SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College (SSC) is pleased to announce three new exhibitions in the galleries of the college’s Main Campus in South Holland:

Laura Colby, Recent Works
An exhibition of paintings by artist Laura Colby is on display in the Lee Dulgar Gallery through the closing reception on Thursday, April 16th at 12 noon.

Robert Pollard, Brave and Old Fashioned
An exhibition of “fine” art by artist Robert Pollard is on display in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery through the closing reception on Tuesday, April 21st at 12:30 p.m.

Michael Coakes, Illusions of Psyche
An exhibition of photographs by artist Michael Coakes is on display in the Photo Four Gallery through the closing reception on Wednesday, April 22nd at 12:00 noon.

The Lee Dulgar Gallery is located on the first floor near the college Atrium, and the Dorothea Thiel and Photo Four Galleries are located on the 4th floor in the Art & Design hallway. SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge.

For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 or visit www.ssc.edu/art. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The South Suburban College Legal Studies Department will host their second annual Law Day on Friday, May 1, 2015. This year’s event will feature a special live court case. Oral arguments for a real criminal First District Appellate Court case will be heard in the Performing Arts Center. This is a rare opportunity for the community to observe the First District at work at an off-site location. The general public–especially educators and students–is encouraged to attend this unique opportunity to witness some of the area’s most talented, professional litigators in action.

Opening remarks will begin at 10:00 a.m. Following the arguments, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Appellate Prosecutor and Appellate Defender. The justices will return to the PAC for another question and answer session at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Attendees are welcome to stay for a Mock Crime Scene Demonstration from12 noon–2:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the Main Campus, as well as a Court Reporting Demonstration from 12 noon–2:00 p.m., in the Heritage Room.

This event also provides guests with an opportunity to find out more about educational and career opportunities in the judicial field, and to learn about SSC’s Paralegal, Court Reporting and Criminal Justice programs.

For more information about Law Day, or to RSVP for the day’s events, please email LawDay@ssc.edu or contact Jason M. Cieslik, J.D., Paralegal Coordinator, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2579.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College will host their second annual STEM Symposium on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the college’s Main Campus in South Holland. Students and educators of all levels are encouraged to attend this special event.

The STEM Symposium will feature a college and career expo related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The program will begin with welcome remarks from Congresswoman Robin Kelly followed by the evening’s Keynote presentation from Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Living. Additional speakers will be scheduled throughout the evening as well as ongoing programming in the college Atrium and Cafeteria including displays and exhibits from students and instructors, college STEM program tables, SSC lab tours, STEM professionals, and much more. There will also be a dedicated teacher-resource/demonstration area this year.

For more information, or to participate in the presentations and displays, please contact Anna Helwig, Ph.D., SSC Dean of Mathematics and Sciences, at (708) 210-5706 or ahelwig@ssc.edu.   SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College is seeking tutors and participants for the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program. The program is structured to train volunteers to become one-on-one tutors for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. SSC is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program.

New tutor training sessions will take place on the Main Campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. from March 24th 2015through April 9th 2015 in Room 1243c. The tutor training is an 18-hour program that culminates with literacy training certification. Once certified, the tutors will go out to visit their adult learners at locations in or near their neighborhoods. Tutoring sites have already been established at the following locations: Acorn Public Library, Oak Forest; Calumet City Public Library; Grande Prairie Library, Hazel Crest; Homewood Public Library; South Holland Public Library; South Suburban College Library, Main Campus; Oak Forest Center Library, Oak Forest; Lansing Public Library; Dolton Public Library; Riverdale Public Library; Markham Public Library and Midlothian Public Library. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners, and the availability of space and hours of the tutoring sites.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market. SSC’s Office of Adult Education administers the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program in addition to High School Equivalency (HSE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

Tutors will receive free professional development services throughout this program. Successful tutors are also eligible for letters of support or recommendation for jobs, scholarships, educational opportunities, and more. These opportunities are made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using state funds designated for literacy.

If you would like to register for the volunteer tutor training class please register by March 23rd, 2015 or if you know someone who would benefit from tutoring services, please contact LaKisha Hillard, M. Ed, Coordinator of the Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2558, or email lhillard@ssc.edu. South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State St., South Holland, Illinois.