Rend Lake College Foundation

The Foundation represents a partnership between public and private interests for the benefit of Rend Lake College students. We invite and encourage your participation, interest, and support. Please join the many generous individuals, corporations, and foundations who have given their support to the Foundation and the mission of Rend Lake College.

Why support the Foundation?

The Rend Lake College Foundation does not merely seek gifts or donations. It asks that you consider investing in:

• Campus Growth
• Economic Development
• Community Growth

The Foundation asks that you invest in the individual growth of the many students who attend the college. Thanks to the generosity of our contributors, Rend Lake College has been able to help students see their dreams turn into reality and will continue to be able to do so in the years ahead.

The Foundation represents a partnership between public and private interests for the benefit of Rend Lake College students. We invite and encourage your participation, interest, and support. Please join the many generous individuals, corporations, and foundations who have given their support to the Foundation and the mission of Rend Lake College.

What's Amazon Smile?

Some of the many ways to invest in the Foundation and Rend Lake College include:

Student Scholarships
Memorials
Corporate Contributions
Gifts Pledged over time
Life Insurance
Contingent Beneficiary
Bequests & Trusts
Life Estates-Real Estate
Equities
Securities
Tangible Personal Property

For best results, please complete the application on a desktop computer.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Eligibility
Applicants are selected on the basis of the criteria as set forth by the donors. Complete the application thoroughly as different scholarships place emphasis on different categories, such as financial or educational need, community and school involvement, and academic record.

Application Requirements
Complete the entire scholarship application. Only one application needs to be completed for consideration of most RLC Foundation scholarships.

Do not use a high school email address on the application.

Submit to the Rend Lake College Foundation, a copy of your most recent transcript. This is in addition to the transcript you sent to other RLC offices. High school seniors and first-time college students must submit a copy of your high school transcript. Continuing college students must submit a copy of your college transcript.

Submit at least one letter of recommendation to the Rend Lake College Foundation. The letter cannot be from a family member.

Applications will not be processed without all three pieces: completed application, letter of recommendation, and transcript.

All students applying for a Rend Lake College Foundation scholarship are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or at the Rend Lake College Financial Aid Office.

How to Submit an Application
Complete and submit an application online at http://www.rlc.edu/rlc-foundation. Application deadline is February 28, 2019. We will continue to accept applications after the deadline, but please know preference will be given to students meeting the due date.

Submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to:
Scholarship Coordinator
Rend Lake College Foundation
468 North Ken Gray Parkway
Ina, IL 62846

Scholarship Awards
The final scholarship recipients will be selected by RLC Foundation Scholarship Committees. Scholarship award recipients will be notified at their high school awards program, graduation, or by letter of their award. Scholarship applications will be kept on file for the academic year in the event that additional funds become available. The RLC Foundation reserves the right to review a scholarship recipient’s performance and revoke the scholarship if deemed necessary.

Contact information
If you move of change phone numbers, please remember to contact the RLC Foundation so we are able to contact you if chosen for a scholarship.

RLCF Scholarship Application

Scholarship FAQ

Student Scholarships
Scholarships totaling an approximate $200,000 annually are awarded to Rend Lake College students each academic year. These scholarships are made possible by generous local businesses and individuals who care about the future of our students and community. Scholarships, for the most part, range from approximately $500-$1,500 annually.

The Foundation Board invites and in fact, encourages all interested students to apply for these scholarships. Each year more than 275 scholarships are awarded by the Foundation. Scholarship awards include endowed scholarships, annual scholarships, or one-time scholarships.

For the 2019-20 academic year, scholarship award letters will be handed out to high school seniors / incoming RLC freshmen during their respective high school award and honor's night or during graduation. Returning RLC students and other incoming sophomores will receive scholarship award letters by mail toward the end of May and after. For specifics, contact the RLC Foundation Office.

Where are applications available?
• High School counseling departments
• RLC Foundation Office
• RLC Financial Aid Office
• Internet - https://www.rlc.edu/RLCF

Other Types of Scholarships & Awards

Presidential Scholarships
High Achievers Scholastic Award
Academic Awards

Alumnus of the Year

2019 — CHAD W. KERN ('91), Whittington
President & CEO, Schirm USA

2018 — CURTIS SMITH ('82), Benton
(Awarded posthumously)
RLC Basketball legend and local coach, Correctional Officer - IL Dept. of Corrections

2017 — BOB KELLEY ('69), Mt. Vernon
Retired Director of Marketing & Public Information, Rend Lake College

2016 — RODNEY CABANESS ('90), Sesser
Co-Owner, Black Diamond Harley-Davidson

2015 — DR. BRIAN KERN ('94), Ewing
Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Institute of Western Kentucky

2014 — JAMES "JIM" MOUNIER ('72), Caledonia
Senior Vice President & Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch

2013 – TRISH REED (’87), Scheller
President, GM, UpTime Parts LLC

2012 – PETER JOHNSON (’85), Mt. Vernon
Instrumentation Engineer, NASA

2011 – RON SMITH (’74), Benton
Assistant Basketball Coach, SIUC; Entrepreneur

2010 – HON. MIKE D. McHANEY (’77), Salem
Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois

2009 – JIM MUIR (’97), Sesser
Publisher, Southern Illinois Sports Connection, Marion Living & Saluki Illustrated; Radio Broadcaster

2008 – RANDY RUBENACKER (’78), Dahlgren
Co-Owner, Rubenacker Farms/4R Equipment, McLeansboro

2007 – BRAD GESELL (’80), Benton
Co-Owner, Gesell’s Pump Sales & Service Inc., Whittington

2006 – CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON (’98), Valier
Distribution Center Manager, Walgreens, Mt. Vernon

2005 – BILL SHIELDS (MVCC ’58), Mt. Vernon
Assistant Professor/Workforce Ed Coordinator, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

2004 – LINDA L. SANDERS (’82), Mt. Vernon
Warden, Federal Correctional Complex, Forrest City, AR

2003 – DONALD H. DAME (’72 / ’76), Sesser
Vice President/Human Resources & Government Relations, Freeman unity Coal Mining Company

2002 – ROSE M. MYLES (’68), Mt. Vernon
Manager / Network Services, AT&T

2001 – CARL ROWLEY (’77), Sesser
Team Leader / Building Management Systems, Panduit Corporation

2000 – HOLLY McCANN (’76), Benton
Acting National Director, Internal Revenue Service Office of Interest and Penalty Administration

1999 – LAIRD D. WISELY (’71), Benton/Mt. Vernon
(Awarded posthumously)
Owner, Therapy Resource Associates & Physical Rehab Works

1998 – MARK MICHALIC (’78), West Frankfort
1999 ICCTA CO-“ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR”
Special Agent, U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

1997 – JOHNATHAN W. THOMAS (’71), Sesser
CEO (Executive Dean), Ivy Tech State College, Madison/Lawrenceburg, IN

1996 – TIM WILLS (’84), Benton
Associate Professor of Health/A.D./Coach, RLC

1995 – COURTNEY COX (’72), Benton
Partner, Hart and Hart Attorneys-At-Law, Benton

1994 – FLO DUDLEY (’76), Bonnie
Retired elementary school teacher
Mt. Vernon City Schools District 80

1993 – SEN. J. BRADLEY BURZYNSKI (’79), Benton
Illinois State Senator / 35th District, Sycamore

1992 – CINDA CHULLEN (’79), Benton
Technical Manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

1991 – CRAIG M. SINCLAIR (’74), Mt. Vernon
Vice President of Advertising, The Walgreen Company

1990 – GLORIA J. SLOAN-REEL (’74), McLeansboro
Product Brand Manager, Phone-Poulenc Ag Company, Research Triangle Park, NC

1989 – KEVIN DAVIS (’72), Mt. Vernon
Comptroller/Treasurer, Rend Lake Conservancy District

1988 – CAROL DILLEY-JAUDES (’75)
Stage actress, St. Louis and New York

1987 – DR. MARY KAY WITGES BENGTSON (’71), Scheller
Staff/Athletic Physician, N. Carolina State U.

1986 – DR. GARY R. SWEETEN (MVCC ’60), Ina
Minister of Christian Growth, College Hill Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati

1985 – DR. HALE E. RYDER JR. (MVCC ’58), Mt. Vernon
Professor of Economics/Director of Graduate Studies, Brown University

1984 – DR. LESLIE JOHNSON (’74), Thompsonville
Family Practitioner, Mt. Vernon (now in Peoria)

1983 – ROBERT L. BROWN (MVCC ’66), Mt. Vernon
Guidance Counselor, Mt. Vernon Township H.S./Part-time Rend Lake College GED Instructor

1982 – DAVID N. JUNKINS (’71), Mt. Vernon
Social Worker, Illinois Dept. of Children & Family Services

Major Gift Awards

Diamond - $250,000 +

Continental Tire the Americas, LLC
William K. Crawford Jr.
Crosswalk Community Action Agency
Farrar Oil Company *
Marjorie S. Farrar
James and Margaret Fornear *
Dr. Barbara Luchsinger Estate
Mariah Boats, Inc.
Jim & Carole Mounier †
Department of Veterans Affairs Marion, IL Office of Information & Technology
Howard L. Payne
Dr. Warren and Phyllis Petty *
Southern Illinois Healthcare
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon
William Wood Estate

*Includes Gift-In-Kind
**Includes Employer Matching Gift
† Legacy Society Founders

Platinum $100,000 - $249,999

Gene "Mr. A" Alexander
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Y. Baker *
Bank of Illinois
Joe P. and Lois Ferne Boyle
Crossroads Community Hospital *
Marlene Edwards
Fraternal Order of Eagles 2699
Hamilton Co. Telephone Co-Op & Its Subsidiaries
Joy Global *
Lena Juanita Lichtenberger Estate
M-Class Mining, L.L.C. Sugar Camp Energy, Cline Resources
Coyn and Pat Mateer
Murphy-Wall State BankNavistar *
Peabody Energy
Peoples National Bank, N.A.
R & B Inc. *
Schweinfurth Foundation

George and Mary Slankard
Wayne City High School Foundation

*Includes Gift-In-Kind
**Includes Employer Matching Gift
† Legacy Society Founders