East St. Louis Center

An engaging, thought-provoking and provocative assortment of topics and speakers were discussed and presented during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s third annual Diversity Day, Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 14-15. Under the theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now – SIUE Shaping a Changing World,” the virtual event boasted more than 22 presentations with approximately 975 people registering. 

  “Diversity Day’s theme highlights the work of SIUE...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of students, staff and families garnered a visit from SIUE East St. Louis Center Executive Director Tim Staples, EdD, to all of its centers. 

Head Start/Early Head Start is gradually re-opening its centers for in-person services. Staples visited the Helen Davis Head Start/Early Head Start Center on Friday, Oct. 9. 

“The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start staff contin...

Because it’s good for young people to know their rights during legal proceedings and to be exposed to various career choices within the legal field, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program is teaching the virtual course, Trial Advocacy, to its students. 

“It’s a critical subject we wanted our students exposed to, and we are happy to have such a qualified teacher to do it,” said...

Getting needed after-school academic instruction and help for high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, but Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Upward Bound (UB) EC/BEM program has approached the task with a multi-faceted approach. 

“Virtual learning has been extremely difficult based on the fact that our students have to participate within their own school districts regularly and work with us also,” said UB Prog...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start students and families began the school year on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with the same mission to provide quality preschool education, and its staff with an intense commitment to provide programming in various platforms and approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 Through Friday, Oct. 2, the Head Start teaching staff is conducting services such as developmental and social emotional screenings, transportation and pedestrian...

From learning more about COVID-19, to critical thinking regarding racism, to preparing for college, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Upward Bound (UB) EC/BEM program students delved into these topics and more during Zoom sessions during the summer. 

The sessions, which began Monday, June 15, ended Friday, July 24 with program participants receiving complementary lunches and gift bags in a socially-distanced fashion at the East St. Louis Higher Educati...

The first day of kindergarten is exciting and memorable, and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start program wants to make sure its students are equipped for a successful year. 

“The inaugural SIUE Head Start Virtual Kindergarten Readiness Summer Program will help students and families better transition and excel during the thrilling year ahead,” said Lisa Tate, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start assistant program director/center operations. 

The SIUE Head ...

The joy of dancing. The thrill of theater. The love of teaching art. The pleasure of culinary arts. These things and more can be experienced if a person has the desire and commitment to pursue a career in the arts. 

Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program listened in on why a group of panelists decided on their careers and how they arrived at their destination. 

“We are expos...

After a horrifying ordeal for “Monty, The Turtle,” his creator has begun the loving and painstaking job of restoring him, where he resides at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

Edna Patterson-Petty, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2009 Alumni Hall of Famer and celebrated artist, began repairing the turtle sculpture on Monday, June 15, after it had been vandalized on Wednesday, Jan. 8. 

“I don’t know how long it will take to restore,” ...

What do a surgeon, a registered nurse, a software developer and an engineering professor all have in common? They were all guests at a STEM Career Day, hosted by the SIUE East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound’s Math and Science (UBMS) program. 

UBMS held its annual STEM Career Day. This year, due to COVID-19 it is scheduled as a STEM Summer Speaker Series. The meetings run from 11 a.m.-Noon each Thursday through July 16. 

Each week boasts four-eight experts in...

Creativity, ingenuity and fun merged to make some unique Father’s Day cards during a virtual Crafty Friday hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Learning Resource Center (LRC). 

“LRC’s Crafty Friday’s are highly anticipated and popular with our patrons,” said LRC Library Director Rebecca Harper. “For Friday, June 19, we thought it would be best to make Father’s Day cards.” 

Prior to the virtual art se...