Ag Students Compete at Spring PAS Conference

Students in the Agriculture program at Spoon River College attended the Illinois State PAS Spring Conference that was held at Heartland Community College in Normal on February 13.

Ag instructor Allyson Smith commended her students for stepping out of their comfort zones, participating in networking, and gaining skills  through competitions that can be added to their resumes.

“This was a new experience for everyone involved, so while we didn’t walk away with any awards, students did walk away with knowledge of how the competition works and areas to work on improving for next year,” said Smith.

Students participated in three categories: Soil Science: Clay Butler (Mason City), Jayson Kuzniar (Canton), Ayden Mench (Canton); Conservation and Natural Resources: Emily Vallianatos (Farmington); and Livestock Specialist, Beef Production: Jace Featherlin (Canton), and Nate Kramer (Avon).

PAS—Professional Agricultural Student Association—was founded in 1980 for two- and four-year college level students to provide them with hands-on development opportunities through competition events at the local, state, and national levels. Approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a vital part of career and technical education, the skills students gain can aid them in being better prepared to enter the workforce and become leaders in their career fields and their communities.

WIU Hosting LEJA Event at Spoon River College

The Western Illinois University Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Department (LEJA) will visit the Spoon River College – Macomb campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Spoon River College Room M107.

This event is open to any Spoon River College student interested in transferring to WIU and majoring in LEJA, Emergency Management or Fire Protection Services. LEJA acting director Jamie Johnson will be on hand to discuss what these programs offer, including the hands-on experience and connections students can make at WIU.

Participants will visit with an on-site admissions team and receive an admissions decision at the event. Students interested in on-site admissions are required to provide an unofficial transcript from any college they have attended. WIU welcome packets will be provided to attendees.

Spoon River College continues to partner with WIU in many ways and looks forward to helping our students with all the transfer options.

“We are excited to provide this opportunity for students to meet with the head of these highly ranked programs and learn about the outstanding career options available,” said Doug Freed, director of undergraduate admissions and enrollment services at WIU.

WIU will provide pizza and soda to all participants.

For more information on WIU’s LEJA program, visit wiu.edu/LEJA.

President’s Reception April 17-Save the Date

Spoon River College will host their annual President’s Reception on Thursday, April 17, 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 2024. 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 10 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) 649-6260 or email foundation@src.edu.

February Recognized as Career and Technical Education 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.

According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, 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.

Spoon River College offers a variety of CTE programs that lead to an associate in applied science degree and/or a variety of certificates, and college officials work closely with area and regional industry employers to ensure their programs are meeting their needs.

On Thursday, March 25, from 9-11, the college will host a College Visit Day with an emphasis on CTE programs, and simulations and hands-on activities will be available. Faculty, current students, and employees from student services and financial aid will be on-hand to answer questions about the programs, the admission process, and financial aid options.

“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, DPST instructor and Division Chair for CTE programs. “Some of the certificates can be completed in a year or less, which means even quicker entry into the job market.”

Available programs offered at the college include Ag Business Management, Commercial Driver Training, Computer Information Systems, Diesel and Power Systems Technology, Logistics Operations Management, Nursing, and more.

For more information about the career programs at Spoon River College, visit www.scc.edu or call 309-647-4645.

Seeking Nominations for SRC Faculty Awards – Deadline February 28, 2025

Every year Spoon River College honors three current faculty members (two full-time, one part-time) who have displayed excellence in the teaching profession by awarding them with the H. Truman Standard Award, and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Outstanding Faculty Full-Time and Part-Time awards.

All citizens of the college district, including current and former students, are encouraged to submit a nomination for the teacher they feel deserves special recognition. The nominations will then be used to select the recipients.

The nominations must be received by February 28, 2025, and any nominations received after the deadline will be applied to the following year’s nomination pool.

Faculty members may only be given the H. Truman Standard Award once in a seven-year period. Faculty who are not eligible this year are Laura Bandy, Becky Leverette, Allyson Smith, Sarah Strode, and Beth VanTine. However, these faculty may still be nominated and considered for the ICCTA Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award.

The names of eligible full-time faculty and the nomination forms are available by clicking on the Faculty Awards link located under the Academics tab at www.src.edu.

Registration for Late Starting Classes Underway at Spoon River College

While the first session of spring semester classes is already underway at Spoon River College, registration is ongoing for the 12-week session that begins February 10, and for the second session of 8-week classes that begins March 17.

Late starting classes give those who missed the spring deadline the chance to get started on their education without waiting until a new semester starts. Students will earn the same number of credit hours for these classes as they would in the traditional 16-week sessions.

“Not all classes are available in a shortened session, but there is a nice mix of both transfer and technical classes that would get a student started on a degree or certificate, and some of them, such as English, Math, and Communications, are general education classes for degree seeking students,” said Brandy Chasteen, director of enrollment services.

Available on the technical side are classes in Computer Information Systems, Logistics Operations Management, Railroad Technology, and Welding.

For more information about these classes and to register, visit www.src.edu or call (309) 649-6400 in Canton, (309) 543-4413 in Havana, (309) 833-6069 in Macomb, and (217) 322-6060 in Rushville.

SRC Community Chorus Kicks off 20th Anniversary Celebration

The SRC Community Chorus kicks off its 20^th anniversary year with a new logo and the announcement of a summer concert in conjunction with the City of Canton, Illinois’s Bicentennial celebration this June.  Participation in the concert is open to anyone.

“We look forward to offering the edu-concert Somewhere Over the Rainbow:  Songs of the Dust Bowl,” Artistic Director Carol Davis said.  “The concert, directed by John L. Davis, highlights an extremely difficult time in United States history, particularly throughout the Great Plains, but a great time for American music.”

Some of the country’s most beloved songs emerged from this era including The Red River Valley, Brother, Can You Spare A Dime, Stormy Weather, Dream, Happy Days Are Here Again, and Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”  The concert also includes narration connecting Canton’s history to the history of the Dust Bowl era (c.1930-1936) as well as visual slides of photographs from the period.

Rehearsals are generally on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 315 W. Elm, in Canton.  The first rehearsal is Thursday, February 27.  Two concerts take place on Sunday evening, June 22 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. as part of a 10-day celebration offered by the Canton Bicentennial Steering Committee.

For more information about Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Songs of the Dust Bowl, please email srccommunitychorus@gmail.com.

The SRC Community Chorus, a funding arm of the Spoon River College Foundation, offers quality choral and theatrical performances utilizing local talent while raising funds for named endowed scholarships.  The Chorus will close out its 20^th anniversary celebration year with a winter concert in December.

For more information about the SRC Community Chorus, please visit www.src.edu/chorus.

Agriculture Students Receive Scholarships

Spoon River College agriculture students Jonathan Hedges and Nellie Lehnhausen are this year’s recipients of the Compeer Financial Agriculture scholarships. Preference for these scholarships are given to second year or non-traditional students in agriculture or other applied science degrees.

Hedges and Lehnhausen are both second year students working towards Agriculture Business Management degrees. Lehnhausen’s career goal is to work in the field of either wildlife or soil conservation.

Spoon River College was one of 30 participating partner colleges to receive funds for two annual $1,250 scholarships for students enrolled in the college’s agriculture program. The college was also one of five colleges to receive a $25,000 educational grant for career and technical education from the Agriculture and Rural Initiative, Compeer Financial’s donor advised fund. A new greenhouse for the ag department was purchased with those funds.

The agriculture program at Spoon River College is one of the college’s longest running programs, preparing students for a variety of agricultural related careers. It offers an associate in applied science degree, which can also be transferred to a four-year university, as well as certificates in agricultural precision and agricultural production.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.

Recipients of the Employee Denim for Dollars Campaign Announced

The latest recipients of the Spoon River College Denim for Dollars employee campaign for 2024 were Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, Girls Unplugged, and the Spoon River College Foundation, with each receiving $283.31.

The college created the Denim for Dollars campaign in 2023, allowing employees to wear jeans throughout the work week for a $25 donation every six months. The money is then divided and distributed to different organizations twice a year. During July through December, $850 was raised, and a total of $2,475 was raised for the entire year.

Regular recipients are the SRC Foundation (hardship funds and food pantry), Girls Unplugged, Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, and WIRC-CAA Victim Services, and employees have the option of nominating other charities/organizations to also receive a percentage.  Past recipients that have been nominated and received funds are The Canton Learning Collaborative, Linda’s Fund, Humane Society of McDonough County, Cuba Food Pantry, The Good Pantry, and W.D. Boyce Council (Boy Scouts of America).

Girls Unplugged is a free community-led after school group for 5^th through 8^th grade girls at Ingersoll Middle School and is sponsored by Canton Park District, MidAmerica National Bank, Spoon River College, and YWCA of Canton.

Spoon River College Schedules College Visit Day February 3 at Canton Campus

Spoon River College will host a College Visit Day Thursday, February 3, from 9-11 a.m. at the Canton campus.

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, including the different degrees and short-term certificates each program offers. Associate degrees typically take two years to complete, while certificate programs can often be completed in a year or less.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with advisors and financial aid specialists, and will receive information about the application process, tuition costs, and financial aid options including scholarships, as well as student life activities, clubs, and organizations.

Tours of the campuses will be given, and will include the Snapper Villas student housing. All attendees will receive a free t-shirt.

RSVPs are encouraged, and can be made by visiting the Admissions page on the Spoon River College website or by calling 309-649-6400.

The Canton Campus is located at 23235 N. County Hwy. 22.