Spoon River College student Conner Smith has been awarded the Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship for $500 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Originally from Bushnell, Smith is a 2024 graduate of Lewistown High School where he was a FFA member for three years, played baseball for four years, basketball for three years, served one year as a Student Mentor, was part of the Student Senate for two years, and completed a one-year work study program.
While in high school Smith also received a Heisman Scholarship and conference awards for baseball, was named the February Senior of the Month, and played in the McDonald’s All-Star game. He was employed at the Dairy Queens in Bushnell and Lewistown, and at Bass Equipment in Cuba.
Smith is a member of the Spoon River College baseball team, and is a recipient of an athletic performing grant.
When it came time to choose a college, Smith said he knew he wanted a community college. “I was looking for a smooth transition from high school to college,” Smith said. “I’ve always lived in small communities and attended small schools, and wanted to stay with a smaller college. One that was financially friendly was also important, and I wanted to continue to play baseball.”
Smith plans to earn an associate degree and then transfer to a four-year university. While still undecided about his major, he is interested in mechanics, nursing, business and marketing. “I feel that my time here will help me decide the career I want to pursue.”
The Bonnie Stine SRCFA Scholarship was previously known as the Spoon River College Faculty Association Scholarship. In 2013, faculty voted to rename it to recognize Stine’s role in establishing the original SRCFA Scholarship. Stine taught at the College for 31 years before retiring in 2008.
