Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on SRC Students Named to Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team
Three Spoon River College students have been named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team as a result of their nomination to the All-USA Community College Academic Team. They are Emma Gilliland (transfer student) and Henry Mordiva (career and technical student) on the Macomb Campus, and Allison Mortland (transfer student) on the Canton Campus. Nominees are chosen on the basis of academic achievement, volunteer work, campus activities, honors, and awards.
Emma Gilliland of Mt. Sterling plans to transfer to Western Illinois University to major in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing and a minor in Business Management. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and TRIO, and works as a TRIO Peer Tutor and as the manager and barista at The Study in Macomb. Gilliland serves as a worship volunteer for The Crossing in Macomb and is a volunteer at FNC Academy in Uganda. While at Spoon River College, Gilliland has consistently been on President’s and Dean’s lists, and was the recipient of a TRIO scholarship and the MidAmerica National Bank Fellheimer Scholarship.
Henry Mordiva of Rushville is pursuing an Associate in Applied Science in Computer Information Systems for a career in the field of Information Technology. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, he has been on the President’s List the past two years and was the recipient of a Spoon River College scholarship. Mordiva is currently employed as a Clinic French Interpreter and Medical Records Scanner at the Cass County Health Department. He is a strong supporter and volunteer for local food distributions and of the local arts.
Allison Mortland of Canton is in the Agriculture program, and intends to pursue a degree in veterinary science. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Spoon River College softball team. She serves as a foster parent through the Humane Society of Fulton County and has been a volunteer at the Happy Hounds Adoption event, SRC Athletic Princess Party events, and as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Mortland holds an Illinois State FFA Degree in Poultry Production, was the recipient of the Cody Krulac Scholarship, and was named to the NJCAA All-Academic First Team.
The students will be honored at the Annual Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois awards banquet on April 28 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield.
Spoon River College faculty Shelli Stuart (Macomb) and Rebecca Werland (Canton) are the advisors for the Nu Delta Chapters of Phi Theta Kappa at Spoon River College.
The All-USA Academic Team is sponsored annually by Phi Theta Kappa, USA Today, and the American Association of Community Colleges. The All-State Academic Team is a division of the Academic All-USA Team for Community, Technical and Junior Colleges.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Deanna Patton-Spotser: March Student Shout-Out Recipient
Deanna Patton-Spotser of Canton is the recipient of the Student Shout-Out for March at Spoon River College, and will receive a $100 Visa gift card. She was nominated by Melissa Miller, coordinator of the Allied Health program at Spoon River College, for her amazing drive and determination to achieve her goals.
“Deanna is a single mother of three who owns her own business, works, and goes to school. Her positive attitude and determination to succeed are traits to be admired and celebrated. She welcomes challenges and is not afraid of the bumps in the road,” Miller said.
Patton-Spotser is on track to graduate this May with an Associate in Applied Science degree, Medical Laboratory Technician, making her eligible to take the national certification examination, and she is already making plans to transfer to either Bradley or ISU for a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science.
Patton-Spotser is a member of TRIO and the HEAL (Healthcare Enthusiast and Leaders) Student Association.
“Deanna is an inspiration and once you meet her, you won’t forget her,” Miller said. “Her spirit and attitude make her stand out in a crowd, but her hard work and sincerity will move her to front of any line that she is in. She has a bright future ahead of her.”
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 Abby Beck, TRIO advisor on the Macomb Campus.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on 15th Annual Car Cruise-In and Tractor Show Returns April 30
The 15th Annual Car Cruise-In and Tractor Show, cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic, is back and will be held Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Engle parking lot on the Canton Campus.
The event is hosted by Phi Mu Tau fraternity students in the Diesel and Power Systems Technology program. Anyone who has a classic car or tractor is invited to bring or drive them to the college and be part of the show. There is no entry fee.
“This is a free, fun, casual event,” said Todd Thompson, DPST instructor and Phi Mu Tau advisor. “Bring the family and come on out. There is always a nice variety of antique vehicles and tractors, plus some new and unique ones.”
Registration will be from 9-11 a.m. Awards for best car and best tractor will be determined by fan voting and announced at 2 p.m. Raffle and 50-50 drawing winners will also be announced at 2 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, it will be held inside the Votech building. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
For more information about the car show, contact Todd Thompson at (309) 649-6244.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Danielle Cheatham Named Head Volleyball Coach at Spoon River College
Danielle Cheatham is the new head volleyball coach at Spoon River College. She first came to SRC in December as the coordinator of the Multi-Purpose Building.
Originally from Farmer City, Cheatham is a graduate of Blue Ridge High School where she played six rotations as a setter/middle/opposite. She earned All-Conference honors three years in a row, and played five years of travel club for Central Illinois Elite.
Cheatham was a collegiate setter for two years at ICC and was named to the All-Region team her sophomore year. She transferred to Central Michigan University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and was named to the Academic All-Mac. She then attended Western Illinois University and earned a Master’s in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology and Ability Diversity. While there, she also received the President’s Excellence in Diversity Leadership award for her time as a graduate assistant in the Disability Resource Center.
After graduating from WIU, Cheatham was the Freshman coach at Dunlap, and then took over the Sophomore positon for the next four years. She also coached five seasons of travel club for Central Illinois Elite ages ranging from 13-18.
Cheatham resides in Canton with her husband and their dog Sadie. When not working, she enjoys spending time with family and watching sports.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Art Student Melody Barnes Has Good Day at Fulton County Town and Country Art Show
Spoon River College art student Melody Barnes of Canton had a good day at the Fulton County Town and Country Art Show held March 11 at the Donaldson Community Center. Barnes took first place in the Amateur Division with her charcoal drawing “My Beating Heart,” and second place in the Popular Vote with another charcoal drawing entitled “Have a Heart.”
This isn’t Barnes first blue ribbon from this art show. She also captured first place for a graphite drawing of her cat Harley when she was just a freshman at Canton High School. Barnes was a member of the art club throughout her four years of high school, and served as President during her senior year.
Barnes has a goal of becoming an art therapist and plans to transfer to Illinois State University after completing her associate degree at Spoon River College. “Psychology and art are two of my favorite subjects so I would love to combine them in order to help people.”
Art therapy requires a master’s degree, but Barnes says that’s not a problem. “I’m excited to keep going. I want to work with children and teens, hopefully in hospitals, but I’m willing to try anything and go anywhere.”
Barnes credited Canton HS art teacher Marnie Eskridge with helping her try new things and SRC art teacher Jamie Kotewa with continually pushing her out of her comfort zone, but says the real inspiration for her art came from her sister while growing up. “She always did art and I wanted to be just like her.”
While at Spoon River College, Barnes has been a member of STAGE (SRC Theatre Artists Group for Education) and was cast in the spring play “Here We Are.” She is also a member of the Esports program.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Barry Cloyd Returns to Present SRC Community Chorus Mini-Concert
International award-winning performer Barry Cloyd returns to the Spoon River College Theatre stage on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m. for one performance only of his exciting new show Jules Verne & H.G. Wells: The Birth of Sci-Fi and the First Citizens of the Future.
In this new edu-tainment adventure, singer/songwriter/historian Barry Cloyd celebrates humanity’s incredible journey into the consciousness of emerging futuristic literature – much of which has come to pass in our lifetimes. Through story and song – some original, some you might remember, and some just plain strange – Cloyd brings to life the expansive and revolutionary world created by the innovative minds behind what we now call “Science Fiction.”
Barry showcases some of his unusual instruments and includes songs encouraging the audience to step outside gravity’s pull and suspend belief. Songs such as A Space Oddity, In the Year 2525, The Dangers of Star Trek Travel and more will teleport audiences into the triumphant and the tragic ether.
“Barry is an audience favorite here in the Spoon River College district,” says Carol Davis, Artistic Director of the Spoon River College Community Chorus. “Audience members have loved all his past performances including Woody Guthrie, his Irish show, Burl Ives and more. Every performance is great fun, interactive, and educational as well.”
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Two Rivers Arts Council.
To keep advised of all upcoming SRC Community Chorus offerings, visit www.src.edu/chorus or follow on Facebook.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Spoon River College Celebrating Community College Month in April
Spoon River College is joining with community colleges throughout the nation in celebrating April as Community College Month. Spoon River College District 534 is part of the Illinois Community College System, the third largest in the nation.
The Spoon River College district includes the counties of Fulton, Mason, McDonough, and portions of Schuyler, with campuses in Canton and Macomb and Centers in Havana and Rushville.
“Community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies,” said Curt Oldfield, president of Spoon River College. “Celebrating Community College Month is an opportunity to highlight the value they add to individuals and to the communities where they are located.”
Public community colleges were designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality higher education for all people. They are the primary educators of nursing and other healthcare professionals, serve as an onramp to bachelor’s, master’s and higher-level degrees, prepare people for the workforce, provide adult literacy programs, community classes that enhance personal and professional development, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Community colleges are there for their communities in times of crisis, and are the most in-demand institutions during and following times of economic recession. Community colleges are committed to meeting their communities’ basic needs, including access to food, housing, transportation, childcare and other services while students seek education and vital workforce training.
A student can save approximately $12,000 over a two-year period by taking the same courses from a community college as they would at other educational institutions, even more if utilizing state and federal grants and local foundation scholarships, lessening the need for student loans.
“Community colleges are a good value, whether the goal of the student is workforce training or transfer to a four-year university,” said Oldfield, referencing a recent study conducted by Northern Illinois University (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies. “Spoon River College graduates can expect a gain of more than $725,000 in total lifetime earnings, and will generate millions of dollars in local, state and federal taxes,” Oldfield said. “It was estimated that Spoon River College has over an $8 million economic impact in west central Illinois.”
Community colleges were created to serve the needs of their communities, and they do it exceptionally well. Despite all of this, community colleges are too often considered the lesser choice when in reality they are exactly the right choice.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on SRC Art Students View WPA Art Exhibit at Dickson Mounds
Spoon River College art teacher Jamie Kotewa and art students Destiny Evans, Rachel Hickle, Keeara Virag, and Justice Westlake recently viewed the Works Project Administration (WPA) art exhibit on display at the Dickson Mounds State Museum near Lewistown.
As part of the Roosevelt Administration’s New Deal, the Federal Art Project (FAP) employed artists based on financial need to portray “the hardships and the hopes of American life during the Great Depression (1929-1939),” when more than 20% of the American workforce was unemployed. In exchange for the art, they were given a weekly wage, art supplies, and exhibition opportunities.
“This particular exhibit was powerful to me, as an instructor, because of the depth of the printmaking approaches it showcased,” Kotewa said. “Historically, the pieces also provide an important snapshot of life during the depression. Artists were making intentional decisions about how to manipulate and represent space and people within those spaces. Their choices of what printmaking process to use also impacts how the imagery becomes interpreted. Nearly a century later, we can see ripple effects from the choices those artists made. It’s really neat to be able to make connections between artworks across time.”
By the time the project was disbanded in 1943, approximately 5,000 artists had created 2,566 murals, 17,744 sculptures, 108,899 easel paintings, 11,285 designs for a quarter-million fine art prints, 22,000 Index of American Design plates, and 35,000 designs for two millions posters.
In Illinois, approximately 800 artists produced more than 500 sculptures and 200 murals, and nearly 5,000 designs for two millions posters.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Zebulon Bartlow:February Student Shout-Out Recipient
Zebulon Bartlow of Rushville is the recipient of the Student Shout-Out for February at Spoon River College, and will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Bartlow was recognized by Krista Winters, SRC biology teacher, for the respect he shows to other students as well as his willingness to work with and assist his classmates.
“He always comes to my microbiology class with a smile and a compliment,” Winters said. “He takes his classes seriously and makes sure he has mastered the lecture and lab material before leaving, and when he is unsure of something, he asks for help. He is an upbeat high-spirited person and makes his classmates comfortable when working with them. I enjoy having him in my class.”
Bartlow already has a B.A. and a Master’s in International Relations, and is also a student at WIU. He is currently working towards a MS degree with a goal of being a physician’s assistant.
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 Abby Beck, TRIO advisor on the Macomb Campus.
Posted by ONEFIRE Development on | Comments Off on Last Call: SRC Foundation Scholarship Applications Due March 15
Scholarship applications for students who are considering attending Spoon River College beginning Fall 2022 will be accepted through the close of business on March 15, 2022. The required forms are available at www.src.edu/scholarships.
Applicants must complete the scholarship application, complete a 2022-23 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and submit their most recent transcripts (seventh semester for high school seniors). This process is required for all scholarships. In order to be eligible for any SRC Foundation scholarships, they must have and maintain a GPA of 2.5.
“The best part about our process is that a student need only apply once to be considered for all SRC Foundation scholarships,” said Colin Davis, Executive Director for the SRC Foundation. “The website is a one-stop-shop for applying.”
In addition to Foundation scholarships, the college offers academic and performing grants as well. These scholarships may require contact with specific faculty members or coaches. Scholarships for high school students wishing to take dual credit classes are also available at various times throughout the year, as are scholarships for career and technical students.
Students can also receive other types of financial aid in addition to scholarships when they complete the FAFSA.
“Many students are pleasantly surprised to find that they can receive both a scholarship and other sources of revenue such as Pell Grants or Work Study,” said Missy Wilkinson, Dean of Student Services.
This year, the Foundation will be providing over 100 scholarships to students of all ages, traditional and non-traditional, new or returning, full or part-time, and in a variety of academic pursuits. Any student who is considering attending SRC is urged to apply in order to be considered for scholarship opportunities.
“If you aren’t sure if you’ll be attending Spoon River, we highly encourage you to apply if you think there is a chance you’ll be here as a student this fall,” said Davis. “Scholarship funds go quickly, and opportunities are much fewer after this March 15 deadline.”
Students can submit their application electronically during that time by sending a signed, scanned copy to financialaid@src.edu, or by mail to SRC Financial Aid Office, 23235 N. Co. Hwy. 22, Canton, IL, 61520. Please note that electronic submission is solely at the risk of the applicant, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure receipt. Additionally, district high school students may turn in their application with their guidance counselors prior to the deadline, and the application will be considered timely.
Students who require assistance with their application should contact SRC’s Financial Aid office as soon as possible.
For more information, contact Colin Davis at colin.davis@src.edu or contact any Spoon River College advisor at (309) 647-4645.
