East St. Louis Center

Students Say Goodbye to Preschool; Parents Thanked for Support

It was a day to look ahead. A day to celebrate. A day of moving up! More than 100 preschoolers experienced their first graduation during Moving Up Days on Tuesday, May 20-Wednesday, May 21 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Centers throughout the Metro East. 

“Moving Up Day is the day that we recognize all of our Head Start preschoolers’ advancement to kindergarten f...

Messages of girl power, positive self-esteem, healthy body image, community activism and more were packaged in sparkly, eye-catching motion and decorative costuming during the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts’ (ESLCPA) 2025 Spring Dance Recital. 

Students took to the stage at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15 in the Multipurpose Room of Building D of the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Center. Social justice was the theme of the d...

Burgess Interested in Majoring in Mechanical Engineering at SIUE

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Building Futures Program student Keshon Burgess graduated from high school this month and wants to eventually attend SIUE. Burgess lives in East St. Louis and has an interest in obtaining a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from SIUE. Here, the 18-year-old shares his reflections on his time so far in the Building Futures Program. 

I’ve enj...

 Parents and Friends of Collinsville High School Students Applaud Successes   

“This was the best decision of my life,” said 16-year-old Collinsville High School (CHS) sophomore Lillian O’Donnell. O’Donnell won medals and trophies at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Upward Bound Scholars Academy’s (UBSA) annual Awards Ceremony Thursday, May 8 at the CHS Auditorium.  

“Enrolling in Upward Bound Scholars Academy has open...

Friends and Family Cheer for Graduating Students During the School’s Commencement Ceremony   

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) provided pomp, circumstance and a chance for graduating seniors to revel, strut and shine during the school’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony. 

CHS graduated 28 seniors on Friday, May 9 in the middle of campus at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Center. The commencement speaker was Nate Wi...

Faculty and Staff on all SIUE Campuses Enjoy Good Fellowship, Good Food, Good Times  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville honored faculty and staff members on all its campuses during its annual observance. Employees on the Edwardsville, East St. Louis and Alton campuses embraced the occasion and enjoyed one another.

Each celebration offered food, games and gifts.  

Photos: SIUE paused to recognize and honor faculty and staff on its campuses during April and May.

Free Information, Screenings and Prizes; Fraternity Gives Clinic $7,000  

Metro East residents received valuable information, participated in health screenings, enjoyed free haircuts, beauty services, clothing, lunch, and major door prizes during the Spring Forward Health and Wellness Fair, co-hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. 

The WE CARE Clinic partnered with the East St. Louis (IL) Alumni Cha...

National Week of the Young Child Closes Out with Family and Fun  

While it was great to see preschool instruction highlighted during the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child (WOYC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville early childhood experts say every day is a day they are working to instill education into young learners. 

The SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC), the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Program an...

Dr.  Rebecca Swartz Teaches Through Song; SIUE Early Childhood Center and SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Programs Take Part  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is working with area early childhood agencies to take part in the annual Week of the Young Child (WOYC), which runs from Saturday-Friday, April 5-11, and is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

SIUE is partnering with Birth to Five Illinois: Regions 50 and 41, Bri...

Student Researchers Present Their Findings

The refreshments gave off the trappings of an afternoon chai, with an assortment of teas and specialty wafers and crackers. However, the presentations and conversations at the “Teaposium” dealt with less palatable subjects – field mice and pouched rats.  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Danielle N. Lee, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biological Sciences,...

SIUE Alumnus is Credited for Work at SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School 

For being a positive influence and giving students a good view law of enforcement officials, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Sgt. Kasey Hoyd received Fox 2’s “Proud to Serve” award. 

SIUE alumnus Hoyd, who serves as the resource officer at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, accepted the station’s March award and $500 on a live segment that aired on Tuesday,...

Detainees Echo in Sorrowful Chorus, “Jail is No Fun!”

He was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit. She was clad in a gold one. Both, with their wrists and ankles chained together, sat under watchful eyes of armed law enforcement officers. 

Mr. Scott and Ms. McCottrell, detainees at St. Clair County Jail, spoke to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the Multipurpose Room on the Wyvetter H. Younge ...

Initiative Fights Violence through Problem Solving and Providing Positive Outlets   

How many points are the Queen worth? Can the Pawn move backwards? What happens when you capture the King? 

These questions are answered in swift succession by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Project Success students. They have been taking chess lessons from Phillip Berry, 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond staff member and longtime chess coach. Chess less...

Initiative Revived to Combat Violence in East St. Louis and Beyond  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of many partners working with the 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond initiative in its ongoing mission to deter and ultimately eliminate violence in the East St. Louis area. The committee kicked off its campaign with a press conference, that included State Sen. Christopher Belt (D- 57^th District), on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Clyde C. Jordan Senior Citizen Center in the East ...