Alex Schmidt Honored with 2021 Career and Technical Education Program Student Achievement Award

​Spoon River College graduate Alex Schmidt was honored with the 2021 Career and Technical Education Program Student Achievement Award during the college’s 60th commencement, celebrated both virtually and with a socially distanced walk-through at the Canton Campus that was live streamed on the college’s YouTube channel.

Student Achievement awards are given to students who show individual initiative, personal development, and have made progress toward their achievement of goals, along with participation and success in college extracurricular activities.

Schmidt, who graduated with an applied science degree in Diesel and Power Systems Technology as well as a Locomotive Mechanical Certificate, was presented with the award by Brad O’Brien, dean of career and workforce education.

DPST faculty members Todd Thompson and David Andersen praised Schmidt for being an outstanding student who was committed to his education, and for his willingness to research external sources outside of the classroom to enhance his learning and understanding of the material.

Schmidt excelled academically at Spoon River College, and was honored on both the Dean’s list and President’s List. He was also a member of the SRC baseball team, successfully juggling classroom and homework assignments with his practice and play schedule. “Alex was an outstanding student and displayed the utmost dedication and diligence in his studies. He is an excellent representative of Spoon River College’s career and technical programs,” said Andersen.

Schmidt, who is from St. Louis, attended the Canton Campus, and will be employed by CIT Trucks in Fenton, MO.

Both the commencement video and the walk-through ceremony can be viewed on the Spoon River College YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/SpoonRiverCollege.  Additional commencement photos can be viewed on the college’s Facebook page.

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.

Travaughn Miller Honored with 2021 Transfer Degree Student Achievement Award

Spoon River College graduate Travaughn Miller of Macomb was honored with the 2021 Transfer Degree Student Achievement Award during the college’s 60th commencement, celebrated both virtually and with a socially distanced walk-through that was live-streamed on the college’s YouTube channel.

Student achievement awards are given to students who show individual initiative, personal development, and have made progress toward their achievement of goals, along with participation and success in college extracurricular activities.

Miller graduated with his associate in arts degree, and was presented the award by Holly Norton, dean of transfer education, who said Miller had made a significant impression on faculty and staff who worked with him. “He proved himself to be a serious student, and when he came to SRC in the fall of 2019, he hit the ground running.”

A non-traditional student who balanced college studies along with raising three children, Miller was consistently recognized on the President’s List. He was a member of TRIO and the recipient of a TRIO scholarship as well as a Fellheimer scholarship while attending Spoon River College. He was a member of the Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, nominated to the All-USA Community College Academic Team, and named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team.

While a student, Miller was honored to share a poetic tribute during a memorial landmark ceremony honoring Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian, and also partnered with John Curtis/Genesis Garden on a community involvement project.

A self-described entrepreneur with a passion for writing music and poetry, Miller is transferring to Sail University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business and audio engineering. He has aspirations of also obtaining a MBA, with a goal of starting a business that will provide jobs for others in his community.

Both the commencement video and the walk-through ceremony can be viewed on the Spoon River College YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/SpoonRiverCollege. Additional commencement photos can be viewed on the college’s Facebook page.

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.

Students Inducted into Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Spoon River College inducted a total of 83 new members into its Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and offered three socially distanced ceremonies for those who wanted to participate in a traditional ceremony. While a full induction ceremony was not possible, the inductees were able to be recognized and sign the membership book. They also lit the traditional candle that represents a torch—symbolic of knowledge—and received a white flower typifying purity and beauty of light, and signifying new intellectual association.

In addition, Travaughn Miller, Devon Simpson, Madison Draughan, and Aja Lawson were recognized for being named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team, chosen on the basis of academic achievement, volunteer work, campus activities, honors, and awards. Simpson was also recognized for being selected as a 2021 New Century Workforce Scholar.

The new inductees were:

Abingdon: Todd R. Thompson

Bryant: Emily S. Wise

Bushnell: Rosalia M. Lentini

Canton: Breanna K. Amerine, Jacob C. Barnard, Anthony A. Becker, Skyler Burgard, Destiny S. Evans, Grace E. Mayall, Allison R. Mortland, Michelle M. Murphy, Bailey Norton, Sophie Oaks, Anna K. O’Brien, Brenen P. Seward, Claire Wheelwright, Debra Bordwine, Maggie A. Eveland, Faith M. Haley, Ashley J. Harper, Brandon R. McGraw, Sydney Munson, Lauren E. Oldfield, Samantha R. Strode, Nathan A. Williams, Karsyn M. Woerly, and Lukas D. Zumstein

Chillicothe: Jansan L. Davis

Cuba: Hannah N. Burdess, Graci M. Scharping

Farmington: Kurstin N. Bohanan, Keith H. Ifft, Jill R. Ifft, Meredith K. Stufflebeam

Fiatt: Alonza W. Bradley

Groveland: Meghan N. Lynch

Havana: McKenna R. Bleem, Jacob A. Haarman, Olivia F. Herbst, Krista R. Koke, Kaleb J. Layton, Matthew A. Schaad, Taylor Stockham, Colin D. Sullivan, Harrison J. Allen-Witt, Tyler S. Fornoff, Ellie Roat, Gage K. Shawgo, Tory R. Wickman

Industry: Jaylen L. Lyttaker

Joliet: Dean C. Procarione

Kilbourne: Kristen Nall

Lewistown: Maddison M. Brown, Isabella J. Clary, Lydia Cripe, Tysin E. Stone, Kruze D. Chasteen

Macomb: Emma J. Gilliland, Gretta Nolan, Misty A. Peyer, Breanna L. Rhoads, Tessa J. Sargeant, Luke S. Silberer, Casey L. Sutton, William F. Uppinghouse, Trenton R. Ford, Jordan R. Graham, Grace A. Stufflebeam, Shuai Zhao

Marietta: Renda S. Milleson

New Holland: Mark E. Maaks

Orleans, IN: Sydney L. Owens

Plymouth: Audrey R. Shelor, Wesley J. Shelor

Rushville: Ashley N. Bollinger, Henry N. Mordiva, Sabrina R. Vining

Smithfield: Rachel M. Slater

Springfield: Kira E. Brown

VeronaFO: Giulia Cianfriglia

Washington: Zachary A. Wheat

Spoon River College faculty Rebecca Werland and Shelli Stuart are advisors for the Nu Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest internationally recognized honor society for two-year colleges.  Their mission is to recognize academic achievement, promote individual growth and development, and provide opportunities through participation for leadership, service, and continuing scholarship. To be eligible, students must complete a minimum of twelve hours of transferable course work and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.25.

SRC Part of New Teacher Education Pathway with Illinois State University

​Community Partner Pathway is a partnership between Illinois State University and five central Illinois community colleges including Carl Sandburg College, Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College, Illinois Valley Community College, and Spoon River College. The six higher education institutions will work in collaboration on this degree and licensure program that will prepare working professionals to teach elementary education with an English as a Second Language endorsement in their home communities.

Illinois faces a dire educator shortage with 4,500 open positions across the state. Rural communities have been hit particularly hard with the teacher shortage and this strategic partnership will ensure that small communities and school districts will have more high-quality teachers.

“Our mission is to provide the best teachers for Illinois and I’m proud of the work that our faculty and staff in the School of Teaching and Learning have done with our community college partners,” said Dr. James Wolfinger, dean of the College of Education. “This new program is remarkably innovative because it allows us to prepare teachers in their home communities and to build on the students’ experiences in the classroom as paraprofessionals and other roles.”

Together with the community colleges, the COE will prepare community members to teach in local schools. Students who are place bound because of work or family obligations will have the opportunity to expand their skillset and knowledge so they can earn a degree and Professional Educator License and enter the classroom as a teacher. Students will take courses part time in online and hybrid settings, with limited face to face sessions held on Illinois State’s campus on Saturdays. The first cohort will begin Illinois State coursework in 2022.

“As an Illinois State agriculture education alumnus who transferred from Spoon River College, I know firsthand the important role that school districts play in our rural Illinois communities,” said Curt Oldfield ‘97, president of Spoon River College. “I am proud that school districts, community colleges and Illinois State have come together to bring a high quality, creatively delivered solution to Illinois communities that helps address the state’s shortage.”

Applications for the first cohort are open and encouraged as soon as possible to ensure registration in the appropriate community college courses in Fall 2021.

The Community Partner Pathway program is part of a larger CommuniTeach initiative in which Illinois State is developing new teacher education pathways in many parts of the state focused on developing local talent to be the highest quality educators. Each program provides access through nontraditional pathways that meet students’ needs for flexible schedules, integration into the local community for clinical experiences and student teaching, and a high-quality Illinois State University education in students’ home communities.

2021-2022 Student Trustee Mary Toothaker Seated

Mary Toothaker of Farmington was sworn in as the 2021-2022 Student Trustee for the Spoon River College Board during their regular public meeting held April 28 at the Canton Campus. A member of the Student Government Association and a Student Ambassador, Toothaker was elected by her peers for the position and said she is looking forward to the learning experience and in being more involved with campus activities.

Also taking the oath of office were re-elected Trustees Linda Butler and Jerry Cremer. The Board then approved Cremer as Chair, Kevin Meade as Vice Chair, and Phillip Murphy as Secretary for the coming year. Pictured Jerry Cremer, Mary Toothaker, and Linda Butler.

Jerry Cremer, Mary, Linda Butler

Kent Schleich and Mary

2020-2021 Student Trustee: Jaylen Lyttaker Serving During a Pandemic

Spoon River College 2020-2021 student trustee Jaylen Lyttaker of Industry gave up his seat at the board table to incoming student trustee Mary Toothaker of Farmington during the regular public board meeting on April 28 at the SRC Canton Campus.

Lyttaker is just one of many student trustees who have served during their time at Spoon River College, but he is the only one who has the distinction of serving during a pandemic when the halls were mostly empty and student activities were cancelled.

“Being a student through the pandemic was challenging,” Lyttaker said. “There were times I thought I was going to give up and let my ADHD take control of my focus. At one point I almost reconsidered my major and even continuing with further education.”

In that, Lyttaker was not alone, as students everywhere faced the same challenges during the pandemic and the subsequent shut down of schools. Finding the right perspective helped Lyttaker through that conflicting time. “Having the perspective that I’ll never get further if I’m held back by something I can’t control helped me realize that nothing is or ever will be perfect. You just have to do what’s best for you.”

Being able to accept the situation for what it was gave Lyttaker a sense of empowerment. Reassuring himself with positive affirmations, staying connected with his instructors and other students, not skipping any of his classes, and keeping a prioritized mind-set to complete work on time were tools Lyttaker used to regain his focus on the end game.

Lyttaker will graduate in May, and is no longer on the fence about continuing his education. He plans to transfer to WIU and major in music education.

“I am so proud of everyone I had the chance to work with, have as a classmate, and as an instructor. I’ve made new friends and many new memories, and being elected as the student trustee was by far the most memorable and rewarding.”

Pictured are President Curt Oldfield, Jaylen, and Trustee Kent Schleich

Spoon River College Honors Employees

Spoon River College held Employee Appreciation receptions on the Canton and Macomb campuses to recognize employees for their years of service, those retiring, and faculty awards.

Honored for five years were Micki Henderson, Senior Assistant, Auxiliary Services; Hannah Neuendorf, Generalist, Human Resources; and Andrea Thomson, Director, Human Resources.

Honored for ten years were Ellen Armstrong, Specialist, Macomb Campus: Andrea Barbknecht, Director, Canton Outreach Center; Penny Cozart, Nursing faculty; Kim Donnelly, Senior Office Assistant, Student Services; Jade Powers, Advisor, Recruitment/Retention; Barbara Strauch, Nursing faculty; and Bobby Winters, Unix Administrator.

Honored for fifteen years were Kristy Boggs, Biology faculty; Jo Branson, Director, Financial Aid; Sarah Dalpiaz, Math faculty; Sarah Gray, Director, Business and Auxiliary Services; Melissa Koke, Program Advisor, Adult Education; Chase Lockard, Coordinator, Network and Security; Teresa Welch, Assistant, Havana Center; and Rebecca Werland, Developmental English faculty.

Chief Information Office Raj Siddaraju was honored for 25 years, and Facilities Director Bob Haile was honored for 40 years.

Rob Kirkham, director of the Rushville Center, was honored as the lone retiree. Kirkham noted that as much as he enjoyed the work, his decision was based on his desire to spend more time traveling with his wife to visit their out-of-state children. President Oldfield said that Kirkham had been an excellent director and valuable asset to the Rushville Center and that he would be missed.

The following employees were recognized as nominees for the annual Illinois Community College Trustees Association awards:

Jason Strandberg (History faculty) – 2020 ICCTA Outstanding Full-time Faculty Member Award.

Michael Maher (Sociology faculty) – 2021 ICCTA Outstanding Full-time Faculty Member Award.

Scott Heidemann (Systems Administrator) – 2020 ICCTA Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award.

Marianne Pence (Sociology faculty) – 2021 ICCTA Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award.

Recognized for receiving the H. Truman Standard Award for teaching excellence were 2020 recipient Laura Bandy, English faculty and 2021 recipient Sarah Strode, Nursing faculty.

Michael Maher, Kristy Boggs, Jade Powers, and Ellen Armstrong

Sarah Strode, Kim Donnelly, Andrea Barbknecht, Jo Branson, Sarah Gray, Andrea Thomson, Penny Cozart, (back l-r) Chase Lockard, Sarah Dalpiaz, Rob Kirkham, Raj Siddaraju, and Micki Henderson

Michael Maher, Sociology faculty – 2021 ICCTA Outstanding Full-time
Faculty Member Award.

Sarah Strode, Nursing faculty – H. Truman Standard Award

Seeking Nominations for SRC Faculty Awards – Deadline February 26

Spoon River College is seeking nominations of current full- and part-time faculty members who have distinguished themselves as members of the teaching profession. The nominations will be used to select a full-time faculty recipient for the H. Truman Standard Award and the ICCTA (Illinois Community College Trustees Association) Outstanding Full-Time and Part-Time Faculty Awards.

Any citizen of the college district, current or former student, or college staff member may submit nominations. Nominations are limited to current 2020-2021 full-time and part-time faculty members of Spoon River College.

All nominations must be received no later than February 26, 2021. Any nominations received after that deadline will be applied to the following year nomination pool.

Faculty members may only be given the H. Truman Standard Award once in a seven-year period. Faculty who are not eligible this year are Laura Bandy, Dr. Andrew Kirk, Becky Leverette, Michael Maher, Beth Van Tine, and Krista Winters. However, these faculty may still be nominated and considered for the ICCTA Outstanding Faculty Award.

The names of eligible full-time faculty and the nomination form are available at https://www.src.edu/academics/Pages/faculty-awards.aspx  or by clicking on the Faculty Award link located under the Academics tab at www.src.edu.

The awards are presented during the College’s Commencement, which is currently being planned for May 14.

Celebrating Community College Month

April is celebrated as Community College Month, and Spoon River College has normally celebrated with annual events and social gatherings for students, employees, and community members.

Unfortunately when COVID-19 walked in the door, normal walked out. When that happened, Spoon River College did what community colleges are known for doing. It adapted.

Faculty moved their classes online – a process more challenging than one might think – and services for students were also moved online, such as advising, testing, registration, orientation, tutoring, library services, and the computing help desk. The Bookstore offered curbside service and faculty arranged times for students who needed to be on campus to complete labs.

The SRC Foundation established an emergency hardship fund for students who had lost their income or had additional pandemic related expenses, and also purchased laptops that students could check-out. The Community Outreach offices continued to reach out, offering creative videos and learning opportunities via social media and Zoom.

Community colleges are known for certain advantages; they offer personalized attention from faculty who know the names of their students, and they’re a good value close to home and a place to get general education classes—the same ones required the first two years at a university at a much higher cost. They also offer a quicker road to employment through career and workforce education, both for those just entering the workforce and for those wanting or needing a new direction.

Community colleges are a place for those who aren’t sure what they want to do yet. Students often find their calling while attending a community college. It happens in a class, in a conversation with a teacher, in an extracurricular activity, when sometimes quite suddenly, something clicks and the future comes into focus.

Community colleges may not have the glitz and glamour found at big universities, but community colleges have heart and soul. Community colleges support and celebrate their students, leading them towards success. At Spoon River College, that success can be the achievement of a degree or certificate, completing the GED program, or gaining personal enrichment. Success comes in all sizes for students at a community college, and student success is the first priority.

When Canton Community College first began in the second-floor wing of Canton High School, the focus was on teaching and learning. Sixty plus years later, a lot has changed, including the name, but the focus on teaching and learning remains the same.

Spoon River College serves three educational purposes: to strengthen individual’s academic skills; to offer occupation specific education and training; and to prepare students for transfer to a four year college or university, all of which ultimately serve the community. Because that’s what community colleges do.

Our celebrations and events will look different for now, but we’re still standing strong, still celebrating, and still keeping student success as our number one priority.

HEERF II Funds Available for Eligible Students Enrolled in Fall 2021 Semester at SRC

Students who will be enrolled at Spoon River College in a minimum of six credit hours for Fall 2021 may be eligible for at least $500 in emergency funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).

To receive funds, students must be enrolled in at last six credit hours for Fall 2021 by August 23. They must also be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen, complete and have on file at SRC the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA), and complete the College HEERF II application.

High school students taking dual credit courses at the high school are eligible for $25 per credit hour and must complete the Dual Credit HEERF II application. High school students taking at least six (6) credits of dual credit courses online or on campus at SRC are eligible for the $500 incentive and must complete the College HEERF II application. High school students do not need to complete the FAFSA.

The offer is for Fall 2021 credit classes only and is available until funding is exhausted. Awards will be based on registered hours for Fall 2021 at the end of the business day on September 3, 2021, and will be applied to student accounts after that date.  Any Nelnet payment plans will be reduced by the amount awarded after funds are applied to student accounts.  Awarding may take up to ten days.

The more hours you are enrolled in, the more funds you are eligible to receive. These funds are in addition to financial aid, scholarships, or other external funding sources. The applications can be accessed at https://www.src.edu/freemoney.

Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis to ensure students meet eligibility requirements, and will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students will be notified of the HEERF II award through MySRC email. Students can only receive HEERF II funds once.

HEERF II funds do not have to be reported as income when filing a FAFSA, and is not considered financial aid when calculating financial aid and award eligibility. All awards must adhere to the federal statutory and regulatory requirements. The federal tax treatment of these funds is still uncertain, and information will be updated on the SRC website as it becomes available.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II) is authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. In total, the CRRSAA authorizes $81.88 billion in support for education, in addition to the $30.75 billion expeditiously provided last spring through the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136.