Building a Better Life Through the GED Program

For those without a high school diploma, the GED preparation classes are the first step to a better life and an increased income.

The Adult Education program at Spoon River College offers free GED prep classes to students of all ages who live in the college’s district, but they have also partnered with Career Link 15 to offer the Out-of-School Youth program. It specifically targets those aged 17-24 who reside in Fulton and Mason counties and meet the criteria for enrollment.

Funded by Career Link, the program offers students financial incentives for reaching various academic benchmarks, attending career fairs and resume and work skills readiness workshops, and for passing the GED practice tests and the final exam. In addition they offer financial assistance to GED completers who continue with transfer classes or a career certificate program.

“We are fortunate to be able to offer job skills training, work experience and assistance with tuition, books and fees. It wouldn’t be possible without the support that we get from Career Link,” said Melissa Koke, adult education advisor at Spoon River College. “We have also partnered with Goodwill Industries and we have monthly meetings to check in with students. They offer financial incentives to students as well.”

Jonathon Starnes of Farmington and Damion Cooley of Rockford both took advantage of the Out-of-School Youth program, passed their GED exam, and are now enrolled in the diesel and power systems technology program at Spoon River College.

Starnes attended grade school before being homeschooled during his middle school years—he jokes that he avoided all of that middle school drama—and then enrolled in the GED program.

“I learned more than schoolwork in this program. I learned how to write a resume and interview for a job, plus I received information about career training and employment options,” said Starnes. “I was in a great learning environment that was flexible and offered lots of support.”

Cooley, originally from Rockford, quit attending high school when his mother suffered a serious health issue. He agrees with Starnes. “I was referred to the Spoon River College GED program by a friend who said it was good. He was right, and I wouldn’t have my high school equivalency or be in the diesel program now if it wasn’t for this program.”

Koke, who describes her advising position as “helping people discover their true potential,” is proud of the effort Cooley and Starnes put forth. “Jonathan and Damion were hard workers and they did a great job transitioning from the GED classroom into the diesel technology program. It is amazing to watch students transform through learning and growing.”

In addition to Career Link 15 and Goodwill Industries, Inc., the adult education program at Spoon River College are funded through a number of other sources including Dollar General Corporation, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Secretary of State’s Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, and Western Illinois Works, Inc.

Registration is open now for the next session of free GED preparation classes that begins Monday, October 19. Both morning and evening classes are offered in Canton, Havana, Macomb, and Rushville. Call (309) 649-6278 to make an appointment or for more information.

For more information about the Career Link Out-of School Youth program, call (309) 649-6229.

Jonathon Starnes and Damion Cooley

Makenzie Case Awarded the Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship

Makenzie Case of Macomb has been awarded the Bonnie Stine Spoon River College Faculty Association Scholarship for $500 for the 2020-2021 academic year at Spoon River College.

While a student at Macomb High School, Case was a member of the speech team and the swim team (serving as co-captain of the swim team for one year), and was the CFO of the McDonough County CEO Program’s class business “Roaring Twenties Escape Room.” Case took second place in the Dramatic Duet Acting (DDA) for MHS Speech Team at the MHA Conference, and was inducted into the International Thespian Society for MHS Troupe 465. She has served three years as the video technician for her church, and is an enthusiast of WISK Shotokan Karate, placing first and second in Kata, second in Kihon, and third in Kumite.

Even with her extracurricular activities, Case participated in the dual credit program at Spoon River College. By the time she graduated high school, she had earned 26 credit hours of college course work and had already been inducted into the Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Spoon River College.

Case said she had a goal of graduating with no student loan debt, and that being a dual credit student and applying for scholarships were two of the ways she was working to achieve that goal. “I don’t qualify for grants, and taking out a student loan defeats the purpose of graduating debt-free, so any funding from scholarships brings me one step closer to my goal.”

Case wants to work for the FBI as a forensic accountant, and plans to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after she finishes her associate’s degree at Spoon River College. She is currently deciding between several four-year institutions for the advanced degrees.

“I’ll also continue to work at Rialto 6 Cinemas while living at home to save money for college,” said Case. “Living at home will also allow me to spend time with my family and stay involved in my community and church. Staying connected to Macomb and my family is important to me.”

Financial Aid Visits Scheduled for High Schools

Spoon River College employees in the financial aid office will be presenting free workshops for students, parents, and any adult learners interested in obtaining information about aid programs available, and in getting assistance filling out and filing the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The majority of the visits will be conducted virtually, and schools are limiting attendance to high school seniors and the parent completing the FAFSA

Completing the FAFSA is now a State of Illinois high school graduation requirement for 2021.

“FAFSA applications can be filed beginning October 1 using 2019 income tax information rather than waiting until January 1 or after,” said Jo Branson, financial aid director at Spoon River College. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to have the FAFSA completed accurately and on time in order to obtain federal and state aid for college.”

Branson noted that information about other financial assistance programs such as funding for veterans, scholarships, student loans, and payment plans will also be presented, and even those not planning on attending Spoon River College are welcome to attend.

The visits are scheduled as follows:

October 1: Farmington High School at 5:30 and 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. Students will be required to bring their Chromebook, and should sign up with high school counselor, Emily Smith.

October 7: VIT High School from 4−7 p.m. Students should sign up for a time with high school counselor, Carly Taylor.

October 14 and October 28: Macomb High School – Meeting time for October 14 is 5:30 -7:30 p.m., and the meeting time for October 28 is from 12−4 p.m. Students should sign up for a time and date with high school counselors, Jason Johnson or Shawnee Huston.

October 19: Astoria High School from 4−7 p.m. Students should sign up for a time with high school counselor, Sadie Keefauver.

October 20—Cuba High School from 6−8 p.m. Students should sign up for a time with high school counselor, Logan Link.

October 21—Lewistown High School from 6−8 p.m. Students should sign up with high school counselor, Kerry Hatfill.

October 28—Havana High School event will be hosted at the Spoon River College Havana Center from 2−8 p.m. Students should sign up for a time with high school counselor, Adam Wherley.

Families are encouraged to bring their own charged device to the events and to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID prior to attending the event. A how-to video on creating the FSA ID is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ihhGk8mCY&feature=youtu.be, and more information is available at StudentAid.gov.

Documents needed to fill out the FAFSA are the student’s Social Security and driver’s license numbers, 2019 W-2s, 2019 federal income tax return, parent’s 2019 federal income tax return and W-2s (if required), and any additional untaxed income such as veteran’s benefits, child support (paid or received) and worker’s compensation.

For more information, visit www.src.edu and click on the Financial Aid link under the Student Services tab or call (309) 649-7030 in Canton or (309) 833-6073 in Macomb.

Barry Cloyd to Present Burl Ives: Midwestern Minstrel

Award-winning singer/songwriter/musician Barry Cloyd is back by popular demand as a part of the 2019-2020 SRC Community Chorus season. On Sunday, February 9, Barry presents the engaging, original show Burl Ives, Midwestern Minstrel in the SRC Theatre on the Canton campus.  Show time is 3:00 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 649-6260.

Burl Ives was and is an iconic figure in the annals of American Folk Music getting his start in the farms and fields near the small towns of Hunt City and Newton in Southern Illinois.  Generations know him as the singing snowman in the beloved television special Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

In this original program created by Barry Cloyd, Ives’ incredible life will play out as audiences discover the back story of this fascinating person and hear many of Burl Ives’ most popular folk songs.

In the 1930s he was an official hobo, traveling the country in boxcars.  A fixture of the nascent folk scene throughout the 1940s to 1960s in New York City, Ives also went on to become an internationally recognized star in film.  He won an Oscar for his role in Big Country and starred in many other films.

While Burl Ives became one of the world’s best-known folk singers, he never lost his hometown, folksy touch.  He recorded nearly 100 albums in his career and was called America’s Great Ballad Singer by Illinois Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Carl Sandburg.

Barry Cloyd is a Midwestern-based, full-time touring singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who performs more than 125 various shows per year.  In addition to his energetic concert schedule, Barry has been the resident stringed instrumentalist/vocalist on The Spirit of Peoria Paddlewheel Riverboat for the last 18 years.  Barry is also a recording artist with 10 CDs to his credit and his all original Southland won the award for best Americana album in 2016, resulting in his tracks Spirit Dance and Know This River being placed on radio stations in more than 45 countries worldwide.  He has shared the stage and recorded with many stars of the Blues and Americana music worlds including band members of Buddy Guy’s Band, The Byrds, Stephen Stills, Emmylou Harris, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Denver and Dan Fogelberg. Barry has also created and toured dozens of edu-tainment programs which focus on history through music.

“We are pleased to present the multi-talented Barry Cloyd again this year,” said Carol Davis, Artistic Director.  “The SRC Community Chorus tradition of providing quality entertainment and establishing SRC scholarships continues as we celebrate our upcoming 15th anniversary season.”

The final production of the SRC Community Chorus 2019-2020 season will be an original musical revue conceived by Carol Davis, Tony Roberts, and Chad Murphy.  From Broadway to L.A. will be presented June 5-7.  Visit www.src.edu/foundation and click on the Community Chorus link, Like us on Facebook, or contact Carol Davis by emailing cdavis.tenacious@gmail.com.

Tickets on Sale for SRC Community Chorus Winter Concert

Tickets are now on sale for the Spoon River College Community Chorus concert Frosty Airs & Fables.  The concert will be performed on December 7 and 8, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Canton.  Individual tickets may be purchased by calling 649-6260 or by email request to cdavis.tenacious@gmail.com.

“This concert will delight audiences of all ages,” said John Davis, director.  “Last season we included a musical drama celebrating the 175^th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  This year, in addition to our wide variety of music genres, we will feature the beloved Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus and a special section devoted to the Disney animated film Frozen.”

Chorus members include Tori Albanito, Andrea Barbknecht, Bruce Beal, Loren Blackfelner, Carla Bobell, Gloria Bradford, Cecily Burnham, Janice Dare Bruster, Carol Davis, Colin Davis, Kevin Dearing, Jackie Davis, Richard Etter, Jim Gage, Andrea Garnett, Micah Garnett, Aaron Haacke, Bob Heppenstahl, Sherry Hilton, Susan Juliusson, Carol Kohler, Leta Krock, Lindsey Larson, Aja Lawson, Wendy Martin, Sara Mathis, Sue Maurice, Susie McMillen, Trygve Meade, Janet Munson, Chad Murphy, Mary Newcomb, Natalie Orwig, Jo Potter Keen, Ginny Reter, Ron Rupe, Karen Shaw, Becky Silva, Allen Smith, Shane Smith, Stacy Smith, Jeanine Standard, Doris Taylor, Kenny Taylor, Julie Toney, Michael Varnes, Melissa Walker, Tammy Weaver, Lauren Wilcoxen, and Pam Willison.  Accompanist is Gretchen Fuller.

Proceeds from the concert will continue to fund the David L. Bishop Memorial Scholarship.

Subscription series tickets to all five productions of the SRC Theatre and the SRC Community Chorus may be purchased through November 8 by calling 649-6260.

Upcoming SRC Community Chorus productions include Burl Ives: Midwestern Minstrel featuring Barry Cloyd on February 9 @ 3:00 p.m. and the musical revue From Broadway to L.A., directed by Carol Davis, June 5-7, 2020.

Visit www.src.edu/foundation and click on the SRC Community Chorus link, Like us on Facebook, or contact Carol Davis by emailing cdavis.tenacious@gmail.com.

SRC Community Chorus Winter Concert Rehearsals Begin September 26

The Spoon River College Community Chorus will present Frosty Airs & Fables on December 7 and 8, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Canton.  Tickets will go on sale to the general public on October 15.

Rehearsals will be held on Thursday evenings beginning on September 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the Canton Church of the Brethren located at 3rd and Chestnut.

As has become the tradition, this season’s concert will feature sacred, traditional, and secular songs in a variety of musical styles and instrumental accompaniments.  A musical adaptation of “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” will feature Kate Fitzjarrald as Virginia and B. J. Stone as Francis P. Church, the editor of the New York Sun.  Also, included will be “A Frozen Fantasy” highlighting four songs from the popular Disney animated film.

Participation in the SRC Community Chorus is open to anyone with a love of music and performance.  Auditions are not required and all ages and vocal ranges are welcome.  The concert is directed by John L. Davis and accompanied by Gretchen Fuller.

“The organization originated in 2005 and has grown to include over 100 singers, musicians, and technicians,” said Carol Davis, Artistic Director.  “We have raised funds to establish six $10,000 named endowed scholarships and are currently funding the David L. Bishop Memorial Scholarship.”

The 2019-20 SRC Community Chorus season continues on February 9, 2020 with the mini-concert “Burl Ives: Midwestern Minstrel,” by Barry Cloyd and concludes with the original musical revue “From Broadway to L.A.,” June 5-7, 2020.

Also, available this year is a joint season ticket for all five productions presented by SRC Drama and the SRC Community Chorus for only $40, a 20% savings. For more information or to purchase season tickets, please call (309) 649-6260 before October 15th.

Visit www.src.edu/foundation and click on the SRC Community Chorus link, Like us on Facebook, or contact Carol Davis by emailing cdavis.tenacious@gmail.com.

Spoon River College Theatre and SRC Community Chorus Announce Joint Subscription Series

For the upcoming 2019-2020 season, the Theatre Department at Spoon River College and the SRC Community Chorus are joining together to offer theatre patrons a subscription series featuring productions from both groups.

The series offers a total of five shows for the single price of $40. This is a twenty percent discount over purchasing individual tickets for each show.

Two of the productions in the series are presented by the Theatre Department at Spoon River College. SRC Theatre features the work primarily of student actors and crew members, though starting this season, participation will be open to any resident of the SRC district. The shows are “Scapin the Schemer,” a comedy running in November, and “An Iliad,” a drama based on the epic poem by Homer, running in late February and March.

The other three shows are presented by the SRC Community Chorus, an arm of the Spoon River College Foundation. The Community Chorus presents a combination of musical programs and staged plays, featuring a large mix of talents from around the SRC district. Community Chorus shows in the 2019-2020 season are “Frosty Airs & Fables,” a holiday-themed program in December, local musician Barry Cloyd’s “Burl Ives, Midwestern Minstrel” in February, and “From Broadway to L.A.,” a musical revue running in June.

Carol Davis, who directs the SRC Community Chorus, says that the subscription series is a natural evolution in the relationship between the two entities. “We have long enjoyed an overlap between groups, both in our audiences and in participants, as many SRC Theatre students have taken part in Community Chorus productions,” Davis said. “It just felt like the right time to make the relationship more official.”

SRC Theatre Program Director Douglas Okey agrees. “Carol and I talked about joint endeavors, and this partnership grew out of those discussions,” Okey said. “With this discounted subscription program, it feels like everyone wins—including our patrons.”

Four of the season’s shows will be presented in the Taylor Hall Theatre on the SRC Canton Campus. December’s “Frosty Airs & Fables” runs at the First Christian Church in Canton.

Subscriptions can be purchased by calling the SRC Foundation at (309)649-6260. The series discount will be available through the end of the run of “Scapin the Schemer” in November.

Tickets Now On Sale for SRC Community Chorus Production of Guys and Dolls

Tickets are now on sale for the SRC Community Chorus production of the Tony Award-Winning Musical Comedy Guys and Dolls June 27-30, 2019 at the SRC Theatre in Taylor Hall.  Tickets may be reserved by calling (309) 649-6260 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks and Oliviers. Frequently revived, the show has been done with numerous all-star casts, including productions/concerts featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jessica Biel.

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

The local production features television and movie actor Dustin Lewis, a Canton native, as Sky Masterson along with over 50 actors, musicians, and technicians under the stage direction of Carol Davis and the musical direction of Pamela Willison. Guys and Dolls is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International and with generous support from the Two Rivers Arts Council.

The SRC Community Chorus provides quality entertainment and funds endowed scholarships for SRC Students.  Guys and Dolls marks the beginning of the David L. Bishop Memorial Scholarship.  Together with the family of Mr. Bishop, the SRC Community Chorus, is establishing this memorial scholarship to provide financial support to students who are participating and/or seeking degrees in the arts, speech/communications, and/or theater.

Mr. Bishop, a founding member of the SRC Community Chorus, was a beloved English teacher/play director/ speech coach at Canton High School as well as at the Illinois River Correctional Center and Illinois Central College.  Recipient of numerous awards, Mr. Bishop was a passionate advocate of the arts, a community theater director and actor, and a Fulton County Arts Council member.  Once the scholarship funding reaches the level of $10,000 or more, scholarships will be awarded in Mr. Bishop’s name annually.

For more information about the David L. Bishop scholarship, contact Colin Davis at 649-6395 or colin.davis@src.edu.

SRC Chorus Production of Guys and Dolls to Feature TV and Movie Actor Dustin Lewis

The SRC Community Chorus will present the Tony Award-Winning Musical Comedy Guys and Dolls June 27-30, 2019 at the SRC Theatre in Taylor Hall.  Leading the cast will be Canton native and stage/tv/movie actor Dustin Lewis in the lead role of Sky Masterton.

“Dustin began his acting career at the Fulton County Playhouse when he was very young,” said director Carol Davis.  “The idea of Dustin playing Sky Masterson began about a year ago over lunch.  It seemed impossible because of his busy filming schedule, but we are so pleased he could find the time to return home for a week and play Sky for us.”

Since leaving Canton, Dustin has amassed over 50 stage performances nationally and internationally, as well as several awards and recognitions.  He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia and has recently been seen on television in Ozark, Good Girls, House of Cards, Timeless, Turn: Washington’s Spies, Nashville, Swamp Murders, and portrayed the re-occurring role of Paul Revere in Sleepy Hollow.  His recent film credits include First Man, The Hate U Give, Come Sunday, Killing Reagan and others.  To view Dustin’s work, visit @RealDustinLewis on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or www.dustinlewis.org.

Dustin will be joined by Lindsey Larson as Sarah, Carla Bobell as The Narrator, Corrinna Markland as Miss Adelaide, Alex Smith as Nathan Detroit, and Chad Murphy as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.  Also featured in the show are Tony Roberts, Tori Albanito, Natalie Orwig, Andrea Barbknecht, Lorie Rude, Aja Lawson, Bruce Beal, Aaron Haacke, Trygve Meade, Mike Varnes, Greg Mathis, Ron Smith, Nicky Gerber, Sue Smith, Janet Munson, Cecily Burnham, Susan Juliusson, Craig Zilly, Bob Champlin, and BJ Stone.

The production features over 50 actors, musicians, and technicians with direction by Carol Davis and musical direction by Pamela Willison.

Musicians include Pamela Willison, piano; Tony Roberts, keyboard; Matt Buczko, trumpet; Drew Ponder, bass; Tom Sandman, percussion; Joey Buczko, trombone; and Tammy Weaver, reeds.

Guys and Dolls is presented through Music Theatre International and with generous support from the Two Rivers Arts Council. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting May 15 and more information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Barry Cloyd to Present The River’s Song for SRC Chorus Mini-Concert

Award-winning singer/songwriter/musician Barry Cloyd returns to Fulton County as part of the 2018-19 SRC Community Chorus season on Sunday, February 10 to present the engaging mini-concert The River’s Song: The Importance of Our Midwestern Rivers at First Christian Church in Canton.  Show time is 3 p.m.  Guest performers include John Davis, Colin Davis, Bob Juraco, and Alex Smith.  Reservations ($10) may now be made by calling 649-6260.

Cloyd is a Midwestern-based, full-time, touring singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who performs more than 125 various shows per year.  In addition to his energetic concert schedule, Barry has been the resident stringed instrumentalist/vocalist on The Spirit of Peoria Paddlewheel Riverboat for the last 18 years.  Barry is also a recording artist with 10 CDs to his credit, and his all-original Southland won the award for best Americana album in 2016, resulting in his tracks “Spirit Dance” and “Know this River” being placed on radio stations in more than 45 countries worldwide.  He has shared the stage and recorded with many stars of the blues and Americana music worlds, including band members of Buddy Guy’s Band, The Byrds, Stephen Stills, EmmyLou Harris, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Denver, and Dan Fogelberg.  Barry has also created and toured dozens of edu-tainment programs, which focus on history through music.

The original concert presentation, The River’s Song, takes the audience backwards through time to the days when the rivers of the Midwest were major highways for the first peoples, the Illiniwek Nation, from which our state gets its name.  From there, the concert moves on to the coming of the Europeans and the changes brought by them.

“The development of river travel while Illinois was still the Wild West helped to build this nation.  Several characters, both brave and notorious, are highlighted in the concert, along with many of the songs that accompanied early Illinoisans into the future of our great state,” says Cloyd.  “The River’s Song features French Voyageur songs, riverboat banjo tunes, Lincoln-era music, and original songs telling the tale of how vital our Midwestern rivers have been in our past and to our future.”

“The SRC Community Chorus originated in 2005 and has grown to include over 100 singers, musicians, and technicians,” says Carol Davis, Artistic Director.  “We have raised funds to establish five, $10,000, named, endowed scholarships and are self-funded through ticket sales.  A sixth named, endowed scholarship has been established through the SRC Foundation in memory of Vicki Murphy, mother of founding chorus member Chad Murphy.  Funds from the 2018-19 Chorus season will be dedicated to this scholarship.”

The 2018-19 season continues in June with the Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls.  Visit www.src.edu/foundation/Pages/chorus.aspx, like us on Facebook, or contact Carol Davis by emailing cdavis.tenacious@gmail.com.