INA, Ill. – Administrators, trustees, and representatives from four Southern Illinois colleges gathered last night in an effort to talk about current events and learn more about a growing program at Rend Lake College. The Southeast Region Trustees Meeting was held in the RLC Student Center’s Pat Kern Private Dining Area.
The evening began with a welcome from RLC President Terry Wilkerson and opening remarks from RLC Trustee Larry Manning, Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) Representative.
After dinner, a presentation from two RLC students and Corey Phillips, Director of the RLC MarketPlace, highlighted the Jefferson County CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program. Phillips, the program’s facilitator, spoke to the specifics of the program, including what is expected of the high school students enrolled, the college-level classes they take, and future plans. The students – Madison Bock of Ashley and Raquel Minor of Mt. Vernon – shared their experiences in the program during the 2017-18 academic year with guest speakers, tours of local businesses, and the annual trade show.
“The Southeast Region Trustees meeting is an opportunity for us and our neighboring institutions to get together and talk about what changes are happening in higher education and share information to help all of our students,” said Wilkerson. “To illustrate this, Rend Lake College students had the chance to share some great news about a program they’re excited about, Jefferson County CEO. They received questions and comments from representatives from the other schools, and we couldn’t be more proud of their hard work.”
RLC students Madison Bock, LEFT, and Raquel Minor discuss the annual Jefferson County Trade Show. This year-end event gives the students enrolled in the program the chance to showcase their businesses. Both Bock and Minor also had the opportunity to attend the national Trade Show last year in Effingham.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
The CEO program is open to seniors in Jefferson County’s four high schools – Mt. Vernon Township, Waltonville, Webber Township, and Woodlawn. Interested students are required to go through an application process in the spring semester of their junior year. Jefferson County CEO currently has 21 students enrolled in the 2018-19 class. To learn more about the Jefferson County CEO program, visit their website at www.jeffersoncountyceo.org.
After the presentation, Illinois Community College Board Executive Director Brian Durham provided a short update on the educational outlook in Illinois, focusing on trends and enrollment. ICCTA Executive Director Mike Monaghan also spoke about statewide legislative issues. The Southeast Region Trustees Meeting featured representatives from RLC, John A. Logan College, Shawnee Community College, and Southeastern Illinois College.
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