East St. Louis Center

While the names of some toys on children’s holiday lists have changed over the years – like virtual reality headsets, baby Yoda toys, and Google play cards – the desire to bring them joy remains the same. 

The East St. Louis Fire Department (ESLFD) Local 23 delivered bags full of Christmas wishes on Monday, Dec. 19 for students in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Project Success program.  Also gifting students with toys was ...

Holiday favorites – such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and “Little Drummer Boy”– were performed with the kind of sparkle and shine that only the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for Performing Arts’ (ESLCPA) After School program can give. 

The program held its annual Holiday Dance and Music Recital on Thursday, Dec. 15 in the Multipurpose Room on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in E...

Following in the footsteps of a highly regarded mentor, who made sure he had helped clear her a path to Katherine Dunham certification, even after his death, Ta’Shayla Montgomery returned to the dance studio where it all began. 

Montgomery, an alumna and former dance instructor of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts (PA), held a Katherine Dunham workshop from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 in the PA studios on the Wyvetter H. Younge Hi...

T’was the week before Christmas break and secluded away, Angel Tree elves joyfully prepared for the big day. Stockings were stuffed. Swag bags filled, then set in piles – all in anticipation of watching students break out into smiles. 

And when the end-of-the-day bell rang on Monday, Dec. 12, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) elves took their places and handed out holiday swag bags to a flurry of grateful faces. 

“We ...

Throughout various classrooms, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St Louis Charter High (CHS) students had their minds engaged in how to code candy canes and make fake snow, had their fingers shaping slime, and their hands molding bath bombs. These were some of the activities in which scholars took part during the school’s fourth annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Day on Friday, Dec. 2. 

“STEAM Day has been a highly successful and req...

It’s the holiday season, and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) would like to give away, to perhaps one of the most precious groups in the community, what they need the most: diapers. 

“Diapers are an essential need for babies and not only are they expensive, but also they are not something covered by SNAP/WIC funding,” said LRC and Campus Engagement Director Sarah Kirkpatrick. 

There are no eligibility requir...

Life, family and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) – these were some of the things that made the gratitude list of CHS students during the school’s annual Thanksgiving Day luncheon with all the trimmings on Friday, Nov. 18 at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus (WHYHEC) in East St. Louis. 

“I am thankful to be alive, to be in a positive environment and to have the opportunity to be great,” said freshman Ant...

The assignment this year is the same as in the past, but with some extra cheer and joy for the students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS).

It is hoped that donations will surpass last year’s for the Angel Tree campaign, according to Anne DeToye, CHS treasurer. This year’s goal is $12,000.

“Students will receive a Swag Box that includes CHS logo apparel, a novel that is part of the school-wide book read and snacks,” sai...

Two hands raised in answer to the question of how many students were interested in careers in media and mass communications. At the conclusion of the visit to the television station, radio station and student newspaper at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, eight of the 12 students’ hands shot up when the question was asked again. 

“I’d like to be a broadcast reporter,” said Theodric Belt Jr., a junior at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS). Bel...

Free personal computers for those who qualify will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center, located at 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. 

The LRC is partnering with PCs for People to bring affordable technology to the community, according to Sarah Kirkpatrick, director of the LRC and Campus Engagement. 

“PCs for People receives computer donations and then refurbishes and updates th...

From the construction of significant structures in East St. Louis, such as the East St. Louis City Municipal Complex, the Mary Brown Neighborhood Center, the Medical Arts Building, the Mental Health Center of St. Clair County, multiple churches and schools including the Illinois State Community College, now known as the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus, the late prolific construction manager Janfrey Preston and his family have made an indelible mark on the City. 

The “Janfr...

Similar to being on such major rivers as the Nile, the Ganges or the Amazon, this summer, 15 students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program participated in the Swarovski Water School, using the Mississippi River as a classroom. 

“I wanted TRIO Upward Bound students to take part in something special,” said Erica Doerr, former UBMS counselor and STEM instructor. “I wanted students t...

A healthy portion of instruction, strategies and tips on wellbeing and mindful living was served to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) staff members during an in-person, pre-service session and workshop entitled Journey to Wellness on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. Nutrition and dietetics expert, empowerment and wellness influencer, public speaker and author Reshaunda Thornton was the featured presenter. 

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“You are awesome!” “So good to see you!” “This is going to be your year!” These were some of the personalized shouts of welcome and praise that greeted each Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) student who walked down a red carpet on their first day of school, Monday, Aug. 15. 

CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD; CHS Assistant Director Liza Cummings, PhD; CHS Board of Directors President Willis Young; CHS teache...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students have the opportunity to gain knowledge about academic majors and career pathways from SIUE faculty and staff during the virtual CHS Midday Speaker Series. 

SIUE’s CORE T.E.A.M. (College Readiness: Transition, Engage, Achieve and Mentor) Department began a new speaker series for CHS students on Monday, Nov. 1, according to Fannie Acoff,&#16...

With the start of the school year, students’ hands are full with books, various technology and now – some fresh produce, courtesy of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) gardens. 

“We have already given fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and okra to our students and parents,” said SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) Director Gina Jeffries, EdD. “We love giving away the fresh produce, just as much as they enjoy receiving i...