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.
