Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Athletic Department Hosting Casino Night October 28
The Spoon River College Athletic department is hosting a Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, October 28, at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus. Proceeds will help support the athletic programs.
“We first hosted a Casino Night in 2020, then had to skip 2021 because of the pandemic,” said John Bassett, athletic director and head softball coach. “We brought it back last year and it was well attended. It’s a fun community event, and we hope to see it continue to grow in attendance.”
The cost of admission is $50 and includes 25 playing chips, free food, drink ticket, prizes, and silent auction items. Games featured will be blackjack, poker, craps, and roulette. “Attending this event is a great way to see the facilities and meet some of our athletes,” said Bassett. “We’re also still seeking table sponsors and prize donations.”
Spoon River College offers baseball, softball, volleyball, and men and women’s basketball, e-sports, and are preparing to add bowling also. More information about the athletic programs can be viewed at www.src.edu or by visiting the Spoon River College Athletics Facebook page.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact John Bassett at john.bassett@src.edu or 309-649-6303. The Canton Campus is located at 23235 County Hwy 22.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Student Abigail Spencer Awarded the Bonnie Stine Scholarship
Spoon River College student Abigail Spencer has been awarded the Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship for $500 for the 2023-24 academic year.
Spencer is a graduate of Canton High School, where she was recognized with the Board of Education Award and High Honors. She also made the President’s List at Spoon River College as a dual credit student, and was named Elks Senior of the Month. She was a member of Student Council (serving for one year as the secretary), Spanish Club (serving two years as secretary), Club Unify, Class Officer/reporter (one year), and the FFA.
Besides being active in clubs, Spencer also played sports—volleyball, basketball, and softball—and served as the assistant basketball coach. Her volunteer work included Special Olympics, Ladies Auxiliary Junior Member, Fulton County Humane Society, and KARE Camp Counselor, which she continues to do. In addition, she held part-time jobs while attending school, and is currently working for a local business and nannying for a family with a 6-year-old, a one-year-old, and one on the way.
Spencer is following in the nursing footsteps of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her initial career goal was to work in labor and delivery, but after job shadowing in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), she knew in her heart that was where she was meant to be.
When planning her education, proximity to her family was key. “Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to go to college somewhere close to home. I am a huge family person and have had no desire to ever move far away.” With other siblings also attending college, cost too was a factor.
“During my freshman year, I attended the career fair at Spoon River College and knew it was the place for me. I also was able to fast-track my college career by taking dual credit classes. I’ll be able to graduate from SRC with my associate degree and then go straight to OSF to work on my bachelor’s degree.” Her spot at OSF School of Nursing is already reserved through their early admission program.
“SRC has so much to offer including a small beautiful campus that is close to home, affordable, and has lots to offer educational-wise,” Spencer said. “Choosing SRC was an easy decision for me.”
The Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship was previously known as the Spoon River College Faculty Association Scholarship. In 2013, faculty voted to rename it to recognize Stine’s role in establishing the original SRCFA Scholarship. Stine taught at the College for 31 years before retiring in 2008.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on College Visit Day October 11
Spoon River College will host a College Visit Day Wednesday, October 11, from 1-3 p.m. at both the Canton and Macomb campuses.
This is open to people of all ages who are interested in learning about both the transfer and the career education programs available at Spoon River College, as well as the different degrees and short-term certificates each program offers.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with advisors and financial aid specialists, and will receive information about the application process, tuition costs, student life activities, clubs and organizations, and financial aid options, including scholarships.
Tours of the campuses will be given, and will include the Snapper Villas student housing on the Canton Campus. All attendees will receive a free t-shirt.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on College and Transfer Fair 2023 Scheduled for October 19
Spoon River College will host College and Transfer Fair 2023 on Thursday, October 19, from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus. Representatives from multiple colleges, universities, and trade schools will be in attendance. This event is free, open to the public, and RSVPs are not required. Attendees may come and go at any time during the event.
“This is an excellent opportunity for parents, students, and adult learners to explore a variety of colleges and trade schools in one convenient location at one time,” said Janet Munson, director of enrollment services at Spoon River College. “Representatives will be able to answer questions regarding admission requirements, the registration process, tuition and board, athletics, student activities, and more.”
This event is also for current college students who are interested in learning more about the transfer process.
Spoon River College utilizes StriveScan, which allows attendees to sign up for a bar code in advance of the event. As they visit the various tables, the representatives who are also using StriveScan will be able to scan the barcode, making it possible for them to send additional information based on the specific information attendees are interested in receiving.
As of press time, the following colleges were scheduled to participate: Blackburn College, Carl Sandberg College, Coe College, Culver-Stockton College, Eastern Illinois University, Eureka College, Graham Hospital School of Nursing, Illinois College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Knox College, McKendree University, Methodist College, Missouri S&T, Northeast Iowa Community College, St Francis Medical Center College of Nursing (OSF), Paul Mitchell The School – Normal, Peoria Air National Guard, Quincy University, SIU-Carbondale, SIU-Edwardsville, St. Ambrose University, State Technical College of Missouri, Truman State University, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, U of I -Springfield, U of I-Urbana Champaign, US Air Force Gold Bar Recruiter, Western Illinois University, and Western Illinois University-Military Science.
Spoon River College programs and clubs that will be in attendance include Admissions/Advising/Financial Aid, Transfer Programs, Career Programs: Agricultural Business Management, Commercial Driver Training, Computer Information Systems, Diesel and Power Systems Technology, Early Childhood Development, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Information Management, Logistics Operations Management, Medical Laboratory Technician, Manufacturing, Nursing, Nursing Assistant, Small Business Management, Welding; and Student Life Organizations.
Spoon River College’s Multi-Purpose Building is located at 23235 N County 22 in Canton, IL. For more information about Spoon River College or the College and Transfer Fair, visit www.src.edu or the Spoon River College Facebook page.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Holds Events for National Transfer Student Week
Spoon River College will be hosting a variety of events to promote National Transfer Student Week (NTSW), on all campuses the week of October 16–20, 2023.
Organized by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, NTSW offers participating colleges the opportunity to hold “events and activities that celebrate the diversity of the transfer student experience”.
SRC will offer events and services geared to assist students in navigating the transfer process throughout the week, culminating in the SRC College and Transfer fair on the Canton campus on Thursday, October 19. The week’s schedule of events includes:
Monday, October 16
Welcome Cookies – All locations
Financial Aid & Transfer Application Information table – All locations
Need help with your University Application? Make an appointment with Student Services in Canton or Macomb.
Add your transfer plans to our NTSW Boards (Canton LRC, Macomb, LRC, Havana Center and Rushville Center)
Tuesday, October 17
Pizza with the Prez – Canton Campus, lower level Centers – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
TRiO T-Shirt Day – Wear your TRiO T-Shirt
Financial Aid & Transfer Application Information table – All locations
Need help with your University Application? Make an appointment with Student Services in Canton or Macomb.
Add your transfer plans to our NTSW Boards (Canton LRC, Macomb LRC, Havana Center and Rushville Center)
Wednesday, October 18
WIU Table Visit – Macomb LRC – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
College Transfer T-Shirt Day – Wear a T-shirt for the university you hope to transfer to
Financial Aid & Transfer Application Information table – All locations
Need help with your University Application? Make an appointment with Student Services in Canton or Macomb.
Add your transfer plans to our NTSW Boards (Canton LRC, Macomb LRC, Havana Center and Rushville Center)
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Theatre Announces Company for Fall Production
The Theatre Program at Spoon River College has announced the company for the upcoming production of Exit the King, a 1963 absurdist drama by French playwright Eugene Ionesco.
The play explores death through the rapid decline of Berenger the First, king of an unspecified land. Four hundred years old at the time of the play, Berenger moves through recognizable stages of loss and existential confusion as his kingdom, in apparent sympathy with the King’s withering, gradually crumbles around him. Berenger is attended throughout by his first wife, his current wife, his doctor, his nurse, and one guard.
“The play has lots of genuine comedy as well as poignant drama,” said Douglas Okey, SRC professor and Director of the theatre program. “It’s also a very manageable 90 minutes, played without an intermission.”
On Sept. 5 and 6, SRC Theatre held auditions and interviews to select cast and crew members for the upcoming production. Selected for the company were: Rachel Hickle, Astoria High School; Tiffany Carlin, Tori Cooper, Elliot Dalpiaz, and Kayla Ray, all of Lewistown; Ava Dunham, Cuba; Ella Alexander, Owen Bohn, Jace Emery, Xander George Fields, Haiden Lee, Celia Hale, and El Roderick, all of Canton; and Grace Havens, Savannah Smith-Coulter, and Stacy Smith. All company members are currently enrolled SRC students.
Performances of Exit the King will run Nov. 3-5 in the Taylor Hall Theatre on the SRC Canton Campus. Tickets will go on sale in October.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Students Race to Solve Clues in First-Year College Experience Class
Freshman students at Spoon River College enrolled in LA 103 The College Experience class taught by Amy Rutledge (Biology) recently competed in “The Great Race,” a scavenger hunt designed to assist new students in getting orientated to the campus buildings and location of the offices and spaces often utilized by students.
Five teams of two each had to solve a series of riddles, leading them to the correct location where they then received the next riddle that would lead them to the next location. Teams were given just one hour to find all the locations.
“I wanted to give them a better sense of where some of the resources they could benefit from were located and thought this would be a fun way to do that,” said Rutledge, who also encouraged staff to prepare handouts detailing the services they provided that they could give to students along with the next clue.
Locations each team raced to find were the weight room in the Multi-Purpose Building, Community Outreach Office in Engle Hall, the SRC Theatre, IT Helpdesk, and Rutledge’s office in Taylor Hall, and Advising, Cafeteria/Coffee Shop, Dean’s office, Financial Aid, Learning Resource Center, and the Bookstore in Center.
“Each group made it to the finish line in the allotted time, and all said they enjoyed it and found it helpful. I’m already thinking about how to make it even better the next time,” said Rutledge.
The College Experience class is designed for first-year college students, but open to any student wanting to get the most out of the college experience. It plays a vital role in helping students navigate the challenges of the their first year in college, and aims to foster personal growth, academic achievement, and a smoother transition into higher education.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on 2023 SRC/CCC Alumni Award Recipients Announced
Spoon River College will host its Annual Alumni Association Awards Reception on Saturday, Nov. 4. Dinner will be offered beginning at 5 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. and will last approximately two hours. The event will be held at SRC’s Canton Campus.
The Distinguished Alumni Award, reserved for those SRC alumni who have previously been honored with an alumni award and have reached the top of their field or otherwise achieved extremely noteworthy accomplishments of statewide notoriety, will be presented to William “Bill” Thomas of Atlanta, Ill.
Alumni Achievement Awards are given to alumni to celebrate outstanding achievements made by alumni of SRC or Canton Community College, and this year’s recipients are Wesley and Stephanie (Musson) Carrithers of Astoria, Dr. Kayla (Johnson) Miller of Havana, Dr. Tony Roberts of Havana, and Julie (Dalmasso) Reeder of Canton.
The Outstanding Service Award, given to alumni or community members who have made significant voluntary contributions to the community and/or to the college will be presented to Larry Peterson of Canton.
Bonnie Swedell of Adair will be honored with the Distinguished Spoon River College Retiree Award, which is based upon an individual’s significant contributions to Spoon River College, its students, and the community.
DeAndre Alexander of Arcadia, La. and Dick Brown of Elkart, Ill. will be inducted into the SRC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Though donations will be accepted and appreciated, the event is free, and the public is invited to attend; though, reservations are required. Please RSVP to Lori Murphy at (309) 649-6260 or at lori.murphy@src.edu by Friday, Oct. 27.
The SRC Alumni Association exists as a function of the SRC Foundation and seeks to close the gap between past alumni, present students and future leaders. SRC alumni need not be graduates. Those who were nominated but not selected this year will remain in consideration for future years. To learn more about the SRC Alumni Association, to register as an alumnus/alumna, or to nominate someone for a future award, please visit http://www.src.edu/alumni or call (309) 649-6260.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Foundation Golf Outing Raises Over $23,000
The totals are in from the 30th annual Spoon River College Foundation Golf Outing, which was held Friday, July 28 at Wee-Ma-Tuk Hills Country Club. This year’s outing raised more than $23,600.
“In these uncertain times where times remain difficult for many, having the success we had with our outing is incredible,” said Colin Davis, director of the SRC Foundation. “With the high cost of gasoline, food, and other goods and services, times remain difficult for our students, too, and every dollar raised will help local students have the best educational experience possible at SRC.”
In all, over 60 businesses and organizations from the SRC District and beyond sponsored the outing, and 27 teams competed in the event.
“The extreme heat we dealt with during our outing made things a bit more challenging than usual, but our golfers still came out in full force,” said Davis. “We also owe a debt of gratitude to all of our sponsors, and especially our Ace Sponsors: Corporate Clean, Cook Medical/CFC Inc., the Odendahl Family, Randy & Susie McMillen/RE/MAX, and Unland Insurance and Benefits.”
Golfers this year were treated to lunch, an SRC golf towel, and the opportunity to compete for the coveted championship. This year’s winning team, with a score of 18-under, was comprised of Greg Garrett, Don Heller, Tim Merna, and Chuck Taylor. The Very Most Average Team award, given to the team which finishes closest to the average score that day, went to Ed Georgieff; Edward Georgieff, Jr.; Roy Hopper; and Mark Minder, who finished at 9-under.
Additionally, golfers had the opportunity to compete for skill prizes on every hole. They also had the opportunity to win a free stay at French Lick Resort (courtesy of Cook Group) and the chance to utilize a golf ball cannon, donated and built by Mike Krulac.
The funds raised from the outing are used to support the mission of the SRC Foundation, which is to provide excellent educational opportunities at SRC. This comes in the form of scholarships, extracurricular or community program support, facility and technology upgrades, Emergency Hardship Grants to students, and so much more.
“This is our biggest in-person fundraising event of the year, and without it, there’s no way we’d be able to meet our mission,” said Davis. “The support of our communities means everything to us and to our students in a normal year, but in this time where our students’ need is greater than ever, the support of our sponsors and teams means even more.”
Next year’s event is tentatively scheduled for July 26, 2024. To learn more about the SRC Foundation, call (309) 649-6260, e-mail foundation@src.edu, or go to www.src.edu/foundation.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Financial Aid Office Presenting Free Workshops at District High Schools
Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present free workshops at district high schools starting in October with a focus on previewing the changes in the FAFA application.
The major change this year is that the FAFSA application will not be available by October 1 as it has been in the past several years. It is expected to be available mid to late December, and is required by law to be available by January 1, 2024. In addition, all contributors will now be required to have a FAFSA username and password.
Because the application will not be available until December, financial aid staff will be unable to assist attendees with filling out and filing it. Instead, they will help with the creation of usernames and passwords as well as provide an overview of the program and answer questions. During the spring, visits, staff will once again be able to assist with the FAFSA filing.
Information about other financial assistance programs such as funding for veterans, scholarships, student loans, and payment plans will also be presented, and even those not planning on attending Spoon River College are welcome to attend. These workshops are for students, their parents, and any adult learners who are interested in learning more about options for paying for college.
The schedule for the high school visits is as follows:
Farmington: October 3, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Lewistown: October 4, 6 – 7 p.m.
Canton: October 5, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Spoon River Valley, October 25, 6 – 7 p.m.
Rushville: October 25, 6 – 7 p.m.
VIT: October 26, 6 – 7 p.m.
Cuba: October 26, 6 – 7p.m.
Astoria: November 2, 6 – 7 p.m.
Havana: December 6, 6-7 p.m.
The spring schedule of visits will be available at a later date.
For more information, visit www.src.edu and click on the Financial Aid link under the Student Services tab or call (309) 649-7030 in Canton or (309) 833-6073 in Macomb.
