•January 29, 2025•

On February 22nd from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in collaboration with Ameren Illinois will be hosting a “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day’ for all middle and high school students. Attendees can expect keynote speaker - Angela Heise, a SIUE computer science alumna who currently serves as Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Worldwide, public sector. There will be hands-on engineering activities in computer science, electrical/computer, mechanical, civil and industrial engineering. Continuing there will also be professional panelists, discussion with Q&A and intern/co-op info sessions.   

The event is free to attend with registration, registration must be done by February 2nd. Lunch will be provided.  

For more information contact SIUE at swesiue@gmail.com. To register for the event visit tinyurl.com/siueige.

•January 29, 2025•

Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
University of Illinois Extension      

Like many things, there are positive and negative effects of screen time for all of us, and it can be hard to come up with that magic amount of time that should be spent interacting with a screen. We do know that too much time spent on screens can be detrimental to youth - they can experience sleep problems, lower grades in school, reading less, spending less time with family and friends, and can also lead to weight problems, mood problems, poor self-image and body image issues, fear of missing out and spending less time learning ways to relax and have fun!    So, what are some other alternatives we can all try to incorporate in our lives to replace some of that screen time?  

Eastern in only 10% of national peer institutions to earn distinction in past year

•January 29, 2025•

Eastern Illinois University (EIU) received the 2024 Campus Prevention Network’s Seal of Approval award from Vector Solutions for the University’s “exemplary efforts to foster student safety, well-being, and inclusion through online prevention programs.” Fewer than 10 percent of U.S. institutions have earned this distinction over the past year.

“EIU’s CPN Seal of Prevention recognition for student safety is built on our already strong foundation of cultivating excellent student relationships,” said Matt Warner, Assistant Director of EIU’s Health Education Resource Center. “Institutionally, we are focused on student success, health and safety, and this award evidences our strong commitments in those key areas.”

•January 29, 2025•

The East Central Illinois Red Cross Club is holding a Socks for Soldiers drive from February 1 - 16. 

New adult-sized socks of any kind may be brought to the SHS/SMS and SES offices, sent to school with SHS, SMS, or SES students for their class competitions, or donated at the SHS basketball games on February 3 and 10. Area churches and veterans organizations are also being asked to “host” a “Sock Box” to help collect socks.

2015

Fifth grader Wesley Standerfer isn’t your typical kid. About a year prior to 2015, he started his very own neighborhood newspaper, the “Shumanville Times.” Living on Shuman farmland inspired him to share the family news to those nearby. He delivered print editions locally, while others requested it by email from as far away as Texas and Washington D.C. At such a young age, he already began to see the potential of the printed word so Standerfer expanded his horizons and took to reporting in the halls of Sullivan Elementary School. The 2015 newspaper staff included students Connor Golden, Devon Winings, Clayton Schmohe, Wes Standerfer, and Ben Bushue.