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2022 Awards

SWIC ANNOUNCES POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS

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Local high school students had the chance to show off their creative abilities through poetry through the 2020-2021 Poetry Out Loud competition, hosted by Southwestern Illinois College Feb. 11.

Each contestant submitted recited works they selected from an anthology of more than 1,100 poems. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including voice and articulation, evidence of understanding and accuracy.

Seven area high schools participated including Collinsville High School, East St. Louis Senior High School, Edwardsville High School, Freeburg Community High School, Governor French Academy, Mascoutah High School and Wyvetter Younge Alternative Center.

Winning artists for the contest include:                       

Edwardsville High School

Champion Winner: Jordyn Ginestra for reciting“The Wish, By a Young Lady” by Laetitia Pilkington and “My Partner Wants Me to Write Them a Poem About Sheryl Crow” by Kayleb Rae Candrilli.

Freeburg High School

Runner-Up: Joshua Merz for reciting“Altered After Too Many Years Under the Mask” by C.A. Conrad and “Hunger for Something” by Chase Twichell.

Ginestra and Merz will advance to the Poetry Out Loud state competition in March 2021, along with two finalists from each of the other seven Illinois regional contests.

The school of the state champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency and SWIC.

To view all the poetry submission or for more information visit
swic.edu/poetry-out-loud or contact Amy Brockman at 618-235-2700, ext. 5324.

SWIC Earns 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School Designation

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Southwestern Illinois College announced today, Feb. 26, 2021, that it has earned the designation of 2021-2022 Top 10 Military Friendly ® School.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly ® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey with 747 earning the designation.

“We’re very proud to provide a welcoming environment for our active-duty military and veteran students, and help them earn a college education through their education benefits,” said SWIC President Nick Mance. “In addition, we’ve enjoyed a longstanding mutually beneficial partnership with Scott Air Force Base.”

SWIC has the largest population of student veterans of all colleges and universities in the state. Ten percent of currently enrolled students use military educational benefits.

Established in 1946, SWIC serves the more than 300,000 residents of Community College District 522 through campuses in Belleville, Granite City and Red Bud plus numerous off-campus sites, including Scott Air Force Base and the East St. Louis Higher Education Center.

SWIC offers more than 150 affordable degree and certificate program options – including online and accelerated courses – for students who want to transfer to a university or prepare to enter the workforce. Articulation agreements with public and private colleges and universities help to ensure the transfer process is seamless for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly ® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic-based scoring assessment. Military Friendly also measures the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“Military Friendly ® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data driven standards in our designation process. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs. Schools who achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts. Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources, and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community,” said Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly ®

For information about SWIC student veteran programs, visit swic.edu/veterans.

 About Military Friendly ® Schools: The Military Friendly ® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to

the proprietary, data -driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate.

Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at viqtory.com.

SWIC to hold tuition rate steady for fourth consecutive year

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Good news for Southwestern Illinois College students. The Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to keep the tuition rate at $113 per semester credit for the 2021 school year.

The college has not raised its tuition or $6 information technology fee   or $3 student services fee since 2017. SWIC students pay only $122 tuition and fees per semester credit for classes, the lowest tuition rate in the state.

“The pandemic has caused financial hardships for so many people in our community,” said SWIC President Nick Mance. “The Board felt it would be in our students’ best interest to keep the tuition at an affordable, steady rate. We want to ensure a college education is accessible to all.”

SWIC students pay a fraction of state and private university costs. The average cost for a full-time student to attend SWIC for two years is $7,808. The average tuition for two years at a public university is $19,374 and a private university is $70,174, according to usnews.com.

“Students can save money by earning their associate degree at SWIC, then transferring to a university to complete their bachelor’s degree,” Mance said. “Or they can train for a variety of well-paying jobs in two years or less. Graduates can enter the workforce without massive student loan debt.”

Residents of Missouri and other surrounding states can also attend SWIC for only $122 per semester credit.

“We have a number of academic programs that community colleges in other states don’t have, so last year we opened the door to out-of-state students,” Mance said. “Out-of-state tuition was previously cost prohibitive; we’ve removed that barrier.” 

Some of SWIC’s more popular programs include: Aviation Maintenance Technology, Commercial Maintenance Mechanics, Industrial Maintenance Mechanics, Massage Therapy and Welding Technology.

The college recently added new programs such as Brewing Operations and Fermentation Science, Cannabis Industry Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Medical Laboratory Assistant, and Practical Nursing.

For more information, visit swic.edu/tuition-fees.

SWIC welcomes Dr. Ashley Becker as the new Dean of Business, Health Sciences and Homeland Security

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Ashley Becker, Ph.D., has been named the new dean of Business, Health Sciences and Homeland Security programs at Southwestern Illinois College.

Becker brings 19 years of experience in higher education and has held previous leadership roles including Vice President of Instructional Services at Kaskaskia College, Senior Director of Academic Affairs for the Illinois Community College Board and College Director of ITT Technical Institute in Little Rock, just to name a few.

Becker is excited about working with SWIC students, faculty and staff. She enjoys and appreciates the mix of responsibilities and challenges that accompany her new role.

SWIC Business, Health Sciences and Homeland Security Dean
SWIC Business, Health Sciences and Homeland Security Dean Ashley Becker, Ph.D.

 “I love being a servant leader, someone who rallies their faculty and staff together to achieve the college’s mission,” Becker said. “It’s about impact, influence, inspiration and selflessness; I am truly blessed to be a part of this amazing institution.”

In her free time, Becker enjoys watching her kids participate in activities such as tumbling, soccer, track, wrestling, basketball, dance, volleyball and spending time with family.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts from University of Great Falls in Montana and both her Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Phoenix. Becker is also involved with the CAEL Military Advisory Board and the Illinois Articulation Initiative.

Becker and her husband, Ian, live in Trenton and have three children, Kanyon, Grayson and Addison. For more information about SWIC, visit swic.edu.

SWIC welcomes new Economics Assistant Professor Dustin Sweet

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Southwestern Illinois College is pleased to welcome new Economics Assistant Professor Dustin Sweet, who recently joined the college in the Spring 2021 Semester.

Sweet has a passion for economics and his ultimate goal is to help students understand the connection between economics and the real world.

Economics Assistant Professor Dustin Sweet
SWIC Assistant Professor of Economics Dustin Sweet

“I believe economics can be applied to everyday, real-life situations,” Sweet said. “I hope to be able to showcase that to my students and that they will leave my classes having a better understanding of why economics is so important.”

He will be teaching ECON 115 Introduction to Economics, ECON 201 Principles of Economics (Macro) and ECON 202 Principles of Economics (Micro).

When Sweet isn’t teaching, he enjoys refereeing youth soccer, running and golfing.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and both his Masters of Arts and Doctor of Economics at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Sweet currently lives in St. Louis.

For more information on economics classes or to search for courses offered at SWIC, visit swic.edu/courses.

Tips to help SWIC students succeed at online learning

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Many students within the past year have had to transition to online learning. Whether you are new to learning from home or just want to be sure you succeed at it, Southwestern Illinois College has compiled the following best practices to assist students in their online learning journey.

General Tips:

  • Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day.
  • Create a weekly schedule, with exact times to focus on each class.
  • Minimize distractions.
  • Tell family and friends when you are not available.
  • Work on one class for 30-45 minutes; then take a 10-15 minute break.
  • Submit all assignments on time.

Technology Tips:

  • Have consistent access to high-speed internet.
  • Have access to a computer. Not every assignment and activity will likely be able to be completed on a mobile device.
  • Check your SWIC email first thing in the morning and often.
  • Explore Brightspace and become familiar with its features and tools.
  • Additional software may be needed such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
    Be sure to download and test them before assignments are due.
  • Try different browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, if certain apps, programs, or files are not working properly.
  • Always save your work.
  • Contact your instructor with any questions you may have.

For information on online tutoring, visit swic.edu/success-center; for technology support, visit swic.edu/students/services/support-services/technology-assistance/; or to search for online courses offered at SWIC, visit swic.edu/courses.

SWIC Red Bud Campus To Host Annual Poetry Contest

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The Southwestern Illinois College Red Bud Campus will host its annual poetry contest for area students and residents this spring.

Individuals of all ages are invited to showcase their creative abilities in the contest through poetry. Divisions for entries are as follows: adult, high school, eighth grade, seventh grade, sixth grade, fifth grade and fourth grade.

Each contestant is allowed to submit one poem and all entries must be turned in with a completed entry form by 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Entry forms can be found online at swic.edu/poetry-contest. Submissions can be mailed to Amy Brockman at 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221 or turned in to the SWIC Red Bud Campus Student Development Office, Room 175.

Contestants will be recognized for their poetic excellence at an award ceremony. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each division. For more details about the awards ceremony visit swic.edu/poetry-contest.

For more information, call Amy Brockman at 618-235-2700, ext. 5324.

Sloan’s Pub House

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Company: Bar and Grill

Wait time:

20 M

Price range:

$$

Time spent:

1 HR

$ – under $10 / $$ – $10 to $20 / $$$ – $21 or more

Location(s)

City Phone Address
Collinsville, IL 62234 (618) 855-9100 119 W Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234

Hours:

Monday – Thursday 11 AM – 1 AM
Friday 11 AM – 2 AM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 AM
Sunday 10 AM – 1 AM

Hours may change, please check the business page for updates.

Website

Services

Accepts

Cash, Card, Visa

Parking

Private lot

Noise Level

High level

Wi-Fi

Yes

Accessible

Wheelchair, blind, deaf

Pets

Service Animals Only

Attire

Casual

Restrooms 

Provided

Student Discounts

N/A

Entertainment

Yes

In-person visits

Yes

Open to All

Yes

In-Store Shopping

N/A

COVID-19 Measures

Masks Required

No

Outdoor Seating

Open

Curbside pickup

No

Social distancing

Required 6 ft

Temperature checks

No

Cleaning

Very clean

Sit-down Space

Open

Sanitizer

Bring your own

Staff wears masks

Yes

Verona Coffee

By

Company: Bar and Grill

Wait time:

20 M

Price range:

$$

Time spent:

1 HR

$ – under $10 / $$ – $10 to $20 / $$$ – $21 or more

Location(s)

City Phone Address
Collinsville, IL 62234 (618) 696-1522 Front, 101A, E Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234

Hours:

Monday – Thursday 7 AM – 2 PM
Friday 7 AM – 4 PM
Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM
Sunday 8 AM – 2 PM

Hours may change, please check the business page for updates.

Website

Services

Accepts

Cash, Card, Visa

Parking

Private lot

Noise Level

High level

Wi-Fi

Yes

Accessible

Wheelchair, blind, deaf

Pets

Service Animals Only

Attire

Casual

Restrooms 

Provided

Student Discounts

N/A

Entertainment

Yes

In-person visits

Yes

Open to All

Yes

In-Store Shopping

N/A

COVID-19 Measures

Masks Required

No

Outdoor Seating

Open

Curbside pickup

No

Social distancing

Required 6 ft

Temperature checks

No

Cleaning

Very clean

Sit-down Space

Open

Sanitizer

Bring your own

Staff wears masks

Yes

Di Carlo’s Pizza & Pasta

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Cuisine : Italian

Wait time:

x

Price range:

x

Time spent:

x

$ – under $10 / $$ – $10 to $20 / $$$ – $21 or more

Location(s)

City Phone Address
 Red Bud, IL 62278 (618) 282-6696 1520 S Main St, Red Bud, IL 62278

Hours:

Tuesday – Thursday 11 AM – 2 PM/Re-Open: 4 PM – 8 PM
Friday 11 AM – 2 PM/Re-Open: 4 PM – 9 PM
Saturday 4 PM – 9 PM
Sunday  4 PM – 8 PM

Hours may change, please check the business page for updates.

Website

Services

Accepts

Cash, Card, Visa ,Debt

Parking

Private lot

Noise Level

Normal

Wi-Fi

Yes

Accessible

Wheelchair, blind, deaf

Pets

Service Animals Only

Attire

Casual

Restrooms 

Provided

Student Discounts

No

Entertainment

Yes

In-person visits

Yes

Open to All

Yes

COVID-19 Measures

Masks Required

Yes

Outdoor Seating

Open

Curbside pickup

No

Social distancing

Required 6 ft

Temperature checks

Yes

Cleaning

Very clean

Sit-down Space

Open

Sanitizer

Bring your own

Staff wears masks

Yes