Category Archive: Uncategorized

SRC Hosting Spring College Visit Days in Canton and Macomb

Spoon River College will host College Visit Days at both their Canton and Macomb campuses on Tuesday, February 15 from 9-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 9 from 1:30-4 p.m., and Thursday, April 21, from 9-11:30 a.m.

“We’ll be showcasing our transfer education and career programs, and providing information on the degrees and the short-term certificates offered at Spoon River College. It’s the perfect time to visit the campuses and ask questions,” said Eve Zimmerman, dual credit coordinator.

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 on the Canton Campus. All attendees will receive a free t-shirt.

This event is for people of all ages who are interested in learning about the transfer and career education programs available at Spoon River College.

High school students should inquire with their school about using a college visit day, and letters from the College confirming their attendance at the event will be provided.

Visit https://www.src.edu/collegevisit to RSVP the preferred date and campus. Masks are required at Spoon River College for all students, staff, and visitors.

The Canton Campus is located at 23235 N. County Hwy. 22, and the Macomb Campus is located at 208 S. Johnson Street.

Spoon River College Announces Fall 2021 Graduates

Spoon River College congratulates the following individuals who completed degrees and/or certificates during the Fall 2021 semester at Spoon River College.

Abingdon: Brian L. Wingo, Associate in Arts degree

Astoria: Noah Gorsuch, Associate in Applied Science/Agricultural Business Management; Zachary Skiles, Welding Operator certificate

Bath: Gabrielle Carlock, Associate in Arts degree

Bryant: Madalynn Whewell, Nursing Assistant certificate

Bushnell: Sarah A. Hood, Associate in Arts degree, Tamera K. Klinedinst, Associate in Arts degree, Rosalia Lentini, Associate in Arts degree, Miah Zarello, Associate in Arts degree

Canton: Hunter Alig, Associate in Arts degree, Kyle Bates, Welding Operator certificate; Jace Vincent Dawson, Welding Operator certificate; Logan Howell, Welding Operator certificate; Kimberly Johnson, Nursing Assistant certificate; Harvey Johnson III, Associate in General Studies; Grace Mayall, Associate in Science degree, Brandon McGraw, Computer Information Technology, Cyber Security and Enterprise Computer Network Specialist certificates; Cinda L. Miller, Nursing Assistant certificate; Marie Newhalfen, Nursing Assistant certificate; Lauren Elizabeth Oldfield, Associate in Arts degree; Lydia G. Painter, Associate in Arts degree; Ella Rogers, Associate in Arts degree; Kelsey M. Trainer, Associate in Arts degree;  Nathan A. Williams, Associate in Arts degree; Haley D. Woodcock, Associate in Science degree

Colchester: Joseph M. Kotraba, Associate in Applied Science/Computer Information Systems degree, Computer Information Technology, Cyber Security, Enterprise Computer Network Specialist, and Server Administrator certificates

Cuba: Tyler A. Hensley, Welding Operator certificate; Alex Oller, Associate in Science degree

Danville: Marcus Blurton, Associate in General Studies degree, Emma Bogen, Associate in Arts degree

Dunfermline: Katherine Lynn Reneau, Associate in Arts degree

Fairview: Luke Allen Stuckey, Associate in Arts degree

Farmington: Dash Anderson, Associate in Arts degree; Joah Breese, Welding Operator certificate; Colby Evans, Associate in Applied Science/Agricultural Business Management degree

Galesburg: Matthew Cox, Computer Information Technology and Enterprise Computer Network Specialist certificates; Michelle Jones, Nursing Assistant certificate

Havana: Nathaniel C. Armstrong, Basic Commercial Driver Training certificate; Kaleb J. Layton, Associate in Arts degree

Ipava: Audry E. Branson, Associate in General Studies degree; Cole Eldon Lannery, Associate in Arts degree; Kaylee Dodge, Nursing Assistant certificate; Anabelle Pratt, Emergency Medical Technician certificate

Kenosha, WI: Anthony Elijah Gates, Jr., Associate in Science degree

Lewistown: Jeremy Scott Brannan, Associate in General Studies degree; Michael Hibser, Basic Commercial Driver Training and Welding Operator certificates; Jainee Marie Sours, Associate in Science degree, Caitlin Thrasher, Associate in General Studies degree; Maddison Brown, Medical Transcription certificate

Macomb: Michael Gibson, Basic Commercial Driver Training certificate; Casey Lee Sutton, Associate in Arts degree; Racquel Wilson, Associate in Arts degree; Hayley M. Wright, Associate in Arts degree; Chandler Lemons, Emergency Medical Technician, Kaitlyn Geltmacher, Medical Transcription certificate; Aloycius Johnson, Welding Operator certificate; Victoria Morrell, Medical Assistant certificate; Caleb Norton, Welding Operator certificate; Gabriel O’Brien, Welding Operator certificate

Maquon: Caleb Mason, Welding Operator certificate; Cameron Schulthes, Commercial Driver Training certificate

Marietta: Renda Milleson, Medical Assistant and Medical Coding certificates

Pekin: Ryan Albright, Emergency Medical Technician certificate

Peoria: Miranda Adriana Alvarez, Associate in Arts degree;

Petersburg: Colton Lawrence, Emergency Medical Technician certificate

Roseville: Sean McIntyre, Server Administration certificate

Rushville: Michael E. Hillyer, Associate in General Studies degree; Joseph W. Phillips, Associate in Arts degree; Daniel Austin Ray, Associate in Arts degree; Henry Mordiva, Computer and Network Technician, Computer Information Technology, Enterprise Computer Network Specialist, and Server Administrator certificates; Tyler Trone, Welding Operator certificate

Smithfield: Peter H. Howerter, Computer and Network Technician, Cyber Security, and Enterprise Computer Network Specialist certificates

St. Charles: Ryan Kampen, Emergency Medical Technician certificate

St. Louis, MO: Timothy Lee Reynolds, Jr., Associate in Science degree

Table Grove: Carson Huber, Emergency Medical Technician certificate

Vermont: Kaitlyn Richey, Nursing Assistant certificate; Chloe Cracraft, Medical Transcription certificate

President’s List for Fall 2021 Full-Time Students

Spoon River College congratulates the following full-time students who were named to the President’s List in recognition of their academic achievement in completing 12 credit hours or more of college-level classes and earning a grade point average of 3.6–4.0 during the Fall 2021 semester. Please note that students who have designated a privacy hold will not appear on this list.

Astoria: Christina M. Kling, Joshua L. O’Donnal, Trinity L. Taylor

Avon: Matthew R. Sinnett

Bardolph: Lael J. McKee

Bath: Tayden M. Friend

Blandinsville: Joshua L. Miller

Bryant: Chelsea M. Newburn, Emily S. Wise

Burlington, WI: Mackenzie E. Stiewe

Bushnell: Jamie S. Edwards, Lillian K. Powell, Daniel J. Taflinger

Camden: Collin E. Shelts

Canton: Elizabeth M. Adami, Mason Alig, Jude C. Almeida, Breanna K. Amerine, Melody R. Barnes, Ethan M. Bender I, Skyler T. Burgard, Trista N. Buskirk, Abbigale A. DeRenzy, Allie Diefendorf, Joshua Fuller, Lukas R. Goforth, Ashley J. Harper, Alanah G. Howarter, Chelsea L. Jansen, Anna Kenser, Paige N. Kruschinsky, Jason M. Licklider, Bella S. Markley, Brandon R. McGraw, Damian L. Minder, Allison R. Mortland, Sydney K. Munson, Chloe Nelson, Isabelle G. Neville, Anna K. O’Brien, Bethany M. Pankratz, Deanna J. Patton-Spotser, Ethan M. Phillips, Khloe R. Piles I, Carson J. Powers, Allison P. Roos, Alexander D. Ruck, Mallory L. Schielein, Brady M. Sprout, Zachary A. Stremmel, Ashlyn Strob, Kayleen H. Tarter, Gage J. Wallick, Gracie L. Widger

Channahon: Jacob M. Allgeyer

Chillicothe: Jansan L. Davis

Colchester: Nathan C. Andres, Kyah J. Beck

Crystal Lake: Corrine V. Hamill

Cuba: Quentin D. Gilpin, Sloan L. Miller, Ethan L. Patterson, Carley B. Seward

Danville: Emma M. Bogen

East Peoria: Collin A. Suddeth

Easton: Dale E. DeVore

Elmwood: Will D. Hayden

Fairview: Alivia E. Hanlin, Ian J. Lister, Luke A. Stuckey

Farmington: Austin M. Marinich, Andrea G. Pollitt, Blake A. Springer, Jeanette R. Wilckens

Fiatt: Alonza W. Bradley, Isabelle E. Bradley

Fort Wayne, IN: Andrew M. Kroft

Frederick: Austin J. Dossett

Galva: Tyvin D. Hodge

Gary, IN: DaKei D. Hines

Good Hope: John R. Burton

Grant Park: Clayton J. McKinstry

Griggsville: Tucker A. Kunzeman

Hanna City: Laurel A. Keyt

Havana: Madison N. Hofreiter, Krista R. Koke, Zoey R. Lane, Tara R. McCausland, Kaley R. Meyer, Lindsey M. Morgan, Taylor F. Stockham, Colin D. Sullivan, Tory R. Wickman

Kilbourne: Kristen Nall, Resse Smith

Las Vegas, NV: McKenzy R. Wheeler

Lewistown: Clay A. Beekman, Maddison M. Brown, Kruze D. Chasteen, Robert W. Micklus, Macy D. Mikulich, Avery E. Smith, Tysin E. Stone

Lincoln: Alexander J. Bogdanic

Liverpool: Jacob E. Warren

Lockport: Jacob R. Sitterly

Mackinaw: Taylor M. Purdy

Macomb: Joshua P. Bryan, Lollita Campbell, Alexis L. Ebey, Kaitlyn R. Geltmacher, Emma J. Gilliland, Daniel K. Hammond, Diana M. Hanks, Heaven L. Hearne, Mallory A. Hoyt, Jennie R. Ismail, Matthew R. Kessler, Silvia R. Knowles, Chester Ruff, Tessa J. Sargeant I, Matthew J. Sash, Kevin R. Shelton, Luke S. Silberer, Brooke M. Smith, Grace A. Stufflebeam, Jasmine N. Zachary

Maquon: Grace A. Bridson

Marietta: Renda S. Milleson

Marinette, WI: Rachel M. Beaty

Morris: Cole M. Laurie

Oak Forest: Bradley S. Miller

Orleans, IN: Sydney L. Owens

Plymouth: Maritsa K. Wester

Roseville: Sean I. McIntyre, Sr.

Rushville: Jacob A. Berrier, Rachel A. Hackworth, Remi K. Irwin, Matthew A. Little, Joseph W. Phillips, Madison G. Stewart, Alec B. Wenger I

Smithfield: Ethan P. Martindale

St. David: Griffin K. Noe, Logan R. Owens

Vermont: Chloe S. Cracraft, Isaac J. Snyder

Yates City: Emma R. Vallas

President’s List for Fall 2021 Part-Time Students

S Please note that the names of students who have designated a privacy hold will not appear on this list.

Abingdon: Brian L. Wingo

Bath: Ella R. Kramer I

Browning: Jacob R. Miller, Ashley E. Strode

Bryant: Madalynn M. Whewell

Bushnell: Mollee J. Barlett, Jalyn K. Fayhee, Tamera K. Klinedinst, Dylan G. Silchack

Canton: Jacob C. Barnard, Kyle A. Bates, Lauren Brown, Jace V. Dawson, Trinity M. Friedrich, Sabrina R. Geier, Jace W. Gudzinksas, Olivia C. Hinds, Clayton J. Horner, Emily K. Love, Hunter C. Martin, Amanda McClaskey, Lauren E. Oldfield, Justin A. Rollet, Jeremy A. Skinner, Shelby J. Waddell, Owen P. Watson, Caden J. Williams

Chandlerville: Sarah A. Dyson

Colchester: Taylor A. Dimmitt

Cuba: Jenna L. Gorsuch

Dunfermline: Katherine L. Reneau

Easton: Meghan E. Riley

Fairview: Holly L. Henry, Ellie G. Quick

Farmington: Amy L. Eddy, Jill R. Ifft, Keith H. Ifft, Cole J. Riggen

Glasford: Alexa M. Reavley

Havana: Arabella M. Blakeley, Caleb M. Fleer, Lauren E. Fleer, Zoe L. Porter, Shiloh Santanna, Erin C. Smith

Industry: Rachel A. Hood

Kilbourne: Chloe S. Turner

Las Vegas, NV: Darrell E. Shores

Lewistown: Isabella N. Cooper, Brooke E. Hampton, Chelsey M. Hopkins, Luke C. Lange, Kyleigh G. Schrock, Kennedy E. Sidwell, Jainee M. Sours, Katelyn R. Wicker, Dane T. Winkler

Macomb: Michael R. DeWitt, Victor A. Gast, Zachary M. Hagmeier, Arbiana Kadriu, Benjamin E Rericha, Avery J. Rexroat, Breanna L. Rhoads, Sydney J. Rhoads, Andrew J. Rittenhouse, Jacob L. Rouse, Jessica Ruff, Nicolas A. Wilson

Maquon: Tori M. Mas, Madison S. Hickman

Millstadt: Jack M. Toenjes

Peoria: Kayla P. Case

Plymouth: Wesley J. Shelor

Rusvhille: Isabel M. Escapa, Madison R. Funke, Kinze A. Haywood, Katelyn G. Ingles, Henry N. Mordiva, Harley E. Street, Abigail G. Wright

Springfield: Kira E. Brown.

Dean’s List for Fall 2021 Full-Time Students

Spoon River College congratulates the following full-time students who have been named to the Dean’s List by achieving a 3.0 – 3.5 grade point average for 12 credit hours or more of college-level classes during the Fall 2021 semester. Please note that the names of students who have designated a privacy hold will not appear on this list.

Astoria: Hollidae F. Koster, Dagain P. Reneau, Skye R. Stambaugh

Athens: McKayla A. Clark

Bellevue: Robert Wingo

Bourbonnais: Nicholas W. Rodriguez

Bowling Green, KY: Trevor A. Dennis

Bushnell: Haley Waller

Canton: Irene L. Adami, Giulia Cianfriglia , Adrionna C. Cole, Austin R. Corsaw, Stephen D. Eskridge, Destiny S. Evans, Cheyann R. Eyman, Mallory Jackson, Joseph S. Matthews, Grace C. Owens, Lydia G. Painter, Sienna E. Rader, Brenna N. Reid, Ella Rogers, Beau B. Slayton, Tyler B. Svob, Anna G. Taylor, Nathan A. Williams, Edward D. Wise

Chicago: Joshua X. De Leon, Michael F. Mitchell

Colchester: Benjamin S. Havens

Cuba: Kaleb M. Bailey, Kyla R. Hughes, Wayde D. Lane, Dylan A. Lyons, Hannah N. Randall

Edwardsville: Jayna M. Connoyer

Farmington: Dash P. Anderson, Tylen R. Anderson I, Steven D. Devries, Brock A. Renner I, Mary R. Toothaker

Galesburg: Nicholas R. Winters

Havana: Olivia A. Herbst, Jakob M. Hertter, Kaleb J. Layton, Savannah N. Nelson, Lydia M. Newell, Matthew A. Schaad

Lewistown: Stephanie J. Donaho, Cortney A. Hopkins, Zoe L. Lutes, Kaylynn J. Prater, Kyle L. Simpson, Jonathon D. Starnes

Mackinaw: Brianna L. Grabowski I

Macomb: Karlye J. Allen, Amanda L. Ambrose, Rachel A. Bosworth, Ruth E. Buren, Jennifer L. Chenoweth, Alexandria Forman, Alyssa S. Iversen, Sierra L. Keeffer, Jennifer L. Kirksey, Emily A. Livermore, Emilee J. Mahr, Alexander Sullivan, Casey L. Sutton, Ashton D. Timm, Alexander Vyhnanek, Katarina A. Weaver, Regan W. Weaver, Racquel Wilson, Hayley M. Wright, Miah A. Zarello,

Manteno: Ethan R. Pequette

Minooka: Zachary W. Petrinos

Montgomery: Jaden L. Fitzgerald

Monticello: Miranda J. Fogal

Mt. Sterling: Andrew A. Hughes

Oak Forest: Samuel Ochoa

Oakland, TN: Kailyn F. Anderson

Peoria: Miranda A. Alvarez I

Plainfield: Jackson R. Krieger

Richmond, TX: De’Asisa Davenport

Rushville: Isaac A. Goodrich, Fletcher Higgins, Alexandria J. Lamm, Austin M. Lindsey, Paul M. Malcomson, Kayde M. Shaw, Kraig M. Street, Tyler S. Trone,

San Antonio, TX: Lorali J. Erfurth

Shorewood: Noah M. Johnson

Springfield: Emmalia R. Bender, Aidan Hamerlinck, Lezhauria Williams

St. David: Haley Lansford

Vermont: Aaron C. Miller, Kaitlyn N. Richey, Nicholas L. Turpin

Willowbrook: Aaron M. Tims

Yates City: Wyatt E. Davis

Dean’s List for Fall 2021 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 2021 semester. Please note that the names of students who have designated a privacy hold will not appear on this list.

Augusta: Sydnee M. George

Canton: Connor J. Atchley, Alice J. Axline, Hannah M. Barclay, Paige M. Collopy, Michael R. Courtney, April L. Davidson, Christina M. Gilmore, Addisyn R. Graves, Ashley D. Groves, Sylvia R. Hecox, Taylor K. Marshall, Brooke L. McBride, Aaron M. Olson, Emma D. Orwig, Ellexi E. Sale, Olivia Spahn, Jacob H. Wilts

Cuba: Collin J. Brooks, Sara Gilpin, Allyson M. Harrold, Allyson M. Harrold

Dunfermline: Rebecca S. Reyes

Farmington: William J. Eddy

Galesburg: Matthew R. Cox

Glasford: Leah N. Reavley

Green Valley: Brittany N. Mackey

Havana: Stephanie J. Bailey, Brant E. Bastien, Aidian R. Bottoms

Industry: Peyton J. Lyons I

Joliet: Dean C. Procarione

Kingfisher, OK: Logan H. Rutledge

Las Vegas, NV: Rachelle A. Bickel

Lewistown: Brook A. Massingale, Shannon R. Stanton

Liverpool: Taylor J. Bastian

Macomb: Thomas Y. Engel, Desmond M. Graves, Kelbie L. Kreps, Melissa Leinard, Madison E. Merritt, William D. Payne, Kylie L. Schoonover, Madeline P. Wells, Dana L. Wesley, Shuai Zhao

Marietta: Mary E. Nolan

Peoria Heights: Mitchell Martin

Rushville: Andrea P. Busby, Reese E. Esther

Springfield: Todd M. Porter

Table Grove: Lance W. Boggs

Vermont: Tiffany J. Hall

Paint N Sip Athletic Fundraiser January 28

Spoon River College Athletics is hosting a fundraiser with Canvas-Connections on Friday, January 28 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Canton, located at 61 W Elm.

The event is open to the public (no artistic talent necessary, the pros will walk you through it), and attendees will be creating a 4′ solid wood gnome leaner. The gnomes can be painted for spring, in a sports outfit, or as an everyday guy or gal, in each artist’s choice of style and color.

Doors open at 5:15 p.m. with food available for purchase. There will also be a cash bar, raffles, 50-50 drawing, and a bake sale. Painting starts at 6 p.m. Cost is $49 cash or check paid directly at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Canton Campus, or through online registration at www.canvas-connections.com/srcgnomefundraiser with a credit/debit card for an additional $5 to cover third party transaction fees.

For more information, visit the Spoon River College Athletics Facebook page or call 309-649-6307

Paint N Sip Athletic Fundraiser January 28

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SRC Community Outreach Offers Cannabis Horticulture Class

Macomb – The Spoon River College Office of Community Outreach is offering a new class called Cannabis Horticulture this Spring. This affordable 12 week program prepares students for a career in the quickly growing Cannabis Industry. Classes begin on Tuesday, February 8th.

Cannabis Horticulture will cover the basic botany of the cannabis plant, soil science, fertigation, integrated pest management and cannabinoid testing. Students will receive training online but will also receive hands on experience through lab exercises.

This class is being presented by Thomas Vogel, SRC biology faculty member whose area of expertise is plant anatomy and physiology, propagation, genetics and evolution, Cannabis sativa and science education.

Lecture will be held online and will meet from 3-5pm on Tuesdays, February 8-May 3, 2022. Computer access with internet capability is required.

Lab will meet from 8am-Noon every other Thursday from February 24-April 21, 2022. Locations for lab may include Natures Grace & Wellness near Vermont, Stoney Branch Ag Ventures near Rushville, or Spoon River College Outreach Center in Macomb. Students must be able to provide their own transportation to labs.

This class is part of a new certificate program being offered by the Spoon River College Community Outreach Department. Additional Cannabis Industry classes are coming this Fall. Classes include Cannabis Harvesting & Production and Cannabis Logistics & Inventory. Cannabis Industry workshops are sponsored by Nature’s Grace and Wellness, LLC. This sponsorship allows the college to offer the classes at a reduced cost to participants.

Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call Spoon River College at 309-833-6031 or register online at https://src.augusoft.net.

Cannabis Horticulture Class
Cannabis Horticulture Class

Giving #SPOONday Raises Over $60,000

​The Spoon River College Foundation is pleased to announce that, thanks to the generosity of donors across the SRC district and beyond, its #GivingSPOONday campaign was a huge success, surpassing its goal and raising $61,925 from 338 separate gifts, including all matching funds.

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 “change lives for good,” and give 300 separate gifts to benefit SRC in the 24-hour period of November 30.

“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 $10,000.  When the matching gifts are removed, the average gift was around $80, and gifts came from 13 states and 74 zip codes.  Gifts came from as far away as Florida, Arizona, and California.

“The appeal of helping students at SRC truly reaches all corners of the country,” said Davis.  “But it’s our communities here in west central Illinois that stepped up for us in the biggest way.”

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 the 2020 as a way to help SRC students remain enrolled in classes and on track,” Davis said.  “That has helped us keep as many as 58 students enrolled who otherwise may have been forced to drop out, just since the pandemic began.  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.”

As an added bonus, all donors to #GivingSPOONday received access to a portion of the recent SRC Community Chorus’ production of Silver Songs and Golden Gifts, a recent concert given by the Chorus.

“The SRC Community Chorus, which is celebrating its 16th year and raises money for SRC student scholarships, performed a holiday concert in early December after a year away, but the capacity was greatly reduced,” said Davis.  “Because of the reduction in capacity, people who otherwise attend each year were unable to attend the concert this year.  However, both the Chorus and the Foundation felt that providing holiday cheer is more important than ever this year, so we’re bringing a part of it to them in the safety of their homes, and we’re grateful for the nearly 60 people who gave their time and talent to this project, because it certainly was a big help in our successful campaign.”

People who were unable to participate in #GivingSPOONday but still wish to help local students at SRC by visiting www.src.edu/give or by calling (309) 649-6395.  The college is closed for winter break from Dec. 18 through Jan. 2, but gifts are tax-deductible in 2021 as long as they are postmarked via USPS by December 31.

“The longer the pandemic continues, the more we’ll need to be there for our students.  The generosity of our friends during #GivingSPOONday, no matter how they asked for their gifts to be used, will allow us to meet more and more of those needs.  The beautiful thing about #GivingSPOONday is how everyone, even just by sharing information about the campaign on social media or donating spare change at Hy-Vee, plays a big part.  We thank everyone who helped make the campaign a success.”

Performing Art Scholarship Recipients: Final Projects

Five Spoon River College art students who were awarded Performing Art Scholarships from the SRC Foundation recently had their final art pieces showcased in the Engle Hall display case. The students are Elizabeth Adami, Melody Barnes, Destiny Evans, Sydney Munson, and Keeara Virag.

Their assignment was tied to this year’s College Theme, “Who Can? We Can! The Will to Overcome,” and the students were tasked with creating two separate pieces that represented or portrayed the idea of overcoming a personal challenge, using any medium they wished.

“Each of them creatively tied their subject matter, choice of color and mediums, and compositional layouts to reinforce this concept of emerging on the opposite side of a challenge,” said Jamie Kotewa, SRC art teacher. “Each chose what challenge to respond to; some were very specific to a situation and others more broad.”

The challenges the students shared—family conflicts, pandemic lockdown frustration, adjustment to college life, loss, suicidal thoughts, identity acceptance and more—reflect challenges that affect many, and one of Destiny Evans’ goals was to let others know that they were not alone.

“Many students deal with a lot of emotions and over-thinking that can lead to suicidal thoughts. It’s an important topic I want people to talk about more and to understand you’re not truly alone,” wrote Destiny Evans in her artist’s statement. Her painting and a 3-D piece depicted both her personal struggles and her triumph over those struggles.

Melody Barnes wrote that her artwork “represents the conflicting emotions of wanting to reach for our goals and aspirations but how we hesitate because we are so scared of failure. It’s an internal fight between our heart and our mind.”

On one of her pieces, Keeara Virag used a wolf and a deer to represent the loss of a friend and a dragonfly as a symbol of how she has learned and changed from that experience.  She also touched upon family dynamics, writing “This art piece helps to represent me by keeping balance on both sides of my family. I am the mediator of my family.”

Elizabeth Adami used the colors of pink and purple to represent being a twin. “As elementary students, my sister and I had different colors for the teachers and the classmates to tell us apart. Mine was pink, and my twin sister’s was purple. People still got us confused though.” Her travel abstract communicated her internal struggle of being “an introverted and anxious homebody” who loves to travel, as well as the experience of traveling alone in another country and not knowing the language.

Sydney Munson wrote “During the pandemic, many people, including myself, began to feel upset and frustrated that we could not enjoy the things we took for granted before the virus.” She used photographs of two of the things she missed most—theme parks and movie theatres—and expressed that by “cutting each photo into strips of color and black/white to represent the ups and downs of the last year.”

Kotewa said that the students developed the works over the semester and working on their own time. “These artworks help to show the depth of the student experience, particularly in relationship to the past two years.”

Spoon River College offers an AA/AS degree with a concentration in art for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution in a variety of degree programs, including advertising, architecture, interior design, and museum studies.

Performing skill scholarships are awarded each year through the SRC Foundation to students showing special ability or talent in the areas of Art, Drama, Athletics, Agriculture, and Speech and Debate.

For more information about the Art program, or the requirements for these and other SRC Foundation scholarship opportunities, visit www.src.edu, or call 309-647-4645 Five Spoon River College art students who were awarded Performing Art Scholarships from the SRC Foundation recently had their final art pieces showcased in the Engle Hall display case. The students are Elizabeth Adami, Melody Barnes, Destiny Evans, Sydney Munson, and Keeara Virag.

Their assignment was tied to this year’s College Theme, “Who Can? We Can! The Will to Overcome,” and the students were tasked with creating two separate pieces that represented or portrayed the idea of overcoming a personal challenge, using any medium they wished.

“Each of them creatively tied their subject matter, choice of color and mediums, and compositional layouts to reinforce this concept of emerging on the opposite side of a challenge,” said Jamie Kotewa, SRC art teacher. “Each chose what challenge to respond to; some were very specific to a situation and others more broad.”

The challenges the students shared—family conflicts, pandemic lockdown frustration, adjustment to college life, loss, suicidal thoughts, identity acceptance and more—reflect challenges that affect many, and one of Destiny Evans’ goals was to let others know that they were not alone.

“Many students deal with a lot of emotions and over-thinking that can lead to suicidal thoughts. It’s an important topic I want people to talk about more and to understand you’re not truly alone,” wrote Destiny Evans in her artist’s statement. Her painting and a 3-D piece depicted both her personal struggles and her triumph over those struggles.

Melody Barnes wrote that her artwork “represents the conflicting emotions of wanting to reach for our goals and aspirations but how we hesitate because we are so scared of failure. It’s an internal fight between our heart and our mind.”

On one of her pieces, Keeara Virag used a wolf and a deer to represent the loss of a friend and a dragonfly as a symbol of how she has learned and changed from that experience. She also touched upon family dynamics, writing “This art piece helps to represent me by keeping balance on both sides of my family. I am the mediator of my family.”

Elizabeth Adami used the colors of pink and purple to represent being a twin. “As elementary students, my sister and I had different colors for the teachers and the classmates to tell us apart. Mine was pink, and my twin sister’s was purple. People still got us confused though.” Her travel abstract communicated her internal struggle of being “an introverted and anxious homebody” who loves to travel, as well as the experience of traveling alone in another country and not knowing the language.

Sydney Munson wrote “During the pandemic, many people, including myself, began to feel upset and frustrated that we could not enjoy the things we took for granted before the virus.” She used photographs of two of the things she missed most—theme parks and movie theatres—and expressed that by “cutting each photo into strips of color and black/white to represent the ups and downs of the last year.”

Kotewa said that the students developed the works over the semester and working on their own time. “These artworks help to show the depth of the student experience, particularly in relationship to the past two years.”

Spoon River College offers an AA/AS degree with a concentration in art for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution in a variety of degree programs, including advertising, architecture, interior design, and museum studies.

Performing skill scholarships are awarded each year through the SRC Foundation to students showing special ability or talent in the areas of Art, Drama, Athletics, Agriculture, and Speech and Debate.

For more information about the Art program, or the requirements for these and other SRC Foundation scholarship opportunities, visit www.src.edu, or call 309-647-4645.

Destiny Evans
Destiny Evans, Keeara Virag, Elizabeth Adami, Melody Barnes, Sydney Munson

Performing Art Scholarship Recipients
Performing Art Scholarship Recipients
Performing Art Scholarship Recipients
Performing Art Scholarship Recipients
Performing Art Scholarship Recipients