WHITTINGTON, Ill. (Sept. 30, 2015) - The Rend Lake College Upward Bound program celebrated another successful year with a Mardi Gras theme at their annual banquet, held last night at the Rend Lake Resort in Whittington.
During the event, students were recognized for their involvement in the 2014-2015 academic year program as well as the summer program. The academic year program focuses on achievement in the classroom, team building, and goal setting activities. The summer program is more intensive with five weeks of classes on the Ina campus. Some students also take part in trips throughout the year and others enroll in RLC credit courses.
To go along with the theme this year, the class trip involved traveling and exploring New Orleans after reading a book about Hurricane Katrina. Banquet speaker Mishona Waldis of Sesser then spoke about her experience visiting New Orleans after the hurricane and left the audience with an encouraging sentiment to take with them through their life and continuing education.
"Despite what all these people had been through, I felt the love from them," said Waldis. "They gave me so much more than I was able to give back. I got to see people at their lowest and see them continue to push through."
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
During the awards aspect of the banquet, students received certificates for participation in the Upward Bound program and the summer program, for earning straight As, for perfect attendance, for receiving RLC college credit, and many others.
Participants in the Upward Bound program last year were, in alphabetical order, Samantha Alverth (McLeansboro), Chase Bates (Zeigler), Jacob Bush (Zeigler), Whitney Byers (McLeansboro), Jordan Darr (Benton), Abby Docherty (Benton), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Dakota Emery (Zeigler), Maddie Farmer (Benton), Bethany Garrett (Benton), Erin Greathouse (Zeigler), Nicholas Greenwood (Benton), Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro), Dustin Holder (McLeansboro), A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon), Noah Leeper (Zeigler), Zane Mare (Royalton), Molly McGuire (Benton), Payce Morgan (Zeigler), Andrew Morris (Royalton), Marissa Moser (Mt. Vernon), Katie Rapp (McLeansboro), Nathan Raynor (Zeigler), Samantha Riddle (Mt. Vernon), Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro), and Alesse Strumpher (McLeansboro).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Leah Stallman, Director of the TRIO Programs at RLC, of which Upward Bound is one part, said she's constantly awed by the effort students in the program apply to continue their education at the college level.
“Every year I come up and say this group of students is full of dedicated and hard-working individuals, and it's always true,†said Stallman. “We're very proud of their work in the Upward Bound program and want to encourage them to continue working hard.â€
These students participated in Upward Bound's Summer Program. They are, in alphabetical order, Samantha Alverth (McLeansboro), Chase Bates (Zeigler), Jacob Bush (Zeigler), Whitney Byers (McLeansboro), Jordan Darr (Benton), Abby Docherty (Benton), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Dakota Emery (Zeigler), Maddie Farmer (Benton), Bethany Garrett (Benton), Erin Greathouse (Zeigler), Nicholas Greenwood (Benton), Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro), Dustin Holder (McLeansboro), A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro), Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon), Noah Leeper (Zeigler), Zane Mare (Royalton), Molly McGuire (Benton), Payce Morgan (Zeigler), Andrew Morris (Royalton), Nathan Raynor (Zeigler), Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro), and Alesse Strumpher (McLeansboro). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Thirteen students participated in Upward Bound's Summer Work Study program where they participated in an internship at a local business. These students are, FROM LEFT, A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon) who worked at Green Door Spa, Erin Greathouse (Zeigler) who worked at Shawnee Christian Rehabilitation, Andrew Morris (Royalton) who worked with Franklin Co. State's Attorney Evan Owens, Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro) and Makayla Jackson (McLeansboro) who both worked at Hamilton Memorial Hospital, Dustin Holder (McLeansboro) who worked at White Oak Resources, Haley Edwards (Zeigler) who worked in the RLC Foundation Children's Center, Abby Docherty (Benton) who worked in RLC's Business Office, Whitney Byers (McLeansboro) who worked at Second Nature Wildlife Rehabilitation, Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon) who worked at Williamson Asia, Maddie Farmer (Benton) who worked with Dr. George Nahass, and Alesse Strumpher (McLeansboro) and Jaclyn Savage (McLeansboro) who both worked at Hamilton Memorial Hospital. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Jordan Darr of Benton was honored with the Bridge Award, which is given to high school graduates who participate in the Upward Bound Summer Program after their senior year of high school but before their first semester of college. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Bentonites Maddie Farmer, LEFT, and Molly McGuire were honored for taking college-level courses at RLC while still in high school. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Three high school students enrolled in both Upward Bound and RLC college-level courses last year. They are, FROM LEFT, Andrew Morris (Royalton), Bethany Garrett (Benton), and Nick Greenwood (Benton). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Eight students were given a $25 award for perfect attendance in the Upward Bound program. They are, FROM LEFT, Caleb Isaacs (McLeansboro), Samantha Alverth (McLeansboro), Elizabeth Isaacs (McLeansboro), Jacob Bush (Zeigler), A'Ralen Hunter (Mt. Vernon), Haley Edwards (Zeigler), Dakota Emery (Zeigler), and Cheynia Hanson (McLeansboro). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Two students were given a $25 award for achieving straight A's in the Upward Bound program. They are Andrew Morris (Royalton) and Katelynn Jones (Mt. Vernon). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Six students achieved both straight A's and perfect attendance in the Upward Bound program last year. They are, FROM LEFT, Noah Leeper (Zeigler), Abby Docherty (Benton), Erin Greathouse (Zeigler), Chase Bates (Zeigler), Payce Morgan (Zeigler), and Nathan Raynor (Zeigler). Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
McLeansboro native Caleb Isaacs concluded the Upward Bound Banquet with an acoustic version of "God Bless America." Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
The RLC Upward Bound program is a federally funded college preparatory program designed to provide academic support, personal and career counseling, and cultural and social enrichment to high school participants who have the academic ability to be successful in college. Services are provided at no cost to the student. To learn more about the Upward Bound program, contact Stallman at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1366 or stallmanl@rlc.edu.