This fall marked the 24th SRC Community Leadership Academy to be offered through the Spoon River College Office of Community Outreach, and the newest graduates were recognized at the Lifelong Learning Conference held October 10 at the Canton Campus. They were Martha Davis, Connie Heller, Michelle Howe, Pam Jump, Jodie and Robbin Kost, Judy Lietze, Evelyn Oaks, Judy Spahn, and Rebeca Wilcoxen.
The Academy started as the Retirees Leading Academy funded by grant money in 2006, and at that time was held twice a year. The name was changed a few years ago and is now only held once a year.
“Class sizes have ranged from six to eleven participants, and including our current graduating class members, we’ve had a total of 212 graduates of the program,” said Andrea Barbknecht, director of community outreach in Canton. “Coordinators are Kathy Lock, Janice Bruster, and Mary Williams, who are graduates of the program. They secure the tours, speakers, and participants in the program.”
Tours and speakers for this class included the Spoon River College campus with President Curt Oldfield; History of Banking in Fulton County with Rick Klinedinst; Graham Health System with CEO Bob Senneff; State of the City with Mayor Kent McDowell; Fulton Mason Crisis Service with Community Educator Julie; Canton Fire Dept. with Assistant Chief Hanlin; Canton Police Department with Officer Josh Wages; Fulton County Jail; COOK facilities; Fulton County Rehabilitation Center with Shelly Entrekin; Fulton County Ambulance with Chris Blackwell; Canton Park District with Amanda Atchley; Canton Area Heritage Center; Canton Area Chamber of Commerce with Director Carla Bobell; Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development with Executive Director Michelle Spiva; and Canton Main Street with Jennie Grove.
For more information about the Academy, Lifelong Learning, and other events and classes offered through Community Outreach, visit http://www.src.edu/outreach.
Pictured are (front, l-r) Pam Jump, Evelyn Oaks, Michelle Howe, Robbin Kost, (back), Judy Leitze, Rebecca Wilcoxen, Martha Davis, and Jodie Kost. Not pictured are graduates Connie Heller and Judy Spahn.