4-1-1 Newsletter
The 4-1-1 is the weekly newsletter that tells you about upcoming events, opportunities, and Honors news. It arrives every Monday morning during the school year at 8:00 am. Be sure to check your email!
Sidetracks 411
Every Monday, first week of the month we also have an online magazine, Sidetracks-411 currently edited by Sarah Ramsey and Mary Schellenberg. This creative showcase was designed for the new 411 Sidetracked to highlight and celebrate the artistic talents of our follow honors students. Our goal is to foster appreciation for diverse artistic expressions within the University Honors Program.
They are always looking for news, creative work, and opinion pieces. Interested? Email mary.schellenberg@siu.edu or sarah.ramsey@siu.edu.
4-1-1 Archive
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Sidetracks 411 Archive
February 3, 2025
Mary and Sarah share why you should join Saluki Schoalrs in Action
Why you should join Saluki Scholars in Action
Volunteering at Parrish Elementary through Saluki Scholars in Action has been an incredibly rewarding experience. From the moment I stepped into the school, I was met with eager faces and boundless energy, reminding me of the joy and curiosity that make learning so special. Whether helping students with their homework, assisting with classroom activities with the teachers, or simply offering encouragement, I’ve been able to see firsthand how small moments of support can make a big difference in a child’s confidence and growth.
Building connections with the students is one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at Parrish Elementary. Watching them overcome challenges, celebrate their achievements, and develop a love for learning has been inspiring. It’s also given me a deeper appreciation for the dedication of teachers and staff who work tirelessly to create a positive and engaging environment for every student.
Of course, not every day was easy. Being that these are kindergartners and first graders, there were moments when emotions ran high, whether from students struggling with frustration or simply having a tough day. But those moments also became opportunities for growth—not just for the kids, but for me as well. Learning to navigate and support their fragile, budding emotions helped me develop patience, empathy, and confidence in my own ability to handle challenges. In many ways, the difficult days made the rewarding ones even more meaningful, reminding me of the impact a little understanding and encouragement can have.
This experience has reinforced my belief in the power of community involvement in education. Seeing the impact that even a few hours a week can have has motivated me to continue finding ways to support young learners. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Saluki Scholars in Action and look forward to continuing to contribute to such a wonderful school community during the remaining weeks of my senior semester.
- Sarah Ramsey
Not only was volunteering for Saluki Scholars in Action a great way to broaden my own personal outreach and community, but it benefited the school and students I volunteered for. During my time volunteering at Carbondale Middle School, I met with students who had completed their entire school day and had a few hours before their parents picked them up. This left them with the option to finish homework, get ahead on assignments, complete missing assignments, talk with their teachers, hang out with friends, or play.
As someone who hopes to teach at the high school or college level someday, I was excited to help these students with their homework – whether it be practicing for their spelling tests the next day or helping them craft responses for online work. Each time I walked into the school, many of the students were diligently working on homework and gladly accepted my knowledge as aid. Although true, some of my favorite memories from this volunteer experience were watching a young girl’s favorite Youtuber as she explained why she enjoyed him and listening to the kids explain their plans for after school.
Because I have no younger siblings and am rarely around younger audiences, it is easy for me to forget what their academic, after-school, extracurricular, and social lives are like. This volunteer opportunity places you right into the middle of their lives, and you can help students wherever they are at. A lot of times, I was just a friendly face they looked forward to seeing each week. Just like college students, exhausted by the monotony of public education, so were those kids! When I would appear every Thursday, I was adding a unique experience to their week and brightening their days.
Not only was this volunteer experience beneficial for the kids, as well as for me because of the kids, it was a great networking opportunity. For Honors Program students hoping to go into teaching, this provided a chance to get into the school district, meet students of the grade level you hope to teach, and network with teachers. I gained a lot of insight into how the school system worked and different pathways to become a teacher that I had not known before. This was because of personal conversations with teachers I volunteered alongside.
If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer, especially if you are interested in any career dealing with teaching, Saluki Scholars in Action is an amazing resource for you.
- Mary Schellenberg
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering in the local schools of Carbondale, IL for Saluki Scholars in Action, contact David Milley (milleydr@siu.edu).
October 7, 2024
November 4, 2024
Between the beautiful jewel tones in Tyler’s pieces and the autumn colors in Sarah's pictures, we already nostalgic for October. Check out the November issue:
Mary and I hope that this showcase will get the community excited for future showcases to come (possibly very soon!) Please enjoy what we have for you--and feel free to email either of us with any questions!
- Mary: mary.schellenberg@siu.edu or Sarah: sarah.ramsey@siu.edu
We will start with Tyler Elam’s submission, which quite frankly, took our breaths away. Everyone at the UHP offices was seriously considering making a wall of Honors student’s artwork after seeing Tyler’s work. Take a look for yourselves:
Concerto: Acrylic paint, colored pencils, white gel pen
Fish Lady: Acrylic paint and Gouache paint
Fish and Cat: Oil pastels and colored pencils
Mary Schellenberg wrote this next piece. Here’s the context:
As an English major, I read a lot of literature, and the Bible is one of the greatest pieces of literature because of its length and, especially, its cultural and religious impact - particularly its impact on literature. Many stories I've read include Biblical allusions, so it is a very important piece of literature to familiarize oneself with, especially in my field/major. This piece of creative writing came out of an assignment prompt that was to parody some of Thomas Hardy's poetry. Read more
Finally, these are some of my own (Sarah’s!) recent creative works.
The photos below were part of a series of Halloween pictures that my friend (in the picture) wanted because she is currently obsessed with the TV show Agatha All Along. I don’t know what that show is, other than it’s a Marvel property, but she told me that it’s about witches and mainly takes place in the woods so--to the woods we went! More here