SIUE’s Summer Success Program Gives Back Through Day of Service
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Summer Success Program was out serving in the community on Saturday, July 29, for the program’s Day of Service. The SIUE Summer Success Program is designed to provide assistance to incoming first-year undergraduate students. It works collaboratively with students to engage in an ongoing transitional process from high school to college and creates a foundation for persistence towards a timely graduation.
The Day of Service started off in Washington Park with a service project for the Tiny Children’s Garden, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Connie Frey-Spurlock, PhD, professor and director of Successful Communities Collaborative at SIUE, and Derisa Davis, founder and executive director of the Tiny Children’s Garden and kindergarten teacher at Avant Elementary School in East St. Louis.
Davis organized SIUE students, mentors and faculty in teams to spruce up the gardening space.
“My heart was so full of joy and still is,” Davis said of the volunteers. “Thank you all for all you do.”
SIUE's volunteers returned to SIUE’s Woodland Hall for two more service projects where Makesha Harris Lee, PhD, director of the CORE Team’s Summer Success Program led the packing of the school supplies for Robin Witherspoon’s class at Lincoln Middle School in East Saint Louis.
The final service project for the day was one devoted to packing personal care items for unhoused women. Alicia Alexander, PhD, professor of applied communication studies facilitated the project. Alexander is the affiliate director of I Support the Girls, a nonprofit which collects and distributes donated undergarments and hygiene products to women experiencing homelessness.
Photos: SIUE’s Summer Success Program during their Day of Service.
SIUE Summer Success Program students move mulch for the Tiny Children’s Garden in Washington Park.
