Alumni Association

Anyone who has attended a class or holds a degree from Spoon River College is an automatic member of the Alumni Association. To register as an alumni please contact Ellen Dodd, President of the Alumni Association at (309) 649-6295.
 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Alumni Achievement Award – Nancy Barnhart
Nancy Barnhart and her husband Brett live in Canton with their two sons, Micah and Cale. She came to Spoon River College in 1990. Nancy was a two-sport athlete while at SRC, excelling in both basketball and softball.

After her graduation in 1992, she transferred to Knox College. She broke several basketball records during the two years she was there, and some still stand. Nancy received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics at Knox then entered John Marshall Law School, earning her Juris Doctorate Degree in 1997. She had been practicing law in Chicago for three years when her husband was accepted for his orthopedic residency in Springfield. The move gave Nancy the opportunity to work as an Administrative Law Judge with the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

When her family returned to Canton, she went to work for Davis and Campbell in Peoria and is now an associate at Barnhart Law Office. Nancy is committed to serving her community as well. She volunteers as a basketball and t-ball coach for the YMCA and Canton Park District, at Westview Elementary School and the Canton Evangelical Free Church where she is also a member of the Finance Committee. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Canton Altruistic Club, PEO Chapter BZ, and was inducted into the Canton High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. She is President of the Friends of Westview and after serving as Treasurer and First Vice-President, Nancy is now the President of the Canton YWCA Board of Directors.

Her education at SRC was very important to her. She says, “I am very thankful for the education I received at Spoon River College. It allowed me to really determine what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and gave me a solid starting foundation that allowed me to reach those goals. The instructors not only care about what happens to their students academically, but also personally and professionally. I am very proud to say that I am a Spoon River College graduate.”

Alumni Achievement Award – Bonnie Cremer
Bonnie Cremer and husband Terry reside in Canton. Their daughter Tiffany is an industrial engineer in Tucson, Arizona. Bonnie first came to Spoon River College in 1973 following her graduation from high school. She attended for one year and then left, got married, and went to work full time. At her husband’s suggestion, she tested for the Canton Fire Department. Not happy with her placement, she returned to SRC and received her Associate in Applied Science Degree in 1983.

Bonnie started working temporary appointments for the department when her daughter was just thirteen months old, and was hired as a full-time Canton firefighter in 1987. She completed an Associate in Fire Science Degree from Illinois Central College in 1992, and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fire Science and Administration from Western Illinois University in 2002.

Bonnie worked through the ranks of the Canton Fire Department and was one of twenty who applied for the chief’s position when it became available. She was given the appointment as Fire Chief of the Canton Fire Department in 2007. Bonnie is a past member of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1897, the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association, Central Illinois Fire Investigations Association, Association of Arson Investigators Illinois Chapter, Women in the Fire Service, Illinois Fire Service Women, Women Chief Fire Officers, Associate member of the Illinois Police Association, and the Canton YWCA.

In 2008, she was named one of the Outstanding Working Women of Illinois by the Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Women. Bonnie says this about her time here, “Spoon River College has played a substantial role within my career. Completing my degree was instrumental in my initial hiring at the Canton Fire Department.”

Alumni Achievement Award – James Hartford
Jim Hartford and his wife Janet are Canton residents. Their daughter Kelly lives in Urbana, Illinois. Jim is a proud member of the first class of Canton Community College, graduating in 1962. He then attended Southern Illinois University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Jim originally served in the United States Air Force before attending college and re-enlisted after graduating from SIU. He received many service awards including a medal from the Chinese Nationalist Government in Taiwan; and is an honorary member of the Little Bears Vietnam Helicopter Pilots. He retired from the Air Force and began his career in the insurance industry in Chicago after his return to civilian life. He moved back to Canton and worked in Peoria before going to work for, and retiring from, Pekin Insurance Company.

Being an active member of the community, Jim is involved with several civic and fraternal organizations. As a member of the Canton Jaycees, Jim was given JCI Senatorship and has served as President. He received an Outstanding Award for Good Government from Canton Masonic Lodge and was also Grand Master. He is a member of the Canton Retirees Academy, the Retirement Learning Institute, and the Canton Rotary Club. He sits on the Boards of Directors for Youth Acres, the Canton Friendship Festival, and the CCC/SRC Alumni Association. He is Chairman of the Canton Main Street Organization Committee and a past President of the Fulton County Flying Club where he now serves as Secretary-Treasurer. He is currently serving a four-year term as a Canton City Alderman.

He says, “My class started the whole Junior College program in Canton. I feel that it was an honor to be in that first class at Canton Community College.”

Alumni Achievement Award – Beau Ingledue
Beau resides in Macomb with his wife Christa and their son Carter. He attended Spoon River College from 1995 to 1997 and continued his education at Western Illinois University. While at WIU, he received the Dean’s Award and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with a minor in Business. He joined Purdum Gray Ingledue while a junior in college, became a partner in 2003, and is currently their Vice President.

An active member of the com-munity, Beau has served on multiple Boards of Directors including Lamoine Valley Human Resources as President, the Macomb Chamber of Commerce, and the Advisory Board for IMT Insurance. As a Big Brother with the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, Beau is currently serving on both the local and regional boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley. He has been President of that organization and was named as their Volunteer of the Year in 2001. He is also on the board of the McDonough County United Way where he served as treasurer and was named their Volunteer of the Year in 2001. In 2008, he was appointed a commissioner on the Macomb Police and Fire Commission.

Commenting on his choice of SRC, Beau said, “For me, the choice to attend Spoon River College was an easy one. I appreciated SRC’s reputation of having good instructors in a smaller classroom setting. SRC provided a seamless transition from high school into college.”

Distinguished Alumni Award – Dr. Jeremy Louis Krock, D.O., F.A.O.C.A.
Jeremy Krock, his wife Jeanette, and their two sons Mitchell and Spencer make their home in Peoria. Jeremy was awarded his Associate in Science degree from Spoon River College in 1978 and then transferred to Bradley University, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 1980. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathy from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1984. His internship and residency were done at Normandy Hospitals and he completed his Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at the University of Florida at Memorial Medical Center of Jacksonville, Florida. He was an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology for Saint Louis University Hospital, Anheuser Busch Institute, and Saint Louis University at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

Jeremy is currently a Pediatric Anesthesiologist with Associated Anesthesiologists, S.C. at OSF Center for Health in Peoria, Illinois. He is certified in both Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesiology by the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology. His professional memberships include the American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists, International Anesthesia Research Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, Society of Pediatric Anesthesiologists, Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists, Illinois State Medical Society, and Peoria Medical Society.

He has several professional appointments to his credit including former Chairman of the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology and presently as a member of both the Committee on Postdoctoral Training and Board of Governors with the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiology, Director of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital of Illinois, and Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Surgery at the University of Illinois at Peoria. In 1996, he was named an American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists Fellow. He received the Society of American Baseball Research Negro Leagues Committee Robert Peterson Award in 2005 and the John Coates Next Generation Award in 2007.

He shares this about his time at Spoon River College, “I found SRC to be the perfect transition between my high school and Bradley University. I developed lifelong friendships from within the student body and the faculty. I have never reconsidered my choice to attend SRC, and I would not trade my ‘Spoon Experience’ for anything. I will soon be recommending it to my own sons.”

Distinguished Retiree Award - James Rowe
Jim Rowe began working at Spoon River College in 1968 as Director of Financial Aid and Placement. Two years later he became Dean of Student Services. With this position, he was involved with recruiting, registration, student senate, and student activities. He also served as acting President when Hearl Bishop retired. He was very committed to the formation of the All-College Council because it provided a forum for various issues and included representative from all segments of the college.

After he left SRC, he was Assistant Manager of the Champaign Program Service team with the Illinois State Board of Education. Jim is a former member of the Cuba Unit District #3 Board of Education, the Fulton County Theatre Association, and the Monticello Theatre Association. He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, a Master Mason, a 32nd Degree Mason - Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. He and his wife Jean now live in Monticello, Illinois when they aren’t at their Wisconsin cabin snowmobiling, boating, watching wildlife or traveling all around the globe. Their daughter Jodi and her husband Dan have given Jim two grandchildren, Morgan and Mason, to enjoy.

About his time at SRC, Jim says, “To me, SRC emitted an atmosphere of a college ‘family.’ The student bodies were varied and enjoyable to work with, the student services staff were dedicated to serving students, the support staff were committed to their various functions, and the faculty and administration were professional.”

Outstanding Service Award – Rick Klinedinst
Canton resident Rick Klinedinst and his wife Janet are the parents of three children, Drew, Andrea, & Clay. Rick began his career with MidAmerica National Bank in 1978 in the Operations and Lending Department. He moved up to Assistant Vice President, Lending in 1991; to Vice-President, Real Estate Lending, in 1994; to Senior Vice-President, Retail Division 1997; and was named to his current position as President, Fulton County in March of 2004.

Rick began his education at Spoon River College in 1981, and received his Bachelor of Business, Finance Degree from Western Illinois University in 1986. In addition, he has received training from the Illinois Bankers Association General Banking School at Southern Illinois University, the Illinois Bankers Association Commercial Lending School at Illinois State University, and both the Prochnow Graduate School of Banking and Bankers Administration Institute Retail Banking School at the University of Wisconsin. Rick is an active member of many community groups, serving on their boards and holding various offices. These include Wesley United Methodist Church, member of the Finance Committee; Spoon River College Technology Advisory Committee Chairman; Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development Secretary; Rotary Club of Canton Member and Past President; Canton High School Band Booster Club Treasurer; Canton Park District Secretary and Past President; Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Club Treasurer; Community Foundation of Central Illinois Board Member; and MidAmerica National Bank Speakers Bureau member.

His commitment to the community has been rewarded with many honors, including the William R. Ward Memorial Award from the Illinois Chapter of AIB in 1988; the Illinois State Board of Education Vocational Technology Award in 1990; and the Spoon River College Alumni Achievement Award in 2007. He has also been honored as Kiwanian of the Year in 1998; Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Boss of the Year in 1999; Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2005; Canton High School Homecoming Parade Marshal in 2007; and Canton Friendship Festival Parade Marshal in 2009. His deep dedication to serving his community is to be applauded.