East St. Louis Center

The big, beautiful eyes of Tyra Parker, of East St. Louis, filled with water as she talked about the horrifying experience of losing her home to a fire on the evening of Oct. 26. The pregnant woman’s tears remained there as she gave thanks for the lives of her four children, and the generosity of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community. 

 “I want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to me and my family. This school, and people I don’t even kno...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Stephen Hupp, PhD, is the recipient of the institution’s 2019 Champion for Diversity Award in honor of his exemplary level of dedication to SIUE’s mission of fostering equal opportunity, and his outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Hupp will receive the award from Chancellor Randy Pembrook during the 9 a.m. commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 15.

“Everything I do has been greatly influenced by my inspirational m...

Sometime next year, Sherenthia Davis, of Brooklyn, expects to be administering medication, assisting with minor medical procedures, providing patient education and more, thanks to the new Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) course offered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Workforce Development Program. SIUE is offering the course in partnership with the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department. 

“I’m hoping this program w...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) has appointed Ricki Loar, PhD, APRN-CNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, as the new director of the WE CARE Clinic at the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. Loar assumes her new responsibilities on Monday, Dec. 3, bringing 34 years of comprehensive experience in the healthcare industry to the clinic.

“Dr. Loar brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in clinic operations, community outreach and clinical practice,” sa...

In the spirit of the holiday, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) continued its tradition of turkey, thankfulness and togetherness during its fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Meal Celebration. 

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook was one of the featured turkey carvers during the luncheon held Tuesday, Nov. 20 in the Multipurpose Room at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

More than 100 students walked into the festively decorated Multip...

A fair that covers the ABC’s of college is a valuable tool and Monday, Nov. 19 was the first time the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS), in partnership with the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund (GESLCF), offered the opportunity for its students. 

More than 100 CHS students, from grades 9-12, participated in the comprehensive college fair. The students were divided into four groups that rotated to the following four sessions:

• Vi...

Kei’lah Brown-McGee, of Belleville, has wanted to help, love and educate young children for some time, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Workforce Development Program has helped place her in the front of the class. 

“The ESLC’s Childcare Training Program helped me achieve one of my goals in an astonishing amount of time,” said Brown-McGee, teacher’s assistant at the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start’s Disco...

Adorable children in pajamas from Discovery Center for Little Scholars Early Head Start/Head Start paraded through the corridors of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) to have their bags filled with candy and snacks on Wednesday, Oct. 31 during their annual Pajama Party Parade Fall Festival. 

Administrators and staff at the ESLC, SIU School of Dental Medicine, SIUE WE CARE Clinic and SIUE Police greeted the preschoolers. 

“During our annual Fa...

Remembering the creative influence on her formative years, longing to make a positive difference in her hometown of East St. Louis and identifying with one of her “sheroes,” Southern Illinois University Edwardsville student Allena Marie Brazier is achieving part of her dream as a Katherine Dunham Fellow. 

Brazier is the recipient of the Arts and Education Council’s fall 2018 Katherine Dunham Fellowship, which continues through December 2018. 

“Being a Kat...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is partnering with Madison and St. Clair Counties to support students working in conjunction with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by providing necessary services to help students achieve their academic goals.

WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

&#82...

When Jalen Paraham first came to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS), the 16-year-old had running on his mind. He also wanted to keep far away from CHS athletic instructor and social worker Shawn Roundtree. 

“He was always telling me to tuck in my shirt,” said Paraham, “and he was always telling me what to do.” 

It is important to have a student-athlete approach, according to Roundtree, who formed the CHS track te...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of Admissions invites prospective students to register for Preview SIUE and experience the University’s array of academic programming, student life opportunities and available support services.

High school and transfer students are encouraged to take advantage of one of two remaining sessions of the University’s most popular visit program being held Saturday, Nov. 3 and Monday, Nov. 12.  Registration is available at siue.edu/...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, has named Timothy Staples, EdD, as interim executive director of the SIUE East St. Louis Center (ESLC) Grant Programs.

In July, Staples returned to SIUE to serve as director of the new Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI). An East St. Louis native, Staples is an alumnus of the ESLC’s Upward Bound program and SIUE. Staples steps into the role vacated by Jesse Dixon, who...

Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members of varying ethnicities, ideologies, gender identification and sexual orientation took part in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Inaugural Diversity Day 2018 on Tuesday, Oct. 16 on the University’s Edwardsville, East St. Louis and Alton campuses. 

The Diversity Day theme was “From Awareness to Action, SIUE Shaping a Changing World.” The kickoff event for community stakeholders on Monday, Oct. 15 fea...

The East St. Louis Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recognized Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Executive Director Jesse Dixon for his educational contributions to the Metro East. 

Dixon received the branch’s education award at its 64th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet on Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. Dixon was one of many honorees hailed for bringing change to the community, acc...