WHITTINGTON, Ill. (May 8, 2015) - Two retirees - Aurelia Hudgens and Curt Mowrer - were honored last night at the annual Rend Lake College Board, Faculty, and Staff Recognition banquet held at Birdies Sports Grille in Whittington. At the banquet, current employees were also honored with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 year awards. Three individuals also took home the Full-Time Faculty Excellence Award, Part-Time Faculty Excellence Award, and Outstanding Staff Award.
Retiree Curt Mowrer, Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Curt Mowrer, RIGHT, is pictured with RLC President Terry Wilkerson. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Mowrer is a resident of Mt. Vernon who is retiring at the end of the year after working 16 years at RLC. He started his career at the college in 1999 with RLC's Community and Corporate Education Division and with the SBDC. In 2001, Mowrer received both his Associate of Science Degree from RLC and his Bachelor in Science Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Before coming to RLC, Mowrer owned a restaurant, and because of those long hours, he says he will do "nothing" during his retirement.
"I worked in my restaurant for 30 to 40 years and I was always out and away, so I plan to spend a little time at home. I've got some projects I need to finish up. It'll be nice to be able to relax," said Mowrer.
Retiree Aurelia Hudgens, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Associate Professor
Hudgens is a resident of Mt. Vernon who is retiring after working 5 years at RLC. She was approved to teach CNA at RLC part-time in 2006, and began working full-time in 2010. Hudgens received her Associate Degree in Nursing from RLC, and before coming to the college, she worked as a nurse in the local community.
Outstanding Staff Award
Marketing Specialist Nathan Wheeler, CENTER, was awarded the Outstanding Staff Award by Mary Ellen Aiken, RLC Foundation Board Member and Chad Copple, RLC Marketing Director. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Full-Time Faculty Excellence Award
Computer Networking Professor Ricky Robinson, CENTER, was awarded the Full-Time Faculty Excellence Award by Mary Ellen Aiken, RLC Foundation Board Member and Chris Nielsen, Dean of Applied Science and Technology. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Part-Time Faculty Excellence Award
Computer Science Instructor Eric Knapp, CENTER, was awarded the Part-Time Faculty Excellence Award by Mary Ellen Aiken, RLC Foundation Board Member and Chris Nielsen, Dean of Applied Science and Technology. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
25 Year Award
Mathematics Professor Lynda Laningham accepts her award for 25 years of service to RLC. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
20 Year Awards
Beth Stevens, Records Specialist; Tranae Brockhouse, Director of Child Care Resource and Referral; Randall Shively, Director of the Physical Plant; and Shari Carpenter, Title III Instructional Designer accept their awards for 20 years of service to RLC. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
15 Year Awards
Lori Ragland, Dean of Community and Corporate Education; Stephanie McKinney, Subsidized Child Care Specialist; Cindy Caldwell, Mathematics Professor; Wesley Rush, Custodian; Jennifer Tarantino Linsin, Graphic Design Professor; Deidra Traylor, Upward Bound and TRIO Student Advisor; and Laura Johnston, Aquatics Center Coordinator accept their awards for 15 years of service to RLC. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
10 Year Awards
Corey Phillips, Director of the RLC MarketPlace; Elizabeth Bailey-Smith, Associate Professor of Speech; Jason Swann, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management; and Jo Ann Dick, Coordinator of Special Projects accept their awards for 10 years of service to RLC. Also receiving this award, but not pictured, are Kent McKown, Network Specialist; Erin Butler, Studio RLC Cosmetology Associate Professor; Daphne Mitchell, Director of Studio RLC; Melissa McClement-Engler, Art Associate Professor; Caroline Ragan, Associate Professor of Biology and Anatomy and Physiology; Paul Sandrock, Chemistry Associate Professor; and Sara Alstat, Music Associate Professor. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
5 Year Awards
Brooke May, RLC Foundation Children's Center Director; Ron Meek, Criminal Justice Associate Professor; April McCormick, Financial Aid Specialist; Mark Jornd, Business Associate Professor; and Sarah Draper, Sociology Associate Professor accept their awards for 5 years of service to RLC. Also receiving this award, but not pictured, is Chelsea Zettler, Communication and Information Department Administrative Assistant. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)