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!

Student Advisory Council: Winter 2023 Meeting
SAC members provided thoughtful insights on their course selection and advising experiences, plus shared their perspectives on high school graduation, college enrollment, and community college remediation data from the Illinois School Report Card.