Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Denise Phillips Joins Spoon River College as Counselor
Denise Phillips has joined Spoon River College as a Counselor, and will be available on both the Canton and Macomb campuses.
Phillips, who earned a BA in Guidance and Counseling from Cal State University and a MS in Psychology with a PPS License from Chapman University, has more than 18 years of experience in counseling individuals of all ages, from elementary school students to transitioning military personnel and their family members. She was part of the District Guidance and Social Work Team for Abingdon-Avon, and was one of seven staff members recognized by ROE 33 at their 2019 Excellence in Education Banquet.
Phillips will assist students with addressing mental health challenges, anxiety and stress. “My goal is to provide support and promote overall well-being. A significant number of college students experience mental health issues, yet few seek help from campus counseling services.”
Phillips said it was counseling services like these that helped her accomplish her educational goals. “My education has afforded me employment opportunities that wouldn’t have otherwise been available.”
Phillips and husband Calvin Phillips, (SGM, US Army retired with 26 years of service), have four children, four great-grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Walking in the country with her four-legged children Miley, a German shorthaired pointer, Bella, a Labradoodle, and, Chloe, a Beagle—soon to become a therapy dog—is one of her favorite things to do. Her favorite place is Dairy Queen “because they have the best Pumpkin Blizzards ever!”
Phillips will hold office hours in the Wellness Rooms on Monday and Wednesday at the Canton Campus and on Tuesday and Thursday on the Macomb Campus from 9-2.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Announces Increase in Enrollment Numbers
Spoon River College announced an enrollment increase for the third year in a row after receiving their 10th day enrollment numbers.
“We increased nearly 4% in credit hours compared to 2024, and more than 1% in headcount,” said President of Spoon River College Dr. Curt Oldfield. “We are happy that more students are making Spoon River College their choice for higher education in West Central Illinois.”
The college also reported a 7% increase in full-time students, with students aged 26-30 years old driving that growth. The biggest increase came from students opting for online classes, with an 18% increase. Overall, this marks the highest enrollment of the past four years.
“The nearly 7% increase in full-time student enrollment shows students are making a strong commitment to their education and future,” said Missy Wilkinson, dean of student services. “We’re especially encouraged to see growth not only in full-time enrollment but also in the number of sophomores continuing their education at SRC.”
Jo Branson, assistant dean of student services, said that among the high school students taking dual credit classes during the spring 2025 semester, 48% of them had returned this semester to continue taking dual credit classes, while 35% of them were now enrolled as regular college students.
Adult Education enrollment at Spoon River College is showing an 8% growth this fall with 118 students actively attending classes. Chad Murphy, director of Adult Education, said that because these students must complete 12 hours of class before being officially counted, enrollment figures take longer to finalize than credit programs. “With several classes starting late this year than last, we anticipate enrollment will end up about 12% higher for the first quarter.”
The college is adding new career and technical education programs at their newly renovated Macomb Campus, and expect to see significant increases once those are in place.
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.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SGA Members Hosting Blood Drive October 22 at Canton Campus
Members of the Student Government Association at Spoon River College are co-hosting a blood drive with ImpactLife on Wednesday, October 22, from 10:30 – 1:30 in Lower Centers on the Canton Campus.
Donors must be in good health and feeling well the day of donation, and should eat a meal within four hours of donating. A photo ID is required, last donation must have been before August 27, and three months since getting a tattoo. For more information or to schedule an appointment, email michelle.howe@src.edu, visit blood.center.org, or call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401. Successful donations receive a choice of a gift card, points in the reward store or donation to favorite charity.
The Canton Campus is located at 23235 N. County Highway 22.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Registration for Late Fall Classes and Spring 2026 Semester
The second 8-week session of fall classes at Spoon River College begins October 20, giving those who missed the fall deadline the chance to get started on their education without waiting until the spring semester.
Classes in Agriculture, Computer, English, Health Science, and Nursing Assistant are available, and online options include classes in Allied Health, Business, Early Childhood Education, and Health Science.
Registration for the Spring 2026 semester will open October 15 for current students, and November 1 for new students.
Visit Spoon River College for a complete list of all upcoming classes. Also available on the website is the course catalog, information about the admission process, and the admissions application.
For more information about registering or to make an appointment with an advisor, call (309) 649-6400 in Canton, (309) 543-4413 in Havana, (309) 833-6069 in Macomb, and (217) 322-6060 in Rushville.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Hosting College Visit Day featuring Career and Technical Programs at Macomb Campus
Spoon River College will host a College Visit Day on Monday, Oct. 13, from 9-11 a.m. at the Macomb Campus. This event will feature the career and technical education programs available at the college and will include hands-on simulations. Attendees will also hear from advisors and financial aid specialists, and receive information about the application process, tuition costs, and financial aid options, including scholarships.
“This would be a perfect time for parents and prospective students who haven’t seen our new building yet to visit. It’s a beautiful space that is allowing us to expand our career and technical training programs,” said Jo Branson, assistant dean of student services.
College Visit Day events are 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.
RSVPs are encouraged, and can be made at RSVP for College Visit Day or by calling 309-649-6400 (Canton) or 309-833-6069 (Macomb). All attendees will receive a free t-shirt.
The Macomb Campus is located at 2500 East Jackson Street.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Foundation Scholarships Available, Application Deadline is March 1, 2026
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 2026-27 academic year is March 1, 2026.
Applicants must complete the scholarship application and the 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 dual credit 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 April.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Nursing Program Receives Continuing Accreditation Through Spring 2033
Last February, Spoon River College welcomed a site visit team from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) as part of the accreditation review for the college’s Nursing Program. This past week, the college received official notification that the program has been granted continuing accreditation through Spring 2033.
“This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our nursing director, Becky Sherwood, along with our outstanding nursing faculty and staff—Sarah Strode, Tonja Huff, Sarah Etter, Hannah Stinocher, Sarah Bowton, and Cassidy Miller—and the unwavering support of the entire college community,” said Melissa Miller, dean of career and workforce education at Spoon River College.
The site visit included tours of both the Macomb and Canton campuses, as well as roundtable discussions and meetings involving administrators, general education faculty, staff from several departments, and students.
The Associate Degree in Nursing program at Spoon River College is a two-year program that offers the option of completing a practical nursing certificate at the end of the first year, a unique ladder program that sets it apart from other nursing programs.
“Students who complete the first year (the LPN certificate) along with an additional five-week course and then successfully pass their LPN boards can begin working as an LPN, enabling them to get real world working experience while finishing the second year, which prepares students to take the RN exam,” said Sherwood. “It also benefits students who don’t want to complete the second year or may not be able to. Sometimes life throws up barriers and if a student can’t immediately finish the second year, they can still have a nursing career.”
In addition, students who complete their RN coursework at Spoon River College will have the opportunity to transfer into the newly developed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BNS) program at the Graham Hospital College of Nursing. Graham Health System invested $250,000 in Spoon River College’s new Macomb campus to fund the development of the Graham Health System Nursing and Allied Health Learning Lab, reinforcing an academic partnership that creates a clear pathway from RN certification to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the Graham Hospital College of Nursing.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on 2025 SRC/CCC Alumni Award Recipients Announced
Spoon River College will host its Annual Alumni Association Awards Reception on Saturday, Nov. 8. 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 in Lower Level Centers.
The Distinguished Alumni Award, reserved for those SRC alumni who have previously been honored with an alumni award and have reached the top of their field or otherwise achieved extremely noteworthy accomplishments of statewide notoriety, will be presented to Dr. Robert Bobell of Canton.
Alumni Achievement Awards are given to alumni to celebrate outstanding achievements made by alumni of SRC or Canton Community College, and this year’s awards are being given to Amy Lynn Evans (Canton), Clayton Shay (Nashville, TN), Jason Parsons (Canton), KiLee Lidwell-McFerren (Canton), and Robert Reading (Peoria).
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 Patrick O’Brian of Farmington.
Lori Murphy of Canton 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.
TC Wright of Louisville, KY, 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 Email Michelle Howe by Friday, Oct. 24.
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 SRC Alumni Page or call (309) 649-6348.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on SRC Softball Hosting Princess Party Fundraiser November 8
The Spoon River College softball team is hosting a Princess Party fundraiser on Saturday, November 8, from 3:30 – 5 p.m., at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus located at 23235 N. County Highway 22.
Children can come dressed as a princess and enjoy a spa experience that includes royal hairstyles, magical manicures, and beauty makeovers. Dancing, games, refreshments, and a photo op with Prince Charming are also on the agenda for the afternoon.
All ages are welcome, but children four years of age or younger must have adult supervision. The cost is $25 per child. To register online visit https://bit.ly/SRCPrincessParty which can be also be accessed on the Spoon River College Athletics Fb page. Registration can also be made by calling 309-649-6303 or Email John Bassett.
Posted by Sally Shields on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Foundation Unveils New Logo
The Spoon River College Foundation has recently introduced a new logo to donors and the community. The updated look aligns with the College’s branding while also carrying its own unique identity that highlights the Foundation’s mission and impact.
“While the previous logo served the Foundation well, the new design establishes a distinct identity that stands on its own while remaining connected to Spoon River College’s branding,” said Dusty Berg, Foundation Director. “As the Foundation expands its presence throughout the district, the new logo ensures a consistent image across print, digital, and event materials.”
Over the years the Foundation and the college have provided millions of dollars for scholarships and college programs, hardship grants, innovation grants, faculty research, facility and technology upgrades, and community projects. The Foundation Board of Directors works hand-in-hand with the college’s Board of Trustees and administration to ensure that “excellent educational opportunities” are possible for all residents in the college’s district and beyond.
The new design will begin appearing immediately on Foundation communications and events. For more information, visit https://www.src.edu/foundation or contact 309-649-6395.
