Alumni Hall of Fame

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Alumni Hall of Fame

Alumni Hall of Fame & Pacesetter Awards

Anyone may nominate an outstanding RVC alumnus for an Alumni Hall of Fame or Pacesetter award. The RVC Pacesetter award recognizes alumni who attended RVC within the last ten years and have begun a notable career or life path. In contrast, the RVC Alumni Hall of Fame honors outstanding alumni who attended RVC more than ten years ago and who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements in their professional or civic endeavors. Award recipients are selected by a committee and inducted with a special ceremony.

The RVC Hall of Fame and Pacesetter members are truly accomplished individuals and represent a wide range of degrees, talents, and interests. They bring honor to Rock Valley College and serve as an inspiration for RVC students.

Below you will find a list of past award recipients. Their portraits are permanently mounted in the Alumni Hall of Fame gallery in the southwest corner on the main floor of the Educational Resources Center.

For more information, you may call the Rock Valley College Foundation at (815) 921-4507.

2009 Inductees

The 2009 RVC Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame/Pacesetter Induction Ceremony was held on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Room at Rock Valley College. The following are the four most recent inductees:

Chris Beck: Class of 1986

Chris Beck Chris held leadership positions at CLARCOR, Furst Transitions, Rockford Park District, Alpine and AMCORE Banks and currently is Vice President with the Furst Companies. Her community involvement has included Board of Trustee membership at Rock Valley College, and Board of Director membership at Janet Wattles Center, Janet Wattles Center Foundation, Family Counseling Services, Rockford Area Society for Human Resources Management, Children’s Development Center, and Rock Valley College Foundation. She was awarded the Alta Hulett Award for the Professions at the 2008 YWCA Leadership Luncheon.

Steven Gunderson, D.O.: Class of 1969

Steven Gunderson

Dr. Gunderson served as Chairman of SwedishAmerican Health System’s Department of Anesthesia, where he was instrumental in the creation of a state-of-the-art regional center. In 1994 he helped found the Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center - the only freestanding multi-specialty surgery center in Rockford which strives to provide high quality outpatient surgical services at the best value. He has volunteered throughout the nation to further the surgery center cause. Locally, Dr. Gunderson volunteers for the Boy Scouts, Red Ribbon Anti-Drug Campaign, Rosecrance, American Cancer Society, and is currently the Chair of the RVC Foundation’s 2010 Celebrity Waiter fund raiser. His accomplishments also include the US Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding performance.

Jenny Kosinski: Class of 1995

Jenny Kosinski Currently Jenny is a Rock Valley College Assistant Professor and Social Science Department Chair. She served as SHAPE Club Advisor for many years – a social science student organization that supports community service projects, scholastic achievements, and social outlets. Under Jenny’s leadership SHAPE was voted Student Organization of the Year in 2004 and she was selected Distinguished Club Advisor of the Year. In addition, Jenny spearheaded a campus-wide recycling program involving many segments of the Rockford community with an “Ensuring Environmental Kindness Campaign.” She also works closely with many area social service organizations to maintain an ongoing service learning project for her students each semester.

Pacesetter Award

Sarah-Eva Carlson - 1997-1999

Sarah-Eva Carlson Following her graduation from Augustana College (Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa) Sarah-Eva continued her studies at Alliance Francaise, Brussels, King’s College London, and the University of St. Andrews, Scotland (currently a PHD candidate). Sarah-Eva’s career experiences include Terrorist Researcher (tracked Hezbollah, Asbat al-Ansar and Jihad activities at University of St. Andrews), Executive Board Member-London School of Economics, Advertising Director for GDS Publishing (achieving top international sales), and VP of DMC Worldwide (a network of former CIA Advisors). Currently Sarah-Eva is employed by Investars in New York City and is coordinating the launch of their latest product, “YOU”. In New York she is on the YWCA Gala Event Committee and 100 Women in Hedge Funds. In Rockford she was a founding member of Patriots Gateway Community Center.

The Rock Valley College Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame members are:

Chris Beck -Former RVC Board of Trustees member

Brent Bernardi -President, Alpha Controls & Services

The Rev. Denver Bitner, D.Min. – Pastor and Community Activist

JoAnn Burkholder, Ph.D. – Scientist/Professor, North Carolina State University

Stanley E. Campbell – Community Activist

Dan Carter –Director, Penn State University Theatre Department

Dr. Susan Sciame-Giesecke- Dean of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University

Dr. Steven Gunderson -CEO/Medical Director, Rockford Ambulatory Surgery

John R. Hackett, Jr. Ph.D. – Research Fellow, Abbott Laboratories

Kristine J. Hammerstrand – State Library System Director

Karen M. & Steven J. Herdklotz

Dr. Glenda R. Hildreth- Principal, Whitehead School

James J. Johnson- President, Minnesota State College- Southeast Technical

Rebecca A. Johnson, Ph.D. – Professor; Director of Center on Aging–University of Missouri

Jenny Kosinski -Rock Valley College Assistant Professor and Social Sciences Department Chair

Thomas G. Lichtenheld – Art Director and Children’s Author

Richard A. “Rick” Nielsen – Rock Musician with Cheap Trick

Barclay Olson –President, Greenlee Textron

James R. Pirages, J.D. – Attorney, Advocate for persons with disabilities and human rights

Martin Pocs – Business Leader

Steven B. Pugh – Chief of Police, Rockford

Kevin D. Rice – (posthumous award) Police Detective

Kimberla Lawson Roby – Nationally Published Author

William C. Roop- President & CEO, Alpine Bank

Shannnon M. Sheehan, Ph.D. – Researcher in animal/ nutritional science and ailments of the elderly

James R. Sullivan- Freelance theater artist

David L. Syverson – Illinois State Senator

Larry E. Young - Major League Umpire

Pacesetter Award Winners

Sarah-Eva Carlson -Investars (New York, New York)

David Nyquist -Department of Justice

Learn more about the Pacesetter Award

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Alumni Hall of Fame & Pacesetter Awards

2009 Inductees