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Southwestern Illinois College

News & Events

May 2007 News Releases

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE SCHMIDT ART CENTER

Highlights Include Family Fun Day, Architectural Walking Tour

As the summer heats up, cool down at the William & Florence Schmidt Art Center with a lecture series, family day and St. Louis walking tour.

"We're offering a little something for everyone in June," said Schmidt Art Center Executive Director / Curator Libby Reuter. "While the new 'Looking' series and walking tour are geared towards adults, the entire family is invited to Family Fun Day to find the artist within them."

Looking at the Nude: Sculpture, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 7 - Learn about how nude sculptures have evolved starting with Michelangelo's 1504 sculpture "David" to contemporary figurative sculpture.

Looking at the Nude: Paintings, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 14 - Examine Edouard Manet's 1863 painting "Olympia" and the representations of it by modern artists in this illustrated lecture.

Family Fun Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 16 - Create a one-of-a-kind print by painting on a Plexiglas canvas, become a sidewalk chalk artist and enjoy guided tours of the current exhibit featuring work by Belleville Artists Ed and Helen T. Karasek.

Art in Architecture Walking Tour, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 29 - Discover the architecture and public art in downtown St. Louis with Melanie Harvey of DaytripperMO Walking Tours. Tickets are $15 each. Tourists also will need to purchase a MetroLink ticket and lunch at Union Station in St. Louis. Reservations are required by Tuesday, June 19.

Free and open to the public, the Schmidt Art Center is located on the Belleville Campus of Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Ave. Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information or reservations, call the Schmidt Art Center at 618-222-5278.

NEW CTI SEMINARS FOCUS ON IMPROVING WORK PROCESSES

Learn how to increase job efficiency, minimize rework and drive organizational performance in a new seminar series offered by the Center for Training Innovations at Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

Seminars included in the Improving Work Processes series are:

A $28 discount is available if you register for both seminars. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.swictraining.org or call 618-222-5688.

For more information or to register, visit www.swictraining.org or call 618-222-5688.

SWIC OFFERS NEW COURSES, PAYMENT OPTION THIS SUMMER

This summer, you can learn about world history online; study Irish literature; take your yoga to the next level; and more at Southwestern Illinois College. The following are the new courses being offered during the summer term beginning Monday, June 4:

A new payment option also is available. Tuition and fees may be paid using Illinois E-Pay online, www.swic.edu/busoffice, or by telephone with Illinois E-Pay Interactive Voice Response services, 1-877-455-3729 (ILL-EPAY). Internet and IVR payments are subject to a $1 convenience fee. Tuition and fees still may be paid at any college Business Office by cash, check, money order, VISA, MasterCard, Discover or E-Check. For more information, call 1-800-222-5131, extension 5367.

Saturday registration is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 2 at all three SWIC campuses. Students may register by phone, 1-800-222-51321, ext. 5455. For more information about registration, call 1-800-222-5131, extension 5526, Belleville Campus; extension 6615, Sam Wolf Granite City Campus; or extension 8114, Red Bud Campus.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES COMING TO SWIC THIS FALL

For incoming freshmen at Southwestern Illinois College, adjusting to college, connecting with peers and finding the motivation to continue their education may be an easier task this fall with the introduction of Learning Communities.

The new initiative at SWIC requires students to enroll in two interdisciplinary courses that are scheduled as consecutive periods and cover a common theme. Students in a Learning Community have the opportunity to connect with fellow students, interact with instructors and explore ideas from multiple perspectives. Thought-provoking discussions and opportunities for field trips, speakers, films and service learning projects are part of the experience.

A primary goal of Learning Communities is to help students successfully complete their courses by providing an active learning environment.

"Improved grades and increased persistence in college are just some of the student benefits documented in higher education research," said SWIC Assistant Professor of English Lynne Schwartzhoff, who is part of the committee bringing this concept to the college. "However, they also offer students new opportunities to learn and develop leadership skills, which we hope will translate into positive learning experiences, increased student engagement and success."

Topics for Fall 2007 Learning Communities include:

For more information, visit www.swic.edu/learningcommunities or call SWIC's Liberal Arts Division at 618-235-2700, extension 5309.

SWIC OFFERS REGISTRATION EXPRESS FOR SUMMER ENROLLMENT

If you want to start your college education at Southwestern Illinois College this summer, Registration Express is your one-stop for enrollment.

New students can complete the entire enrollment process one day Thursday, May 24 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., at the Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave.; Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road; and Red Bud Campus, 500 W. South Fourth St.

Summer classes begin June 4.

With Registration Express you can walk in and participate in the COMPASS placement program without an appointment; talk with a counselor to arrange a summer class schedule; apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid; then register for classes.

The Business Office will be open so students can pay their tuition and fees also.

The Bookstore will be open at the Belleville and Sam Wolf Granite City campuses too.

For information about COMPASS, call 1-800-222-5131, extension 5206.

A Saturday Registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 2 also.

For previously enrolled current students, Telephone Registration is available by calling 1-800-222-5131, extension 5455.

Registration, Counseling, Financial Aid and Business Office hours of operation have been extended from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information about Registration Express, call Admissions at 1-800-222-5131: Belleville Campus, extension 5300; Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, extension 6615; and Red Bud Campus, extension 8114.

TREASURE MAKERS TAKES KIDS ON A JOURNEY OF IMAGINATION

The Southwestern Illinois College Children's Theatre Touring Company opens a world of imagination for children when it presents "The Treasure Makers" this May.

In the live theatrical production, a little girl named Priscilla and the Trash Picker Gang take children on a journey of imagination through a recycling center that some call a junkyard. Music, dance and audience participation teach children lessons about misunderstandings, creativity and second chances along the way.

In addition to performances for children at 14 regional elementary schools, the company will bring the show to children in the community.

The first public performance of the show will be held as part of the Children's Entertainment lineup at this year's Art on the Square in downtown Belleville. The show begins at 3:15 p.m., Sunday, May 18.

Public performances will be held at all three SWIC campuses as well.

The Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road, will host a performance at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 22 in the Commons.

The Belleville Campus performance begins at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 23 in the Main Complex Theatre, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

Public performances round out at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 24 at the SWIC Red Bud Campus, 500 W. South Fourth St. The performance begins at 6:30 p.m.

Admission to all public performances is free. Some venues have limited seating.

Call the Office of College Activities at 618-235-2700, extension 5561, or toll free in Illinois at 1-800-222-5131, extension 5561, for more information.

SWIC TO SCREEN SHORT FILMS BY STUDENT DIRECTORS MAY 11

If you like comedy, drama and music in small doses, then the Southwestern Illinois College screening of short movies and music videos by SWIC students is for you.

The films by students in college's moviemaking classes will be shown from 7-9 p.m., Friday, May 11 in Room 1200, Main Complex, Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

The screening is free and open to the public.

Some of the films include:

While there is no nudity or graphic violence in any of the movies, some films may contain mature language or subject matter, and may not be appropriate for young children.

For more information, call Associate Professor of English Dan Cross at 618-235-2700, extension 5591, or toll free at 1-800-222-5131, extension 5591.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS AUDITIONS TO BE HELD MAY 18-19 AT SWIC

If you think singing, dancing and man-eating plants are fun, you might want to audition for the Southwestern Illinois College summer production, "Little Shop of Horrors."

Auditions will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, May 18 and at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 19 in the Belleville Campus Theatre, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

The cast consists of five male and four female roles. Students and community members are welcome to audition for the summer musical.

Individuals should prepare 16 bars of music for the audition. In addition to the musical audition, individuals will participate in cold readings from the script.

One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all times, "Little Shop of Horrors" is a spoof of 1950s "B" science fiction movies. Based on a book by Howard Cashman, the show follows a floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, who discovers a strange plant that has an ever-increasing appetite for human blood.

Performance dates are Thursday through Sunday, July 20-22 and Friday through Sunday, July 27-29.

The play is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

For more information, contact Director Jeff Blue at 618-235-2700, extension 5451; toll free in Illinois at 1-800-222-5131, extension 5451; or from St. Louis at (314) 436-3218, extension 5451.

SWIC PLANS MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BOB BORGSTEDE

Wednesday Evening Tribute Will Be Held At Belleville Campus Gymnasium

Southwestern Illinois College will host a public memorial service for Bob Borgstede, assistant professor of Music, who died last Thursday of complications resulting from pancreatitis. The 7 p.m. memorial service is open to the public and will be held Wednesday, May 9, at the Belleville Campus Gymnasium, 2500 Carlyle Ave.

Besides remembrances from family, friends and colleagues, the memorial service will include musical performances by professional colleagues from throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

"We are all deeply saddened by this tragic and sudden loss." said SWIC College President Elmer H. Kirchoff, Ph.D. "This memorial service will be our community salute to the life and musical talents of Bob Borgstede."

Hospitalized for six weeks at Belleville's St. Elizabeth's and St. Louis' Barnes Jewish Hospitals, Mr. Borgstede was 27. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and their two-year-old son, Bobby, who reside in Belleville.

Mr. Borgstede served as an adjunct instructor at SWIC since 2001 before joining the full-time faculty last September. Prior to joining SWIC full time, he also worked as an adjunct instructor at McKendree College in Lebanon, University of Missouri St. Louis, and St. Charles Community College. Bob earned his bachelor's degree (2001) and master's degree (2003) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Outside the classroom -- where he introduced and taught a new Guitar Ensemble course this school year - Mr. Borgstede played professionally as both a freelance musician, and with his own group known simply as "Bob Borgstede." The group performed a combination of original compositions and a standard jazz repertoire throughout the Midwest and at jazz festivals across the country."

Mr. Borgstede released a CD of original music in 2004 titled "Narrative Threads." A song from that CD, "Nola's Waltz," earned Bob the 2005 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers "Young Jazz Composers Award.

For more information contact Mike Fleming 618-222-5478 or 618-558-6946 - mobile