INA, IL — Local State Farm Agent Tony Wielt has pledged a gift of $25,000 to the Rend Lake College Foundation’s project to expand the campus Learning Resource Center. In 2019, the Rend Lake College Foundation embarked on a $765,000 capital campaign called The Hub. Construction began in late August 2020. The renovations are nearly completed and available for limited use by students and faculty.
Wielt and his wife, Julie, presented the gift Friday at the center to RLC President Terry Wilkerson, RLCF CEO Kay Zibby-Damron, and a group of Rend Lake students.
Thee upgrades include a new façade, six learning collaborative study rooms, a central outdoor study and social area for students, and enhanced career tech and student support services that include a wellness room, lab and classroom areas, and a children’s library.
“Tony and Julie’s generous gift is one of many ways they are strongly connected to their alma mater. Their desire to ‘give back’ positively impacts our students and the college today, and well into the future. We are very grateful for their active involvement and support of our mission,” said Kay Zibby-Damron, CEO, Rend Lake College Foundation.
“We appreciate the partnership and leadership that Tony Wielt brings to our campus. Tony has worked tirelessly to promote the good work of the institution and models the way by supporting the College, not only financially, but with his time and talent as well,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson.
PICTURE CAPTION: Wielt and his wife, Julie, were joined Friday at the LRC by RLC President Terry Wilkerson, RLCF CEO Kay Zibby-Damron; and a trio of Rend Lake students – Elijah Gunter (Sesser), Annibelle Harrison (Mt. Vernon) and Reid Basso (Sesser). PICTURED, FROM LEFT, are; Basso, Zibby-Damron, the Wielts, Wilkerson, Gunter and Harrison.
