SOUTH HOLLAND, IL– The pre-season #19 ranked South Suburban College Men’s Basketball Team opens its 2015-16 season on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 1:30 pm. vs. Trinity Christian College (JV). This year’s squad includes several players from NW Indiana: Anthony Harris (Griffith HS), Marlon Northern (Gary West Side), Devon Mingo (Hammond Morton), and Jalen Wilbert (Merrillville) who will help lead this year’s Bulldogs. The players from the South Suburbs (IL): Jovan Mooring (Hillcrest HS), Russell Robinson Jr. (Seton Academy), Rashaad Alexander (Thornwood HS), and Greg Martin (Tinley Park HS) will also lead this year’s team.

Come out and support the Bulldogs!

All home games will be broadcasted on WJOB 1230AM Radio, and you can listen to the games globally at www.wjob1230.com. Coach Pigatti will talk about the upcoming season on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 9:00am on “Jed in the Morning” which runs on WJOB 1230AM.

For more information call: John Pigatti, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, South Suburban College at (708) 596-2000 x2524, or send an email to jpigatti@ssc.edu.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College is proud to announce alumnus Mark Hood will be appearing this season on NBC’s “The Voice.” After choosing to join Pharrell’s team during the Blind Auditions, Mark has moved into the Battle Rounds.

During the “blinds,” the auditioning singers select the team he or she wants to join if more than one of the celebrity mentors hits the buzzer to turn their chair because they like what they are hearing. Hood received the full four-chair turn for his rendition of Bill Withers “Use Me.” He chose to join Team Pharrell after stating his sound is “kind of like John Legend meets Pharrell.”

Hood, 24 years old, was born, raised and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. He recently graduated from SSC in May of 2015 after studying Radio/TV Communications and participating in the college’s studio programs and talent shows.

“Being a communications student at SSC, I was exposed to so many facets of TV production, which helped my love for entertainment grow,” said Hood. “Learning the behind the scenes, believe it or not, helped me in front of the camera.”

Hood added, “As a freshman at SSC, I participated in the school talent show one cold November night, and I sang the wrong song! It was there that I learned to trust my gut, and don’t try songs you’ve never sang before. I also first sang the National Anthem at an SSC Bulldogs Basketball game, which is a hard song but I conquered it with my SSC supporters standing right there watching.”

“SSC was a home for me where I could express my creative talents. Even when music or performing had nothing to do with the class or lesson, my approach was still appreciated and respected,” said Hood. “Another reason I fell in love with SSC was Mr. John Geraci–he was an amazing instructor that pushed me, yet respected me, and he developed my love and skill for communications like no one else could!”

“The Voice” airs at 7:00 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC. Hood’s second performance on the show will come next week during the Battle Rounds. “My goals are to be a successful actor and singer garnering Grammys, Oscars, Tonys and Emmys,” said Hood.

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL –The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is pleased to announce a special guest artist solo exhibition of paintings titled “Moves” by Jay Songero in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery from October 13th through November 20th. There will also be a closing reception for the artist on Tuesday, October 20th at 1:00 p.m. The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the 4th Floor of SSC’s Main Campus. Samples of Songero’s work may be viewed at www.songero.com. The paintings and drawings are inspired by and reflect abstract expressionism and stain painting. The work reflects upon the relationship between viewer and the material essence of the painted image without need for second person.

Songero graduated Thornton High School and attended South Suburban College in the early 70’s as a student for the founder of the SSC Art & Design Department–Dorothea Thiel. A native born Chicago “south-sider,” Songero also attended Northern Illinois University where he studied as a teacher and painter, and earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts Degrees. He subsequently studied and exhibited in New York City in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. His career was changed by meeting the influential dealer OK Harris Gallery, Mr. Ivan Karp, a cigar-chomping, fast-talking New York gallery owner who helped find, popularize and market the Pop Artists of the 1960’s, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg. Later, Songero would show in international traveling shows with both Warhol and Lichtenstein, meeting such artists as Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Elaine de Kooning, and Betty Parsons in group shows he participated in at the Arts in Embassy Program and Frank Marino Gallery.

Songero made a life changing move leaving the art world disenchanted with the “hype and faddish world that art had become.” Songero descended into seclusion for almost thirty years only to return when prompted by friends, and a dealer and art promoter persuaded him to begin exhibiting his work once again. He has held a studio and continued to paint in his signature style in Chicago. He has taken elements of the New York school to move his individual vision and expression of action painting through a poured technique and signature style.

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.