East-West University - Chicago

Our "very own" graduating seniors, Malissa Lewis and Demonta Rice joined more than 17 other Chicagoland college and university students in a student-focused meeting with Chicago Mayor's Office Mayor Brandon Johnson on February 29, 2024. What a better way to end a month of celebration then by our students representing our Black student population with their voices being heard in a conversation on black student resources and equality. Ms. Malissa Lewis (Bachelors of Science, Business, '24) kicked off the discussion by sharing her experience as a black student at East West University and how she is able to bring her success from being a student back to her neighborhood and out to the uttermost parts of the world! So very proud of you both, Malissa Lewis and Demonta Rice!

Topic of discussion: What do you as a black student wish you had when transitioning from high school into college? The discussion and testimonies of the participants provided a great talk- now, let's start to see the implementation and application of these brilliant ideas and very much needed resources!

(our students were accompanied by CSA Director and Academic Advisor, Theresa Valdes)

East-West University's Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam featured on TV in Ghana thanks to our champion JoJo Awinongya!

Ghana TV, JoJo Awinongya Wins East-West University Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam

East–West University Happy International Women's Day!!! 🥳🥰😁

Are you ready for East-West University's SP-24 quarter Open House? Bring your family and friends tomorrow and experience all that we have to offer!

Real Estate Investor Nick Hansen handing the $500 award money to JoJo after he won the Story Slam! Hansen donated the award money to the event. Photo: Vernon Hester

JoJo Joseph Awinongya winner of the 2024 Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam! Dr. Hillmann has watched JoJo grow up to become one of the winnings boxers in USA Boxing history as a Junior. JoJo is only 16 years old and has already graduated high school and earned an Associates Degree and is now working on his bachelors at University of Saint Francis. Photo: Vernon Hester

Dr. Hillmann and his nephew Ezekiel Collins who represented Lewis University at the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam his story was about a wild night out during a study abroad program in Japan! Photo: Vernon Hester

Dr. Hillmann having a ball hosting the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam! Photo: Vernon Hester

Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam 2024!

Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam

Shoaib Vahora, known around campus as Sho, is East-West University's reigning Story Slam Champion and representative in tomorrow's Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam. He said some remarkably wise things after winning the championship last quarter. "I think this championship belt is everyone's. Winning is not important, everyone getting up and being themselves that's actually winning. Everyone told great stories and so everyone won." Sho's life is like a Netflix Series, he is from India and due to his high fashion sense, he often comes into difficult situations with people who expect him to conform to old fashion ideas of gender. Sho always greets these situations with a positive spirit and a great sense of humor. He's one of East-West's prized students and we are so grateful to have him and can't wait to see what happens in the next episode of "Sho" the Netflix Series.

Representing Elmhurst University in the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam is Alyssa DiVarco, she is a Theatre and English Major at Elmhurst and president of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. Her story is about a massive trauma she experienced as a teenager and her journey to recovery.

Meet our Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam competitor Ollie van den Heuvel representing Columbia College Chicago. They are a Stage Management and Creative Writing double major from Singapore and various other places. Ollie has many interests and was quoted on the Columbia website as saying “I love music and painting almost as much as theatre and writing, so I've been trying to spread a little bit of positivity as well as awareness through my and others' art.” We can't wait to hear their story this Wednesday!

Hillmann Way to go, . Hillmann! -West University - Chicago is so much better because we have you as one of our "very own!" This segment also features East-West Story Slam Champion Shoaib Vahora aka Sho, and Story Slam Co-host and star basketball player Jabriel Johnson aka "Charles Barkley Jr." Both East-West students did wonderfully! Interested in learning more about the intercollegiate story slam? Email Dr. Bill Hillmann at [email protected] today!

How the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam came to be Bill Hillman, Assistant Professor at East-West University, joins Rick Kogan to talk about the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam (Personal Narrative Speech), on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the SLC A…

Ezekiel Collins is a finalist in the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam. He is representing Lewis University. Ezekiel is a licensed pilot with a lot of experience flying utilizing Lewis University's Airport and flying school. Ezekiel's story is about his passion for all things Japanese which led to him traveling to Japan where he studied abroad for a whole year, there he turned into a minor celebrity in the colorful nightlife scene and had various wild adventures, he will tell the story of one of those wild nights out in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam Finalist Joseph "Jo Jo" Awinongya Jr. is a freshman at the University of Saint Francis, he is a Joliet native and graduated high school early in order to pursue his college degree. Jo Jo is also one of the winningest boxers in USA Boxing history having won an astonishing 20 National Championships in the Olympic style boxing system. He is a front runner to make the 2028 USA Olympic Boxing Team. Jo Jo is also an inspirational speaker and has already earned admission to Harvard for his graduate studies. Here's a Chicago Sun Times article about him which was featured on the cover of the newspaper. Come see Jo Jo at East-West University March 6th at 2pm for the Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/8/21/23759717/champion-boxer-joseph-jo-jo-awinongya-jr-forges-his-own-path-as-he-starts-college-at-16

The Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam Championship Belt has arrived! Championships take place at East-West University March 6th 2pm. There's still open slots for competitors if you are a college student in Chicagoland you can compete write [email protected] ASAP!

You're Invited! East-West University Open House!

Bring Your Family, Bring Your Friends! Saturday, March 9, 2024!

Pleased to Announce The Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam with a $500 Cash Prize! It takes place next Wednesday at East-West University. We still have a few slots open so if you want to represent your school, contact Dr. Bill Hillmann immediately!

Calling All International Students! You're Invited!!! 🙂 RSVP now at: [email protected]

Would you like to study at one of the best universities in the country?
Do you want to get to know our academic offer, our facilities and our student environment up close? Are you interested in learning more about the scholarships, credits and opportunities that our institution offers you?

If your answer is yes, then don't miss the event we have prepared for you. The Open House is a special invitation for new students who want to be part of our university community.
At this event you will be able to:

• Visit our campus and tour our laboratories, libraries, study rooms, auditoriums and sports areas.

• Talk to our professors, students and graduates, and solve all your doubts about the programs, the study plans, the schedules, the internships and the extracurricular activities.

The Open House will take place on Saturday, March 9th from 10 am - 2 pm, at our main campus located at 829 s. Wabash ave, Chicago, Illinois.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to see first-hand everything that our university has to offer you. Don't miss it!

SP-24 Quarter Registration Fair! Going on TODAY! Make sure you stop in the Library to get your classes locked in! 🤩🥳🥰

Hello East-West University Fam!!!

Please see the friendly reminder below regarding items around campus for next week. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!🤓😁

The Chicagoland Intercollegiate Story Slam
(Personal Narrative Speech) Competition!
Wednesday March 6th, 2:00pm

East-West University
829 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60650
SLC Auditorium, 4th Floor

Open to all College Students in Chicagoland, (one representative per College/University)

What is it?

A story is a narrative with a beginning, middle and end also known as a story arc. It often has some type of a moral but doesn’t have to.
 The Moth (https://themoth.org/radio-hour) and Snap Judgement (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment) are a couple
NPR shows that have these kinds of stories. If you are confused about what storytelling is, just go to their websites and listen.
 Sometimes TED Talks are personal narratives (often they are inspirational narratives). These will also work as long as they are not an
informative lecture type talk (lecture type of talks won’t work for this).
Rules:
 Strict 5 minute limit, no notes, no props, no videos, must be told from memory
 Must be a true personal narrative: no fiction, no poetry, no spoken word, no standup comedy, you have to be the main character in the story.
This can be a silly story, a funny story, or something very serious and heart breaking. It can be surprising, it can be simple or very complex,
and it can be pretty much any story.
This needs to be a Personal Narrative. If you are a professor and want more information or an individual student who wants to represent your school,
just write me at [email protected] . Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

😊 Please see the below announcement regarding next week's Registration Fair. Be ready to complete your SP-24 quarter schedule in one shot. Time to get SPRUNG!!! 😊

DID YOU KNOW??? East-West University is considered one of the MSIs (Minority Serving Institutions) in and around the Chicago area!!! If you are a current student at , check out some great internship opportunities coming up soon (deadline is 2/15/24)! https://orise.orau.gov/MEISPP/msi-list.html 🤩

Hey There, East-West University Fam! Have you checked out our recently launched website redesign? Check it out today! SO much great information and lots of resources for you to take advantage of! Go to today!

And the winner is….

CIS

The Battle of the Majors trophy remains in the Computer Information Science Department! Way to go to all our students , faculty and staff!!!