Despite a challenging pandemic year, the East St. Louis Senior High School Class of 2021 exhibited tenacity and focus as they collectively earned over $16.6 million in college scholarships. Ten of these young scholars not only graduated with their high school diplomas but also earned their associate degrees simultaneously. They, along with many students before them, participated in the Running Start Program in partnership with Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC).
Several previous Running Start graduates, who obtained their high school diplomas and associate degrees in recent years, earned their bachelor’s degrees this spring. A few are planning to start graduate school soon—as 20- or 21-year-olds!
The Trade Collective, a non-profit organization based in Evanston that connects high school students to careers in the skilled workforce, held its inaugural Skilled Trades...
