ICAC Esports Competition Hosted by Spoon River College

More than 60 esports team members from nine highs schools gathered at Spoon River College on Friday, March 13, to compete in the annual ICAC Esports Competition, which was created three years ago. The teams vie for the IHSA title in Super Smash Brothers (solos), Super Smash Brothers (crew), Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Madden. Schools attending were Cuba, Delevan, Elmwood, Illini Bluffs, Peoria Heights, Peoria Christian, Valley, and Rova/Williamsfield.

“Each school will be competing for a trophy in each title in a double-elimination format. It was a big hit last year, and we are hoping to provide another great experience for the participating students,” said ICAC and Spoon River College coach  Anthony Jurewicz.

Spoon River College launched their esports program in the fall of 2020 when it was first exploding in popularity as a competitive form of gaming. At that time more than 170 institutions were already competing as members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), a nonprofit organization, and more than 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada were on board.

“This is yet another avenue SRC offers for students to learn to compete. Like any other sport, it offers lessons in how to function in a team environment, gain time management skills, and an opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience,” said John Bassett, SRC athletic director. “Esports competitions rival traditional sporting events in size and scale.”

For more information about the esports programs at Spoon River College, For more information about the esports programs at Spoon River College, visit Esports Information  

Inaugural Career and Technical Education Showcase Held

Spoon River College celebrated February as Career and Technical Education Month with their inaugural CTE Showcase event, featuring their career and technical education programs on February 26 at the Canton Campus, giving prospective students a look at future career opportunities.

“This was our first year offering this type of event at SRC and we had attendance from our local high schools and the community,” said Melissa Miller, dean of career and workforce education. “We will continue to offer events like this to highlight our Career and Technical Education programs in the future.”

Attendees were able to explore many of the available SRC programs through hands-on career specific activities and simulations. They also received information about programs, including local job opportunities and salary and job outlook information. Instructors and current students were on hand to answer questions.

Career Programs at Spoon River College lead to a two-year associate in applied science degree and/or a variety of certificates—some of which can be completed in a year or less—and are designed to prepare students for the workplace upon completion.

Attending were high school students from Canton, Cuba, Bushnell, Lewistown, New Horizons, Royals, Rushville-Industry, Spoon River College GED, Spoon River Valley, and West Prairie, as well as parents and adults. Visit CTE Programs for more information about the CTE programs offered at Spoon River College.

Fall 2026 Dual Credit Scholarship Applications and Summer 2026 Scholarship Applications Available

The application for SRC Foundation Fall 2026 dual credit scholarships for eligible high school students who want to begin earning college credit at Spoon River College is available, and the deadline is April 30.

The dual credit/dual enrollment program helps high school students get an early start on their college education. By enrolling in specific programs and courses, eligible high school students can take Spoon River College courses for high school and/or college credit, or get job training to start a career after high school.

“The application is due by 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026, after which, recipients will be chosen, pending the number of applicants and the availability of funds,” said Dusty Berg, director of the SRC Foundation. “Recipients will be notified by email as soon as possible once they are selected.

High schools who participate are Astoria, Bushnell, Canton, Cuba, Farmington, Havana, Lewistown, Macomb, Rushville, Spoon River Valley, V.I.T., and West Prairie. Home schooled students who reside within these school districts are also eligible to apply.

In addition to the dual credit scholarship application, the application for SRC Summer scholarships is open until April 17. To be eligible for summer scholarships, students must be a current Spring 2026 student with at least a cumulative GPA of 2.5. This scholarship is designed to help students pay for any summer classes they chose to take.

For more information about dual credit scholarships, visit  Dual Credit Scholarships, or call Beth Wilson (309) 649-6221 or Connor Hughes at (309) 833-6022. For more information about summer scholarships visit Summer 2026 Scholarships  or call Dusty Berg at (309) 649-6395.

College Visit Days Scheduled for March 12 at Canton and Macomb Campuses

Spoon River College will host College Visit Days on Thursday, March 12, from 9-11 a.m. at both their Canton and Macomb campuses. This is an opportunity to explore transfer education and SRC career programs.

Attendees will learn about SRC’s application process, tuition costs, and available scholarships. They will also receive information about student life activities and opportunities to get involved in clubs and organizations. Campus tours will be given, including the Snapper Villas student housing on the Canton Campus. All attendees will receive a free t-shirt.

RSVPS are encouraged and can be made at College Visit Day RSVP or by calling 309-649-6400 (Canton), or 309-833-6069 (Macomb). The Canton Campus is located at 23235 N. County Hwy. 22, and the Macomb Campus is located at 2500 East Jackson.

Additional College Visit Days will also be held in Canton on April 14 and in Macomb on April 16, both from 1-3 p.m.

The Canton Campus is located at 23235 N. County Hwy. 22, and the Macomb Campus is located at 2500 East Jackson.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Career and Technical Education Showcase Event

CTE Programs at Spoon River College

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.

Tickets can be purchased at Waiting For Godot Tickets

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

SRC Foundation Scholarships