RVC-Celebrates-60-Years-with-CEO-Challenge-Full-of-Friendly-Competition-and-Philanthropy.php

RVC Celebrates 60 Years with CEO Challenge Full of Friendly Competition and Philanthropy

• Events
• 04/25/2025

It was a day of laughter, friendly competition, and generosity as Rock Valley College marked its 60th anniversary with a celebration like no other.

On April 25, the College welcomed 19 CEOs and business leaders from 20 regional organizations to its campus for the 60th Anniversary CEO Challenge, a high-energy event that blended fun, connection, and a powerful purpose.

In a spirited twist on the traditional workday, regional leaders traded conference rooms for classrooms and board meetings for baseball fields. They came together not just to compete in RVC-themed challenges, but to celebrate the College’s commitment to student success - and to invest in its next 60 years.

The event lineup tested the competitor’s abilities, but also their willingness to act like a kid again with a Home Run Derby, Free Throw Contest, Draw Our Mascot art challenge, an adrenaline-pumping Fire Science Rescue Relay, and a team-event of RVC’s Battle of the Brains Trivia. With each activity, the participants left behind deadlines and strategic plans to put a little play back in their work day.

“It was incredible to see so many leaders step out of their comfort zones and just soak in the moments we had tried to create for them,” said Brittany Freiberg, Chief Development Officer of the RVC Foundation. “They weren’t CEOs for the day—they were teammates, kids at heart, and champions for student success.”

Some organizations, like Crusader Community Health, Illinois Bank & Trust, Midland States Bank, and UW Health, even sent fan clubs to cheer on their leaders—complete with signs, pom poms, and cheers. The campus buzzed with excitement, laughter, and a strong sense of community.

But beyond the fun and games, the CEO Challenge carried a deeper mission. Together, the 20 participating organizations contributed an impressive $78,000 to support student scholarships. Each organization established its own named scholarship and will have the opportunity to meet their scholarship recipients at the RVC Foundation’s Scholarship Luncheon on November 7.

As Rock Valley College reflects on six decades of service, lifelong learning opportunities, and community impact, the CEO Challenge stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved when vision, leadership, and heart come together.

To the CEOs who paused their schedules to support our mission, the organizations that gave generously, and the fans who believed in our cause and their leaders: thank you for putting the “can do” spirit into action and for investing in the future of Rock Valley College students. Here’s to 60 years and our bright future ahead.

“The impact of this event will ripple for years to come. These scholarships represent not just financial support, but the belief in our students’ potential and the power education and access can have on a community.”

Brittany Freiberg, Chief Development Officer, RVC Foundation