Rock Valley College
09/11/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2026 13:34
Celebrating Service, Excellence, and a Caring Campus
Celebrating Service, Excellence, and a Caring Campus
- Staff
- 09/11/2026
This fall, Rock Valley College celebrated the dedication and accomplishments of 50 employees during its annual Professional Development Day on September 8.
RVC President Dr. Howard Spearman (center) with 30-year anniversary honorees Professor Miki Bacino (left) and Professor Thomas Clark (right)
The event recognized employees for years of service and awards of excellence, while also highlighting RVC's ongoing commitment to creating a caring and supportive campus community through its Caring Campus initiative.
An integral part of this fall tradition is recognizing and appreciating the exceptional individuals who contribute to RVC's success each day. This year's honorees represent the dedication, service and care that help make RVC a strong community.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year's honorees:
- Samantha Digate, Rookie of the Year
- Nathan Talan, Employee of the Year
- Dean Takeisha Lambert, Leader of the Year
Those recognized for five years of service included:
- Officer Scott Brooks
- Carrie Gulbrandsen
- Jon Devereueawax
- Cindi Tobin
- Allison Kaberg
- Jose Galarza Galarza
- Bea Miller
- Susan Maragi
- Sarah Russell
- Aaron Clinton
- Catherine Buerger
- Stephanie Lacny
- Craig Baker
- Travis Vanderhayden
- Kevan Watkins
- Keith Barnes
- Patricia Gutierrez
- Jennifer Freund
- Officer John Hoeksema
Honorees for ten years of service included:
- Nancy Perez-Renteria
- Jennifer Kunkel
- Jaime Irwin
- Nate Talan
- Amanda Zika
Those honored for fifteen years of service included:
- Jessica Peck
- Caroline Jones
- Greg Heckman
- Rebecca Erickson
- Heather Snider
Those honored for twenty years of service included:
- Jennifer Thompson
- Joana Rosas-Moreno
- Sonia Medrano
- Amanda Smith
- Suzanne Miller
- Jerry LaBuy
- Yvonne Busker
Those honored for twenty-five years of service included:
- Jennifer Lindsey
- Joseph Haverly
- Catherine Check
- Julie Hernandez
- Tim Spielman
- Beth Ingle
- Paul McCombs
- Scott Fustin
Those honored for thirty years of service included:
- Miki Bacino
- Thomas Clark
Those honored for thirty-five years of service included:
- Professor Theresa Gilbert
Congratulations to all our 2026 RVC honorees!
Media Contact
- RVC Public Relations
- (815) 921-4510
- Email RVC Public Relations
- RVC Communications Page
Rock Valley College published this content on September 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 11, 2026 at 19:34 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]