Dr. Curt Oldfield, SRC President: First-Generation Student Feature

Dr. Curt Oldfield: President of Spoon River College – “Make college a priority; it does not last for forever, but it will make a forever difference in your life.”

I graduated from Farmington High School, and I selected Spoon River College because my SRC Agriculture Professor reached out to me and encouraged me to enroll. He provided personalized advising support. I knew nothing about attending college. It was July before I registered for my first semester of classes. However, I was fortunate to have received career planning advice and it helped me realize early that becoming a Veterinarian was not a good fit for me.  As a student, I was willing to ask questions about how my classes would transfer, where to find scholarships, and advocate for myself. It was not easy; there were times I worked 3 part-time jobs at the same time while attending SRC. I could quickly see that completing my Associate’s Degree and then my Bachelor’s Degree was essential to my future success.

SRC is a perfect place for First-Gen students to start their academic journey.  SRC faculty and staff are focused on helping students succeed.  SRC has faculty who care about teaching and learning, small class sizes, excellent academic advising, flexible course schedules, affordable tuition, and financial and academic support services that all work together to help students succeed.  SRC has been successfully preparing students to succeed in their next step since the first graduating class of 1962.

My advice for a first-generation college student is to first, be an educated advocate for yourself.  This means asking questions, utilizing resources, having goals you want to accomplish, communicating clearly, participating in student events and student organizations, researching career options, and learning from others.  Secondly, attend class. Missing 1 class can lead to a bad habit. Make college a priority; it does not last for forever, but it will make a forever difference in your life.  Finally, don’t compare your progress to others.  This is your journey, and it is unique to you.  Take as many classes as possible, do the work to get the best grades possible.  Remember if your results are different than someone else, it is ok, but stay committed to finishing the journey.

Our Community. Our Future. — #GivingSPOONday Kicks Off Season of Giving

Goal of 300 gifts by midnight Dec. 2; All Gifts Benefit SRC Students

#GivingSPOONday, Spoon River College’s version of Giving Tuesday, the worldwide day of giving that kicks off the holiday season, is Tuesday, Dec. 2.

A gift to the SRC Foundation helps students pay their tuition, but it goes beyond that. It helps fill the student needs pantries on each campus which provide non-perishable food and toiletries, provides emergency grants for students in crisis, and creates innovative educational opportunities.

One student in particular who has been helped by a SRC Foundation scholarship is Jessica Moyemont, a nontraditional student who returned to school after 17 years.

Jessica said, “This opportunity has not only benefited me personally but also my family, who see the value of education through my example. My long-term plan is to continue from Spoon River College to a four-year university, and this scholarship has helped make that path feel achievable. I am truly grateful to the Spoon River Foundation for investing in students like me. Your support is shaping not just my educational journey, but also the future I’m building for my family and community.“

The SRC Foundation has set a goal of 300 separate gifts to be raised in the campaign, which ends at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 2. The campaign promotes giving online at www.src.edu/givingtuesday, but cash or check donations are gladly accepted, too.

Spoon River College students, employees, and friends will also be sharing the campaign via email and on their social media pages. “The more people that get involved with the campaign, the more students we could potentially help,” said Dusty Berg, Director of the SRC Foundation. “For #GivingSPOONday, every gift counts toward their goal. Even a $10 donation can provide a meal for a student facing food insecurity.”

To make your gift or to learn how you can get involved, visit www.src.edu/givingtuesday, visit the Spoon River College Foundation Facebook page (www.facebook.com/spoonrivercollegefoundation), or call (309) 833-6083.

The Aspen Institute Names Spoon River College as a Top 200 U.S. Community College Eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize

$1 Million Prize Honors Colleges Achieving Strong Student Results, Both in College and After Graduation

WASHINGTON D.C., October 28, 2025 – Today, the Aspen Institute named Spoon River College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.

Curt Oldfield, President of Spoon River College stated, “Being named to the Aspen Institute’s top 200 Community Colleges in the nation is a tremendous honor that reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students who work tirelessly to provide exceptional educational opportunities. This recognition affirms our commitment to student success and the vital role of Spoon River College in strengthening the communities we serve.”

Together, these 200 colleges represent the breadth and diversity of the community college sector. They are located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across the country and serve anywhere from a few hundred students to tens of thousands. Some of these colleges focus primarily on workforce programs, while others focus on transfer and bachelor’s attainment or a combination of the two.

“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students—completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.”

Community colleges educate nearly six million students. Yet community college student outcomes fall short in both the rate at which students graduate and the percentage of students who achieve success after graduation. The Aspen Prize process identifies and celebrates community colleges that demonstrate that achieving stronger outcomes is possible, providing a roadmap of effective practices and strategies for other colleges to follow.

The 200 eligible colleges have been invited to submit an application and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the coming 20 months, the colleges that apply for the Aspen Prize will be assessed based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation and (2) whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high and improving student outcomes.

“Among these 200 colleges are some really special places that deliver strong and improving outcomes for students across the board,” Wyner said. “Our job over the coming 20 months is to gather a lot more data and work with a deep bench of field experts to assess which of these 200 stand out so we can not only honor them with a monetary award, but drive attention to the most effective field practices that other colleges can replicate.”

This is the first time since the inception of the Aspen Prize that 200 colleges are eligible to apply, growing from 150. This year, in addition to publicly available federal data, over 600 colleges authorized the use of National Student Clearinghouse data on their institution’s degree completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates for full- and part-time students.

The full list can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage. To read more about the selection process, visit as.pn/prize.

Spoon River College is a two-year, public community college in West Central Illinois, with campuses and Community Outreach Centers in Canton and Macomb, and Learning Centers in Havana and Rushville. It serves students in a 1,566 square mile area that includes portions of Fulton, McDonough, Mason, Schuyler, and Knox counties. For more information about Spoon River College, visit www.src.edu.

College and Transfer Fair Held at Spoon River College Draws Crowd

Approximately 200 students attended the College and Transfer Fair hosted by Spoon River College on October 21 at the Canton Campus.

The annual event coincides with National Transfer Student Week, which is also celebrated annually to highlight the journey of baccalaureate degree seeking students, who often complete the first two years of study at a community college for a significant cost savings. While the majority of transfers are seamless, on occasion a four-year university may require certain classes be taken at their institution, even though a student had already successfully completed the same course at a junior college.

To ensure a smooth transfer of credits, Spoon River College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions.

“This agreement assures transferring students that lower-division general education requirements for an associate or bachelor’s degree have been met,” said Brandi Ketcham, SRC advisor and event coordinator.

On hand at the College and Transfer Fair were representatives from multiple colleges, universities, trade schools, and military branches from both Illinois and surrounding states.

“Having an event like this gives students the chance to explore a variety of colleges and options and get additional information—about admission requirements, tuition, room and board and more—that can help them make decisions about their future educational journey,” Ketcham said.

District high school students from Bushnell-Prairie City, Cuba, Havana, Lewistown, Spoon River Valley, VIT, as well as area college students, were in attendance.

For more information about the transfer process and the IAI agreement, visit the Spoon River College website.

Pictures of the event can be viewed at Spoon River College Facebook.

SRC Community Chorus Presents Handel’s Messiah and Winter Olio

Celebrating 20 years in 2025, the Spoon River College Community Chorus presents Handel’s Messiah and Winter Olio on December 6 at 7 p.m. and December 7 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be performed at the First Christian Church in Canton.  Tickets go on sale November 1 and may be obtained at SRC Community Chorus or from chorus members.

The concert features the talents of over 60 singers, musicians, and technicians and is under the direction of John L. Davis. Davis also conducted the two previous Messiah concerts offered in 2005, the year of the group’s inception, and again in 2012.

“The first half of the concert includes what is known as the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah,” Davis said.  “We, of course, will also present the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the classical portion.  Concertgoers expect it and we won’t let them down.”

The second half offers a mixture of winter, traditional, contemporary, and holiday songs from a variety of genres including Jingle Bell Fantasy, Over the River, Pure Imagination, and a beautiful arrangement of Fred Rogers’ It’s You I Like.

Singers include Erica Asendorf, Bruce Beal, Carla Bobell, Rob Bobell, Gloria Bradford, Edwin Brinklow, Janice Dare Bruster, Sherry Coffey, Vanessa Coker, Nana Cook, Carol Davis, Colin Davis, Katey Davis, Kevin Dearing, Jennifer Fletcher, Sarah Fouts, Presley Frank, Jim Gage, Jake Haarman, Angie Hale, Kevin Kessler, Denise Kirgan, Tammy Klinedinst-Kessler, Carol Kohler, Charlene Kornoski-DuVall, Lindsey Larson, Matt Luedtke, Naomi Rose Leudtke, Corrinna Markland-Pickel, Wendy Martin, Steve Mason, Sue Maurice, Janet Munson, Chad Murphy, Natalie Orwig, Cecily Pearson, Shirley Roberts, Tony Roberts, Lydia Robinson, Sara Mathis, Shane Smith, Stacy Smith, Jean Sprecher, Jeanine Standard, Trygve Meade, Michael Varnes, Larry Von Behren, Linda Von Behren, Melissa Walker, Kevin Watson, Jendy Way, and Lauren Wilcoxen.

Gretchen Fuller serves as accompanist and concert pianist.  Also providing additional instrumental accompaniment are Drake Miller on oboe; Matt Buczko on trumpet, keyboard, and accordion; Jeff Burkhead, on trumpet; Anthony Roberts on harp; and the WIU International String Quartet.

“Due to the physical taxing on our singers’ voices, we are only offering two performances this December,” Carol Davis, Artistic Director, said.  “However, we have upped our available seating back to 200 per performance.  Patrons are encouraged to obtain their tickets right away.”

 For more information, visit SRC Community Chorus or email SRC Community Chorus This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Two Rivers Arts Council.   

Sarah Gebhardt: SRC Student and Musician Making her Dreams Come True

Originally from Clarksville, TN, SRC student Sarah Gebhardt relocated to Macomb and is completing her general education requirements in preparation for transfer.

“I chose Macomb because I knew people here, and I wanted a fresh start into my adult life. The move is also a stepping stone to Chicago, where I plan to attend Concordia University Chicago.”

Sarah has visited Concordia several times. “I wanted to get a sense of life on campus, and to meet with the professors I would be studying under.” Concordia advisors have already confirmed that her credits will transfer, thanks to the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the complete Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions.

Sarah plans to be a musician, although she is still contemplating what that will look like. “I am unsure which route I want to take because Concordia Chicago offers so many great options, but there is no doubt in my mind that I will pursue some sort of music degree.”

As she should. Sarah is an accomplished musician who plays flute, handbells, timpani (tuned kettle drums), piano, and sings. Next on her list to conquer is the French horn.

Sarah also plays the organ, learning on the Rocky Craft Organ in her hometown and playing daily until moving to Macomb. She also had the opportunity to play the hand-crafted Jaeckel tracker organ at the First Presbyterian Church in Portland, OR that has 52 stops, 69 ranks, 3 manuals, and 3,515 pipes, all of which means that it’s a fairly large pipe organ.

But it was when her family was planning a trip down the west coast that Sarah set her sights on something even bigger; the Hazel Wright Organ at Christ Church (formerly the Crystal Cathedral) in Garden Grove, CA. The fifth largest pipe organ in the world, with more than 17,000 pipes, more than 300 stops, and nearly 300 ranks, it plays from all four corners of the building and was the organ heard by millions of viewers who watched the Rev. Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” broadcasts.

“I had heard about the famous organ, and since we were going to be traveling through L.A., I took a chance and reached out to Christ Cathedral.” Not being a thing that visitors are normally allowed to do, Sarah said “it took a while” and she had to go through numerous people and do a lot of back and forth emailing before she was granted permission.

“The pipe organ is the king of instruments, and was the most complex piece of technology until the invention of the modern wrist watch. The Hazel Wright organ is a combination of organs, which is why it is so large. When I first approached it, I didn’t know how to feel. Hazel was a different kind of beast.”

Sarah described it as like being in a sandbox full of many toys to play with. “This organ has so many sound options (called stops), and Hazel has over 300 of them. Just think about how many combinations of stops could be made! She can go from the softest of sounds to the mightiest trumpets, and everything in between.”

Sarah’s tennis shoes are kicked aside in the picture, and she is wearing her own personal organ shoes, which are generally a thin layer of suede that allows an organist to feel the pedals and move across them smoothly. “They also have a small heel, because organists use both their toes and heels to play the pedals, all while their hands are playing something different on the manuals.”

For Sarah, it was a dream come true, and the experience will always hold a special place in her heart. “Playing Hazel felt mighty! Someday I would love to teach children how to play an organ. It’s becoming a lost art.”

Regardless of what degree and music career Sarah chooses, her passion for music and her drive to go after what she wants guarantees that she will be successful. We can’t wait to see what beautiful music awaits her.

To learn more about the transfer program and IAI, visit Transfer Out and IAI

Interested in learning more about the famous Hazel Wright Organ? Watch Hazel is Back on YouTube. She has quite the fascinating story!

Spoon River College Hosts Annual 10th Grade Career Expo In Macomb

More than 300 local high school students from Bushnell-Prairie City, Macomb, ROYALS, Rushville-Industry, and West Prairie talked with professionals at the 10th Grade Career Expo hosted by Spoon River College and held at the Macomb Outreach Center on October 17.

The annual event gives students the opportunity to gather information on a variety of career choices, including the education, degrees, and skills required for a specific job as well as what a typical work day looks like.

“This event can spark a student’s interest in a particular field, and the information they receive is helpful in guiding future decisions about the classes they take the next two years in high school and beyond. We’re thankful for the employers who take time out of their busy day to participate and engage with the students, and the schools who bring their students,” said Mariah Huston, advisor and coordinator of the event for Spoon River College.

The career areas and the business representing them were Arts/Communications/Information Technology, and Business: 2Dye4 Hair and Co.; City of Macomb; CSC Athletics; Partners Personnel; Spoon River College IT; and The Golf Garage;

HealthCare Professionals: Carl Sandburg College Dental Hygiene; McDonough District Hospital Laboratory, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine, Radiology, and Emergency Department; Spoon River College Nursing, Allied Health, and EMT; and Therapeutic Solutions of Macomb;

Agriculture/Food/Natural Resources, and Manufacturing/Engineering/Logistics: DOT Foods; Hurston, Inc-Construction; IUOE Local 649; Knox County Soil & Water; Spoon River College Agriculture and Welding; U of I Extension; and West Central FS;

Education, Human and Public Services: Bougher, Krisher & Clark; Carl Sandburg College Welcome Center; Knox County Coroner; Macomb Fire Department; Macomb Police Department; McDonough County Sheriff; Spoon River College Early Childhood Education; and Victim Services.

Spring 2026 Dual Credit Scholarship Applications Due November 21

The application for SRC Foundation Spring 2026 dual credit scholarships for eligible high school students who want to begin earning college credit at Spoon River College is available, and the deadline is November 21.

The dual credit/dual enrollment program helps high school students get an early start on their college education. By enrolling in specific programs and courses, eligible high school students can take Spoon River College courses for high school and/or college credit, or get job training to start a career after high school.

“The application is due by the close of business on Friday, November 21, 2025, after which, recipients will be chosen, pending the number of applicants and the availability of funds,” said Dusty Berg, director of the SRC Foundation. “Recipients will be notified by email as soon as possible once they are selected. We anticipate recipients will be notified by December 18, 2025.”

High schools who participate are Astoria, Bushnell, Canton, Cuba, Farmington, Havana, Lewistown, Macomb, Rushville, Spoon River Valley, V.I.T., and West Prairie. Home schooled students who reside within these school districts are also eligible to apply.

For more information about dual credit scholarships, visit SRC Foundation Scholarships  or call Beth Wilson (309) 649-6221 or Mariah Huston at (309) 833-6019.

Pancakes for Bette Fundraiser November 5 Will Benefit St. Jude

The Phi Mu Tau Fraternity at Spoon River College will host their annual Pancakes for Bette fundraiser on Wednesday, November 5, from 7-10 a.m. 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.”

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.

Grand Opening Celebration: Opera House Plaza Revives a Piece of Canton’s History

Excitement is growing in downtown Canton as the city prepares to celebrate the grand opening of the new Opera House Plaza on Friday, October 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The evening will kick off with a ribbon cutting and short ceremony in front of the decorative arch—an elegant replica of the original entrance arch that once welcomed visitors to the historic Opera House. Following the ceremony, guests can enjoy live music from the Monster Lane Band on the brand-new amphitheater stage, along with concessions hosted by EATS. The event is free and open to the public, inviting residents and visitors alike to gather, listen to great music, and celebrate this exciting addition to the heart of downtown Canton.

The new Opera House Plaza stands on a site filled with local history. Originally built in 1891, the Opera House was once a cornerstone of culture and entertainment, drawing crowds for vaudeville shows and even hosting legendary performers like Charlie Chaplin. A few years after opening, a drapery fire damaged the interior, but the community rebuilt it—an early sign of Canton’s resilience. The Opera House survived another challenge in 1975, when a tornado tore through downtown, again causing major damage.

In the early 2000s, a Peoria developer purchased the 19,500-square-foot building and began a major restoration, transforming it into the Opera House Professional Building with retail storefronts below and offices above. Sadly, the structure was lost in the 2016 downtown gas explosion, leaving behind an empty space and a deep sense of loss for the community.

That all began to change in 2024, when the City of Canton broke ground on plans to reimagine the long-vacant lot. The vision: to honor the Opera House’s storied past while creating a modern public gathering space for today and future generations. In a thoughtful nod to history, the new amphitheater stage sits in the exact same location as the original vaudeville stage once stood—linking past and present in a powerful way.

The completed Opera House Plaza blends historic remembrance with forward-looking design—a place for concerts, festivals, and quiet relaxation. More than just new brick and landscaping, it stands as a symbol of Canton’s resilience, community pride, and ongoing commitment to downtown revitalization.

Join the celebration on October 24 and be part of this historic moment as Canton opens a beautiful new chapter downtown.