Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on President’s Reception April 30 – Save the Date
Spoon River College will host their annual President’s Reception on Thursday, April 30, starting at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m. in the SRC Cafeteria on the Canton Campus.
The event honors those who have reached specific levels of cumulative giving to the SRC Foundation and those who established new named endowed scholarships in 2025. Foundation Board members will also be recognized for their service. President Curt Oldfield and Foundation Director Dusty Berg will present certificates of recognition and tokens of appreciation to donors and Board members.
This event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged by April 17 and can be made by calling 309-649-6348 or emailing foundation@src.edu.
The SRC Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and offers a wide variety of scholarships as well as support to the college every year. For more information about the Foundation or a potential gift to SRC, contact the Foundation at (309) 833-6083 or email foundation@src.edu.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Ag Students Compete in Illinois PAS Conference
A group of Spoon River College agricultural students competed in the annual spring Illinois PAS (Professional Agriculture Students) Conference on February 12 at Heartland Community College. Ethan Voss, Emilee Franklin, Olivia McLouth, Hannah Thompson, and Danica Geeseman all participated in at least two competitions as part of the SRC college bowl team.
Voss and Franklin competed in the conservation and natural resources team event which included taking a test, identifying plants, insects, and trees, and giving a presentation on a natural resource topic.
McLouth, Thompson, and Geeseman competed in the soils team event which also included taking a test, identifying soils horizons, and solving a soils problem.
Teams are set up against each other and must be the first to buzz in and answer a variety of agriculture questions correctly. The students were coached by agriculture professor Dr. Shelby Henning and alumni coordinator Michelle Howe.
“SRC has a long history of participating in Illinois and National PAS competitions,” said Howe. “We want the current generation of SRC students to have these experiences, learn new leadership skills, make new friends, and get out of their comfort zones.”
The Fulton County Farm Bureau sponsored the students to attend the event.
The Illinois and National PAS organization is a professional, career-focused organization for college students (2-year or 4-year) in agricultural programs. It prepares students for the workforce through competitive events, leadership training, and networking, serving as a collegiate-level parallel to FFA.
Pictured l-r are Ethan Voss, Emilee Franklin, Olivia McLouth, Hannah Thompson, and Danica Geeseman.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on March Full Moon Pop-Up Astronomy Event March 3
Dr. Alison Roxburgh, Physics professor at Spoon River College, is hosting an Astronomy Night pop-up event at Farmington Public Library on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30-8 p.m. The free event is open to the public, and attendees may come and go at any time.
“The main focus of the viewing will be the March full moon, which is called the Worm Moon,” said Roxburgh. “I hope this is just the first of many astronomy pop-up events I can offer in our communities.”
Roxburgh is a volunteer with the outreach group #popscope, who is co-sponsoring the event along with Spoon River College.
The name of the March moon is thought to reflect the time of year when the ground warms and softens enough for earthworms to emerge, or when tree bark thaws enough to let worm-like beetle larvae escape and mature.
While it won’t be visible during the time of the event, a total lunar eclipse will occur in the early morning hours of March 3, turning the moon a deep red-orange color as the Earth passes directly between the sun and moon.
The Farmington Library is located at 411 Lightfoot Road.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on CTE Spotlight: Phillip Mahn of Garland, Texas
CTE spotlight: Phillip Mahn of Garland, TX traveled 765 miles for his love of trains and for Spoon River College’s Locomotive Mechanical Certificate, which is embedded in the Diesel and Power Systems Technology program.
He doesn’t remember the exact moment when he realized his passion for locomotives, but he does remember his mom taking him to a bookstore when he was young so he could get a train book. “No Thomas the Train for me,” he said. “I chose the Encyclopedia of Train History.” He still has that book.
Knowing his career path would include the rail industry, Phillip started searching for a locomotive training program. It led him to Spoon River College, a certified training center for the railway industry since 2019 through a partnership with the National Academy of Railroad Sciences (NARS), and Johnson County Community College in Kansas. It is one of the few such programs in the nation.
Phillip prefers quiet rural places and said finding the program he wanted in Canton “was like a lottery ticket out of the Dallas area.” Needing to work while here but with no transportation, he secured a student worker position in the SRC Community Outreach Office, as well with the college’s cleaning company–both things he could do while living on campus.
There was still a moment of panic when he realized that he didn’t have the funds necessary for both tuition and the required tools. He sought assistance with Career Link, which offers a variety of services to eligible individuals to help with overcoming roadblocks as they navigate career training or employment searches.
They were able to help him with the portion of tuition not covered by FAFSA and scholarships, as well as the cost of the tools. “They are the most kind and amazing people.” He says the same thing about many of the local people he has met since arriving in Canton.
Once he completes the program, which will culminate in an associate in applied science in Diesel and Power Systems Technology and a Locomotive Mechanical Certificate, he will head back south, maybe to the Arkansas area where he born, or maybe somewhere else. He’s not sure yet, other than it will be near a rail yard.
Learn more about the Diesel and Power Systems Technology program and the Locomotive Mechanical Certificate at Spoon River College by attending our Career and Technical Education Showcase, February 26, 9-11 a.m., in our VOTECH building on the Canton Campus!
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Theatre Presenting Waiting for Godot March 6-8 in Taylor Hall Theatre
“Nothing to be done.” Or is there? That’s the question being asked in the spring production of the Spoon River College Theater department that runs March 6-8.
Step into a world where time stands still, and anything—or nothing—can happen. In Waiting for Godot (1952), Samuel Beckett’s iconic tragicomedy, two vagabonds wait on a desolate road beneath a solitary tree for the mysterious Godot. Blending dark humor with poignant insight, Waiting for Godot is a theatrical landmark that redefined modern drama. Shows will be on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Hall Theatre on the Canton Campus.
In addition, the SRC Foundation is hosting an alumni reception immediately after Sunday’s matinee, where alumni can meet the cast, reminisce on their time at SRC, and enjoy refreshments.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Fellheimer Scholarship Application Deadline – March 20
The Spoon River College Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fellheimer Trust scholarship. This scholarship is for students who are full-time residents of McDonough County. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and preference will be given to non-traditional students who are 25 years of age or older with a dependent child.
The deadline to apply is March 20, 2026. Applications can be picked up in the Student Services office or downloaded at Fellheimer Scholarship Application
Completed applications can be returned to the Student Services office. For more details about this scholarship, contact Foundation Director Dusty Berg at 309-649-6395 or visit
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Seeking Faculty Award Nominations
Spoon River College is seeking nominations that will be used to select a full-time faculty recipient for the H. Truman Standard Award, which honors current faculty who have distinguished themselves as members of the teaching profession at Spoon River College.
Nominations may be submitted by any current or former student, or any citizen of the Spoon River College district. The deadline for submissions is February 27, 2026.
The H. Truman Standard Award cannot be issued to the same faculty member more than once in a seven-year period. Those not eligible for nomination this year are Laura Bandy, Sarah Etter, Becky Leverette, Sarah Strode, and Beth VanTine.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Dr. Curt Oldfield to Leave Spoon River College
Canton, IL— After 14 years as its president, Curt Oldfield, Ed.D., will depart Spoon River College this summer to become President of Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.
“The Board of Trustees is appreciative of Dr. Oldfield’s service to Spoon River College. He began as a student, became an instructor, moved up to Dean, and then served for 14 years as President. Lincoln Land will present him with a new opportunity to continue his professional growth. The process to find our next President will begin immediately with the selection of a national search firm. We look forward to a dialogue with faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve to assist in selecting our new President,” said Kevin Meade, Chair of the SRC Board of Trustees.
During Oldfield’s tenure as President, his contribution to the college and the community has been significant. Major initiatives have included increasing retention, expanding workforce development programs and developing strategic partnerships. He also guided the college through several capital projects including construction of the Multipurpose Building, baseball and softball fields on the Canton Campus and development of the new Macomb Campus.
The Board will announce next steps in the presidential search process in the coming weeks. The College remains focused on supporting students and advancing its mission during this transition.
Spoon River College is a two-year, public community college in West Central Illinois, with campuses and Community Outreach Centers in Canton and Macomb, with Learning Centers in Havana and Rushville. For more information about Spoon River College, visit www.src.edu.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Career and Technical Education Showcase Event to Highlight February as CTE Month
February is celebrated as Career and Technical Education (CTE) month as a way to put the spotlight on the value that CTE programs offer to students, the workforce, and the overall economy. Community colleges and the programs they offer are key to preparing students for the expanding workforce.
On Thursday, February 26, from 9-11 a.m., Spoon River College will host a Career and Technical Education Showcase event offering simulations and hands-on activities. Faculty, current students, and staff from several SRC departments will be available to answer questions about the programs, the admission process, and financial aid options. This event is for people of all ages.
“This is a great opportunity to learn more about career programs that get students job-ready and into the workforce in a short amount of time, whether it be with an associate degree or a short-term certificate,” said Todd Thompson, Diesel and Power Systems Technology instructor and Division Chair for CTE programs at SRC.
Programs being featured include Agriculture Business Management, Commercial Driver Training/Logistics, Computer Information Systems, Diesel and Power Systems Technology, Early Childhood Education, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Healthcare Careers (Medical Assisting, Medical Billing/Coding, Phlebotomy), Medical Lab Technician (MLT), Nursing, Nursing Assistant, Small Business Management, and Welding.
In 2021, a $1.5M grant from the Economic Development Administration allowed for new training equipment and renovations of the college’s Vocational and Technical Education Center (VOTECH), which were completed in 2024. In addition, scholarship funding was provided by SRC alumnus and retired Caterpillar vice president and CEO Lynn McPheeters, with a $500,000 gift earmarked for students entering career and technical education programs, which are currently ineligible for federal aid.
According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), there is a projected deficit of 6 million skilled workers through 2032. CTE programs can prepare individuals for these high-skill, in-demand jobs in fields which can pay up to $2.8 million in lifetime earnings, as well as pay more than bachelor’s degrees in other fields, while also limiting student debt.
This is an open house type of event. Participants are welcome to arrive anytime between 9 and 11 a.m. Schools bringing buses of students are encouraged to email Melissa Miller. Please allow 45 minutes to an hour to tour the VOTECH Building and stop at all of the program booths. This event is being held at the Canton Campus, 23235 N. County Hwy. 22 at the VOTECH Building.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Bowling Team Hosting Snakebite Doubles Tournament February 21 at Linn Lanes
The Spoon River College bowling team is hosting a Snakebite Doubles Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, February 21, at 5 p.m. at Linn Lanes in Canton. All splits and 9 counts of the first ball are strikes. Entry fee is $35 per bowler, and the top six qualifiers from three games will advance to a bracket format final.
There will also be bake sale, silent auction, 50/50 drawing, and a bowling ball raffle. Players my sign up at Linn Lanes, or through SRC bowling coach Ken Shockency at 309-635-6002 or by Facebook messenger. Those interested can also contact Shockency for more detailed information about the tournament.
The college added bowling to their athletic program in August of 2024, with Shockency as head coach. A Canton native, he has been coaching for the past 20 years.
