Rinker wins scholarship

Sept. 23, 2010

    Caitlin Rinker of Grand Ridge was named 21st Century Scholar for 2010 at the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation’s fourth annual 21st Century Scholars Society dinner in Utica recently.
    Rinker, a biology major with a 4.0 GPA, will transfer to the University of Illinois next fall to study veterinary medicine. In 2009 at Ottawa Township High School, the daughter of Dr. Kim Novak and Gus Rinker was one of three valedictorians in a class of 360.
    At IVCC, she is Student Government Association President and Phi Theta Kappa Vice President of Leadership, a member of the Chem Club team doing demonstrations at area grade schools and a peer tutor.
After earning her doctorate of veterinary medicine, Rinker plans to return home to work at her mother’s office, Novak-Brainard Veterinary Clinic in Ottawa.
    Rinker is a third-generation IVCC student: her mother attended and her grandparents, Bill and Bernadine Novak, met at La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College in the late 1930s. 
    “I couldn’t have hoped for anything better (at IVCC),” she says. “I never really wanted to go anywhere else.”
    Rinker, one of six finalists for the award, will receive the Society’s $2,000 scholarship. The five remaining finalists received $1,000 each. They are:

• Katherine “Katie” Brodzik of La Salle, a University of Illinois-bound anthropology major. The daughter of Rich and Lori Brodzik is IVCC’s SGA Vice President. 
• Haley Crouch of Streator will attend Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy in Downers Grove next fall. She is the daughter of Beth and Archie Crouch.
• Alexandra Jones of rural LaMoille is the PTK vice president of communication and plans to transfer to a Christian university next fall to study music ministry. She is the daughter of Darin and Elizabeth Jones.
• Elijah Mackenzie of Ottawa worked in manufacturing for four years before returning to IVCC in 2009. He was elected President of the Young Republicans. The son of Wallace Mackenzie and Barbara Mackenzie, both of Ottawa, plans to transfer to Northern Illinois University’s College of Business next fall. 
• Kristopher Sienza of Oglesby is PTK President, a Student Ambassador and works as a math and English tutor. The son of Al and Kathy Sienza, he will transfer to Bradley University next fall to pursue a teaching career. 

    The finalists were chosen from a field of over 25 applicants. Candidates must be full-time second-year students with a 3.5 GPA or better.