Lucien Winner and Lindsay Courtois

Forget the usual responses students give when asked why they chose Spoon River College. For Lucien Winner, it had nothing to do with affordability, value, small class sizes, convenience, or parent’s wishes. It was a matter of the heart.

“I came here because this is where my girlfriend was going to be.”

That may not sound like a good reason to some (including Winner’s parents), but it has worked out well for Winner, who moved to Macomb from Danville after graduating high school.

“I got terrible grades in high school. Now my grades are good and I have come to realize that I actually love learning,” said Winner, who anticipates taking Ethics or Human Ecology as a summer class “just because I’m interested in the subject matter.”

Winner, who is a member of the Student Government Association, credits Spoon River College instructors with transforming a barely passing high school student into a studious college student who is willing to spend his summer taking a class he doesn’t need “just because.”

“Both Michael Maher (Sociology) and Bob Zellmann (Philosophy & Religion) have had a big impact on me,” said Winner. “Both are very intense and very knowledgeable about their subject matter. Their intensity challenged me to work harder. I wanted to be able to talk intelligently with them, in and out of class.”

Primarily a Macomb student, Winner has been traveling to the Canton campus this semester in order to take classes with Art instructor Tracy Snowman. He plans to transfer to Illinois State University where he will major in art technology, focusing on computer illustration and software design. He is impressed with the caliber of the classes he is currently taking with Snowman (Digital Imaging, Computer Illustration, and Painting), and feels they will provide a strong foundation for his classes at ISU.

He won’t be alone when attends ISU. His girlfriend will be there also. It’s a team thing.

Meet Lindsay Courtois, the person responsible for Lucien Winner’s decision to come to Spoon River College. Her reasons for choosing SRC are a little different than Winner’s.

“My parents, an uncle and my sister all attended Spoon River College,” said Courtois of Macomb. “We know it’s a great place to start a college education.”

Like Winner, Courtois is traveling to the Canton campus this semester to be in the Art program. When she transfers to ISU, she will major in art education. Recalling the junior high art teacher who made such an impact on her study of art, Courtois would like to teach that age group. She is passionate about her art and says for her, it is a mixture of therapy plus a great way to relax.

Like Winner, Courtois credits Spoon River College instructors with the personal growth she has experienced while in college.

“Mr. Maher made me re-think a lot of what I already knew,” Courtois said. “He teaches us to look beyond our own perceptions and perspectives. I’m a wiser person because of him.”

Courtois has equal praise for the art program and SRC art instructor Tracy Snowman.

“Tracy has a way of breaking things down to the basics, making it more manageable and less overwhelming,” Courtois said. “She teaches us that as long as you know the little steps, you can do anything. I love the atmosphere in the art department and the encouragement we receive to develop our art the way that is right for each of us individually.”

Courtois, who has traveled to Germany and enjoys experiencing different cultures and who also believes in the importance of volunteering, has considered joining the Peace Corps after finishing her education.

Of course, chances are she won’t be going alone. It’s a team thing.

Emily Valencia of Lewistown is a freshman pursuing an Associate in Art degree. She plans to transfer to Western Illinois University and major in art education and eventually hopes to teach graphic design at the high school level.

While in high school, Valencia was active in basketball, volleyball, and Student Senate. She shared the vice-president duties for both SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and SWAT (Students With Advocacy Training), held a class officer position all four years, was on the yearbook staff and participated in the annual spring musicals.

Despite her extracurricular activities, Valencia found time to take advantage of the dual credit college courses offered to eligible high school students. During her junior and senior years, she successfully completed Intro to Sociology, Intro to Art, and the Honors sections of Composition I and Speech Communications. She also took American History during the summer, so by the time Valencia started her first semester of college she had already completed a semester’s worth of classes.

Valencia’s belief that students should be as involved as they can prompted her to become a member of the SRC Student Government Association.

“Student government is a great opportunity for students to have a say in what goes on at the college,” said Valencia, who also enjoys the fund-raising activities the MSGA participates in, such as the Step Out for Diabetes event held at Lakeland Park and the canned food drive during the holidays at the college.

“All the activities we do through the student government are about giving back to SRC students or the community,” Valencia said. “We may be a small community college, but we can make a big difference when we work together.”

Valencia took her volunteerism a step further by serving as the Student Representative on the Spoon River College Board of Trustees for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Valencia believes teachers play an important role that goes beyond teaching in the classroom.

“My high school graphic design teacher, Mrs. Hatfield, is a huge reason why I’m on the path I’ve chosen. She did so much more than just teach,” said Valencia. “Tracy Snowman (SRC art instructor) picked up that mentoring role when I came here, and she is part of the reason I chose Spoon River College. The Intro to Art class I took through the dual credit program gave me the chance to learn about the really great art program offered here.”

Valencia, who works part-time at MidAmerica National Bank, offers these words of wisdom to other students; “Your mind set determines your success and ability to learn, regardless of where you go to school.”

Michael Derry, a 2008 graduate of Canton High School, is a freshman at Spoon River College working towards his Associate in Science degree. He plans to pursue a career in dentistry.

While Derry is undecided about where he will transfer to, the decision to start at SRC was something he was certain about. In fact, he got a jump start on his college education while still in high school by participating in the dual credit program. That program allows eligible students to take college courses for credit while still in high school.

“I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to be a part of the dual credit program,” said Derry. “I signed up as soon as I was a junior.”

Derry took medical terminology and a medical occupations course, and would highly encourage other students-especially those going into the medical field-to take advantage of the program.

“Already having those credits is really helping me. It’s lightened the load I have to carry, I won’t have to take any summer classes, and I’ll be right on track to graduate after next year,” Derry said.

Derry, who wanted to stay close to home, calls SRC the perfect stepping stone to a bigger university.

“I think starting here will make it much easier for me to adjust when it’s time to transfer,” said Derry. “I’ll already be comfortable with the college experience.”

While in high school, Derry was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish club. He was President of Best Buddies and participated in track.

Derry is currently in the SRC Honors Program, and with the completion of his first semester is now eligible to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa this spring. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest internationally recognized honor society for two-year colleges.

Derry believes the faculty and small class sizes are the college’s biggest assets.

“All of my teachers really care about helping their students do the best they can,” said Derry. “They really know their subject area, and are always willing to answer questions, in or out of the classroom.”

Another reason Derry would advise others to begin at Spoon River College in their pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree?

“The money,” Derry said. “Paying $15,000 plus at a four-year university versus approximately $3,000 at SRC for the same general education classes doesn’t make much sense, and the quality of the education here is great.”

Marc Burnap graduated from Canton high school in 1997, attended Spoon River College for a year, and then joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 34 as an apprentice, later advancing to journeyman. College was out, work was in, and life was good.  Burnap enjoyed his job and the money, even though he was shocked enough times to gain entry to what those in the brotherhood call the “277 Club.”

The good life, however, ended abruptly on February 11, 2006, when a car accident left Burnap paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. His days as an electrician were over.

“It’s hard to do electrical work if you can’t climb a ladder or navigate a work site,” Burnap said.

After an extended hospital stay and a stint in Chicago for therapy, Burnap was ready to tackle his future. With financial assistance from the Department of Rehabilitative Services (a division of the Department of Human Services), Burnap returned to SRC in the spring of 2007.

“It was hard to go back; I was 27 years old and physically disabled,” said Burnap. “I was nervous about being able to handle it.”

Burnap credits former Spoon River College speech instructor Bob Gorg and history instructor Jason Strandberg with helping him adjust.

“Both went out of their way to be supportive and encouraging,” said Burnap. “It makes a huge difference when you know you have someone in your corner.”

He will graduate in May with an Associate in Science degree and plans to transfer to Western Illinois University. He hopes to eventually pursue a teaching career in math, preferably at the secondary level and ideally at Spoon River College.

Burnap adds that SRC math instructors Brian and Sarah Dalpiaz had a major influence on his decision to pursue a teaching career.

“They have an amazing teaching style that makes math understandable, fun, and kept me interested,” said Burnap. “Brian is a phenomenal calculus teacher. I decided I wanted to do what they did.”

Burnap, who is a member of the SRC Honors program, has some advice for those deciding what college to attend.

“If you want a bachelor’s degree, start here and then transfer. Don’t spend the extra money at a university the first two years. People seriously underestimate the quality of education that SRC offers. It is solid, and taught by experienced teachers, not grad students.”