Please Note: that all locations of SRC are closed Fridays for Summer Hours from May 16 through July 25. Announcement: all operations for the Macomb campus have temporarily moved to the Outreach Center (2500 E Jackson) until further notice as we make the transition to the new campus.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on Dean’s List, Fall 2022 Part-Time Students
Spoon River College congratulates the following part-time students who were named to the Dean’s List in recognition of their academic achievement in completing at least 12 credit hours of college level courses at SRC and who were enrolled in six to eleven credit hours and earned a GPA of 3.0 − 3.5 during the Fall 2022 semester. The names of students who have designated a privacy hold will not appear on this list.
Bartonville: Corrie E. Plunkett
Bath: Tayden M. Friend
Bushnell: Jalyn K. Fayhee
Canton: Mason Alig, Hailey E. Ashwood, Courtney E. Behymer, Eli B. Eberle, Joel G. Fleisch, Delores M. Gilliam, Clayton J. Horner, Tara R. Johnson, Amelia L. Painter, Allison R. Robinson, Alexander D. Ruck, Alexis N. Shaw, Jeremy A. Skinner, Brady M. Sprout
Chicago: Joshua X. De Leon
Colchester: Taylor A. Dimmitt
Cuba: Collin J. Brooks, Brenna R. Hubbs, Katherine R. Neese
Peoria: Sara K. Smith
Elmwood: Will D. Hayden
Fairview: Weslee J. Frame I
Farmington: Christopher P. Breese, Melinda L. Brown
Havana: Rachel L. Bailey, Stephanie J. Bailey, Erin R. Danner, Tiffiny M. Ranes, Shyler D. White
Industry: Christian M. Danner
Lewistown: Ronald L. Hardy, Alivia J. Hootman I
Macomb: Marjorie O. Baker, James R. Doyle, Nick S. Fitzjarrald, Tori F. Fluke, Trenton R. Ford, Alexandria Forman, Bria N. Goines, Jennifer S. Henson, Emily G. Jordan, Grant M. Kilburn, Sadie L. Magee, Ebony R. Polk
Rushville: Andree C. Ambrosius, Bronson K. Bartlett, Audrie A. Dodds, Katelyn G. Ingles, Madisyn P. Quinn, Kayde M. Shaw, Harley E. Street
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on First Christian Church of Macomb Launches “Operation Generosity” Scholarship at SRC
Students pursuing certification in SRC Career and Technical Education programs encouraged to apply
Through its “Operation Generosity” program, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Macomb has assisted many worthy causes and organizations throughout McDonough County.
Left to right: representing Spoon River College: Brad O’Brien, Dean of Career & Workforce Education, and Dr. Curt Oldfield, President; and representing First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Macomb: Patti Jones, Rev. Kelly Ingersoll, and Anne Ingersoll.
Now, students at SRC will benefit.
As part of Phase Two operation Generosity, the church is making a gift of $15,000 to the Spoon River College Foundation to provide scholarships for several students over the next couple of academic years.
“As part of Phase One, we asked all of our active participants to each share $500 to benefit the lives of others in McDonough County,” said Rev. Kelly Ingersoll, FCC’s Senior Minister. “We saw gifts to places such as animal shelters, childcare facilities, organizations that help the poor and homeless, and even individuals who simply fell upon hard times and needed a leg up.
“Now, as part of Phase Two, the church is using the remaining funds to benefit the community in ways that it sees fit and that achieves one of our goals – to continue to expand our Christian service and outreach programs.”
McDonough County students who are pursuing a certificate program in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Spoon River College and who demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to students entering programs that do not qualify for federal financial aid and to students who are 25 years of age or older.
“Historically, these students have fallen into a bit of a blind spot, because, even though their personal financial need may be significant, they’re often unable to receive federal or state financial aid for their education,” said Colin Davis, SRC Foundation Executive Director. “The generosity and foresight of Reverend Ingersoll and his congregation will provide a real boost to students who are selected to receive this scholarship opportunity, and we cannot express our gratitude enough.”
Scholarships of up to $2,500 will be awarded, with the first scholarships likely to be awarded in the Spring 2023 semester. FCC also plans to offer additional, non-financial support systems to the students as they progress through their educational journey.
Left to right: Dr. Curt Oldfield (President, SRC), Colin Davis (Exec. Director, SRC Foundation), Rev. Kelly Ingersoll (FCC), Brad O’Brien (Dean of Career & Workforce Education, SRC), and Anne Ingersoll (FCC).
“We know that while financial support is a big deal, it’s not everything,” said Ingersoll. “It is our goal to ensure that the students who go through this program know that we’re here to provide them with additional support and that they’re welcome in our family, in addition to the student success services that SRC offers.”
Students who meet these qualifications are encouraged to apply, and the application will be available beginning in January at the SRC Scholarships webpage. Scholarships will be offered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
For more information about this scholarship or other scholarship opportunities, or to learn how you can support this scholarship or any project of the SRC Foundation, please call (309) 649-6395 or Email Colin Davis.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on November Student Shout-Out Awards: Zachary Hagmeier and Jarius Tarver
Jarius Tarver with President Curt Oldfield
Spoon River College students Zachary Hagmeier (not pictured) and Jarius Tarver of Macomb were the recipients of the SRC Student Shout-Out awards for November. Both will receive $100 Visa gift cards.
“Zachary is an outstanding online student who exhibits hard work, effort, and responsibility in all of his coursework,” said Becky Leverette, Psychology faculty who nominated Hagmeier for the award. “He is always highly engaged in our online environment and showcases his knowledge of the weekly material in every discussion post, homework assignment, and short essay response he submits. His writing illustrates that he not only understands the material but also has the ability to apply, analyze, and evaluate it. It has been an absolute honor to have Zachary as part of this online course, and I predict he will make great strides toward accomplishing his future educational and career goals.”
Tarver was nominated by Jade Powers, student advisor, who said “Jarius is always welcoming students and staff with a warm smile. He works almost (if not) full time at MDH, and mentors young men on how to be professional and productive and respectful members of society. He is a member of the Macomb SGA and was the only student volunteer to serve the Thanksgiving lunch. He is an absolute gem.”
Tarver also received words of praise from TRIO advisor Johna Lawens. “Jarius always brings great ideas to every SGA meeting along with the drive to implement them. He gives 100% to everything that he does, even though he works evenings and sometimes lacks sleep. He is very goal driven and I am excited to see him achieve all of those goals in his future!”
The Student Shout-Out is an initiative that encourages any faculty or employee to nominate a student who deserves a special shout-out for exhibiting the core values of the college—caring, respect, integrity, fairness and responsibility—or going above and beyond to help others.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on SRC’s #GivingSPOONday Smashes Records, Raises Over $100,000
The totals are in, and the Spoon River College Foundation’s #GivingSPOONday campaign received 396 gifts, far surpassing its goal of 300 gifts. Including all matching funds, the campaign raised $100,154.75, shattering the previous record of $61,925 set in 2021.
As part of the larger Giving Tuesday movement to create a worldwide day of giving, the SRC Foundation had challenged all friends of SRC to “show SRC students that they matter,” and give 300 separate gifts to benefit SRC in the 24-hour period of November 29.
“Our goal this year was a ‘stretch’ goal, so we came right down to the wire, but our supporters came through for our students,” said Colin Davis, Executive Director of the SRC Foundation. “While SRC students’ need is greater than ever, this proves that they’re not facing their challenges alone. To see this kind of response when we know how much financial need is out there right now is simply incredible. We can’t thank our communities enough.”
According to Davis, gifts ranged from $1 to $15,000, with a median gift of $50. When the large “challenge” gifts are removed, the average gift was around $112, and gifts came from 15 states and 93 zip codes. Gifts came from as far away as Florida, Vermont, and California.
“The appeal of helping students at SRC truly reaches all corners of the country,” said Brendon Bauman, SRC Foundation Board member and #GivingSPOONday co-chair. “But it’s our communities here in west central Illinois that stepped up for us in the biggest way.”
What started with a goal of $5,000 in 2015 has grown to the SRC Foundation’s largest fundraising campaign each year. Dozens of new donors get involved annually, and it takes the efforts of over 50 people, not including the donors themselves. Since 2015, the campaign has raised over $320,000 to help benefit SRC students, and donors from 28 states have made an impact on students.
As always, donors had the option of directing their gifts to be used however they saw fit. While some directed funds to specific scholarships, facilities, student or community programs, or the Student Emergency Hardship Fund, many donors made unrestricted gifts, which help the Foundation quickly meet the needs of SRC and students as the needs arise.
“With our unrestricted funds, we were able to launch our new Emergency Hardship Fund in 2020 as a way to help SRC students remain enrolled in classes and on track,” Davis said. “That has helped us keep 79 students enrolled who otherwise may have been forced to drop out. That’s the kind of impact our donors can have, even if they just tell us to use the funds where they’re needed most.
People who were unable to participate in #GivingSPOONday but still wish to help local students at SRC by visiting the Giving Tuesday webpage or by calling (309) 649-6395. The college is closed for winter break from Dec. 17 through Jan. 1, but gifts are tax-deductible in 2022 as long as they are postmarked via USPS by December 31.
“Higher costs of gas, utility bills, rent, and other goods and services have impacted all of us, but community college students are affected disproportionately, and student need remains great” Davis said. “The generosity of our friends during #GivingSPOONday will allow us to meet more and more of those needs.
“The beautiful thing about #GivingSPOONday is how everyone – even if it’s just by sharing information about the campaign on social media or making a gift of a dollar – makes an impact on the campaign, and thus, students’ lives. We are so grateful for everyone who helped make the campaign a success and remain thankful to live and work in such generous, caring communities.”
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on Research Poster Presentations Held
How temperature affects a baseball game, the Flint, Michigan water crisis, depletion of the ozone layer, and the art making process as a mood booster were just a few of the topics Spoon River College students explored for the Research Poster sessions held November 17 at the Canton Campus.
Biology and chemistry faculty members Amy Rutledge and Bridget Loftus first implemented research poster sessions in 2014 as a way for students to gain experience in research and presenting. “We also wanted them to have the opportunity to delve deeper into class topics they were personally interested in learning more about,” said Rutledge.
A total of 90 posters were on display representing different areas in agriculture, biology, chemistry, and drama, with students available to answer questions about their research. College employees Jake Douglas, Jeanette Glover, and Andrea White served as judges.
An Honorable Mention and $25 SRC gift certificate were awarded to the best poster from each category, and from those, the Best of Show was selected and awarded an additional $25 gift certificate.
Receiving an Honorable Mention and ultimately Best of Show was Jenna Schleich for “What Effect Do Oil Spills Have on Aquatic Plants?” Honorable Mentions were also awarded for “Effectiveness of Sunlight” by Katie Ferguson, “Leaded Gasoline in Aviation” by Alex Dornberger, “Miss Julie” by Lauren Avery, and “Polio” by Hannah Barclay.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on Pancakes for Bette Fundraiser Benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The 12th Annual Pancakes for Bette was held at Spoon River College in Canton November 30, hosted by the Phi Mu Tau fraternity. Jacob Warren of Liverpool scored a $50 gas card (courtesy of Student Services) for winning the pancake eating contest, and Tyler Svob of Lewistown won the 50/50 drawing—$60 that he donated back.
A total of $660 will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“On behalf of the Phi Mu Tau, we thank everyone who continues to make this a successful event, with special thanks to Central Butane in Norris for the use of their grills and gas, and to the staff in the Sandbar Café for all of their assistance,” said Todd Thompson, DPST faculty and advisor for Phi Mu Tau.
Posted by Mitch Williams on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Hosts 10th Grade Career Expos
Approximately 175 sophomores from district high schools attended the 10th Grade Career Expos held at Spoon River College campuses in Canton and Macomb where career professionals gave them a close-up look at their respective occupations.
“We had a range of careers fields from art to wildlife, and the businesses found interactive and engaging ways of capturing the students’ attention while also providing an overview of the work involved in their professions,” said Brandi Ketcham, student advisor at Spoon River College and organizer for the Canton event.
Four separate career clusters were represented: Health Care Professionals; Education/Human and Public Services; Arts/Communication, IT, and Business; and Agriculture/Food/Natural Resources and Manufacturing, and Engineering/Logistics.
The goal was to not only show students the wide range of career fields available to them, but to also allow them the opportunity to see what they are drawn to. Students had the chance to try their hand at welding, see themselves on thermal cameras, practice laparoscopic surgery, pitch a business plan, and more. They also received information on the skills and education needed for similar careers.
Students commented that the event had introduced them to careers they had either never heard of or considered before, and that the information they received as well as the hands-on component would be helpful as they decide on career paths.
Patrick Denecke, student advisor and event organizer on the Macomb Campus, likes hearing that kind of feedback. “As sophomores, many are still undecided about what they want to do after high school. This event gives them an opportunity to explore a variety of careers and the education and training needed for them, which helps them better prepare for the classes they will take in the last two years of high school and after they graduate.”
High school students from Astoria, Bushnell Prairie City, Cuba, Farmington, Lewistown, Macomb, Spoon River Valley, and West Prairie were in attendance. Pictures of the event can be viewed on the Spoon River College Facebook page.
How much does all that fire firefighting gear weigh? Quite a bit, as high school students who attended the 10th Grade Career Expo at Spoon River College found out thanks to members of the Copperas Creek Fire Protection District.
Elaine Stone from the Fulton County Farm Bureau promoted agricultural careers at the 10th Grade Career Expo by having students play Ag Careers Bingo.
While a career in a fish hatchery might not be front of mind for students searching for their future career path, those attending the 10th Grade Career Expo at Spoon River College in Canton were fascinated by the tiny fish eggs (and tiny fish) on display, and surprised at the skill necessary to move the eggs when needed.
Businesses attending were Advanced Rehab and Medicine, Barnhart, Tinsman and Associates, LTD, 94.1 BYS, Canton Park District, Canton Police Department, Carl Sandburg College (Dental Hygiene, Imaging), Carthage Veterinary Service, Catch A Star (Daycare), Cook, Inc., Copperas Creek Fire Protection, Corteva Agri Science, Counseling Cares (Therapist), Dot Foods, Inc., Fulton County Emergency Medical Association, Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, Fulfill Your Destiny Coaching, Fulton County Farm Bureau, Graham Health System (Human Resources, Laboratory, Pharmacist, Physician, Physical Therapy, Nurse Practitioner, Radiology), Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, Macomb Fire Department, Macomb Police Department, Martin Tractor, Inc., McDonough District Hospital (Medical Lab Technician), McDonough Telephone Cooperative, MidAmerica National Bank, ONEFIRE, Inc., Q 98.1, Spoon River College (Agriculture, Commercial Driver Training, Computer Information Systems, Diesel and Power Systems Technology, Health and Information Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Nursing, Welding), University of Illinois Extension, VIT Education, Western Illinois University (Agriculture, Audiology, Dietician, Exercise Science, Hospitality, Pathology, Movement and Stage Combat, Supply Chain Management), and YWCA, Canton.
Posted by ONEFIRE on | Comments Off on Election 2023 Pre-Filing Notice
Three positions on the Spoon River College Board of Trustees will be filled in the consolidated election scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The positions are for six-year terms on the College Board commencing April, 2023 through April, 2029. Currently these positions are held by Mr. Dave Maguire of Macomb, Mr. Kevin Meade of Canton, and Mr. Phillip Murphy of Canton.
Filing dates for candidacy will be Monday, December 12th through Monday, December 19th, 2022. All candidates wishing to file petitions MUST either mail or submit in person to the Canton campus. Hours for filing will be 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, December 12th to December 16th, and Monday, December 19th, from 4:00p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Petitions WILL NOT be accepted for filing at the Macomb Campus or the Havana and Rushville Centers.
On the first day of filing at Spoon River College, Monday, December 12th, petitions will be received in the Cabinet Room, Administrative Foyer, Centers Building at the Canton Campus. On the other days of filing, petitions may be filed at the reception desk, Centers Building, at the Canton campus.
According to the Consolidated Election Laws, all individuals present at the opening of the election office doors on the first day of filing Monday, December 12th, will be considered as having filed simultaneously. In addition, any petitions received during the first mail delivery of that day will be included in this simultaneous filing group. For all individuals in this “simultaneous group,” a lottery will be held Wednesday, December 14th at 1:00 p.m. to determine the ballot positions of all in the simultaneous group. Others who file later will be listed on the ballot after the simultaneous group in the order the others petitions are received.
In order to become a candidate for one of the positions on the College Board, the following documents are required for filing:
a Statement of Candidacy form,
at least 50 valid signatures on petition forms, which must be consecutively numbered, and each form notarized,
a receipt for filing a Statement of Economic Interest with the County Clerk of the county in which the principal office of the unit of local government with which the person is associated is located. To qualify to be a candidate for trustee, an individual must be on the date of the election, a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a registered voter, and have resided for one year in the college district.
Petitions and other materials required for filing will be available September 20, 2022 at the Canton Campus, Reception Desk, Centers Building as well as from each of the three SRC off-campus locations (Macomb, Rushville, and Havana). Petitions and other filing materials may be obtained from each location during normal office hours. At the Canton campus, these are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Office hours at the off-campus locations may differ from those at the Canton campus. Contact the off-campus locations for hours when petitions and other candidate materials may be obtained from them.
Information is available by calling (309) 649-6232 at the Spoon River College Canton campus.
Posted by ONEFIRE on | Comments Off on Student Groups Host Bonfire on Canton Campus
Spoon River College students who are members of SEA (Students for Environmental Action) and Alpha Gamma Tau (agriculture fraternity) hosted a bonfire November 14 in the area between the Snapper Villas and the SRC Arboretum on the Canton Campus. The two student groups teamed up earlier in the semester to discuss restoration of the Arboretum and a way to make it a place where students and community members can enjoy nature.
SEA advisor Jim Sheff and Alpha Gamma Tau advisor Allyson Smith both hope that this bonfire is just the first in many activities and events that can be hosted at the Arboretum, a 10-acre tract of native trees and trails on the northern edge of the Spoon River College Canton campus.
“We had a good turn-out, the students had a blast, and they are already asking if we can have another one in the spring,” said Sheff.
The idea of an arboretum was born and sponsored by the SRC Foundation in 1979 for use as an outdoor learning laboratory, as well as for community groups such as art, photography, bird watching, and wildlife study. Development began in 1980, funded by private donations, fund-raising efforts, and a $55,853 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.
Currently, the arboretum provides forestry and conservation educational opportunities to students in the agriculture program as well as biology students. The annual Section 12 FFA forestry competition is also held there, but both Sheff and Smith would like to see it getting more use by more people.
“I would like to see the arboretum used more by our students and our community for hikes, walking the dogs, education, graduation or family pictures, but mainly just a spot to get out into nature and clear your mind,” Smith said.
Posted by ONEFIRE on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Honors Alumni Award Recipients
The Canton Community College/Spoon River College Alumni Association hosted their annual Alumni Association Awards Reception and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction November 5 at the Canton Campus.
Dr. Erik Dalmasso, program director and assistant professor of the Ed.D program at Bradley University, served as the Master of Ceremonies. Those being honored were Janice (Dare) Bruster and Henry Dare, Outstanding Service Award; Ellen Dodd, Distinguished SRC Retiree; and Rick Klinedinst, Distinguished Alumni Award.
Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to Barbi Brewer-Watson, John Davis, David Gregory, Randy and Susie McMillen, Jeff Standard, and Carla Teslicka.
Presenting the awards were Janice (Dare) Bruster), Bruce Beal, Glenda Bryan, Carol Davis, Colin Davis, Dr. Bruce DeRuntz, Julie Hampton, Patrick O’Brien, and Dr. Curt Oldfield.
More pictures and a video of the event can be viewed on the Spoon River College Foundation Facebook page. The complete bios of all award recipients are listed below.
Pictured l-r front row are Dr. Erik Dalmasso, Janice (Dare) Bruster, Carla Teslicka, Ellen Dodd, John Davis, back row Dr. Curt Oldfield, Rick Klinedinst, Henry Dare, David Gregory, Jeff Standard, Randy McMillen, and Colin Davis.
SRC alumnus Dr. Bruce DeRuntz presented Ellen Dodd with her Distinguished SRC Retiree award. Their friendship began when DeRuntz was a young student buying his text books from Dodd in the SRC Bookstore and she noted that he was a long way from home. She invited him to her family’s home for Sunday dinner—the first of many—and her family became his.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
JANICE (DARE) BRUSTER & HENRY DARE
Natives of Canton and of the farm life, both attended SRC. While Henry sought an associate degree, Janice took classes at SRC while attending Graham Hospital School of Nursing. After college, Janice went on to a 42-year career as a registered nurse, where she held specialties in trauma nursing, emergency nursing, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support. True to her commitment to education, she was the field nurse trainer for the first paramedic class at WIU.
Henry worked for five years in sales and marketing for Ralston Purina (where he had completed an internship while a student at the University of Illinois) and later became the Sales Manager for Schuyler-Brown FS. In 1979, he returned to the family farm in Canton, where he remains a sixth-generation farmer.
Janice’s community involvement includes the Spoon River Garden Club, Spoon River Pregnancy Center, Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, St. Jude, Ronald McDonald House, and Patient Access Network Foundation, and the boards at Lambs of God and Wesley United Methodist Church (where she is a member and sings in the choir).
Henry, meanwhile, has served on the boards of Spoon River FS, Fulton County Farm Bureau, Fulton County Extension, and Fulton County Pork Producers and in numerous roles at Wesley UMC and the First Christian Church in Canton, where he is a member.
He also served nearly two decades on the SRC Board of Trustees and on the college’s Ag Advisory Committee. Janice is a graduate of SRC’s Community Leadership Academy, participates annually in the Lifelong Learning Conference, sings in the SRC Community Chorus. Both have generously supported SRC financially, as the family has endowed four scholarships to support students in the Diesel, Education, Agriculture, and Paramedicine programs.
Janice has one son, Mark. Henry’s wife of 45 years, Cheryl, passed away in 2019. Together, they had two sons, Gregory (wife, Samantha) and Philip (wife, Kris). They have two grandchildren, Madison and Isaac. He married Ann in 2021.
DISTINGUISHED SRC RETIREE AWARD
ELLEN DODD (ret. 2013)
Also an SRC alumna herself, Ellen Dodd, a 2013 retiree and this year’s Distinguished SRC Retiree recipient, just may be the most devoted advocate of Spoon River College in general, and of the SRC community in general.
Ellen started her career in the SRC print shop, when they were still downtown Canton and not everyone had a computer at home. After SRC moved into the present buildings, Ellen worked as the switchboard operator. Soon, Ellen was also helping out in the bookstore, and eventually worked there full-time as the Bookstore Assistant. Her responsibilities included supervising student workers, and she counts her interactions with students among her favorite memories.
Ellen has served as the President of the Cuba Lioness Club and as a radio operator for the Fiatt Station of the Cuba Fire Department. She’s also served as a Superintendent for the Fulton County Fair and remains involved with the Fulton County Fair Board.
Since retiring after 40 years of service to SRC, Ellen earned her bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry at Mid-America Christian University. She serves as pastor at Smithfield Brock United Methodist Church and Locust Lane UMC. Until more recent years, she served as pastor at St. David UMC until its closing.
She also remains extremely involved with SRC, having served as a previous President of the CCC/SRC Alumni Association and, for many years, as emcee of this event. She also continues to assist with other SRC Foundation programs and attends many college events. Life circumstances forced her to take a year off from her duties in planning and hosting this event this year, which gave the Committee its one and perhaps only opportunity to honor her with this award, which she truly de-serves.
For 42 years, she was married to Loyd, who she met at SRC, until his passing in April 2021. Her family includes daughters, Robin and Lori; son, Jacob; former daughter-in-law, Jessica; and grandchildren Andrew, Hilary, Dustin, Brody, and Kole. Ellen is also a devoted cat mom and can often be found catering to every whim of Lillie, her Labrador retriever.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
RICK KLINEDINST
Rick Klinedinst originally wanted to be an architect. Then, he wanted to be a mechanical draftsman and follow in the footsteps of his father. But after a discussion with a mentor at his part-time job at what is now MidAmerica National Bank, he realized that banking could be his career.
The rest is history, as Rick has improved his rank from part-time “coin boy” in 1978 (when he was just 15 years old), to roles in Operations in Lending (where he’d become Assistant Vice President in 1991 and Vice President in 1994), to Senior Vice President of Retail Division in 1997, to President of Fulton County operations in 2004.
Since 2010, he’s served as CEO/President of MidAmerica National Bank, an institution with $575 million in assets and which is one of the largest banks in west central Illinois.
Rick attended SRC from 1981-1985 but left two credit hours short of his associate degree to transfer to Western Illinois University, where he earned his bachelor’s in finance in 1986. He’s since earned additional academic credentials from the Illinois Bankers Association, the University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School of Banking, and the Bank Administration Institute.
With a list of community involvement too lengthy to list, Rick’s connection with SRC remains unbreakable, having served both on the Foundation Board and Board of Trustees. His roles at SRC have included student, instructor, volunteer, investor, donor, bond investor, presenter, and many other roles because of how important he believes SRC is to the community. He even returned to SRC in 2006 to take one class and finish his associate degree 20 years after obtaining his bachelor’s degree, just to say that he graduated from Spoon River College.
Rick and his wife, Janet, have three children: Drew (wife, Mary Beth), Andrea, and Clay. He counts his family as his greatest personal achievement and time with his grandkids as his favorite life memories. A history buff with emphases on Lincoln and local history, he published a book with Mary Haney in 2017, entitled Camp Ellis: Once a City, Not Forgotten. He hopes to write more, start his own business eventually, and keep teaching, volunteering, speaking, and spending more time with his grandkids.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
CARLA TESLICKA
Carla Teslicka first joined the YMCA of McDonough County in 1976 as an Administrative Secretary. She briefly moved out of the area and returned to serve as Membership Director for seven years, earning the YMCA’s Membership Coordinator of the Year distinction in 1996. In 1998, she earned a promotion to become the Director of the Gymnastics Center.
She graduated from SRC in 2000, concentrating in communication in her Associate of Arts degree. A strong student at both institutions, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa at SRC and graduated with High Honors from WIU in 2002, despite being a single mother and working 30 hours per week while taking classes full-time at WIU.
As she completed her education at SRC and WIU, she was selected to serve as Associate Executive Director of the YMCA of McDonough County. In September 2011, she accepted the position of CEO, a role that she held until her retirement at the end of 2021.
In the 133-year history of the YMCA of McDonough County, she was the first female to hold the position of CEO, and she credits her experiences at SRC with giving her the confidence she could be successful as a student and with changing the way she thought about herself.
In the community, Carla has been involved with Rotary International in both Macomb and Bushnell, the Macomb Heritage Days, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Rock Steady Boxing, the McDonough County Housing Authority, Western Illinois Regional Council, Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDCO), and served as the YMCA liaison for the McDonough County Health Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In retirement, Carla, who is determined to make this phase of her life worthwhile after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, is focusing on her family, which includes her husband, Steve (a retired firefighter of 23 years): daughters Chelsea and Michele, sons Tim and Dustin; and seven grandchildren. They are expecting another grandchild in March 2023.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
JEFF STANDARD
Few people—let alone SRC alumni—have occupations as stressful as Jeff Standard’s. A Canton native, he graduated from Canton High School before continuing his education at Western Illinois University, where he graduated with a degree in Law Enforcement Administration. Jeff took classes at SRC from 1987-1988.
After a 12-year hiatus from law enforcement while working for Owens Farms, joining his father-in-law in the family business, Jeff embarked on a 30-plus year career in law enforcement, largely with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. In 2006, after the retirement of Sheriff Dan Daly, Jeff ran for the open office and was elected. He was re-elected in 2010, 2014, and 2018.
As Sheriff, Jeff oversees the Fulton County Jail, security and maintenance at the Fulton County Courthouse, 911 dispatch, Animal Control, and the patrolling of all of Fulton County’s unincorporated towns and rural areas in one of the geographically-largest counties in the state.
In addition to his service in law enforcement, he’s also coached youth football, basketball, baseball, and softball, served on the Friendship Festival Board and St. Mary’s Parish Council, is a member of the Elks’ Lodge and Fulton County Farm Bureau, and has served the Copperas Creek Fire Protection District as a firefighter and EMT. He’s also ben one of the most popular speakers at SRC’s Lifelong Learning Institute (formerly the Retirees’ Learning Institute) over most of the past 15-plus years.
Additionally, he has continued to add professional education to his resume and has participated in numerous professional organizations over the years to ensure that Fulton County benefits from the best practices of law enforcement organizations from across the country.
He and his wife, Kim, are the proud parents of Emily (husband, Cody) Crumb and Dr. Jacob Standard, both alumni of SRC. He plans to retire from the Sheriff’s office later this month and looks forward to spending more time with his family and enjoying a quieter life, including spending more time with his grandchildren, Brayden and Brooklyn.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
RANDY & SUSIE McMILLEN
While Susie was a Canton native, Randy came to SRC in 1971 after being recruited by Ed Georgieff following a strong basketball career at Augusta-Southeastern High School and ultimately stayed after school. He went to work for International Harvester after SRC.
Each of them going through divorces at the time, Randy and Susie met in 1978 and bonded over their shared experiences. Susie desperately wanted to go to work and entered a Caterpillar metallurgy co-op pro-gram at SRC. After graduating in 1981, she went to work for Caterpillar.
The closing of IH and layoffs at Caterpillar changed their career paths. Randy managed Fulton County Trucking, and Susie went into real estate, later convincing Randy to join in. They launched McMillen and Wife Real Estate and Auction Service in 1989.
1994, Randy took an opportunity to work for Caterpillar as a machine operator and later moved into management. When Susie wanted to focus on directly helping her clients, they sold McMillen and Wife. In 2001, they began listing and selling real estate for RE/MAX Unlimited, with Susie earned the company’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her as one of the best realtors in the industry.
Susie served over 20 years doing ministry at the prison and was a lay speaker for several small churches in Fulton and McDonough Counties. She was known for her random acts of kindness, whether dropping off food at someone’s house, taking cold drinks to construction workers on hot days, or paying for those behind her in the drive thru at McDonald’s. She served two terms on the SRC Foundation Board and was instrumental in the SRC Alumni Association in the organization’s early days. She held the unofficial role of “Chief Recruiter” for the SRC Community Chorus, a group she performed with and loved dearly.
Unfortunately, Susie passed away in August 2022 following complications after surgery. In “retirement,” Randy is as busy as ever, doing his best to keep Susie’s legacy in real estate alive. He also plans to do more random acts of kindness to help keep Susie’s memory alive. Despite a distinguished career with Caterpillar and in real estate, Randy still considers meeting Susie as his life’s greatest achievement.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
DAVID GREGORY
The oldest of 14 children growing up in Canton, David Gregory originally hoped to study aeronautical and astronomical sciences, train to become an astronaut, and live on a space station. At the University of Illinois, he discovered a love of art and switched his major to architecture before dropping out to explore a different lifestyle for a few years.
In 1974, he returned to Canton and took a night class at SRC from instructor Tom Snowman. That class inspired him to return to the U of I and study art. He then moved to California and worked out of galleries in the San Francisco region. His work was included in an art book published in Singapore., and when he accompanied the author on a tour to support the book in Singapore, he sold many paintings. This led to a career as a professional artist.
David managed the Ruth Carlson Gallery in California, a gallery which handled the works of 50 artists, including his own, and co-owned (with his first wife, Georgia) Gallery One in Mendocino. After a stint in Hawaii, his works were on display at the Inma Gallery of Fine Art in Sau-di Arabia, where he taught watercolor technique.
Specializing in watercolor, David and his work have received numerous awards and invitations to exhibit in many prestigious art galleries. Between 2005 and 2021, his work was displayed in 44 different group exhibitions in 12 states, and since 1984, he’s had 17 solo exhibitions of his work. He teamed with author John Bear to publish a fine art coffee table book called Mendocino, with over 70 of his paintings included.
In the fall of 2021, David’s paintings were on display at the University of Illinois’ Student Union Gallery. His work continues to be exhibited at galleries and museums across the country in 2022, and in an effort to “pay it forward” earlier this year, designed, created, and painted the scenery for the SRC Community Chorus’ production of Into the Woods.
David returned to Canton in 2006 to care for his father until his dad died in 2009. While in Canton, he met his second wife Renee at Parlin Library and today both live in Peoria. Since his return to Central Illinois, David has served three years on the board of the Fine Arts Society of Peoria and volunteered as a docent for several years leading tours at The Peoria Riverfront Museum. His portfolio can be viewed at www.davidgregorystudio.com.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
BARBI BREWER-WATSON
Struggling with her own confidence as a real estate agent during the housing crisis of 2008 and having been away from the academic life-style for some time, Barbi Brewer-Watson left her bartending job in the Kankakee area, on a path to complete a music business degree from WIU.
Her first stop was SRC, a place she originally thought of as a stepping stone but has since come to call her second home — where she earned her associate degree in 2011.
Focused on getting a job in Chicago at the Lyric Opera, she completed an internship which took her back to Kankakee to organize a three-day music festival in 2014. Knowing she was looking for work, local business leaders plugged her into community organizations in an attempt to keep her in Kankakee. She became the Executive Director of the local orchestra.
Those same local business leaders convinced her she could utilize her skills as the Executive Director of the local Chamber of Commerce. Four years later, the Mayor asked her to come oversee the city’s eco-nomic and community development activities.
As Executive Director of the Economic and Community Development Agency, she has the opportunity to work with many different businesses and organizations across the city. Among other initiatives, she oversees projects relating to the Downtown and Riverview Historic Districts, a 20-year plan for the Kankakee Riverfront, and efforts to improve housing and the local business and workforce climate. She readily admits her hands are in many pots, but she credits her time at SRC to helping her hone the skills necessary to take on so many projects.
Barbi lives in Kankakee with her husband, Mike, and their dog, Snickers. She holds two master’s degrees from Olivet Nazarene University and in 2018 was named a United Way Neighborhood Champion and to the 40 Under Forty list for Kankakee County. She received the Phenomenal Woman Award from the City of Kankakee in 2019, and she’s also involved with Drug Free Kankakee, Inc., the Kankakee Regional Landbank Authority, the Kankakee Riverfront Society, and the United Way. Barbi remains active with the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce and the local performing arts scene, including, from time to time, the SRC Community Chorus and the Canton Church of the Brethren—organizations that she said made SRC and Fulton County her home.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
JOHN DAVIS
A non-traditional student who had been in the workforce before returning to SRC, John Davis credits SRC for helping to expand his knowledge base and find career choices and leadership roles that he otherwise might not have had.
Also a graduate of California Southern University, Chadwick University (where he earned his MBA), John obtained a certificate in Health Administration from the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at The Ohio State University.
For the past 21 years, John has owned Davis Buick-GMC and Davis Ford in Canton, after acquiring Coleman Ford and Coleman Buick-Pontiac-GMC in 2001. He recently (with his daughter, Kiley) launched LINE-X of Canton—a full service body shop that offers bedliners and truck/vehicle accessories—earlier this year, one of the few LINE-X dealers in the part of Illinois.
Prior to his current role, John was a General Foreman at Consolidation Coal Company in Sparta, Il, owner of D&K Food Park in Canton, and served for 11 years as Vice President of Administrative Services at Graham Hospital.
John has given a significant amount of time to his community over the years, having served on the Boards of the Canton Park District, Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Canton Salvation Army—and as President/Chair of the Kiwanis Club of Canton, the Canton Police and Fire Commission, the Peoria Metro New Car Dealers Association, and the Canton School Board. He’s currently a member of the Canton Elks’ Lodge, Wesley United Methodist Church, the Bank of Farmington Board of Directors, and the SRC Foundation Board. He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 1986 and the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 2005.
He and his wife, Gloria, have three daughters: Amy, Ashley, and Kiley, and enjoy being Grandpa and Grandma to Vivi, Lula, and Kannon.
