The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s (SOE) Joint Engineering Student Council (JESC) received the Most Outstanding Small Council Award at the National Association of Engineering Student Councils’ (NAESC) Midwest Regional Conference Oct. 19-20 at the University of Notre Dame. JESC President Holly Liebel, of Liberty, Mo., and Vice President Shawn Gilles, of Troy, Ill., accepted the award. 

The Most Outstanding Small Council award recognizes the achievements of a student council serving a school of engineering with enrollment of less than 2,000 undergraduate students. The JESC is comprised of delegates from each of the more than 30 SOE student organizations and provides a forum for those organizations. 

 “Our Joint Engineering Student Council leadership team has made significant efforts to advance student welfare and engagement this year,” said Chris Gordon, PhD, SOE associate dean, professor in the Department of Construction and JESC advisor. “This recognition reflects the wide range of contributions that our JESC team has made to raise awareness of opportunities for students in the School of Engineering and to participate in the School’s continued progress.”

“JESC’s most significant achievements from this past year included organizing events for Engineer’s Week and broadening our students’ professional skills by hosting a panel for women in STEM Fields and several guest speakers,” Liebel said. 

Gordon also pointed to the students’ feedback on the development of the Grady Family Foundation Innovation Loft as another major contribution.

The NAESC provides a platform to share best practices among engineering student councils nationally. It seeks to advocate for engineering students and schools across the nation, collaborate with councils to learn how to serve students, and lead and develop skills to become a well-rounded engineer.

 Photo: SIUE JESC Vice President Shawn Gilles with the NAESC Most Outstanding Small Council Award. 

The SIUE School of Engineering (SOE) will hold a grand opening for the state-of-the-art Fowler Student Design Center (FSDC) at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30. The FSDC was made possible by a generous $1.25 million gift from the Fowler Family, combined with other contributions from major donors such as Ed Grady and Ralph Korte.

SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, will oversee the ceremony. SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Jonathan Fowler will headline a variety of speakers, including Grady, who sponsored the FSDC’s second floor, and SOE student Holly Liebel, of Liberty, Mo. Following the remarks, tours of the facility will be provided.

The FSDC provides much-needed space for students involved in senior design projects, collegiate competition teams, clubs and organizations. The two-story, 14,000-square-foot addition to the SOE Building includes design team workspaces, design labs and an engineer’s alley to showcase projects.

The Fowler Family is a longtime supporter of the SOE, witnessing its rapid advancement as a premier educational institution, as well as the University’s growth as a regional destination.

The Fowler Family annually presents the James C. Fowler Scholarship to deserving students in the SOE and in the SIUE School of Business. Jonathan Fowler serves on the SOE’s Advisory Board.

 Photo: Fowler Student Design Center at the SIUE School of Engineering.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s Cougar Baja team completed its first competition of the year at the University of Louisville’s Midnight Mayhem, the world’s largest exhibition race for Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) vehicles, in mid-September.

Midnight Mayhem is an annual exhibition race organized by UofL SAE Baja alumni, for student-built vehicles conforming to the rules of the Baja SAE series. Seventy-three teams, including 11 international entries, competed with 93 cars that were tested for acceleration, maneuverability and suspension.

Students are invited from across North America to test new designs and ideas, show new members what Baja SAE is all about, and race wheel-to-wheel against other colleges and universities. The featured event is the endurance race that challenges teams to navigate a course full of rocks, logs, jumps and other obstacles to see whose car can make the most laps in four hours.

“Our team was able to compete with two cars which allowed plenty of drive time for new members,” said David Gipson, Cougar Baja president. “Our highlight was the endurance race as Car #127 was on the Top 20 leaderboard for the majority of the race, holding 12th place for an extended period of time before a mechanical failure forced it out.”

SIUE Car #127 and Car #94 placed 23rd and 73^rd, respectively. “We are extremely proud of these accomplishments and can’t wait to see what this competition year has in store for us,” Gipson said. “With a new car currently under construction, we expect to continue improving both in the shop and out on the track.”

For its next competition, the Cougar Baja team plans to attend Baja SAE Louisville May 14-17, 2020 where it will compete with the car currently under construction.

 Photo (L-R): SIUE School of Engineering students David Gipson, Charles O'Donnell, Christian Gorden, Tim Kroger, Sean Dennert, Gabe Reeser, Jon Smyk, and Dave Beck participated in the University of Louisville’s Midnight Mayhem Baja SAE race.  

A love for children, a need for educational credentials and a desire to reach a career dream is the reason one young woman enrolled in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) Workforce Development program’s child development associate (CDA) course. 

SIUE, in partnership with St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants, Connections to Success and Lewis & Clark Community College at the East St. Louis Higher Education Center, is providing the 2019-20 CDA seven-week class. Nine students are enrolled in the course. 

The CDA apprenticeship coursework consists of a two-week professional development course and a five-week CDA certificate course that earns credit towards an associate’s degree. The course began Monday, Oct. 7 and will conclude on Friday, Nov. 22. A graduation ceremony will be held on a time and date yet to be determined. 

Once students complete the course, they will be interviewed to be placed in a two-year apprenticeship program with SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start, according to Tracye Donovan, Talent Pipeline (Workforce Development) coordinator. 

“While in the apprenticeship program, the students will serve as child care assistants (CCA’s) and will receive a pay raise every six months,” added Donovan. “After working as a CCA for a determined number of hours, the apprentice can start their professional portfolio and take the CDA examination. If they successfully complete their portfolio and pass the exam, they will receive their CDA certification.” 

“I want to work with children, I don’t care what the ages,” said Alexus Warren, of Alorton, “I also want to operate my own daycare one day.” Warren has two children: two-year-old Caden and 10-month-old Kylie. Caden is a student at the SIUE Belleville Head Start Center.

“I’m glad that you all are here,” said ESLC Director Timothy Staples, EdD, during the class orientation. “SIUE is here to help you in all your endeavors. We are also proud to be partnering with St. Clair County, Connections to Success and Lewis & Clark Community College.”

“I need to learn better ways to deal with children, other than the knowledge that other people have given me,” said Warren. “It was required for one of my early childhood classes (through Southwestern Illinois College), that I work half a semester at a school. I was at Whiteside Elementary (in Belleville), and I was afraid about my reactions on how to correct the children.”

“In addition to educating children, I want to learn the best way to correct them,” she continued.

Finally, Warren noted a CDA certificate would let people know that despite her age, she is qualified to instruct preschoolers.

“I feel like I’m not taken seriously because of my age,” said the 21-year-old. “I don’t want people to discredit my abilities. I want to learn about early childhood education and have the credentials to back it up.” 

Photos:
Alexus Warren, of Alorton, signed up for the child development associate course with hopes of one day owning her own daycare center. 

(L-R): Vival Lopez, Connections to Success lead instructor; Tracye Donovan, Talent Pipeline coordinator; Dr. Timothy Staples, ESLC director; and Tiffany Caguitla, ESLC assistant director.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center Director Sharon Locke, PhD, helped bring an understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to Indonesia during two weeks in October. She was invited to three institutions to present on the history and theory of STEM education, while providing hands-on learning activities for faculty members and university undergraduate students.

“STEM education is an area of tremendous interest in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries,” said Locke, an associate professor in environmental sciences. “University faculty members are trying to understand how they might integrate STEM lessons into schools and into training for pre-service science and math teachers.”

At the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teacher and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Mathematics (SEAQiM), in Yogyakarta, Locke presented workshops on teaching STEM as part of mathematics courses to 30 junior high school teachers from Indonesia as well as Laos, Thailand, Mynamar and East Timor. The SEAQiM Center in Mathematics is one of 26 centers across southeast Asia.

“I used practical lessons that show how STEM education integrates each of the four disciplines,” Locke said. “The activities used simple materials that could be easily obtained locally, so that educators could use them with their own students. One example was building a chair out of only newspaper and tape, which includes concepts of geometry, forces and human anatomy.”

At Sunan Kalijaga University, Locke presented a practical STEM activity for faculty members and undergraduate pre-service teachers. At Sanata Dharma University, she provided a half-day workshop for science and math teachers, a lecture and lesson on STEM for undergraduate pre-service teachers, and a workshop for science and mathematics faculty.

“Everyone I met was incredibly welcoming and excited to learn about STEM,” Locke said. “I am honored to have represented SIUE in promoting STEM education at an international level. Through our projects, STEM Center faculty and staff are developing valuable teaching resources to support STEM learning.”

In fall 2018, the SIUE STEM Center hosted ASEAN Fulbright Scholar Rusassmita Sri Padmi from SEAQiM for three months of research. Locke’s trip to Indonesia helped strengthen the relationship between SIUE STEM and SEAQiM.

 Photo: SIUE STEM Center Executive Director Sharon Locke helps introduce STEM education techniques in an Indonesian classroom.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center Director Sharon Locke, PhD, helped bring an understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to Indonesia during two weeks in October. She was invited to three institutions to present on the history and theory of STEM education, while providing hands-on learning activities for faculty members and university undergraduate students.

“STEM education is an area of tremendous interest in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries,” said Locke, an associate professor in environmental sciences. “University faculty members are trying to understand how they might integrate STEM lessons into schools and into training for pre-service science and math teachers.”

At the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teacher and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Mathematics (SEAQiM), in Yogyakarta, Locke presented workshops on teaching STEM as part of mathematics courses to 30 junior high school teachers from Indonesia as well as Laos, Thailand, Mynamar and East Timor. The SEAQiM Center in Mathematics is one of 26 centers across southeast Asia.

“I used practical lessons that show how STEM education integrates each of the four disciplines,” Locke said. “The activities used simple materials that could be easily obtained locally, so that educators could use them with their own students. One example was building a chair out of only newspaper and tape, which includes concepts of geometry, forces and human anatomy.”

At Sunan Kalijaga University, Locke presented a practical STEM activity for faculty members and undergraduate pre-service teachers. At Sanata Dharma University, she provided a half-day workshop for science and math teachers, a lecture and lesson on STEM for undergraduate pre-service teachers, and a workshop for science and mathematics faculty.

“Everyone I met was incredibly welcoming and excited to learn about STEM,” Locke said. “I am honored to have represented SIUE in promoting STEM education at an international level. Through our projects, STEM Center faculty and staff are developing valuable teaching resources to support STEM learning.”

In fall 2018, the SIUE STEM Center hosted ASEAN Fulbright Scholar Rusassmita Sri Padmi from SEAQiM for three months of research. Locke’s trip to Indonesia helped strengthen the relationship between SIUE STEM and SEAQiM.

 Photo: SIUE STEM Center Executive Director Sharon Locke helps introduce STEM education techniques in an Indonesian classroom.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s nationally-recognized Graduate School gained nearly 300 applicants during its annual Open House on Wednesday, Oct 16 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom.

Prospective graduate students received information on SIUE’s more than 140 master’s programs, post-baccalaureate certificates, specialist degrees, doctoral degrees and cooperative doctoral programs. Information was also available on graduate admission requirements and financial support, including graduate assistantships and competitive graduate awards.

 “SIUE professors were available to speak with prospective students about their professional goals and how our programs can help them,” said Jim Monahan, director of graduate and international admissions. “The attendees respond quite positively to this environment.”

The SIUE Graduate School challenges and inspires students to hone their skills and develop new ones. It facilitates excellence in research and creative activities, and ranks first among all Emerging Research Institutions in the Midwest for research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation.

Prospective students also learned more about SIUE’s popular integrative studies program, which allows students to meet their career goals by combining courses from two or three disciplines. Additionally, current graduate students were in attendance to share their experiences and offer advice to prospective students.

“A variety of options are available for full-time students coming back for an advanced degree or working students who need to attend part-time,” said Jerry Weinberg, PhD, Graduate School dean and associate provost for research. “Online programs, traditional programs and courses are available at students’ convenience.”

The Office of Graduate Admissions will hold an additional open house during the spring semester in conjunction with the Graduate School’s Research Symposium on Tuesday, March 31 to further promote the educational and research opportunities available at SIUE.

For additional information, visit siue.edu/graduate-visit. Interested students may also call 618-650-2741 or email graduateadmissions@siue.edu.

Photo: Grad School Open House attendees file applications on site.

Beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020, the grassroots organization Bring Your Own Glen-Ed is hoping to nudge people in the direction of reducing single-use plastic bags. Mary Grose, of Edwardsville and member of Bring Your Own Glen-Ed, was the guest speaker on Monday, Oct. 21 at “Coffee with Cool Women,” hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Women’s Studies Program. 

“There is a lot of plastic waste in our oceans, but there’s even more in our landfills,” said Grose, “and it doesn’t go away. It doesn’t biodegrade, and most of it is not recycled.” 

This concern became a battle cry for several individuals from Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Collinsville who formed a group to address the environmental issue of limiting the use of plastic bags. The group started as a result of a larger collective, which took shape after the 2016 presidential election. Action Metro East was founded to address issues and concerns, and represent ideas on the local and state level. 

“Stephanie Malench, of Collinsville, asked if anyone was interested in reducing single waste,” noted Grose. “About 12 of us got together initially. We are presently seven active members who have worked a lot for two years.” 

On Oct. 25, the Edwardsville City Council unanimously passed the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance to reduce single-use plastic bags. The proposal will go into effect April 1, 2020. 

“The main feature of the ordinance is that there will be a 10 cent fee on both single-use plastic and paper bags in Edwardsville retailers 7,000 square feet or larger,” said Grose.  “It’s optional, because it is easily avoided if you bring your own bag.  It is not a tax, because the retailer retains the fee. None of the money goes to the city.  Additionally, shoppers on public aid are exempt. The whole idea of the ordinance is to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags and minimize waste.” 

“Over the years, single-use bags have become a habit. However, now there are more than 100 countries in the world and more than 500 American cities that have some kind of single-use bag legislation,” she continued. “This concept is clearly gaining momentum.” 

For more information about Bring Your Own Glen-Ed, contact Grose at marypgrose@gmail.com. 

Photo: Mary Grose, of Edwardsville and organizer of Bring Your Own Glen-Ed.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook focused on change in his annual University Address Monday afternoon, Oct. 28 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom. The presentation is available at siue.edu/tv.

Pembrook provided a brief overview of the many successes of the past year, including the University’s Carnegie reclassification to the doctoral/professional universities category, as SIUE was previously considered a master’s-large institution. He pointed to creating a culture of philanthropy as the SIUE Foundation set a fund-raising goal of $3,888,267 for the fiscal year 2018-19 and more than doubled that amount by raising $10,266,628. He also highlighted the record retention rate of 78.7 percent for new freshmen.

“The inspirational element of the record retention rate is the increase occurred across all categories,” Pembrook said.

Looking ahead, Pembrook also discussed future plans designed to maintain SIUE’s positive momentum. With the doctoral/professionals university category upgrade, the discussion can move to whether SIUE should attempt to become a Carnegie Standard R2 research institution.

“Provost Denise Cobb and I have tasked the Graduate Council to facilitate a campus conversation that will lead to an intentional decision,” Pembrook said. “SIUE meets or nearly meets all expectations for both categories. The issue requires a thorough discussion.”

In addition, Pembrook listed 16 potential initiatives to meet the Higher Learning Commission’s requirement that SIUE designate one major effort it has undertaken during its 10-year accreditation cycle as its Quality Initiative (QI). SIUE will be between years five and nine of the 10-year Open Pathway Cycle when the QI needs to take place. SIUE’s QI project must be designed to begin and be completed during this time, it must continue a project that is already in progress or should achieve a key milestone in the work of a longer initiative. The QI is intended to allow institutions to take risks, aim high, and learn from only partial success or even failure.

He touched upon the University’s strategic plan, which is currently being presented for feedback from the campus community. The six strategic plan goals are:

• Goal #1: Increase the recruitment of a diverse student body ready for the rigorous challenges of higher education.
• Goal #2: Optimize high-quality curricular offerings and co-curricular opportunities to meet the needs of the region, engage students, and increase student persistence and graduation rates.
• Goal #3: Deliver a mix of co-curricular programs and services across all campuses that enhance student learning and development.
• Goal #4: Recruit, support, and retain a highly accomplished, high quality, student-centered, and diverse faculty, staff, and administration to achieve University goals and achieve excellence.
• Goal #5: Develop and strengthen collaborative relationships to effect positive changes in the University, region, nation and the world.
• Goal #6: Develop, maintain and protect University assets through sound
  economic practice.

Once implemented, the strategic plan will carry SIUE through 2025.

Pembrook closed by thanking all who are connected with the University for their efforts in moving SIUE forward. Faculty, staff, students and guests were able to visit with Pembrook at a reception immediately following in the Goshen Lounge.

Photo: SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook presents his annual University Address in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) students are celebrating first-place and runner-up finishes in the 2019 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Saint Louis Section Black Box competition hosted by SIUE on Saturday, Oct. 26.

SIUE students competed with teams from Washington University in St. Louis, and Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T) in analog and digital categories. Five teams participated in the analog competition, while four teams competed in the digital contest. Cash prizes were awarded for first ($500), second ($300) and third ($200) place.

“These competitions enhance the ability of students to perform reverse engineering tasks when they are out in the real world,” said George Engel, DSc, professor in the SOE’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Lifelong memories are created along with a bond between the student and the professional society. It also gives our students a chance to interact with others from great institutions.”

Students competing in the analog category were given an analog circuit enclosed in a “black box” and asked to draw the electrical schematic of the circuit inside. The box contains only four terminals that the teams use to make electrical measurements which help them unravel the mystery of what is inside.

In the analog competition, SIUE’s teams of seniors Shawn Gilles and Brycen Dhom, and seniors Steven Vendetti and Mark Derhake finished second and third, respectively. MS&T’s Evan Fitzgerald won the event as he became the first student in recent history to completely solve the problem.

In the digital contest, students were given a programmable logic device with a pre-programmed circuit. As in the analog contest, students observed the behavior of the circuit. They were asked to describe the circuit, which was programmed into a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based on their observations. 

SIUE senior Usman Khan and freshman Cole Johnson teamed to win the digital contest, while seniors Joel Rahlfs and Brad Johnson claimed runner-up. WashU’s Connor Monahan and Michael Horwitz were third.   

MS&T is the site for the 2020 event as long-standing tradition calls for the school that wins the analog contest to host the following year. 

The IEEE is comprised of engineers, scientists and students. It is one of the largest professional organizations for engineers in the world.

Photo (Upper Right): Students compete at the 2019 IEEE Saint Louis Section Black Box competition hosted by SIUE.

Middle (L-R): SIUE’s Cole Johnson and Usman Khan teamed to win the digital contest.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) is teaming up with the Edwardsville Public Library to bring Health Careers Day to the residents of Edwardsville on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the library, located at 112 S Kansas St.

The event is open to all ages, and attendees will be able to speak to individuals in fields such as dental medicine, art therapy, exercise science, medical technology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work and speech-language pathology.

More than 15 faculty and staff representing a dozen disciplines, and many SEHHB students will volunteer at the event, as well as provide information about their disciplines.

“We need more people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to enter our healthcare system in order to meet evolving needs,” said Alyson Siglock, first-year master’s student in public health, of Glen Carbon. “A variety of professionals working together to improve our nation’s health provides a comprehensive approach that is sure to expand all that our healthcare system can offer.

“SIUE’s Health Careers Day is a paramount opportunity for members of our Edwardsville community and local health professionals to connect, understand each other’s differing roles, and to realize our full potential to work synergistically.”

Paul Rose, PhD, SEHHB associate dean, has been collaborating with the Edwardsville Public Library to bring together students, the public and healthcare professionals.

“Whatever their age or background, we hope members of the community will come to learn about health sciences, enjoy some free giveaways and find out what SIUE students do,” Rose said. “By engaging with the public at events like this, we can educate people throughout the region about opportunities and looming shortages in the health professions. This is another chance for people to appreciate and learn new things in the beautiful Edwardsville library.”

Photo: Paul Rose, SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior associate dean.

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and most times food is at the center. But for those who suffer from food insecurity, the holidays can intensify this need, which is why the Food Recovery Network at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is collecting donations for those in need. 

The Food Recovery Network, formerly the Campus Kitchen at SIUE (CKSIUE), is hosting its annual “Give Thanks, Give Food” food drive, according to Carolyn Compton, assistant director for community engagement with the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. The food drive will collect nonperishable and canned food donations through Sunday, Nov. 10 that will be used to make Thanksgiving meal grocery bags for Community Care Center clients in Granite City. 

“This annual food drive has served as a way to acknowledge the increased food needs many experience during the upcoming holiday seasons,” said Compton. “This food drive provides an additional resource to nonprofit organizations and the clients who Food Recovery Network of SIUE serves each week.” 

Donation boxes will be located in the Student Fitness Center, Kimmel Student Involvement Center, Lovejoy Library Information Desk, Peck Hall and Rendleman Hall. 

Food items requested include:

• Stuffing
• Canned vegetables
• Canned yams and potatoes
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy
• Macaroni and cheese
• Applesauce
• Canned fruit
• Grocery store gift cards are also appreciated 

“Last year we collected 692 items, and 388 of them were donated through our online food drive,” said Brittany Buchanan, community engagement graduate assistant. “Dierberg’s in Edwardsville donated 80 grocery bags for us to pack individual holiday bags. Each bag can serve up to five people. In total, we were able to feed approximately 400 people last year.” 

CKSIUE began collecting food over the holidays in 2014. 

“Our first Food Recovery Network cooking and delivery shifts for this year will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the Student Fitness Center kitchen,” added Buchanan. “We are looking for weekly volunteers and shift leaders. To volunteer, visit campuskitchens.volunteerhub.com/.” 

For more information, contact Buchanan at bribuch@siue.edu or Compton at cacompt@siue.edu. 

Since August, the Campus Kitchen at SIUE, an affiliation of The Campus Kitchens Project, has been in the process of transitioning to an affiliated chapter of Food Recovery Network, the largest student-led movement to end food waste and hunger. The mission and operations of the Food Recovery Network at SIUE will remain the same as Campus Kitchen at SIUE.

Photo:
SIUE Food Recovery Network Food Drive

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) celebrated the grand opening of the state-of-the-art Fowler Student Design Center (FSDC) on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The FSDC was made possible by a generous $1.25 million gift from the Fowler Family, combined with other contributions from major donors such as Ed Grady and Ralph Korte.

 “As we continue to offer our engineering students the best possible education, this event marks yet another significant step forward for the School of Engineering and for the University,” said SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, who oversaw the ceremony. “This facility will allow our students to have access to much needed space, up-to-date technology and a state-of-the-art experiential learning and collaboration environment.” 

Jonathan Fowler represented the Fowler Family and referenced his undergraduate experience. “I got to experience first-hand the School of Engineering’s need for this building (FSDC),” he said. “I sat right here (SOE atrium) in this building studying for finals, while people were working on solar cars and Baja cars right over there. It’s not easy to focus when all that is going on around you.

“The Student Design Center was a tremendous need for SIUE to keep producing the type of students that come out into the workforce and help make companies like ours successful. We’re proud to play any part that we can in continuing that tradition.” 

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook spoke of the win-win situation for the University and the community. “The expansion of the facility gives our students the opportunity to experience one of the most important things at SIUE, and that’s hands-on learning,” he said. “This building allows our students to be better students and better graduates. That’s the win for us.

“The win for the community is that once the students go out working in local and regional businesses, employers get highly qualified, experienced employees who are capable of getting the job done.”

Grady, who sponsored the FSDC’s second floor, remarked about the SOE’s impact on his career. “We got involved in this project to get other people engaged, to give back and to expand the opportunities for students and faculty,” he said “I credit the solid foundation that I received, the hands-on, practical education at the SIUE School of Engineering for much of the success that I’ve had in my career. I’m confident that the Fowler Student Design Center and our endowment will continue to reinforce this experience for students and faculty moving forward.”

Joint Engineering Student Council President Holly Liebel, of Liberty, Mo., was grateful to all. “It’s been a wonderful experience to watch the design students grow into the space and to see the design students on the second floor collaborating with their teachers.”

The FSDC provides much-needed space for students involved in senior design projects, collegiate competition teams, clubs and organizations. The two-story, 14,000-square-foot addition to the SOE Building includes design team workspaces, design labs and an engineer’s alley to showcase projects.

The Fowler Family is a longtime supporter of the SOE, witnessing its rapid advancement as a premier educational institution, as well as the University’s growth as a regional destination. “SIUE has meant a lot to our family through the years,” Fowler said. “When my grandfather brought JF Electric to Edwardsville, some of the first jobs that we completed were on this campus.”

The Fowler Family annually presents the James C. Fowler Scholarship to deserving students in the SOE and in the SIUE School of Business. Jonathan Fowler serves on the SOE’s Advisory Board.

Following the remarks, tours of the facility were provided.

The SIUE School of Engineering is one of the largest engineering schools in the region. It offers comprehensive and affordable engineering programs with eight undergraduate degrees, five master’s degrees and two cooperative doctoral programs. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. Students gain hands-on experience in the School’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the new Fowler Student Design Center.

 Photo (L-R): Ed Grady, SIUE Joint Engineering Student Council President Holly Liebel, JF Electric President Greg Fowler, Jonathan Fowler, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and SOE Dean Cem Karacal.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School announced Konstantina “Nina” Stavroulaki and Saeed Onsorynezhad as recipients of the 2019 Outstanding Teaching Assistant (OTA) award at the master’s and doctoral levels, respectively. Stavroulaki and Onsorynezhad received their awards and a $500 cash prize at last night's Graduate School Awards Reception.

The OTA award is designed to recognize and reward graduate students for outstanding performance in teaching and instruction. 

Stavroulaki has served as a teaching assistant for microbiology and immunology during fall 2018, and for immunology and immunization training during spring 2019 under the guidance of Catherine Santanello, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the School of Pharmacy (SOP), and Connie Barber, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Management and Information Systems in the School of Business (SOB). Stavroulaki is pursuing a master’s in pharmaceutical sciences.

“Nina will be able to choose any career path, because she is such a bright, talented young woman” Santanello said.

According to her professors, Stavroulaki has excelled in the roles of student, researcher and teacher. As a student and researcher, she is enthusiastic, respectful, curious and tenacious. As a teaching assistant, she was integral in launching an innovative approach utilizing the concept of gaming in the immunology and immunization training course. The gaming software allowed students to understand the complex topic of immunology through creative pedagogical delivery involving a team-based approach that required critical thinking and strategy-based decision-making. The endeavor was quite successful, and the project is being submitted for publication to a pharmacy education journal.  

Stavroulaki also received accolades from students in both of the courses in which she assisted, both for her commitment to providing students with prompt feedback and for her abilities to simplify complex scientific topics.

Onsorynezhad has served as a teaching assistant in the School of Engineering (SOE) since the fall 2016 semester for a diverse range of mechanical engineering courses, including thermodynamics I, stress laboratory, internal combustion engines and robotics dynamics. In the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, he has served under the guidance of Nima Lotfi, PhD, asst. professor; Kamran Shavezipour, PhD, asst. professor; Serdar Celik, PhD, professor and graduate program director; Keqin Gu, PhD, distinguished research professor and department chair; Fengxia Wang, PhD, assoc. professor; and Mingshao Zhang, PhD, asst. professor. Onsorynezhad is currently pursuing a PhD in engineering science with a focus in mechanical engineering.

Onsorynezhad’s faculty supervisors noted that he demonstrates an outstanding dedication to his duties, a mastery of class materials, and a commitment to go the extra mile to help students learn inside and outside of the classroom.  

“Saeed is among the few students who have the expertise to handle all of these topics,” said Gu, Chair, as he noted that the broad range of engineering courses that Saeed has taught is more typical of a faculty teaching profile.

Onsorynezhad displayed even further breadth in his ability to teach effectively when he led the “Rockets 101” sessions during the School of Engineering summer camps in 2018 and 2019 for K-12 students. 

“Saeed is among those exceptional graduate teaching assistants who portrays quality, excellence and service in performing his duties,” Selik said.   

Onsorynezhad’s professors also praised his achievements in his own scholarly pursuits. His research in the area of impact dynamics of the piezoelectric beam has resulted in publication in a number of premium technical journals and conferences. His enthusiasm for the study of mechanical engineering and his care for students has been a valuable asset to the department.

Photo: (Upper Right L-R) - Konstantina “Nina” Stavroulaki receives the SIUE 2019 Outstanding Teaching Assistant award for the master’s level from Graduate School Dean Jerry Weinberg.

(Lower Right L-R) - Saeed Onsorynezhad receives the SIUE 2019 Outstanding Teaching Assistant award for the doctoral level from Graduate School Dean Jerry Weinberg.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School announced Patrick Ayres, Mary Pearson, PhD, and Roya Mazrouei as the recipients of the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards and honorable mention award, respectively. Recipients were recognized at the Graduate School Awards Reception on Oct. 29 and received a $500 cash prize.

            The Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards are designed to recognize a master’s student’s thesis and a doctoral student’s dissertation that have been identified as outstanding among all of the theses and dissertations completed in the previous academic year.

            Ayres is the recipient of the School’s 2019 Outstanding Thesis award for his master’s thesis, “Embattled Conservatism: Hamilton Gamble and Conservatism in Civil War Missouri.” His thesis committee was formed by the Department of Historical Studies’ Erik Alexander, PhD, associate professor and co-director of graduate studies; Jason Stacy, PhD, professor; Bryan Jack, PhD, associate professor; and Buddy Paulett, PhD, associate professor.

            Ayres’ research examined the early political career of Hamilton Gamble, Missouri’s Civil War governor from 1861-1864. Throughout his thesis, he argues that a distinct Western identity and conservatism shaped Gamble’s political identity in the 1840s and 1850s.

            “Patrick’s thesis is exceptionally researched, including far more original research than is typically expected of a history master’s thesis,” said Alexander, committee chair. “His research makes a significant contribution to an emerging historiographical literature on the history of conservatism in the 19th century as a distinct political ideology.”

            Ayres’ thesis was also recognized by the Missouri Historical Society as the recipient of the 2019 Lewis E. Atherton Prize. Currently, Ayres is pursuing a PhD in the department’s cooperative historical studies program with SIU-Carbondale.

            Pearson is the recipient of the School’s 2019 Outstanding Dissertation Award for her doctoral dissertation, “Teacher and Administrator Beliefs and Expectations of School Exclusion in Six Midwestern Alternative Schools.” Her dissertation committee consisted of the Department of Educational Leadership’s Tianlong Yu, PhD, professor; Alison Reeves, PhD, educational administration program director; and the Department of Psychology’s Elizabeth Meinz, PhD, professor.

            For her dissertation, Pearson conducted a mixed-methods study to understand why teachers and administrators continue to use exclusionary discipline despite growing evidence of such practices’ ineffectiveness.

            “Mary’s study is significant in terms of implications for practice and policy,” said Yu, thesis advisor. “The rich and informative findings, and her insightful analysis of them provide a much-needed guidebook for both practitioners and policy makers as they think about the persistent ‘problem’ of student discipline, revise current policies, and make fundamental changes that are difficult but needed.”

            Pearson currently serves as the principal at Journey School, serving districts within the Region III Special Education Cooperative.

            Lastly, Mazrouei has been chosen as the University’s 2019 Outstanding Thesis Award Honorable Mention recipient for her master’s thesis, “Development of Impedance-Based Biomimetic Biochemical Sensors for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens for Food Safety.” Her thesis committee was comprised of the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Kamran Shavezipur, PhD, assistant professor; Keqin Gu, PhD, department chair; and Serdar Celik, PhD, professor and graduate program director.

            Mazrouei’s research used microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop miniaturized sensors for detection of chemicals and biomarkers in aqueous solution/suspension at extremely low concentrations.

“The detailed analysis of Roya’s research model was done for the first time, and the results of her work have led to new directions and further fundamental study of the electrochemistry and diffusion process in biochemical sensors,” said Shavezipur, thesis advisor, who accepted the award on Mazrouei’s behalf.

Additionally, Mazrouei’s work has been featured in three conference presentations and one journal publication, and contributed to a provisional patent filed in 2018. Presently, she works as a researcher at Stanford Medicine of Stanford University.

Upper Right (L-R) – Patrick Ayres receives the SIUE Outstanding Thesis Award from Graduate School Dean Jerry Weinberg.

Lower Right (L-R) – Mary Pearson receives the SIUE Outstanding Dissertation Award from Graduate School Dean Jerry Weinberg.

Recognizing the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) ability and desire to serve the public, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) requested a partnership initiative to address the growing epidemic of opioid abuse among adolescents.

As a result, Jessica Kerr, PharmD, SOP interim associate dean, and Chris Herndon, PharmD, professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, along with fourth-year students Jazmine Rosales of Elgin and Paris Smith of Chicago, developed curriculum. The program launched this month, and uses active learning to educate scouts on the dangers of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.

“Dr. Herndon has been instrumental in taking our vision to the next level by creating an online portal for the Boy Scouts to be able to take this five-module training,” Kerr said. “Boy Scouts in fifth through eighth grades can take the interactive training for a regional badge completion.”

“There are national resources available to educate youth on the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter abuse, but many agencies and organizations are at a loss as to how to address the issues,” Herndon said. “This program incorporates activities for troop leaders to discuss with their scouts, and has the potential to educate thousands of scouts and troop leaders.”

The training modules will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete in total at different times and will be coordinated with BSA den meetings. A facilitator’s handbook is available for den leaders, parents or pharmacy students to lead den meetings and provide the education to the scouts. Facilitators will learn how to create an atmosphere in the meeting to promote discussion about social/legal consequences of drug abuse. They will engage in a game to help further the discussion in a face-to-face manner.

The collaborative project received funding through a Meridian Society award. As an auxiliary organization of the SIUE Foundation, the Meridian Society invests in SIUE community-based projects.

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.2 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21, and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the U.S. and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, visit Scouting.org.

Today’s pharmacists improve patients’ lives through the medication and education they provide. Dedicated to developing a community of caring pharmacists, the SIUE School of Pharmacy curriculum is nationally recognized as a model that offers students a unique combination of classroom education, research, community service and patient care. The School of Pharmacy’s areas of excellence include a drug design and discovery core; pediatric practice; chronic pain research and practice; and diabetes research and practice. As the only downstate Illinois pharmacy doctorate program, the SIUE School of Pharmacy is addressing the growing need for highly trained pharmacists in a rapidly growing field.

Photo (L-R): SIUE School of Pharmacy Interim Associate Dean Jessica Kerr and Chris Herndon, professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice.

Bryan Schubert has opened Millpond Brewing and Incubator at 308 E. Washington St. in Millstadt. Schubert has worked with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Business Specialist Marti Wieland since April 2018 to successfully plan his microbrewery.

Schubert has been homebrewing for nearly 10 years and decided a few years ago to pursue opening his own brewery. Everything happened to align perfectly, and he has now been able to turn his passion into a profession.

“Brewing is very in-depth, but also allows room for a lot of creativity,” Schubert shared. “I love the process – from developing recipes and flavors to brewing the beer and seeing how it all turns out.”

Millpond Brewing will offer Schubert’s professionally brewed beers, as well as provide an opportunity for homebrewers to brew their own beer and offer it for sale in the taproom. Their focus is placed on local brewers and ingredients, as well as working to contribute to and improve the community.

The SBDC provided Schubert assistance with his business plan, financials and connections with various resources to bring his dream to reality.

“My experience with Marti and the SBDC has been nothing but positive,” Schubert stated. “Marti is a wealth of knowledge, who has many connections and resources. She was always there to point me in the right direction, answer any questions and talk through any challenges.”

Schubert’s focus is on maintaining a small, hometown brewery. The goal is to have a few beers always on tap, as well as a rotating selection of different styles to consistently offer something new.

“Bryan had one of the most unique business ideas I have heard,” Wieland said. “The idea of a microbrewery is not new, but including the creative space for homebrewers adds a great twist to the concept. Bryan has been easy to work with, has had great questions and been receptive to the information I provided. We love it when a client’s plan comes together. It is an honor to be even a small part of someone’s success!”

Schubert is grateful to Wieland and the SBDC for the help. Now that his business has opened, his experience has inspired him to see how he can be of assistance to other small business start-ups.

 Millpond Brewing and Incubator is open 3-10 p.m Tuesday-Wednesday, noon-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact Millpond Brewing at 618-476-9933 or info@millpondbrewing.com., visit millpondbrewing.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram at @millpondbrewing.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Millpond Brewing and Incubator as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn about the SBDC, contact theIL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618- 650-2929.

Photo: Millpond Brewing and Incubator Owner Bryan Schubert (courtesy Belleville News-Democrat).

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Brian Ledford is celebrating his fifth Emmy Award for his work on “Presidential Libraries, Museums and More,” a feature that aired on KPLR-TV last year. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the award was presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-American Region, which covers seven Midwestern states.

As the line editor for the program, Ledford acted as the last line of creative gatekeeping before the program aired. Along with tightening up the piece’s edits, he added graphics and music to compliment the story before reviewing the final version for on-air playback.

Ledford claims this victory with co-worker and fellow SIUE graduate Patrick Clark, who developed the show’s creative vision. Previously, Ledford has received Emmy Awards in the categories of sports feature, graphic animation, arts/entertainment feature and editing.

“It’s always a cool feeling to win an award like this and be recognized by peers from outside your region,” said Ledford. “The ones making the decisions have no clue who I am. They judge the body of work rather than the creator. To win something that involves education rather than the tragic stories that are often associated with television news is definitely a plus.”

Specializing in video production and print journalism, Ledford graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s in mass communications. Prior to enrolling at SIUE, he worked as a disc jockey for a country music station in his hometown of McLeansboro. Along with assistant teaching, he worked for various mediums throughout his college career, including volunteering in the KPLR-TV sports department.

“Even at a young age, I knew that I wanted to work in media in some capacity,” said Ledford. “I realized that media was all about creating original content and presenting it to audiences on a mass level. Perhaps to inform, but most importantly to entertain.”

Reminiscing on his time at SIUE, Ledford claims that his undergraduate courses allowed the opportunity to experiment creatively.

“I would spend hours upon hours locked inside the labs honing my skill sets and cultivating the work ethic that helped me achieve the status I’m lucky to have today,” he added.

After graduation, Ledford worked freelance jobs for various video production houses throughout St. Louis. Later, he went on to become a producer and director of local origination programming for Charter Communications of Maryville. In 1998, he returned to KPLR-TV as a news videographer and editor, and has stayed in the St. Louis market ever since.

Throughout his career in television news, Ledford has been able to experience and capture many memorable events including the St. Louis Blues’ NHL Stanley Cup championship in June and the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series title in 2006. Outside of notable sports coverage, he has shot area appearances made by the last five U.S. presidents among many other local features.

“I enjoy covering local, feel good stories, because I like to feature what’s great about our communities,” noted Ledford. “Sometimes, I even switch gears and become a reporter which produces a greater challenge as now I have to be both reporter and videographer.”

In addition to his professional career, Ledford returned to the University from 2002 to 2009 as an adjunct lecturer and instructor for the Department of Mass Communications. By teaching introductory courses about mass media and video production, he assisted students in developing their skill sets just as he did.

“Perseverance and patience always pay off,” advised Ledford. “The opportunities are quite limited when one graduates. For a freshly scrubbed face in the profession, it’s a tough hill to climb. One needs to be extremely flexible and willing to adapt to change.” He encourages aspiring media professionals to work hard, stay sharp concerning advances in technology and treat everyone with respect.

“I’ve had a pretty interesting media ride,” admitted Ledford. “It’s been filled with excitement, and I’ve personally experienced numerous happy and, conversely, tragic stories. Television news works that way, I guess. I’ve been extremely lucky to document things that other people only talk about. In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing, and I look forward to what the future holds.”

Photo: SIUE alumnus Brian Ledford, 5-time Emmy Award winner.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Foreign Languages and Literature’s Olga Bezhanova, PhD, associate professor of Spanish, has been awarded the Medal for the Contribution to Ukrainian Art and Scholarship from the Ukrainian Academy of Literature and Art. She was recognized for teaching an interdisciplinary course on totalitarianism and Ukrainian art, along with her outstanding promotion of Ukrainian art throughout Hispanic countries.

“I was very excited to receive this award, not only because it serves as a recognition of my own work, but also because of what it says about Ukraine,” said Bezhanova. “For the longest time, Ukraine has been in the grip of extreme corruption that has infected every area of life. However, since 2014, great efforts have been made to battle corruption.”

A Ukraine native, Bezhanova has taught courses on Hispanic culture, literature and history at SIUE for the past decade. Along with promoting Hispanic literature and culture, she has been an active participant in the literary scene of her native country by publishing English translations of contemporary Ukrainian prose and serving on the juries of several literary contests in Ukraine.

“As a Ukrainian residing in the United States, I believe it is my duty to share my knowledge about this complex, yet fascinating country with the community,” said Bezhanova.

Last spring, Bezhanova teamed with fellow Ukrainian Sophia Wilson, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, to co-teach the interdisciplinary course recognized by the Ukrainian academy. Together, the duo designed the course to highlight the contrast of the totalitarian regimes that existed during the 20th-century in Ukraine and Spain, and the ways in which those regimes impacted the artistic production of both countries.

As part of the course, Bezhanova invited noted Ukrainian writer Mykhaylo Blekhman to guest lecture in class. Such an experience provided students with a rare opportunity to personally meet a leading Ukrainian author whose work they had studied throughout the course.

In addition to her promotion of Ukrainian art and culture at SIUE, Bezhanova has made great strides in representing art from Ukraine throughout Hispanic countries. This year, she translated a collection of poetry by leading Ukrainian poets Tetiana Dziuba and Serhii Dziuba into Spanish. Along with editing the translation, she wrote a preface for the works, explaining the relevance of contemporary Ukrainian poetry to Spanish-speaking readers. The collection was published in Bolivia and Spain, and constitutes one of the rare forays by Ukrainian poets into the Hispanic literary market.

“I haven’t returned to Ukraine in 21 years and no longer have any personal connections in the country,” noted Bezhanova. “Still, I was awarded this medal, which demonstrates that Ukraine is no longer a country about knowing the right people and having the right connections. This gives me a lot of hope for the future of my country of origin.”

In her continuing endeavor to promote Ukrainian art throughout the world, Bezhanova will be presenting “The Revolution of Dignity and Birth of Democracy in Ukraine” at the Edwardsville Public Library on Wednesday, Nov. 6. During her presentation, she will discuss the numerous achievements and failures throughout the country’s journey to democracy and explain their ongoing relevance.

Photo: Olga Bezhanova, associate professor of Spanish in the SIUE Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.

Inside and outside of class, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students can be seen studying and working on assignments on their new Chromebook laptops. It is the first time that CHS students have been able to use technology for their entire school day, courtesy of a $3.5 million gift from an anonymous donor. 

A portion of the gift was used to purchase 120 new Chromebook laptops, which students first received on Monday, Oct. 7. Coordinating the 1-to-1 Chromebook Computer project are Liza Cummings, PhD, CHS STEM instructional coordinator, and Greg Laktzian, CHS math teacher assistant.  

“Students check-out/in their assigned Chromebook and carrying bag daily,” said Cummings. 

“We want the best for our students, and the gift of the Chromebooks has made it possible for students to better study and learn,” said Gina Jeffries, EdD, CHS director. “They love them. The Chromebooks allow our East St. Louis students to remain competitive amongst other students in surrounding districts. They are a big success. We know that students will grow academically with this new resource.” 

“When we had some laptops, they could only be used in a certain class,” said CHS senior Tyrin Smith. “Now, we have it all the school day. The Chromebook has helped me with my classes. Because everything is online, I can just log onto the computer and work. I like that.” 

“Using the Chromebooks are more efficient. Everything can be found online, and that makes it beneficial for both the students and the teachers,” said Mildred Fort, CHS science teacher. “The students love technology. There was a short learning curve for most of them.” 

“In addition, the new technology initiative is believed to support both teaching and learning!” added Cummings. “It will allow our classrooms to be infused with digital learning that has the potential to expand the learning experiences and materials. We hope to increase student engagement and motivation, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Education.” 

“I like the Chromebooks, because I can get my work done better,” said CHS sophomore Jayla Sussix. “Before when we had to write a lot, it was hard. Also, for some assignments we had to go to the computer lab. But the Chromebooks make things easier.” 

The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.  

Photos:
CHS senior Tyrin Smith checks out his Chromebook for the day.

L-R: CHS students Tyrell Montgomery and Ty’Asia Alls work on their homework during class.

Greg Laktzian, CHS math teacher assistant, (left) works with CHS freshman Matthew Hicks on a class assignment.