East St. Louis Center

Armed with 20 years of service to veterans with the goal of training them for academic and employment success, James Robbins is working to help advance Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program participants. 

 “Veterans Upward Bound prepares veterans of all eras for postsecondary education, by providing counseling, advisement, basic skills review/enhancement and referral to a variety of services and resources,&#82...

There will be singing, dancing, drumming and more at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts Enrichment Summer Camp being held Monday, June 3-Friday, July 19. Hollywood is the theme for the enrichment program. 

The summer camp is for students ages 7-17. It will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. in East St. Louis. 

“We are planning a production that w...

Students are engrossed in the story, but some of their little faces are pinched as they listen to New Shoes by Lynn Meyer.  

“Oh, we’ll do something different, Ella Mae, she says. We will make a picture for Mr. Johnson. Pencil and paper are over there, gal, Mr. Johnson says to momma,” reads Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior Torie Hay to SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Project Success students during a Wednesday, May 22 session in the Multipurpose Ro...

The life instructions were clear, concise and motivational – chase your dreams. 

It was the sage advice given by 18-year-old Radricka Kelly-Oden, valedictorian and graduation speaker at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) 2019 commencement ceremony held Friday, May 17 in SIUE’s Morris University Center, Meridian Ballroom. 

“It is imperative that you chase your dreams, because you didn’t choose your dreams, you...

Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde, of St. Louis, was one of more than 60 people attending the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Minority Economic Empowerment’s informational meeting on funding opportunities for minority-owned businesses. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted the session on Tuesday, May 14 at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

The informationa...

The audience was attentive, questioning and supportive even to tears during the annual senior portfolio presentations of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students. 

Twenty-four graduating seniors shared the highs and lows of their high school careers on Thursday, April 25. Taking note were SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook, PhD; School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Interim Dean Paul Rose, PhD; English Language and Literature Professo...

 At first sight, the small, demure English teacher could pass for a student herself. However, Bridget Nelson has earned high marks as a teacher with her Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students, because of her commitment and care to them and their education. 

“Ms. Nelson is a stellar example of an excellent teacher,” said Gina Jeffries, EdD, CHS director. “During Teacher Appreciation Week, it is befitting to recogniz...

 Life in East St. Louis – as experienced and written by a few students at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School – will soon be on stage. 

“This year, the students decided to write their own scenes about life in East St. Louis,” said Kathryn Bentley, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance, about the second year of her Sankofa Residency at the Charter High School (CHS). 

Bentley’s weekly d...

Responding to the need and request of a community member and his family, Rebecca Harper, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Learning Resource Library Center (LRC) director, held the instructional and encouraging session, “Tech Apps and Autism.” 

The workshop was held as part of the LRC’s Lunch and Learn series on Wednesday, April 24 during Autism Awareness Month at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

“This was an e...

In keeping with its tradition of celebrating children’s first teachers and those who help create an effective learning environment, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start held its 36th Annual Parent Training and Recognition Luncheon on Friday, April 12, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. This year’s theme was “Building an Effective Wellness Program for Nurturing and Supporting Parents.” 

“We couldn&#82...

Being the first person in her family to graduate college, in part because of the guidance and help of a government-funded TRIO program, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Yvonne Maldonado Hart knows the value of and need for such opportunities. 

It is one reason that drew Hart to the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Upward Bound (UB) Scholar’s Academy program, and compels her to offer her best as its director. 

“I am a strong believer that TRIO programs w...

It’s lunch time at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start’s Lovejoy Center, and the pitter patter of little feet are amplified just a bit too loud. Parent Lateyka Vaughan steps to the office door and gives directives in a pleasant, but firm tone. 

“I can hear running. We walk inside, and please use your inside voices,” said Vaughan, 2019 Illinois Head Start Parent of the Year. “I love being here. If I could, I would come every da...

Women – in all of their glory, complexities and struggles – were lauded and discussed during the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School’s (CHS) mini-conference, held Friday, March 29. 

“We wanted to both celebrate and bring attention to the issues that have affected women in history and those that are still affecting them today,” said Bridget Nelson, CHS English faculty associate and conference coordinator. “Although...

It wasn’t her first career choice, but Sandra Goodwin’s response to a need, and her desire to educate and empower others has earned the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start teacher high marks and the 2019 Illinois Head Start Teacher of the Year award. 

“I was really shocked and humbled by it,” said Goodwin, home visitor with SIUE Head Start since 2010 and early childhood educator for approximately 17 years. “Teaching is somethi...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s fifth annual Phenomenal Women’s Luncheon held Tuesday, March 26, honored 15 women, comprising faculty, staff, students and community members, for their incredible positive impact as people and leaders.

In honor of Women’s History Month, and hosted by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the annual event honors women from all walks of life who have made contributions to diversity and inclusion at SIUE, the region, nati...