybulski Scholarship Award recipient.
Suzanna Lefebvre of Mt. Vernon, LEFT, is pictured with RLC Foundation CEO Kay Zibby-Damron during the 21st Annual STARS Recognition Banquet. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
STARS Graduates
The students pictured below graduated in the Fall 2017 semester or will graduate in the Spring or Summer 2018 semesters. Not pictured is Mackenzie Adams (Dahlgren), Alissa Bain (Benton), Ciara Beaumont (McLeansboro), Alexandra Boner (Valier), Deja Boyd (Mt. Vernon), Rebecca Bumpus (Mt. Vernon), Brandon Cook (Benton), Katherine Cozart (Murphysboro), Abigail Docherty (Benton), Madeline Farmer (Benton), Bradley Farrow (Christopher), LeeAnn Garrison (Woodlawn), Nickolas Greenwood (Benton), Haley Ing (Benton), Allan McCarty (Thompsonville), Chelsea Neal-White (Bluford), Makayla Rich-Pulliam (Benton), Kayley Scott (Mt. Vernon), Michaela Scott (Dahlgren), Jordan Spurlock (McLeansboro), Nakia Thomas (O'Fallon), Brittany Ward (Waltonville), and Stephany Ziehm-Abbott (Dahlgren).
The STARS graduates are, in alphabetical order, Courtnee Bradham (Waltonville), Sandra Eversole (Mulkeytown), Allysa Fox (Thompsonville), Brette Mahan (Benton), Shawna McIntire (Marion), Blake Miller (Thompsonville), Maddie Miller (Thompsonville), Bradley Phillips (Benton), Adrian Rice (Mulkeytown), Sierra Tiberend (Benton), Alyssa VanZant (McLeansboro), Michael Wells (Dahlgren), Maude Wheeler (McLeansboro), and Barbara Williams (Mt. Vernon). Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
GPA 4.0 Award
Students who ended the Fall 2017 semester with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 are pictured below. Not pictured is Alexandra Boner (Valier), Jeimin Garibnavajwala (Mt. Vernon), Christian Reed (West Frankfort), Michaela Scott (Dahlgren), and Drew Williams (Benton).
Two STARS students, FROM LEFT, Brette Mahan of Benton and Kayley Reininger of Mt. Vernon were honored for earning GPAs of 4.0. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
GPA 3.50 - 3.99 Award
Students who ended the Fall 2017 semester with a cumulative GPA between 3.50 and 3.99 are pictured below. Not pictured is Ciara Beaumont (McLeansboro), Rebecca Bumpus (Mt. Vernon), Kelsey Conley (Macedonia), Brandon Cook (Benton), Alan Fox (Tamaroa), Jeffrey Hayes (Benton), Haley Ing (Benton), Baylie McKinzie (Woodlawn), and Birttany Ward (Waltonville).
The STARS students with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99 are, in alphabetical order, Sierra DeAngelo (Benton), Sandra Eversole (Mulkeytown), Allysa Fox (Thompsonville), Brittany Helton (Benton), Suzanna LeFebvre (Mt. Vernon), Adrianna Maxwell (Macedonia), Maddie Miller (Thompsonville), Janki Patel (Mt. Vernon), Alyssa VanZant (McLeansboro), and Maude Wheeler (McLeansboro). Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
GPA 3.00 - 3.49 Award
Students who ended the Fall 2017 semester with a cumulative GPA between 3.00 and 3.49 are pictured below. Not pictured is Emeri Arro (Sesser), Brittany Atkins (Benton), Alissa Bain (Benton), Joseph Cook (Benton), Katherine Cozart (Murphysboro), Abigail Docherty (Benton), Walter Douglas (Sesser), LeeAnn Garrison (Woodlawn), Kelsey Hasty (Christopher), Lyla Miller (Zeigler), Chelsea Neal-White (Bluford), Dominique Peterson (Mt. Vernon), Courtney Rapp (Dahlgren), Huel Reynolds (Mulkeytown), Aaron Summers (Sesser), and Nakia Thomas (O'Fallon).
STARS students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49 are, in alphabetical order, Ashley Atkins (Benton), Brittany Atkins (Benton), Courtnee Bradham (Waltonville), Emily Cavinder (Christopher), Felicia Chiquito (McLeansboro), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Shawna McIntire (Marion), Blake Miller (Thompsonville), Thorin Palmer (Mt. Vernon), Bradley Phillips (Benton), Alesse Strumpher (McLeansboro), Sierra Tiberend (Benton), and Michael Wells (Dahlgren).
Click on the image for a larger view. (Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
Perseverance Award
The Perseverance Award is given to students who demonstrate determination in successfully completing their classes, often while overcoming difficult circumstances. Not pictured is Mackenzie Adams (Dahlgren), Schuyler Bailey (McLeansboro), Deja Boyd (Mt. Vernon), Madeline Farmer (Benton), Bradley Farrow (Christopher), Kaylee Greenwalt (Wayne City), Nickolas Greenwood (Benton), Ashley Gregory (Mt. Vernon), Jonathan Gulley (Pinckneyville), Cheyanne Hester (Broughton), Jaylyn Hoercher (Woodlawn), Samantha Keele (Mt. Vernon), Knoell Klein (Mt. Vernon), Zach Malott (Sesser), Allan McCarty (Thompsonville), Garrett McFarlin (Texico), Harleigh Padget (Mt. Vernon), Kathryn Rapp (McLeansboro), Makayla Rich-Pulliam (Benton), Spencer Scanlan (Woodlawn), Kayley Scott (Mt. Vernon), Jordan Spurlock (McLeansboro), Marc Torres (Ewing), Sara Waggoner (Dahlgren), Caitlin Wagner (Scheller), Harley West (Benton), Eric Young (Christopher), and Stephany Ziehm-Abbott (Dahlgren).
The Perseverance Award recipients are, in alphabetical order, Dakota Emery (Zeigler), Izabella Graham (Mt. Vernon), Christina Holmes (Christopher), Daliyah Johnson (Benton), Dennis Johnson (Benton), Kelsie Lomax (Mt. Vernon), Deloris Payne (Bonnie), Adrian Rice (Mulkeytown), Kaleb Tiberend (Benton), Robert Wilkie (Mt. Vernon), and Barbara Williams (Mt. Vernon). Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)
New STARS Award
Several RLC students were accepted into the STARS program in the Spring 2018 semester. Not pictured is Cheyenne Ilbery (Mt. Vernon), Derek Johnson (McLeansboro), Holly Johnson (McLeansboro), Stephen Morris (Benton), Christian Wagner (Ina), and Aron Windland (Waltonville).
The New STARS Award recipients are, FROM LEFT, Brandi Johns (Mt. Vernon), George Sinks (Mt. Vernon), and Debra King (Mt. Vernon). Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland / 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-services/stars. 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, Room 108; call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1366; or email stallmanl@rlc.edu.
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