Spoon River College Celebrates National First-Generation Day

Spoon River College celebrated National First-Generation Day on November 8, the date when the Higher Education Act of 1965 was signed by President Lyndon Johnson, providing federal funding with a goal of strengthening resources and making college more accessible to all students.

It is estimated that 55% of college students identify as first-generation, meaning that their parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree.

Jill Olson, director of the TRIO Student Support Services program at the college, said that can have a significant impact on a student’s chance of success. “First-generation students are less likely to be familiar with college processes, like the FAFSA and how to get financial aid in place. It can be overwhelming.”

The grant-funded TRIO program, which the college has had in place since 2010, was designed to help students overcome social, academic, class, and cultural barriers in higher education. Being a first-generation student is one of the eligibility requirements of being in the program.

“TRIO helps students navigate these systems and processes. Helping them overcome as many of these barriers as possible increases their chances of successfully completing a college degree or a certificate program and transferring onto the four-year college or university,” said Olson.

TRIO participants at Spoon River College are provided with personalized advising for career, transfer, and degree planning. Workshops covering topics ranging from personal financial literacy to time management and study tips are offered, and professional math and science tutors as well as peer tutors are available for both one-on-one and group study opportunities.

TRIO advisors place an emphasis on preparing students to transfer, aiding in selection of the correct transfer classes to take and traveling with students to visit four-year universities. Eligible transfer students who are TRIO members can have their application fees to their four-year schools waived.  Cultural outings, including to museums and art exhibits (at no expense to students), are part of the program, and members regularly participate in community service projects.

“Our off-campus trips enable the TRIO students to connect socially with other students, while exposing them to experiences they may have never taken part in on their own,” said Olson.

TRIO participants are also eligible for an exclusive scholarship program and have access to a private computer lab and study space, free printing, and are able to borrow textbooks, graphing calculators and voice recorders. In 2020, the program introduced a laptop lending program that has been highly utilized by students.

“TRIO works with each student where they are at,” Olson said. “If the student wishes to use all our services, we are happy to cater to that. If they only need transfer assistance, we can provide that for the student. Each student’s academic journey and needs are different, and we work to meet each student’s individual needs while they are at SRC.”

“Our goal is to improve the academic success of our students so they can successfully graduate and transfer to a four-year university.”

To mark the occasion, first-generation students and employees were recognized, and cake was served to all at the Canton and Macomb campuses.

Spoon River College Announces New Positions

Two Spoon River College employees, Sarah Gray and Holly Norton, have been named to new positions at the college. Gray will now serve as the chief financial officer, and Norton as the vice-president of educational and student services.

The changes were made following the resignation of the former vice president. “We took this opportunity to analyze our present needs and plan for the changes in the future in higher education in general and specifically at Spoon River College,” said Dr. Curt Oldfield, president of Spoon River College.

Gray, who has been with the college since 2006 as the director of business and auxiliary services said, “I look forward to joining the administrative team and providing support and guidance with regard to financial matters as we position Spoon River College for the future.”

Norton began teaching part-time at the college in 2006, served as the director of TRIO Student Support Services from 2011 to 2012, then as the dean of transfer education. In her new position, Norton will provide supervision to the deans in academics and in student services, as well as adult services through the college’s Adult Education office. “I am excited for this opportunity to continue working with all of our faculty and staff in providing quality educational opportunities for our district communities. We have the team at Spoon River College, and they make it all possible.”

Oldfield noted that Norton’s position reflects a slight change in title from the one held previously by Dr. Randy Greenwell. Following his retirement in 2015, the position was put on hold due to the disruption of state funding during that time.

In addition, a new position for a chief operations and safety officer has been created and is currently open. “We basically broke down the former vice president position into three categories; the new chief fiscal officer and the chief operations and safety officer positions, with the third one being the chief information and security officer.”

Raj Siddaraju, who has served as the chief information officer since 2008, will continue in that role with additional security responsibilities. Siddaraju began employment at the college in 2000 as the director of technology services.

“These three chief positions will play a vital role in the operations of the college and will report directly to me,” Oldfield said. “They will be making recommendations for future planning so the college continues to be strong, vibrant and competitive as we move forward.”

Sarah Gray

Holly Norton

Pancakes for Bette Fundraiser November 30

The Phi Mu Tau Fraternity at Spoon River College will host the 12th Annual Pancakes for Bette fundraiser on Wednesday, November 30, from 7-10 a.m. in the SRC Sandbar Café located in Lower Centers of the Canton Campus. The public is invited, and the cost is $5.00 for all the pancakes you can eat plus a side order of sausage. Water and coffee will be provided.

The fundraiser is in memory of former SRC employee Bette Dye, who lost her battle with cancer in September of 2010. “We started this fundraiser to help a friend and fellow employee, and we continue it in Bette’s honor,” said Todd Thompson, Phi Mu Tau faculty advisor. “She served my students a lot of pancakes over the years and always with a big smile and a ‘Hey! How are you this morning?’ She was our beloved pancake maker.”

The event was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic.

A pancake eating contest for students will be held, with the winner taking home a $50 gas card donated by Student Services.

For those who would like to donate, please make checks payable to Phi Mu Tau-SRC with “Pancakes for Bette” in the memo line.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Phi Mu Tau Fraternity is comprised of students in the Diesel and Power Systems Technology program. For more information, contact Todd Thompson at 649-6244, Joseph Clemens at 649-6245, or Aaron Mayall at 649-6382, diesel instructors and advisors for Phi Mu Tau.

English Faculty Laura Bandy’s Book of Poetry Scheduled for Release in December

Laura Bandy, English faculty at Spoon River College, is eagerly awaiting the publication of her second book of poetry. Monster Movie is scheduled for release by Gold Wake Press this December. Her chapbook, Hack, was published by Dancing Girl Press in August 2021.

A favorite in the classroom, Bandy has taught at Spoon River College since 2018, and was the recipient of the 2020 H. Truman Standard Award for teaching excellence in 2021.

Bandy attended the University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for Writers PhD program from 2009 to 2013, where she received the Joan Johnson Poetry Award. In 2018, she won first prize in the ‘Trio of Triolets’ contest judged by Allison Joseph, and received third place in the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award/ Illinois Emerging Writers Competition that same year. She has had work published in Soft Skull’s Saints of Hysteria: A Half-Century of Collaborative American Poetry, Ninth Letter, Sin Fronteras, River Styx, Typo, Moist Poetry Journal and The Laurel Review among others, and currently has poems in Midwest Review, The Florida Review, and Hobart.

Bandy is from Jacksonville and loves the cornfields, but wishes Illinois had mountains (or even hills!) for snowboarding purposes. She loves spending time with her husband, Tarl, stepchildren Titus and Ashton, and seven cats (four inside, three outside). She is a twin, and librarians are her heroes.

Students Team Up to Restore Arboretum at Spoon River College

Alpha Gamma Tau members, comprised of students in the agriculture program, and members of SEA (Students for Environmental Action) at Spoon River College met in early fall to discuss how the two groups could work together on projects that would benefit the land, students and the community. They chose the Spoon River College Arboretum, a 10-acre tract of native trees and trails on the northern edge of the SRC Canton Campus.

“My vision for the SRC Arboretum is to bring it back to its original glory. The arboretum construction and past use is a piece of our college’s history that I think many faculty, students, and those within our community forget about,” said Allyson Smith, agriculture faculty and advisor for AGT.

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.

One significant contribution was the Ezra J. Clark Memorial Woodland Theatre, given by Clark’s widow as a memorial to her late husband. Constructed with rustic telephone poles, railroad ties, and panels of Coretan steel which would rust to a specified depth, then SRC board trustee Dr. Lowell B. Fisher said “We wanted it to look not as if it were placed there, but as if it grew there.”

It was used at one time for performances of the Spoon River Anthology and even weddings but over the years, time, nature, and lack of upkeep have taken its toll. While the theatre structure itself is in good shape, rest areas and bridges have rotted and collapsed, and trails and the native tree groves have become overgrown.

“I would love to see the theater rehabbed, an interactive tree ID scavenger hunt, rest stops rebuilt, and the trails remapped,” Smith said. “My students and I have already started working on creating a new map of the trails to be posted at the entrance along with other historical information about the arboretum. We have also began removing rotted and un-safe look outs and benches.”

The rotted wood and debris from trees that is being removed will be part of a bonfire that the two student groups decided on for a student event.

“The arboretum provides forestry and conservation educational opportunities to not only the agriculture department, but also many other departments throughout the college,” said Smith. “Biology faculty Amy Rutledge takes her students to the arboretum to perform water quality testing and to discuss the different natural habitats within the arboretum. The annual Section 12 FFA forestry competition is also held there.”

“In general, 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.”

Jim Sheff, math faculty and club advisor for SEA, agrees. “We’re not trying to save the world, but rather have our community appreciate the world around them enough to make better choices; small changes can have significant results.  Every person we introduce to the arboretum has a chance of becoming a better human, and even if only one person is reached, that creates the possibility to change in environmental awareness for generations. Also, trees are cool.”

Biology Students Get Up Close and Inside View of Wind Energy at Cardinal Point Wind

Spoon River College students in the BIO 140 class taught by Tom Vogel recently traveled to Cardinal Point Wind in Sciota to investigate the truth about wind energy. Joe Glaze of Capital Power answered students’ questions and gave then an inside view of the innerworkings of the generator. Students who wanted to climb to the top of the windmills were disappointed to learn that one must have weeks of rescue training before going up the ladder to the top.

One of the questions asked was whether any eagles had been killed by the windmills. Glaze answered no, not to their knowledge, but said bats can be a problem. “We shut down an hour before dusk and don’t turn back on until an hour after dawn so as not to interfere with bat migration.” It is estimated that these windmills will last 25 years.

Pictured l-r is Briley Roper, Tom Vogel, Bria Mitchell, Joe Glaze, Trustin Kimbrough, Teagen Perry, James Doyle, and Lily Powell. Present but pictured was Cassandra Whitford.

Spoon River College Literacy Program and District Libraries Celebrating Family Reading Night November 17

​The ​The Spoon River College Literacy Program is pleased to announce that the 31st Annual Family Reading Night will be celebrated on Thursday, November 17. is pleased to announce that the 31^st Annual Family Reading Night will be celebrated on Thursday, November 17. Held in partnership with libraries and schools throughout the SRC district, the goal is to encourage families to take time to read together as a family. With help from a grant from Dollar General, Spoon River College will provide 25 free books to each library to hand out to attendees.

“Family reading promotes healthy brain development in children, and can improve their language and listening skills. It can also help create a strong parent-child bond and instill a lifelong love of reading,” said Cyndi Johnston, adult education coordinator at Spoon River College.

“Our libraries do a wonderful job of finding fun and supportive ways to support Family Reading Night, and we hope families will take advantage of these free events. Taking time to read together is a great habit to cultivate.”

The activities, locations and times of each library’s event are listed below.

Astoria: The Astoria Public Library will celebrate throughout the day on November 17. Families can stop in and pick up a Family Reading Kit filled with snacks, a book and bookmarks, family activities, and other surprises.

Canton: Parlin-Ingersoll Library will host Family Reading Night November 17 from 6-7 p.m. They will be reading the story “Lentil” and making DIY instruments.

Cuba: The Spoon River Library will offer games, prizes, treats, and story time on November 17 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. All ages are welcome.

Farmington: The Farmington Area Public Library is offering a week of family reading fun. From Monday, November 14 until Saturday, November 19, each child that participates will receive a packet with a bookmark to log reading progress, a small bag of “bookworms” (gummy worms), and a free book. Participants will then get their name entered into a drawing for a prize at the end of the week.

Havana: The Havana Public Library District will hold a Family Reading Night event on November 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Spoon River College Havana Center located at 324 E. Randolph Street. The theme is The Letter ‘P’ – Pajamas and Pancakes, and each child will receive a free book. There will also be guest readers, information booths, snacks, door prizes, and entertainment by the Mason Dixies.

Lewistown: The Lewistown Carnegie Library will hand out free books and craft kits on November 19 while supplies last.

Macomb: The Macomb Public Library will celebrate Family Reading Day on November 17 with free books and cookies.

Rushville: The Rushville Public Library will celebrate Family Read Night on Wednesday, November 16 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. with a fun craft, snacks, and a free book for each child.

For more information about the Literacy Project at Spoon River College, visit www.src.edu or call Cyndi Johnston at (309) 833-6038.

Iyanuoluwa “Abigail” Olalere Receives the September Student Shout-Out Award

Spoon River College student Iyanuoluwa “Abigail” Olalere was the recipient of the Student Shout-Out for September at Spoon River College and will receive a $100 Visa gift card. She was nominated by Laura Bandy (English faculty).

“Iyanuoluwa is a student in my ENG150/Intro to Poetry course and she is bright, engaged, ever curious and a talented writer—a dream student.  She embodies all five of the core values of SRC in how she interacts with her fellow students and the world, and in the area of caring, she really shines. Iyanuoluwa is deeply kind, wise, and empathetic, and makes the world a brighter place just by being in it.  I shout her out with admiration and gratitude—she is a wonderful human,” said Bandy.

Olalere, who is from Springfield, is a member of the Spoon River College women’s basketball team. She is passionate about sports, helping people, and is considering a healthcare career.

The Student Shout-Out is an initiative that encourages any faculty or employee to nominate a student who deserves a special shout-out, “The reason can be big or small, but the important thing is that we hear about the positive and helpful things our students are doing,” said Brandy Chasteen, TRIO advisor on the Canton Campus of Spoon River College.

One-Time Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Application Now Available

The application for the one-time federal student loan debt relief program being rolled out by President Biden is now available at www.studentaid.gov, along with more information about the program. It takes approximately five minutes to complete and does not require a login.

“I encourage students who think they may be eligible to apply,” said Jo Branson, director of financial aid at Spoon River College. “The application is simple and quick to complete.”

Under the plan, eligible borrowers can receive $10,000 or $20,000 in debt relief depending on their income and whether they received a Pell Grant in college. According to the Education Department, borrowers who apply in October could see a portion of their debt forgiven as soon as November. Borrowers are being encouraged to file their forms by November 15 in order to see their balances reduced before the end of a freeze on payments that began during the pandemic and ends in January. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2023. For more information about the program, visit www.studentaid.gov.

College and Transfer Fair Held during National Transfer Student Week

Spoon River College hosted a College and Transfer Fair on October 19 in the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus. It coincided with National Transfer Student Week, which is recognized every third week of October as a way to highlight the success of transfer students and to continue to improve the transfer process for students who begin at one institution before transferring to another.

For bachelor degree seeking students, the required curriculum for the first two years is the same—whether it’s taken at a community college or a four-year university—and students often complete those first two years at a community college before transferring.

“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.

“Typically, once a student completes the required general education courses at a community college, they will be accepted by the university they are transferring to, but occasionally, an institution may want a student to re-take a class of theirs,” said Norton.

Spoon River College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative, a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum (IGECC) 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.

Norton said the best options for transfer students are to either earn an associate degree or complete the general education core curriculum.  “We also always encourage students to work closely with their SRC advisor to make sure they are selecting those IAI courses. Students who have made the decision about where they are transferring to can also reach out to an advisor at the transfer institution.”

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%