Notable

Cynthia H. Sims, assistant professor in the workforce education and development department, part of the College of Education and Human Services, is the recipient of a $4,000 State Farm Faculty Fellowship. The Illinois Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities committed to increasing campus-wide participation in community and public service, administers the fellowships. Sims will use the money to fund a program she started called, "Enhancing Minority Students' College and Career Preparation." Starting in June, Sims will team up five of her graduate students with 10 minority students from Carbondale Community High School. The high school students will also go on field trips to visit historically black colleges and institutions with significant Hispanic enrollments. In addition, the group will perform service projects in Southern Illinois.

David A. Kidd, a producer at WSIU Public Television, has been named Public Citizen of the Year by the Southern Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The group cited Kidd for his exemplary contributions to communities and the social work profession in the area, especially his work on behalf of seniors. Kidd developed long-term relationships with regional social service agencies, including the Quad Counties Coalition, which consists of various social service agencies in four Southern Illinois counties. The social workers association cited collaborative efforts including WSIU InFocus segments and a live call-in program on Medicare Part D, among other works produced by Kidd. It also mentioned programs about Alzheimer's disease, child protection and various programs on social and medical services in the region.