Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on SRC Community Chorus to Present “A Winter Tapestry, Too” December 5-6. Tickets Now Available.
The Spoon River College Community Chorus will present A Winter Tapestry, Too on Saturday, December 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 6, at 3 p.m. Both performances will be held at First Christian Church, 215 W. Elm Street in Canton. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at https://spoon-river-college-foundation.square.site/.
“Whether you love the classic sounds of Christmas or enjoy discovering something a little unexpected, there is a thread in this musical tapestry for everyone,” said Lindsey Larson, one of the chorus’s artistic directors. “Our director, John L. Davis, has selected a wide variety of musical arrangements that blend familiar holiday favorites with some unexpected musical selections.”
Singers participating in the 2026 Winter Chorus include Tori Anderson, Bruce Beal, Rob Bobell, Edwin Brinklow, Janice Dare Bruster, Sherry Coffey, Vanessa Coker, Nana Cook, Michae Crary, Carol Davis, Colin Davis, Katey Davis, Kevin Dearing, Jennifer Fletcher, Sarah Fouts, Jake Haarman, Becky Howard, Kevin Kessler, Tammy Kessler, Denise Kirgan, Carol Kohler, Charlene Kornoski-Duvall, Lindsey Larson, Matt Luedtke, Corrinna Markland-Pickel, Wendy Martin, Steve Mason, Sara Mathis, Sue Maurice, Trygve Meade, Janet Munson, Chad Murphy, Natalie Orwig, Cecily Pearson, Anthony Roberts, Shirley Roberts, Lydia Robinson, Shane Smith, Stacy Smith, Jessica Sparenburg, Jean Sprecher, Jeanine Standard, Michael Varnes, Larry VonBehren, Linda VonBehren, Melissa Walker, Kevin Watson, JoEllyn Welch, and Lauren Wilcoxen.
The SRC Community Chorus is self-funded through ticket sales, with proceeds supporting scholarships for Spoon River College students. To learn more about the SRC Community Chorus, its Named Endowed Scholarship program, and its history of musicals, revues, and concerts spanning the past 20 years, visit www.src.edu/chorus.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Phi Theta Kappa Seeking Donations for “Gift of a Holiday Dish” Campaign
This holiday season, Spoon River College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society is inviting the community to help make holiday meals a little more special through its “Gift of a Holiday Dish” campaign.
The student-led initiative will collect nonperishable ingredients for six traditional holiday dishes. PTK members will then assemble the ingredients into decorated gift bags, complete with recipe cards, to share with individuals and families during the holiday season.
Instead of a traditional food drive that collects assorted pantry items, “Gift of a Holiday Dish” gives donors an opportunity to contribute everything needed to prepare a specific dish, making it easy for recipients to bring a holiday favorite to their tables.
“What makes this project special is that our students aren’t just collecting food. They’re putting together something thoughtful that families can enjoy together. It’s a simple way to show how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone’s holiday,” said Becca Werland, SRC faculty member and PTK advisor.
The six featured recipes are green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes, easy apple pie, holiday stuffing, cornbread, and cranberry-orange holiday salad.
Community members can donate ingredients for one recipe or several. All donated items should be unopened, nonperishable, and within their expiration or best-by dates. Donors do not need to purchase or decorate gift bags; PTK members will handle the assembly and packaging. Donations should be brought to the SRC Canton Campus between today and November 16.
How to Participate
Donors are invited to contribute ingredients from any of the following recipes:
Green Bean Casserole
2 cans green beans
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 container French fried onions
Candied Sweet Potatoes
2 cans sweet potatoes in syrup
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 small package brown sugar
Easy Apple Pie
2 cans apple pie filling
1 box pie crust mix (enough for two crusts; just-add-water variety)
Holiday Stuffing
2 boxes stuffing mix
1 carton shelf-stable chicken or vegetable broth
Cornbread
2 boxes complete cornbread mix
1 can whole kernel corn
1 small jar honey (optional)
Cranberry-Orange Holiday Salad
2 cans whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 can mandarin oranges
Through this campaign, PTK members hope to demonstrate how small acts of kindness can come together to make a meaningful difference during the holiday season.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society recognizing academic achievement among students at associate degree-granting colleges. The organization promotes scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Phi Mu Tau Fraternity to Host Free Pancakes for Bette Breakfast
A beloved Spoon River College tradition returns November 5 as members of the Phi Mu Tau Fraternity host their annual Pancakes for Bette event in memory of former SRC employee Bette Dye.
The event will be held from 8–10 a.m. in Lower Centers on the Canton Campus. Free, all-you-can-eat pancakes are prepared by fraternity members, along with coffee and water. While breakfast is free, sausage can be purchased from Big Cat’s.
The event honors Dye, a longtime SRC employee who passed away from cancer in September 2010.
“We started this event to help a friend and fellow employee, and we continue it in Bette’s honor,” said Aaron Mayall, Phi Mu Tau faculty advisor. “She served our students a lot of pancakes over the years and always with a big smile and a ‘Hey! How are you this morning?’ She was our beloved pancake maker.”
The morning will also feature a pancake-eating contest for SRC students, with the winner receiving a $50 gas card donated by Student Services.
Phi Mu Tau is a student fraternity comprised of students in SRC’s Diesel and Power Systems Technology program.
For more information, contact Phi Mu Tau faculty advisors and diesel instructors Aaron Mayall at 309-649-6283 or Joseph Clemens at 309-649-6245.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Invites Community to Meet New President at Upcoming Open Houses
Spoon River College invites community members to meet its new president, Dr. Shelley Barkley, during a series of open houses at the College’s four locations throughout November.
The open houses will provide an informal opportunity for community members to meet Dr. Barkley and connect with the College as it begins a new chapter of leadership.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to meet more of the people and communities that make Spoon River College such a special place,” said Dr. Barkley. “Our connections with the communities we serve are essential to our success, and I look forward to listening, building relationships, and working together to create opportunities for our students.”
The public is invited to attend any of the following open houses, all scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m.:
Monday, November 9 – Rushville Center
Tuesday, November 10 – Canton Campus
Wednesday, November 11 – Havana Center
Monday, November 16 – Macomb Campus
In addition to meeting Dr. Barkley, attendees at the Macomb Campus open house will have the opportunity to tour the College’s new HVAC Training Facility.
Community members are encouraged to stop by at any time during the scheduled hours and can RSVP here.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Students Receive West Central FS Scholarships
Five Spoon River College students have been awarded West Central FS Scholarships, made possible through the ongoing support of West Central FS.
Each year, West Central FS provides funding to Spoon River College to support student scholarships and meet the needs of the College’s agriculture department. This support helps students pursue their educational goals while strengthening agricultural education and workforce development in the region.
The following students received $500 West Central FS Scholarships: Danica Geeseman, Macon Kessler (not pictured), Halee Krieger, Jack Lowry, and Olivia McLouth.
Spoon River College appreciates West Central FS for its continued investment in students and agricultural education. This partnership helps provide educational opportunities for students and supports the resources needed to prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on SRC Theatre Presents A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking
A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, a comedy by John Ford Noonan, brings together two women who couldn’t be more different. Maude Mix is a proper, tightly wound suburban housewife who likes her life orderly and predictable. Enter Hannah Mae Bindler, her outspoken, larger-than-life new neighbor from Texas, who has no intention of taking no for an answer when it comes to friendship.
What begins as an unwelcome interruption quickly turns into a hilarious clash of personalities. As the two women navigate marital troubles, personal frustrations, and life’s unexpected twists, they discover that they have more in common than either imagined. Filled with sharp wit, spirited exchanges, and plenty of laughs, this offbeat comedy celebrates the power of friendship and finding strength in unexpected places.
Director Douglas Okey commented that the 1981 play “clearly takes its energy from its broad comedy, but it also shows a surprising amount of heart along the way.”
SRC Theatre’s Fall 2026 production of A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking will perform:
Friday, November 13 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, November 15 at 2:00 PM
All performances take place In the Taylor Hall Theatre on the Canton campus.
Cast and Crew include: Katsumi Engel, Marley Jane Smith, Ollie Williamson, Amber Cannon, Evalynn Roderick, Georgia Kennedy, Annalies Dowell, Sadie Sale, Jasmine Murphy and Stacy Smith.
Tickets are $15 for the public and $5 for students. Reserve seats by calling 309-649-6257 or purchase tickets online.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Joins Third Annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive October 21, 2026
Spoon River College is joining community colleges across Illinois for the third annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive, running October 19 through November 30. The statewide initiative aims to address food insecurity by collecting non-perishable food items for local food pantries and campus-based food banks.
Organized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), Feed the Need brings together all 39 Illinois community college districts in a friendly competition to support students and families facing food insecurity. Last year, Illinois community colleges collected more than 180,000 food items, more than doubling the 91,000 items collected during the inaugural 2024 drive.
At Spoon River College, donations will benefit local food pantries and SRC Student Needs pantries in the communities where they are collected, helping students and families access food during the holiday season and beyond.
“At Spoon River College, we know that students can’t focus on their education if their basic needs aren’t met. Participating in the Feed the Need Food Drive is one way we can help remove those barriers,” said Missy Wilkinson, dean of student services at Spoon River College. “It’s also a great reminder of what’s possible when our college and community come together to support one another. Every contribution matters and helps make a real difference for our students.”
Donation boxes will be located in the lower level of Centers in the cafeteria and at the Havana, Macomb, and Rushville campuses. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items throughout the drive.
“Over the past two years, Feed the Need has grown into a tremendous statewide effort, demonstrating what Illinois Community Colleges can accomplish when we come together around a shared purpose,” said Brian Durham, ICCB executive director. “Food insecurity continues to be a real challenge for many students and families, and we encourage every college to get involved and help us build on the momentum we have created.”
With studies indicating that as many as 40% of community college students nationwide experience food insecurity, initiatives like Feed the Need play an important role in supporting student well-being. Through this statewide effort, Illinois community colleges are working together to help meet basic needs and strengthen the communities they serve.
About the Feed the Need Food Drive
Launched in 2024, the Feed the Need Food Drive is a statewide initiative led by the Illinois Community College Board to address food insecurity on campuses across Illinois. The friendly competition engages all 39 community college districts in collecting food donations to benefit local food pantries and student support services.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Record-Setting Generosity: SRC Founders’ Day Raises More Than $120,000
Record-Setting Generosity: SRC Founders’ Day
Raises More Than $120,000
The numbers are in, and the Spoon River College Foundation’s 2026 Founders’ Day campaign is one for the record books. The college’s annual day of giving raised $120,098 on October 15, making it the most successful fundraising day in the event’s 11-year history.
The historic total is nearly double last year’s contributions and shattered the previous record of $100,154 set in 2022.
The milestone reflects an extraordinary show of support from alumni, donors, employees, businesses, community members, and friends of Spoon River College who came together to invest in students and the future of the communities the college serves.
“To raise more than $120,000 in a single day is an incredible testament to the generosity of our supporters,” said Michelle Howe, Interim Director of the Spoon River College Foundation. “What makes this achievement so meaningful isn’t just the amount raised, but what those dollars will make possible for our students. Our donors are helping remove barriers, open doors, and create opportunities that can change lives.”
Originally known as GivingSPOONday, the annual event began in 2015 and has grown into one of the Foundation’s signature fundraising initiatives. Throughout the day, supporters participated in giving challenges, heard stories from students and alumni, reconnected with the college, and made gifts supporting scholarships, emergency student assistance, academic programs, and the Foundation’s greatest areas of need.
“Founders’ Day is about celebrating the legacy of Spoon River College while investing in the opportunities that will shape its future,” said Dr. Shelley Barkley, President of Spoon River College. “To see our community respond with this level of generosity is truly inspiring. Every gift, regardless of size, represents someone who believes in our students and the life-changing power of education.”
More than 200 gifts were received during the campaign, ranging from $1 to $30,000. Contributions arrived from across the country, including Arizona, Texas, Maine, Florida, and Arkansas, demonstrating that the SRC community extends well beyond West-Central Illinois.
From first-time donors to longtime supporters, each contribution played a role in making this year’s Founders’ Day a historic success. “Whether someone gave $1 or $30,000, they were part of something extraordinary,” Howe added. “We’re deeply grateful to everyone who gave, shared our message, or encouraged others to participate.”
Although Founders’ Day has concluded, opportunities to support SRC students continue throughout the year. Those wishing to make a gift may visit src.edu/foundation/donation or call (309) 833-6083.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Foundation Launches Founders’ Day Celebration Following 10 Years of GivingSPOONday
After a decade of successful GivingSPOONday campaigns, the Spoon River College Foundation is introducing a new tradition designed to celebrate the College’s history while investing in its future.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Foundation will host its first-ever Founders’ Day, a community-wide day of giving and celebration commemorating the legacy of Spoon River College. The date was chosen to coincide with the College’s founding, as Spoon River College was established on Oct. 17, 1959.
For the past 10 years, GivingSPOONday has united alumni, employees, donors, and community members in support of Spoon River College students. The annual campaign has generated thousands of dollars to provide scholarships, emergency assistance, innovation grants, and other programs that help students overcome financial barriers and achieve their educational goals.
While the name is changing, the mission remains the same.
“GivingSPOONday has become one of our most successful fundraising events over the last decade,” said Michelle Howe, Interim Director of the Spoon River College Foundation. “As we looked ahead to the future, we wanted to create an event that not only inspires giving but also celebrates the history and impact of Spoon River College. Founders’ Day is an opportunity for everyone who has been part of the College’s story to come together and support today’s students.”
The Foundation expects Founders’ Day to become an annual tradition that brings together alumni, current and retired faculty and staff, students, local businesses, and community members to recognize the College’s more than 65 years of service to west-central Illinois.
Throughout the day, supporters will have opportunities to participate in giving challenges, hear stories from students and alumni, reconnect with the College, and make gifts that directly impact student success. Funds raised during Founders’ Day will support scholarships, emergency student assistance, academic programs, and the Foundation’s greatest areas of need.
Since opening its doors in 1959, Spoon River College has transformed the lives of thousands of students by providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education. The Foundation hopes Founders’ Day will not only honor that legacy but also inspire continued investment in the College’s future.
“Every student has a story, and every donor has the opportunity to be part of that story,” Howe said. “Whether someone graduated from Spoon River College decades ago, works at the College today, or simply believes in the value of education, Founders’ Day is a chance to celebrate what Spoon River College has meant to our communities while helping ensure it continues to change lives for generations to come.”
The Spoon River College Foundation invites everyone with a connection to the College to participate in Founders’ Day on Oct. 15. Additional details about the celebration, giving opportunities, and special events planned throughout the day will be announced in the coming weeks.
Posted by Vickie Parry on | Comments Off on SRC Foundation Scholarships Available, Application Deadline is March 1, 2027
Spoon River College and the SRC Foundation offer a variety of scholarships to provide financial assistance to students as well as to recognize outstanding performance in academics, athletics, art/theatre, and career and technical interests. The deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2027-28 academic year is March 1, 2027.
Applicants must complete the scholarship application and the 2027-2028 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit their most recent transcripts. This process is required for all scholarships, and all steps must be completed by the March 1 deadline. Students receiving other sources of revenue such as Pell Grants or Work Study are still eligible to apply for and receive scholarships.
The scholarships—which may be a permanent named endowed scholarship, a Foundation administered scholarship, an academic performing grant, or a performing skill grant—have differing eligibly requirements. Some may be targeted towards individuals from a specific town or county, a specific career field, or other criteria. Scholarships specifically for nursing students, agriculture students, and diesel students are also available.
Once the paperwork is submitted, applicants will be considered for all available scholarships they are eligible for, and in some cases could receive multiple awards. Applicants will be notified of their status either way by the end of March.
e needs of the College’s agriculture department. This support helps students pursue their educational goals while strengthening agricultural education and workforce development in the region.