INA, IL (March 16, 2021) – 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. The 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.
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.
“Julie and I have both had long connections to Rend Lake College — beginning with summer camps as a younger student, continuing on as RLC alumni ourselves, and now as parents of an RLC graduate,” said Tony Wielt. “As a member of the business community, I have seen first-hand how RLC develops our local workforce and continues to be a cornerstone of recruitment in industry all over Southern Illinois. Speaking to the HUB project specifically, we can see the tremendous need our students have in the Learning Resource Center. Curriculum has evolved over the years where collaboration and group projects are a big part of it today. The new Study Rooms make it a great environment for this type of learning. Partnering with State Farm Insurance Foundation to help make this improvement to the facility is such a blessing. We both have passions for helping students excel in their educational journeys.”
“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.
