When it comes to succeeding in school and life, 18-year-old Jynicia McDonald is following a strict regimen of academic hard work, mixed with a passion for music, to pen a score that will crescendo with her becoming the first person in her family to graduate college and enter her career of choice. 

The SIUE East St. Louis Center Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) student credits the program for her high school success and for helping to position her to achieve her dreams. UBSA operates in Collinsville High School (CHS). 

“Upward Bound Scholars Academy is wonderful!” said McDonald, a CHS senior with a 4.01 GPA who has been part of UBSA since her sophomore year. “I wanted to go to college and had no idea of how to get started. Because of Upward Bound, I’ve learned about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the basics about going to college and being a college student, how to do self-care, and how to manage my time.” 

Time management is a necessity for McDonald, who is actively involved in several groups and activities. She is president of UBSA’s Ambassadors or A-T.E.A.M. 

“We serve as role models for UBSA and other high school students, and we perform community service,” she informed. The A-T.E.A.M prepared a large food basket for Thanksgiving and gave away toys and presents for Christmas to deserving families. 

McDonald is also part of the school’s Black Student Union and Future Business Leaders of America. But perhaps her most treasured activities are those centered around music, as McDonald has played the trumpet since she was in the fifth grade. 

“I love music. It soothes me and lets me express myself,” she said. 

McDonald is part of the CHS marching band and is the trumpets’ section leader, the wind ensemble, the pep band. She is the historian for the Tri-M Honor Society (music honor society). 

She plans to continue her love for music in college by playing in the marching band at Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, where McDonald will major in early childhood education. She has been invited to the final round of interviews for ISU’s prestigious Presidential Scholarship for outstanding incoming first-year students. 

“I really love kids,” she said. “I believe I can make a difference in a child’s life. I want to teach them the basics and give them something that’s going to stay with them for the rest of their lives.” 

Good educators are priceless, according to McDonald, and she names as examples: Yvonne Hart, UBSA program director, and Greg Johnson II, UBSA counselor and social emotional services supervisor. 

“Mrs. Hart has really changed my life by taking me on educational tours and letting me see things I never have before,” she noted. “She has also taught me a lot.”

“Mr. Johnson has motivated me to accomplish my goals,” McDonald added, “and has encouraged me to remain focused on my future.” 

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Working at the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) and discovering the rich history of East St. Louis has been both rewarding and fascinating, according to Panamanian-born Danayka Saavedra Berrocal, LRC program assistant. The LRC is located on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. 

“What I enjoy most about my job is connecting with others and getting to know the greater East St. Louis community better,” said Saavedra Berrocal. “I am in awe of the history of East St. Louis. I am not originally from the United States, and I try to submerge myself in new places.” 

“As I look at the history of this campus, its location and the surrounding area, and as I get the opportunity to meet patrons who were born and raised here,” she continued, “I feel lucky to be able to interact and play a small part in the lives of the larger community.” 

Saavedra Berrocal, an SIUE alumna, began working at the LRC in July 2021, after working as a Family Engagement and Support Services coach for SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start since September 2019. She earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in public administration. 

“I get the opportunity to create programming at the LRC,” informed Saavedra Berrocal. “I connect with local agencies to provide presentations and workshops around a range of topics. We have partnered with Carrollton Bank to provide financial literacy classes, SIHF Healthcare to provide health-related workshops on diabetes and hypertension, and the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter to provide researched-backed educational programs that have included '10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s' and 'Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body from the Latest Research.'” 

Other programs and responsibilities that Saavedra Berrocal originated or oversees include:

• Let’s Create – a monthly activity that allows time to connect and create
• LRC Book Club – a monthly group who discusses an array of book genres that include everything from fantasy and romance novels to memoirs and autobiographies 
• LRC social media manager – keeps the public up to date on the many events at the library, as well as shares services and resources of benefit to the public
• Bilingual Storytime – a biweekly storytime recording of English/Spanish children’s books that is shared on Facebook
• East St. Louis Historical Facts – a weekly Facebook post that highlights historical, evidence-based facts of major events and people of the City of East St. Louis 

“The LRC is a one-stop center for the community,” shared Saavedra Berrocal. “Where else can you find a full-service public library that offers the services we provide for free? We are a hidden gem. Our regular patrons say they love coming to the LRC, because we are so helpful! They are appreciative of our programs and do not want the LRC to ever leave the community.” 

“It’s priceless seeing patron’s smiling faces after having learned something new,” she continued, “be it a new healthy recipe or having been moved by the most recent book club pick. It makes my job rewarding, fun and enjoyable.” 

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a full-service public library focusing on youth and adult community outreach. The library contributes to the success of higher education opportunities and career development provided by the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. The LRC also serves as the on-campus school library space for the Discovery Head Start students and the SIUE Charter High School scholars. The LRC team supports its diverse range of students and patrons and encourages them to succeed and learn new skills provided by the LRC community collection and programs, while maintaining the overall mission, vision, and values of SIUE. Funding for the LRC is provided by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). 

The Learning Resource Center (LRC):

• Thursday, Jan. 26, 1-2 p.m. - Let’s Create: Vision Boards. This is an in-person event only where people can create and set a vision for the year ahead. All supplies will be provided.
• Friday, Jan. 27, 12:30-1:30 p.m. - January Book Club featuring In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero. Participants can join in person or via Zoom. 
• All February - "East St. Louis Through Your Eyes" photo contest showcasing your love and pride for the City of East St. Louis. Snap a picture of what East St. Louis represents to you and submit it for a chance to win an LRC goodie bag.  Submit photos to siue.esl.library@siue.edu.
• Each Wednesday in February, the LRC will feature  a special Black History-themed Spanish Bilingual Story Time on Facebook.
• Each Friday in February, the LRC will share a Storycorp story on Facebook that celebrates Black stories.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1-2 p.m. - Let’s Create: An African American History Quilt. Join the LRC as we create a collaboration poster to showcase notable people and their achievements. We will provide the paper quilt pieces of African American figures, and we encourage you to add local heroes who have made an impact locally and/or nationally. February 7 will be the kickoff, but people can add to the quilt throughout the month.
• Monday, Feb. 13 all day - We will have E-Stories on East St. Louis in display in the LRC.
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, 11-11:45 a.m. - Round Table with writer Pat Merritt. 
• Monday, Feb. 20, 12-1:30 p.m. - This is Our History, story and activities. Join us at the LRC for story time, where we will be reading This is Our History by Virtuous Cornwall, followed by activities inspired by the book.
• Monday, Feb. 20 all day - School’s Off; LRC’s On: Game Day. All day at the LRC, we will have the Nintendo Switch hooked up the big screen and will have some of our favorite board games available to play.
• Tuesday, Feb. 21 all day-School’s Off; LRC’s On: Mardi Gras.  All day, we’ll have mask-making and King Cake, and throughout the day, we’ll have special Mardi Gras programming (Story time at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.); Princess and the Frog movie at 10 a.m.; and necklace making at 1 p.m.).
• Friday, Feb. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. - February Book Club featuring The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris.  Participants can join in person or via Zoom.

• Tranquil Time-Outs Offers SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Students Relaxation and Rejuvenation 

• East St. Louis Firefighters Local 23 Fulfill Holiday Wishes for SIUE Project Success Students  

• SIUE East St. Louis Center for Performing Arts Light Up Stage with Holiday Concert 

• Alumna Ta’Shayla Montgomery Teaches Dunham Technique to SIUE Performing Arts Students