Media Advisory: UIS hosts etiquette dinner for junior high and high school girls

What: The Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center at UIS will be hosting an etiquette dinner for middle and high school-aged girls.

When: Everyday Etiquette training will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and the dinner is from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28.

Where: Everyday Etiquette training will be held in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) in Conference Room G on the lower level of the PAC on the UIS campus. The etiquette dinner will take place in the PAC Restaurant.

Details: The etiquette dinner is part of the Girl 2 Girl DreamSpeakers program, a mentoring program matching more than 100 Springfield School District 186 female students with more than 40 UIS female student-athletes. One of the goals of the Girl 2 Girl program is to assist girls in grades 8, 9 and 10 in developing basic etiquette skills, such as proper introductions, social media etiquette, using dinner utensils and more. About 50 UIS students and District 186 students will be attending the dinner. The program is funded by a grant received from the Sangamon County Community Foundation and its Women for Women Fund.

Media Advisory: Good as Gold Ceremony honors local volunteers

What: In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Junior League of Springfield have formed a partnership to host the Springfield Good as Gold Ceremony, a recognition event to acknowledge community members and organizations for their volunteer efforts.

When: Thursday, April 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Where: The Sangamon Auditorium lobby of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus.

Details: More than 50 people will be recognized during the Good as Gold Ceremony for their achievements and efforts, including those receiving the Heart of Gold, Youth Volunteer, Organization Agent of Service or UIS Outstanding Community Service Award.

UIS will also honor one staff or faculty member and one student who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service and volunteerism with the UIS Star Staff and UIS Star Student award.

Additionally, the Junior League will feature the winner of its Outstanding Community Service Award, recognizing a local junior high school girl for her leadership and volunteerism.

The winner of the Distinguished Volunteer award will have the opportunity to give a brief presentation to showcase his or her accomplishments within the Springfield community and will receive a donation stipend to give to the charity of his or her choice.

Media Advisory: UIS Cares Day benefits local community

What: In observance of UIS Cares Day and to celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center, along with members of the UIS community, will be planting trees at Southwind Park.

When: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22.

Where: Edwin Watts Southwind Park in Springfield, located near the corner of S. 2nd Street and Southwind Road.

Details: UIS is celebrating National Volunteer Week this week with the 7th annual UIS Cares Day. UIS Cares is a half-day community service event in which UIS students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends take on a community service project in partnership with a community-based organization.

Media Advisory: UIS alumna to sign copies and read from new book

What: University of Illinois at Springfield alumna Joanna Beth Tweedy will read from her debut novel, The Yonder Side of Sass and Texas, and sign copies of the book.

When: Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

Where: Café Annex on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus.

Details: Tweedy has taught courses in creative writing, literature, composition and educational leadership, and has served as faculty-in-residence for the Capital Scholars Honors Program at UIS. Early versions of some of the novel’s chapters were included in her creative-writing thesis project, which was nominated for UIS’ Thesis of the Year Award by the English Department. Tweedy is the host of the public radio program Quiddity on WUIS and is also the founding editor of Quiddity’s companion international literary journal, housed at Benedictine University at Springfield, where she is an associate dean. A book tour is planned for the summer.