Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Theta Epsilon chapter at Southwestern Illinois College recently traveled to Joplin, Mo., to help with the ongoing recovery effort following a May 2011 tornado that devastated the town.

The group spent time at two job sites. Volunteers put up drywall at the first house and removed debris at a second property where the house had to be demolished due to the damage from the tornado.

The group spent evenings at the Abundant Life Center, which offers lodging to volunteers working with Rebuild Joplin at a minimal cost.

More than a year and a half since the disaster, nearly 90 families still live in FEMA trailers and many more are unable to repair or rebuild their homes.

Volunteers from SWIC included Kendra Miller, of Waterloo; Heather Schwaegel, of Freeburg; Eden Justus, of Freeburg, Sarah Wortman, of Collinsville; Julie Stellhorn, of Baldwin; Bree Piper, of Belleville; Hannah Korte-Runge, of Highland; Josh Sullivan, of Belleville; Alex Messer, of Mascoutah; Michell Baker, of Ellis Grove; Alex Kawalec, of Red Bud; and Brad Erb, of Waterloo.

Phi Theta Kappa is a national honorary scholastic society that promotes scholarship, develops character and cultivates fellowship among students attending community colleges.

If you'd like to find out more information about helping recovery efforts in Joplin, visit rebuildjoplin.org.

Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was chosen to participate in the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program, according to Gireesh Gupchup, dean of SIUE's School of Pharmacy.

"She also enjoys mentoring underrepresented minority students," Gupchup, who nominated Butler, said. "The St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program would allow her to channel that passion and lead change in the pharmacy profession."

Butler is one of 66 people, representing 39 organizations in the St. Louis region, who were chosen to participate in the year-long program.

"The program will be a good fit to develop my leadership skills, to build relationships with other professional minorities in the St. Louis region and to learn strategies to engage SIUE in more expansive diversity initiatives," Butler said.

Triad High School's Drama I class will present "A Winter Holiday," a compilation of scenes about the Christmas season, at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 in Knights' Hall at the school.

The cast includes seniors Samantha Knebel, Samantha Mathenia, Amber Pickett, Ashlynn Powell, Corrina Provo and Kenny Schulte. Juniors are Meg Buntenbach, Erika Stutzman and Anna Tate. Sophomore class members are Sara Gillum, Caroline Larson, Ashley Porter and Stephen Simek.

Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to bring canned food items for donation to Ministries Unlimited to help those in need at this time of year.

For further information, call Shannon Mallrich at 618-667-8851, extension 7139.

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