Home > Alumni > News > Distinguished Alumni Award

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Alumni Association (HCCAA) will yearly recognize someone who through their accomplishments, both personally and professionally, personifies the values of the College which include a "can-do" attitude, a respect for diversity, and ethical decision-making among others.

Award Recipients

2012 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Tim Rixstine, an entrepreneur who credits Heartland Community College with giving him the foundation for success in business, is the recipient of the College's 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes individual career achievements and positive community impact while exhibiting Heartland values, which include a "can do" attitude, respect for diversity, and ethical decision-making.

In his speech to graduates at this year's commencement, the owner of one of the nation's most successful Molly Maid franchises recalled a string of failures, including his first entry into the cleaning business. "After the first year, I was $100,000 in debt and had an IRS agent sitting in my office." However, Rixstine finally dusted off his ego and got serious about learning all he needed to be a successful business operator. "I took everything I learned at Heartland and applied it every day."

Heartland Spelled Success

Molly Maid now earns profits of $9 million dollars a year and has one of the largest employee retention rates of any franchise. Rixstine told graduates that if they focus, they can achieve any dream and be anything they want to be. However, he added, "Unless that is the owner of a cleaning service in McLean County!"

2012 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient video

Note: This video requires the Adobe® Flash® Player plug-in and JavaScript enabled in your web browser. If the video above fails to playback, please download the latest version of the Adobe® Flash® Player and enable JavaScript in your browser.

Video Transcription

A transcript of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient video transcript* (available in PDF format, 1 page, 32 KB) is available.

Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

• 2011 Award Recipient, Donny Bounds
• 2010 Award Recipient, Kent Crutcher
• 2009 Award Recipient, Chad Pregracke

2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations

The HCCAA is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award. Do you know someone who:

• Has made notable career moves and shown professional growth within his/her chosen field?
• Has made a positive impact on his/her community through leadership and/or active volunteering?
• Has received local, state, or national recognition for his/her accomplishments?

If so, please consider nominating him/her for the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award. To nominate someone, please fill out the nomination form* (available in PDF format, 1 page, 113 KB) and send to:

• Colleen Reynolds, Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Community Outreach
  Heartland Community College
  1500 West Raab Road
  CCB 1608
  Normal, IL 61761

For more information call (309) 268-8188.

*Note: You must download and install Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ in order to view and print the Distinguished Alumni Award nomination form or the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient video transcript.