SRC Hosting FAFSA Informational Meeting at Rushville-Industry High School October 24

SRC Hosting FAFSA Informational Meeting at Rushville-Industry High School

Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present an informational meeting at Rushville-Industry High School on October 24, from 6 – 7 p.m., regarding the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA is the official form that students or their families must complete to apply for federal financial assistance for college. This form must also be filled out before students can apply for additional college scholarships. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available starting December 1, 2024.

Nikki Rittenhouse, director of Financial Aid at Spoon River College, said that the many updates to the FAFSA application this past year have resulted in more questions than usual. “Although the filing period doesn’t begin until December 1, 2024, having the correct information beforehand will make the process easier. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have it completed accurately and on time, so we are happy to answer questions and help students and parents be prepared.”

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.

FAFSA completion workshops at all district high schools will be announced at a later date.

For more information about FAFSA or the October 24 meeting, please call 309-649-7030.

2024 SRC/CCC Alumni Award Recipients Announced

Spoon River College will host its Annual Alumni Association Awards Reception on Saturday, Nov. 9. 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.

Alumni Achievement Awards are given to alumni to celebrate outstanding achievements made by alumni of SRC or Canton Community College, and this year’s recipient is James Bixby of Peoria, being given posthumously.

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 Stanley Ransom of Canton.

Sonny Meredith of Macomb 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.

Miranda Aguilar of Ontario, Ca.  and Steve Lance of Cuba, 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 Michelle Howe at (309) 649-6348 or at michelle.howe@src.edu by Friday, Oct. 25.

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 https://src.edu/alumni or call (309) 649-6348.

Celebrating National Transfer Student Week October 21-25

Spoon River College will celebrate National Transfer Student Week October 21-25. NTSW is recognized every third week in October as a way to highlight the success of transfer students, as well as to continue to improve the transfer process for students.

For bachelor degree seeking students, the required curriculum for the first two years is the same regardless of where they are taken, and students often complete those first two years at a community college before transferring to a four-year university.

“Starting at a community college is a smart move financially for students; tuition is less and the need for student loans is reduced.  It can also be less overwhelming than starting at a bigger institution,” said Holly Norton, vice president of educational and student services at Spoon River College.

Spoon River College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Completion of that curriculum at any participating college or university in Illinois assures transferring students that lower-division general education requirements for an associate or bachelor’s degree have been satisfied.

Spoon River College also partners with Southern Illinois University Carbondale to offer the Saluki Step Ahead program, which enables SRC students with an associate degree to continue at SIU and earn their bachelor’s degrees completely online in a number of programs, including business administration, RN to BSN, and accounting.

In addition, SRC and Western Illinois University are partners in the Aspen-AASCU Transfer Student Success Intensive, a year-long study to analyze the transfer process and identify the successes and barriers of transferring.

According to the Illinois Board of Education, Illinois not only leads the nation in bachelor degree completion rates (53.8%) among community college students who transfer to four-year colleges, it has also exceeded the national average of 42.2%.

Fellheimer Scholarship Application Deadline October 25

The Spoon River College Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fall 2024 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.

Awards are made for fall, spring, and summer semesters, and a new application is required for each semester. A student may receive a maximum of four awards while enrolled at Spoon River College. An application specific to this award must be filled out rather than the general SRC scholarship application.

The deadline to apply is October 25. Applications can be picked up in the Student Services office or downloaded at https://www.src.edu/foundation/foundation-scholarships-grants. 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 www.src.edu and click on the Foundation/Alumni tab and go to Foundation Scholarships.

SRC Financial Aid Office Schedules FAFSA Information Meeting at Cuba High School

Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present an informational meeting at Cuba High School on November 13, from 6 – 7:30 p.m., regarding the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA is the official form that students or their families must complete to apply for federal financial assistance for college. This form must also be filled out before students can apply for additional college scholarships. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available starting December 1, 2024.

Nikki Rittenhouse, director of Financial Aid at Spoon River College, said that the many updates to the FAFSA application this past year have resulted in more questions than usual. “Although the filing period doesn’t begin until December 1, 2024, having the correct information beforehand will make the process easier. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have it completed accurately and on time, so we are happy to answer questions and help students and parents be prepared.”

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.

FAFSA completion workshops at all district high schools will be announced at a later date.

For more information about FAFSA or the November 13 meeting, please call 309-649-7030.

SRC Financial Aid Staff Schedules FAFSA Meetings and Completion Workshops at Macomb High School

Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present two meetings at Macomb High School regarding the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The first meeting will be an informational only event on Wednesday, October 30 at 5:30 p.m. The second meeting will be a FAFSA completion workshop on Wednesday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m. During this meeting, SRC staff will help attendees to complete the FAFSA application. Attendees may bring their own personal devices if they wish.

The FAFSA is the official form that students or their families must complete to apply for federal financial assistance for college. This form must also be filled out before students can apply for additional college scholarships. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available starting December 1, 2024.

Nikki Rittenhouse, director of Financial Aid at Spoon River College, said that the many updates to the FAFSA application this past year have resulted in many more questions than usual. “Although the filing period doesn’t begin until December 1, 2024, having the correct information beforehand will make the process easier. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have it completed accurately and on time, so we are happy to answer questions and help students and parents be prepared.”

At the December FAFSA completion workshop, attendees should bring their 2023 income information (W-2’s or tax returns), as well as any additional untaxed income such as veteran’s benefits, child support (paid or received) and worker’s compensation. They should also bring the names, birth dates, social security numbers, and email address of any contributors. The school code for all locations of Spoon River College is 001643, and is needed to complete the FAFSA application.

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.

For more information about FAFSA or either of these meetings, please call 309-649-7030.

SRC Financial Aid Staff Schedules FAFSA Meetings at Astoria High School October 22 and December 2

Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present two meetings at Astoria High School regarding the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The first meeting will be an informational only event on Tuesday, October 22 at 5 p.m. The second meeting will be a FAFSA completion workshop on Monday, December 2, at 5 p.m. During this meeting, SRC staff will help attendees complete the FAFSA application. Attendees may bring their own personal devices if they wish.

The FAFSA is the official form that students or their families must complete to apply for federal financial assistance for college. This form must also be filled out before students can apply for additional college scholarships. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available starting December 1, 2024.

“There have been many updates to the FAFSA application this past year, resulting in more than the usual amount of questions about the process,” said Nikki Rittenhouse, director of Financial Aid at Spoon River College. “Although the filing period doesn’t begin until December 1, 2024, having the correct information beforehand will make the process easier. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have it completed accurately and on time, so we are happy to answer questions and help students and parents be prepared.”

At the December FAFSA completion workshop, attendees should bring their 2023 income information (W-2’s or tax returns), as well as any additional untaxed income such as veteran’s benefits, child support (paid or received) and worker’s compensation. They should also bring the names, birth dates, social security numbers, and email address of any contributors. The school code for all locations of Spoon River College is 001643, and this code is needed to complete the FAFSA application.

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.

For more information about FAFSA or either of these meetings, please call 309-649-7030.

SRC Financial Aid Office Schedules FAFSA Information Meeting at Canton High School

Employees in the financial aid office at Spoon River College will present an informational meeting at Canton High School on October 7, at 6 p.m., regarding the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA is the official form that students or their families must complete to apply for federal financial assistance for college. This form must also be filled out before students can apply for additional college scholarships. The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available starting December 1, 2024.

“There have been many updates to the FAFSA application in the past year, resulting in more than the usual amount of questions about the process,” said Nikki Rittenhouse, director of Financial Aid at Spoon River College. “Although the filing period doesn’t begin until December 1, 2024, having the correct information beforehand will make the process easier. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have it completed accurately and on time, so we are happy to answer questions and help students and parents be prepared.”

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.

FAFSA completion workshops at all district high schools will be announced at a later date.

For more information about FAFSA or the October 7 meeting, please call 309-649-7030.

SRC Student Conner Smith Awarded the Bonnie Stine Scholarship

Spoon River College student Conner Smith has been awarded the Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship for $500 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Originally from Bushnell, Smith is a 2024 graduate of Lewistown High School where he was a FFA member for three years, played baseball for four years, basketball for three years, served one year as a Student Mentor, was part of the Student Senate for two years, and completed a one-year work study program.

While in high school Smith also received a Heisman Scholarship and conference awards for baseball, was named the February Senior of the Month, and played in the McDonald’s All-Star game. He was employed at the Dairy Queens in Bushnell and Lewistown, and at Bass Equipment in Cuba.

Smith is a member of the Spoon River College baseball team, and is a recipient of an athletic performing grant.

When it came time to choose a college, Smith said he knew he wanted a community college. “I was looking for a smooth transition from high school to college,” Smith said. “I’ve always lived in small communities and attended small schools, and wanted to stay with a smaller college. One that was financially friendly was also important, and I wanted to continue to play baseball.”

Smith plans to earn an associate degree and then transfer to a four-year university. While still undecided about his major, he is interested in mechanics, nursing, business and marketing. “I feel that my time here will help me decide the career I want to pursue.”

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.

Spoon River College Announces Enrollment Increase for Fall 2024 Semester

Spoon River College officials announced a growth in student enrollment for the fall 2024 semester. Student headcount is up over 3% in 2024 compared to 2023, and nearly 5% increase compared to 2022 (as of census date).  SRC has also seen an increase in fall 2024 credit hours from 2023 and 2022.

The increase includes a significant surge in first-time freshmen, up 23% in student headcount and 30% in credit hours.

“We are thrilled to welcome so many new students to Spoon River College, and we’re committed to providing them with the support they need to succeed on their educational paths,” said Missy Wilkinson, Dean of Student Services.

The college also saw an increase in retention rates for high school dual credit students, with nearly 50% of those students enrolling and continuing their college coursework at Spoon River College after they graduate from high school. “This growth highlights the value students see in continuing their education with us,” Wilkinson said.

In addition, enrollment in the college’s Illinois High School Diploma/GED classes saw an 11% increase, up from 137 students last year to 152 this year. Although fewer of this year’s completers continued on with college coursework, those that did took more classes. “While we won’t know for sure until we gather and analyze the data, we believe that decline is because more of the students are going directly into the workforce,” said Chad Murphy, Director of the Adult Education programs at SRC.

“We are pleased that more students are making Spoon River College their choice for higher education in West Central Illinois,” said Dr. Curt Oldfield, president of Spoon River College.  “Community college education provides students with a high quality and affordable option to help them achieve their goals, and our goal is to do whatever we can to help increase student success.”

Spoon River College is a two-year, public community college in West Central Illinois, with campuses and Community Outreach Centers in Canton and Macomb, and Learning Centers in Havana and Rushville. It offers the first two years of college pre-professional courses as well as career and technical education programs. It serves students in a 1,566 square mile area that includes portions of Fulton, McDonough, Mason, Schuyler, and Knox counties. For more information about Spoon River College, visit www.src.edu.