MT. VERNON, Ill. (Dec. 20, 2013) - Teamwork was the word of the evening for the recognitions and presentations featured at the 海角视频 Foundation Annual Dinner held recently in Mt. Vernon.
The recognition of Alumnus of the Year Trish Reed (West Chicago), introduced by RLC Foundation CEO Shawna Manion, kicked off the program.
芒鈧揟rish values her alma mater, her first alma mater just as much as her second,芒鈧� said Manion. 芒鈧揝he hasn芒鈧劉t forgotten her start and 海角视频 is proud to announce her as our Alumnus of the Year for 2013.芒鈧�
Reed, originally from Scheller, attended RLC from 1985 through 1987. She majored in finance and played for the Lady Warriors under Coach James 芒鈧揌ummer芒鈧� Waugh.
芒鈧揥hen Shawna first told me about this honor, I was speechless, and I芒鈧劉m not speechless very often,芒鈧� said Reed. 芒鈧揟hat moment was a 芒鈧渨ow芒鈧劉 moment, but I am more appreciative of the 芒鈧渁h-ha芒鈧劉 moment that my experiences at 海角视频 have brought me to. When I decided to get involved with RLC again, I contacted Shawna, and within a month, I was on my first trip back to 海角视频 since 1987.芒鈧�
Talks of teamwork
Trish Reed, STANDING, 2013 海角视频 Alumnus of the Year, addressed the attendees of the RLC Foundation Annual Dinner last week to talk about her experiences in college and playing for the Lady Warriors basketball team. Also pictured is Master of Ceremonies Jim Muir, CENTER, and his wife Lisa, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Reed added it was the lessons she learned on the floor for the Lady Warriors that have been the longest lasting for her career.
芒鈧揑n 1985, I was a typical Southern Illinois student. My father worked in a coal mine and my mother worked in a factory. I was enrolled in college and I was concerned with how to pay for it,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揑 spoke to Coach Waugh, and he opened up an opportunity for me to play basketball and pay for college at the same time. Because of that, I grew as a person while at 海角视频 and the life lessons I learned as a Lady Warrior are invaluable.芒鈧�
Coming from playing basketball at Waltonville schools, Reed said it was a big dose of reality her first time with the team.
芒鈧揑 was what we call a big fish in a small pond, and upon coming to 海角视频, I found that I was now a small fish in a very big pond,芒鈧� said Reed. 芒鈧揑t was a humbling experience for me, but it芒鈧劉s one I wouldn芒鈧劉t trade for anything. I learned that what doesn芒鈧劉t kill you makes you stronger, and Coach Waugh helped me understand what my role was, despite how many minutes I played. He took a gamble on me, and in the spirit of paying it forward, I芒鈧劉ve taken a gamble on people at Navistar and it芒鈧劉s helped me tremendously.芒鈧�
Going along with the teamwork theme of the night, Reed added it was both her instructors and her basketball team who helped her succeed.
芒鈧揑 had the freedom to fail, but I had the support of my instructors, my coach, my team and my family to succeed,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揙bviously teamwork was a huge part of my time at 海角视频, and I think teamwork is a very important attribute. I芒鈧劉m proud to be a part of the team that is the 海角视频 Foundation and it芒鈧劉s been a pleasure working with Shawna. Overall, I want to support the impact that a junior college had on my life and the great impact that Ina, Illinois, can have on students in the future.芒鈧�
In addition to being the Alumnus of the Year, Reed also created an endowment in memory of her father. The C. H. Reed Memorial Scholarship will be available to students in the fall of 2014.
Alumnus of the Year Trish Reed, CENTER, accepted her award last week from 海角视频 Foundation CEO Shawna Manion, LEFT, and RLC President Terry Wilkerson, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
After her speech, Waugh took to the podium for a surprise congratulations to his former player.
芒鈧揑 just wanted to say congrats to you on all the accomplishments you芒鈧劉ve had in your life,芒鈧� said Waugh. 芒鈧揑 knew when Trish came to me that she would do terrific things. She is a great people person and she had a very strong work ethic. She was a good teammate, well respected and liked by everyone on the team.芒鈧�
Two 海角视频 programs also were highlighted for their teamwork, including the and the .
RLC President Terry Wilkerson said of the two programs, 芒鈧揥hen we have such great partnerships, we芒鈧劉re standing on the shoulders of giants in our communities. They芒鈧劉ve been about doing what we need to do and doing it right.芒鈧�
In connection with the Mining Technology Program, the announcement of six new scholarships for coal mining students was made by Master of Ceremonies Jim Muir. The Timothy Keith Chamness Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Tim Chamness, who died on Feb. 13, 2013 in a mine accident at Prairie Eagle South Mine.
芒鈧揥hile nothing can replace the grief of losing a child, these scholarships are turning some of that grief into generosity and tragedy into triumph. They芒鈧劉re providing opportunities to students, and they will be a great and lasting legacy for Tim,芒鈧� said Muir, also a former coal miner.
Jim Chamness, Tim芒鈧劉s father and guidance counselor at Zeigler-Royalton High School, spoke on behalf of the family and the scholarship.
芒鈧揥e decided that we want to keep Tim芒鈧劉s name and memory alive in the form of a scholarship,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揟here are many generous people out there, including Carter, the president of Knight Hawk Coal Company. He and the employees of the mine donated their $500 safety bonus for the quarter to the scholarship fund. They allowed us the opportunity to turn that $60,000 into an endowment with the 海角视频 Foundation, and hopefully, it will help other students. We want to help the children of the 海角视频 district and many more students in the future.芒鈧�
Memorial Scholarship to help future students at RLC
Jim Chamness, STANDING, father of Tim Chamness, spoke during the 海角视频 Foundation Annual Dinner last week about the recently established Timothy Keith Chamness Memorial Scholarship in honor of his son who died in a mine accident last February. The scholarship will provide funds for six students starting in the fall of 2014. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Two final honors, both surprises, were awarded to two of the longest members of the RLC Foundation Board of Directors: Hunt Bonan and Rich Yunkus. Bonan has served on the board for 25 years and Yunkus for the past 20 years.
芒鈧揜ich manages investments for the Foundation, and he works tirelessly to do the best for us. I guarantee he thinks about the Foundation daily,芒鈧� said Manion. 芒鈧揌e is also the all-time high scorer at Georgia Institute of Technology with 2,232 points, a record that still stands over 40 years later.芒鈧�
海角视频 Foundation Director Rich Yunkus, CENTER, accepted his award last week from 海角视频 Foundation CEO Shawna Manion, LEFT, and RLC President Terry Wilkerson, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Yunkus thanked the Foundation for the award, stating, 芒鈧揧ou can芒鈧劉t help but see the 海角视频 Foundation when you walk around campus. What a great group of people, and I love to work with all of them to help 海角视频. It芒鈧劉s with everyone芒鈧劉s help and support that we do what we can, and it芒鈧劉s an honor to be a part of this tremendous organization.芒鈧�
Wilkerson honored Bonan with the award as a personal friend and mentor.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a great honor to receive this tonight,芒鈧� said Bonan. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s amazing how many people 海角视频 and the Foundation support. If you ever think the world is going bad or going the wrong way, come sit by some of the students at our Annual Scholarship Dinner, and you芒鈧劉ll leave thinking positive thoughts about them and the future.芒鈧�
海角视频 Foundation Director Hunt Bonan, CENTER, accepted his award last week from 海角视频 Foundation CEO Shawna Manion, LEFT, and RLC President Terry Wilkerson, RIGHT. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
The annual dinner, which had been rescheduled due to inclement weather, originally was to feature the RLC Warriors Basketball team for their National Championship win last year; however, the Warriors were playing against the Danville Area Jaguars in Ina that evening, a game they won 70-69.
Throughout the evening, musical entertainment was provided by the RLC Community Orchestra and Choir, and singer Juanita Jones. The event was sponsored by Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative and Peoples National Bank.
For more information about the 海角视频 Foundation, call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1214, or visit .
