Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's WSIE campus radio station will hold an on-air fund drive Nov. 30 until Dec. 2.

During that time special guests will visit the station studio to chat with on-air personalities Dick Ulett, Jason Valentine, Erika Johnson and station general manager Gregory J. Conroy.

Some of the scheduled visitors include saxophonist Jason Swagler, of the SIUE Jazz Studies Program; Larry Johnson, St. Louis-based jazz sax man; Aracelli Kopiloff-Zimmer; co-owner of the Rue Lafayette Cafe in St. Louis; and jazz pianist Adaron "Pops" Jackson.

Joe Moffett, host of WSIE's Rat Pack Show on Saturday nights, will welcome Dean Christopher, a St. Louis-based comedian who specializes in impressions of the members of that legendary band of Vegas entertainers.

The station will offer WSIE premium items for giveaways at various levels of funding including a beverage tumbler and a stylish desk clock as well as holiday jazz CD selections from the MaxJazz recording label in St. Louis. In addition, donors may choose to host their very own two-hour jazz show or receive underwriting messages throughout a given day, all for higher levels of giving.

According to Conroy, proceeds will benefit the station's equipment and operating funds. WSIE is in need of a transmitter generator, studio soundproofing, replacement parts for its audio system and additions to its music library, he said.

"We've settled on a twice annual format for these fund-raising weekends," Conroy said. "We'll be doing them in late November and late April."

He said the fundraisers are what keeps the station alive.

"I realize our listeners don't really want to hear us talk about financial need, especially in this economic climate," Conroy said, "But most of our funding comes from our loyal listeners, so this becomes a necessary evil."

WSIE's phone-a-thon is part of the University's ongoing $50 million capital campaign known as the "Defining Excellence: The Campaign for SIUE," according to Patrick Hundley, vice chancellor for University Relations and executive director of the SIUE Foundation. More than $30 million has already been contributed to the campaign

"SIUE creates opportunities for students to receive a top-ranked education," he said. "More than half of our 90,000 graduates live and work in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, and SIUE makes a $471 million economic impact on our region every year."

If you're looking for a holiday music fix, Southwestern Illinois College can scratch that Yuletide itch.

The school will present it's Christmas season concert, "A Holiday Celebration," at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Belleville East High School Performing Arts Center, 2555 West Blvd.

Performing will be students from the SWIC concert choir, chamber singers, concert band and jazz band will perform standard holiday hits, such as: "Silver Bells," "The First Noel," "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and more.

The SWIC Guitar Ensemble also will have a pre-concert performance in the lobby of Performing Arts Center.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact SWIC Professor of Music Ed Jacobs at 618-235-2700, ext. 5354 or visit swic.edu.

Breese resident Joe Kasson has been named the recipient of a Anthony G. & Marcella C. Dulle Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic school year to the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois.

Kasson graduated from Mater Dei Catholic High School and is currently a freshman pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Kevin and Carey Dulle established the Anthony G. and Marcella C. Dulle Scholarship Fund in 2005 to honor the memory of Kevin's parents. Kevin Dulle earned his degree in civil engineering in 1981 from the University of Illinois.

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