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High school students cook up success in culinary competition

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Local high school students showcased their chopping, grating, sautéing, baking and other culinary arts skills in the Platinum Chef Competition held at the Southwestern Illinois College Sam Wolf Granite City Campus recently.

Teams from six area high schools competed in culinary arts challenges to create unique dishes from a variety of ingredients. The annual competition is co-sponsored by SWIC and Madison County Career and Technical Education System.

“This event really lets students exercise their skills and creativity,” said SWIC Culinary Arts and Food Management Program Coordinator Leisa Brockman. “We’re proud to offer local students the chance to show off what they have learned in high school culinary classes.”

SWIC Culinary Arts faculty judged the students’ work on the taste and appearance of the food, sanitation and students’ ability to explain their dishes.  

The winners were:

  • Best of Competition, First Place: East St. Louis High School
  • Best of Competition, Second Place: Granite High School
  • Best of Competition, Third Place: Highland High School
  • Best Test Score: East St. Louis High School
  • Best Utility/Support Team: East St. Louis High School
  • Best Table Presentation: Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto
  • Best Appetizer: East St. Louis High School
  • Best Salad: Granite City High School
  • Best Entrée: East St. Louis High School
  • Best Dessert: Highland High School
  • Best Oral Presentation of Dishes: East St. Louis High School
  • Overall Competition MVP: Antonio Polk, East St. Louis High School
  • Team MVP for Belleville CAVE: Thomas Piotrowski
  • Team MVP for Civic Memorial: Olivia Enke
  • Team MVP for East St. Louis: A’maya Chapman
  • Team MVP for Edwardsville: Addie Vaughan
  • Team MVP for Granite City: Sakinah Amatullah-Martin
  • Team MVP for Highland: Fay Wilson

      For more information on the Platinum Chef Competition or for information on the SWIC Culinary Arts and Food Management program, call Brockman at 618-797-7323 or visit swic.edu/culinary.

Photo: Students from the East St. Louis Senior High School Platinum Chef team won Best of Competition and numerous other awards.

SWIC Men’s Basketball Coach Harrington to join St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame

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After 44 years of coaching, Jay Harrington’s hard work has paid off once again. The Southwestern Illinois College men’s basketball coach has been invited to join the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.    

Harrington has an 869-507 record at the college. His overall collegiate coaching record stands at 952-549. On top of being inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2002, Harrington has also coached three USA Basketball teams and won numerous Region 24 and GRAC Coach of the Year awards.

“This award would not have happened without the continuous support of my family and team,” said Harrington. “I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to live out my passion here at SWIC for so many years. Being inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame truly is an honor.”

Harrington joined SWIC as the men’s basketball coach in 1979. He also served as the college’s athletic director from 1980-2015.

Harrington and his wife, Patti Woods Harrington, live in Waterloo. He has three daughters: Christina, Megan, and Morgan and five grandchildren.

The induction ceremony will be held in February to officially commemorate Harrington’s achievement.

For additional information regarding the Blue Storm 2022-2023 schedule, visit swic.edu/athletics.

Tamburitzans to bring international cultures to the stage Nov. 19

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One of the world’s finest, longest-running live musical variety stage shows of its kind returns to Metro East Saturday, November 19th.

The Tamburitzans will return for the popular Southwestern Illinois College Foundation annual student scholarship fundraiser. The internationally renowned troupe performs at the Edwardsville High School Performance Theater stage, 6161 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville, at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:15 p.m.

The talented young artists, from Duquesne University, clad in elaborate costumes, will celebrate and share international cultural heritages through the universal languages of music and dance.

For more than 30 years, individuals from both Illinois and Missouri have enjoyed this group’s annual performance. Show proceeds benefit the John N. and Diana Bellcoff Memorial Tamburitzans scholarships for students attending the SWIC Sam Wolf Granite City Campus.

Founded in 1937, the Tamburitzans got their name from a stringed folk instrument called the tamburitza that is predominant in the music of Balkan cultures. The troupe is based in Pittsburgh, Penn., but dazzles both domestic and international audiences with its traveling performances.

Tickets are $20 for adults and must be purchased in advance.
For tickets, call Norma Bellcoff at 618-978-1522. For credit card purchases visit Thankyou.swic.edu or call 618-235-2700, ext. 5518.

SWIC’s Student Life to host a “Walk to End Hunger”

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You can help wipe out hunger among SWIC students by participating in the Southwestern Illinois College Walk to End Hunger Nov. 1.

The college’s Student Veterans Association and Veterans Services are hosting the walk, in partnership with the local YMCA. Participants are encouraged to walk with 22 pounds of nonperishable food in bags or backpacks, in honor of the 22 veterans lost to suicide each day.

The walk will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. The walk is scheduled to begin at the YMCA parking lot, 2627 Carlyle Ave., circle the college campus and end at SWIC’s Quad, 2500 Carlyle Ave. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided afterwards.

The event is free and open to the public. All nonperishable food donations will go to the opening of the Student Life Food Pantry. The food pantry’s goal is to provide nutrition and support to the campus community.

For additional information regarding this event, contact the Student Life & Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Yasin Jackson at yasin.jackson@swic.edu.

SWIC to host Fall 2022 Job Fair Nov. 9 at Belleville Campus

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Explore endless career opportunities at Southwestern Illinois College’s Annual Fall 2022 Job Fair.

The fair is in partnership with the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Veterans Department and will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. Located in the Belleville Campus Varsity Gym, 2500 Carlyle Ave., all aspiring job applicants should arrive dressed to impress with plenty of copies of their résumés.

The job fair is open to students, veterans, and the public. More than 100 employers will be representing different career fields ranging from healthcare, aviation, technical trades, education and more!

For more information regarding the job fair and list of companies attending, visit swic.edu/career-services and click on the Events tab.

In case of disability accommodations, contact Career Services at careerservices@swic.edu. For more information, call Career Services at 618-235-2700, ext. 5562, or toll free in Illinois at 866-942-SWIC (7942), ext. 5562.

SWIC Senior Companion Program Seeking Volunteers

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Looking for a chance to brighten someone’s day? Become a Senior Companion!

The Senior Companion Program pairs Volunteers, 55 and older, with seniors who otherwise would not be able to live independently. The program is sponsored by Southwestern Illinois College and based out of Programs and Services for Older Persons in Belleville. Senior Companions are reimbursed for mileage and meals and receive a small stipend to offset the cost of volunteering.

Senior Companions provide companionship and assistance to their peers who are homebound or may be socially isolated. They visit one or more days per week for at least four hours per day and can assist with daily tasks, provide transportation, and give support and a much-needed break to full-time caregivers.

The program covers Madison, St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph counties.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Senior Companion Director Kate Bilyeu at 618-234-4410, ext. 7023.

SWIC & Local Manufacturers Showcased Future of Industry at Manufacturing Day Open House

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More than 1,500 students from 38 high schools in the Metro East and Missouri turned out to learn more about education and careers in manufacturing at the Southwestern Illinois College Manufacturing Day Open House recently. 

It was the biggest MFG Day event in Illinois and one of the largest in the country.

Visitors had the chance to tour the SWIC Precision Machining Technology, Electrical/ Electronics, Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Welding Technology labs. Plus, see first-hand how cutting-edge computerized machining and robotic welding equipment is changing technical education and manufacturing. Also, high school students had an opportunity to try their hands at virtual welding, enjoy 3D printing demonstrations, meet more than 30 local manufacturers and tour a local manufacturing facility.

Andrew Crowe, founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance, a movement to revitalize American manufacturing, served as the keynote speaker. The Department of Defense Project MFG recognized the SWIC 2022 winners of the Project MFG competition; and SkillsUSA recognized the SWIC 2022 medal winners at the opening ceremony.

The ninth annual event was presented in partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation, Granite City Economic Development Department, IMEC – Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Madison County Employment and Training, St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department and the Southwestern Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

For more MFG Day photos or more information about SWIC Technical Education programs, visit swic.edu/tech-ed.

Manufacturing Day: SWIC & Local Manufacturers Showcase Future of Industry

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Check out high-tech automated manufacturing machinery, hear from regional manufacturers and discover how American manufacturing is flourishing – all at the Southwestern Illinois College Manufacturing Day celebration.

SWIC will open its doors for a Manufacturing Day Open House — Friday, Sept. 23, from
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — to showcase new technology, educational programs, career opportunities, products and services. The SWIC Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road, will serve as the event hub for the day.

More than 1,300 local high school students are scheduled to attend.

The celebration is free and open to the public. The welcome ceremony begins at 9 a.m.

“Our goal is to show students and the community what great opportunities are available in technical education at SWIC and that there is an abundance of well-paying, secure careers in manufacturing right here in the Metro East,” said SWIC Dean of Technical Education Brad Sparks.  

At the opening ceremony, Andrew Crowe, founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance, a movement to revitalize American manufacturing, will serve as the keynote speaker. SWIC winners of national Department of Defense Project MFG competition will be recognized by Project MFG representatives and SWIC national SkillsUSA medal winners will be recognized by representatives of Illinois SkillsUSA.

At the open house, visitors can tour the Precision Machining Technology, Electrical/ Electronics, Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Welding Technology labs. Plus, they can see first-hand how cutting-edge computerized machining and robotic welding equipment is changing technical education and manufacturing.

Also, visitors can try their hands at virtual welding, enjoy 3D printing demonstrations, meet more than 30 local manufacturers and tour a local manufacturing facility.

This event in presented in partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation, Granite City Economic Development Department, IMEC – Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Madison County Employment and Training, St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department and the Southwestern Madison County Chamber of Commerce. For additional information, visit swic.edu/mfgday or call the SWIC Technical Education Division at 618-931-0600, ext. 7476.

St. Louis Wins Federal “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” Grant

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“One voice + One plan = Big win for St. Louis”

ST. LOUIS – By speaking with one voice and putting forth one collaborative proposal with input from across the bi-state St. Louis metro, the St. Louis region has succeeded in winning a $25 million highly competitive federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant. The grant will be used to develop the St. Louis region’s globally significant advanced manufacturing industry cluster, including the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (AMICSTL) in North St. Louis City.

“One voice with one plan led to a big win for St. Louis,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., which is the formal applicant on behalf of the St. Louis metro, an effort it coordinated and spearheaded with the public-sector St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. “We can’t say this enough: when the St. Louis metro works together and speaks with one voice, we succeed. Working together as a metro is working, and it is how we will win this next decade for St. Louis.”

The Greater St. Louis, Inc. proposal was one of only 21 selected to receive a grant, less than 4% of the original applicant pool of 529. In addition to the $25 million federal grant, $16.3 million in local matching funds will go toward the effort, bringing the total investment in the metro, to date, to $41.3 million.

Advanced Manufacturing & The St. Louis Regional Tech Triangle

The grant will be used to unlock the full potential of the region’s advanced manufacturing cluster, fueling its growth and contributing to the continued development of two of the metro’s next generation industries: bioscience and geospatial technology. These three sectors comprise the St. Louis Regional Tech Triangle, which will grow the regional economy through workforce development, community revitalization and locational equity, and innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Advanced manufacturing and the Tech Triangle align with the strategic recommendations of St. Louis’ Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and the STL 2030 Jobs Plan.

The centerpiece of St. Louis’ award-winning proposal is the construction and operation of AMICSTL. AMICSTL will bolster the region’s competitiveness and resiliency in advanced manufacturing and facilitate convergence of the advanced manufacturing sector with the other key industries in the region, including geospatial, bioscience, agtech, and aerospace.

“The money received from this grant will help establish the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center as the hub of the tech triangle. AMICSTL grew out of an initiative at St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and we are so proud that this premier advanced manufacturing facility will come to fruition through this unified effort,” said Rodney Crim, CEO and President of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Activities in prototyping, research and development, and workforce will help AMICSTL bridge the St. Louis region’s urban, suburban, and rural economies. It is anticipated that AMICSTL will become a globally recognized center for advanced manufacturing excellence.

“Uniting in support of AMICSTL is proof positive of how the St. Louis region succeeds when we work together,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Chair of AMICSTL and a member of the Chair’s Council of Greater St. Louis, Inc. “As a result of regional collaboration, St. Louis will now be home to a state-of-the-art facility and expandable campus that will drive diverse and equitable economic growth and elevate St. Louis as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and technological innovation. This one-of-a-kind manufacturing epicenter will enable talent development, leading-edge research and development, and prototyping and production capacity that uniquely span and connect multiple high-tech industries in the region – including the aerospace, agtech, automotive, biomedical, construction, energy, geospatial, and logistics sectors.”

Functioning as a “hub and spoke” model, the St. Louis Build Back Better partners will provide a central network for growing St. Louis’ advanced manufacturing innovation ecosystem by identifying and deploying next-generation technologies, supporting innovators and entrepreneurs in accelerating the transition from idea generation to prototyping and production, and developing a steady stream of qualified and diverse workers.

As the “hub” of the Build Back Better, AMICSTL will be a newly built innovation center located in disinvested North St. Louis City. AMICSTL will be a local asset with national impact – driving leading edge advanced manufacturing.

St. Louis Build Back Better partners and “spokes” focusing on inclusive workforce growth and training, innovation and entrepreneurship, community revitalization, and overall cluster development are Greater St Louis, Inc., St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, AMICSTL, Ranken Technical College, Rung for Women, Southwestern Illinois College, St. Louis Community College, BioSTL, Harris-Stowe State University, WEPOWER, Small Business Empowerment Center, Cortex Innovation Community, and the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Innovation Center (APIIC).       

Metro-wide Collaboration Led to Big Win

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is part of the federal government’s plan to boost economic pandemic recovery and rebuild American communities, including some – like the North St. Louis communities that comprise much of the Tech Triangle – that have been grappling with decades of disinvestment further exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Collaboration in support of the Greater St. Louis, Inc. proposal span the breadth of the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro. In addition to direct Build Back Better partners mentioned above, they include: City of St. Louis, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, East Central College, Economic Development Council of St. Charles County, Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation (dba Arch Grants), Gateway Global American Youth and Business Alliance, Jefferson College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Missouri AFL-CIO, St. Louis County, Saint Louis Public Schools, St. Charles Community College, St. Clair County, Illinois, St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis Makes, Technology Entrepreneur Center, Inc., The Boeing Company and more.

“This was truly a collaborative, regionwide effort that will benefit communities across the entire St. Louis and Metro East area. We are proud to have been a part of the proposal,” said Southwestern Illinois College President Nick J. Mance. “With funding from this grant, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy at SWIC will have the technology to recruit and train the manufacturing workforce of the future.”

Grant Funding

The $25 million award will be distributed toward several projects that will help grow the advanced manufacturing regional economy, including:

AMICSTL – $7M
(Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center & Ranken Tech)            

Inclusive Cross-Cluster Economic Development – $3M
(Greater St. Louis, Inc. and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership)                              

Preparing Women for Advanced Manufacturing Careers – $1M
(Rung for Women)  

Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy – $2.5M
(Southwestern Illinois College)         

Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center – $3M
(St. Louis Community College)         

Racial Equity in Innovation and Entrepreneurship – $7.5M
(BioSTL, Harris-Stowe, WEPOWER, Small Business Empowerment Center)

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Innovation Center – $1M
(Cortex)

SWIC HVAR Coordinator Otten Wins Patriot Award for Supporting Guard and Reserve Forces

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Southwestern Illinois College Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Program Coordinator Keith Otten recently received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves Illinois Committee (ESGR). Pictured, from left, are: SWIC President Nick Mance, ESGR Representative Stan Brasch, Otten, ESGR Representative Paul Pitts, SWIC Dean of Technical Education and Workforce Development Bradley Sparks, and SWIC Chief Academic Officer Gina Segobiano.

The award is presented to a supervisor who contributes to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employees participating in the National Guard and Reserve Forces. SWIC HVAR Adjunct Faculty Member Joseph Deptula, a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, nominated Otten for the award.

The ESGR is a U.S. Department of Defense program established in 1972 to promote cooperation and support between Reserves and Guard components and their civilian employers. The Illinois ESGR is one of 50 state volunteer committees along with committees in Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and District of Columbia.

For more information about ESGR visit ESGR.mil. For information about the SWIC HVAR program, visit swic.edu/hvar.