2022 Alumni Award Recipients Announced
Sauk Valley Community College Alumni Association will recognize three outstanding alumni during the annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13 on the SVCC campus.
The alumni association nomination committee selected recipients based on peer recommendations and notable accomplishments.
Matt Prescott was chosen as the Distinguished Alumni recipient. He graduated from SVCC in 1995 with an associate’s degree in business. Matt learned at an early age the importance of serving the community. He became involved in his family’s restaurant business in 2000, and since then, he has opened Candlelight restaurants in Rock Falls and Clinton as well as entered into partnerships and/or purchased other restaurants in the Sauk Valley area. His generosity to the community has not gone unnoticed. He has developed the Candlelight Gives Back program to reward loyal customers for their patronage while providing funds to various nonprofits and schools, with over $250,000 given back. Working through each of his businesses, he has helped find sponsors for children during the holidays to make sure they have a happy Christmas. Working with the Sterling Rock Falls YMCA, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber and local schools, he helped fund the purchase of beds for Kindergarten through 5th grade kids in the Sauk Valley area in 2017. He continues to support the community by donating space, time, and energy to a number of events throughout the Sauk Valley.
Accepting the Alumni Achievement Award is Matthew Lenox. Matthew graduated from SVCC in 2015 with an associate’s degree in science. After attending Sauk Valley Community College he spent the next two years attending Illinois State University. While attending ISU he was a founding member of Redbirds Resolving Conflict, a student organization focused on bringing people together by understanding common values. Through this program, he became a certified mediator. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from ISU. Matthew is passionate about his role as Marketing and Business Services Director for the Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street. He has recently been awarded two national advertising awards for the Discover Dixon commercial. Matthew is an active participant in the Sauk Valley community and has strengthened the area.
The Rising Star award recipient is Meg Frank. She has played a very active role while at SVCC. She is the Rotaract Club president, social media ambassador, and is in the business club. Meg has taken the initiative of getting ahead on her college career as she is currently enrolled in the Sauk Academy program. She will graduate Rock Falls High School while simultaneously completing her first year of college this spring. Outside of school, Meg is the CEO of Current Clothing Company, an online clothing business, and employed at Sterling Walmart. “Her dedication to her education and work ethic is astonishing,” said Dr. Lori Cortez, Dean of Institutional Advancement.