RPC Program Manager Wins Award from University of Illinois

Lena Hoch, a Program Manager II in the RPC’s Community Services Division, received the inaugural Odyssey Project Partner of the Year Award from the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois. Lena was recognized at a community breakfast on May 18.

The Odyssey Project offers free University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign courses in the humanities to low-income adults in East Central Illinois. Lena has been a staunch supporter of The Odyssey Project and works with her clients to direct them to this educational opportunity.

This opportunity has led to clients being able to increase their financial stability through better jobs, improve their writing skills, increase their civic engagement, positively impact their families’ perception of learning, and provide improved feelings of empowerment and hope.

Congratulations to Lena on this wonderful recognition!