Six-time Olympic gold medalist and East St. Louis native Jackie Joyner-Kersee visited the Maryville campus to encourage at-risk youth to pursue their bachelor’s degrees. Joyner-Kersee toured campus alongside dozens of students who attend after-school and athletic programs at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Community Center in East St. Louis.
The event kicked off with an interactive learning styles inventory led by Maryville’s Life Coach team. After completing the assessment and identifying their strengths, the students put their knowledge to the test by creating origami flowers out of colorful paper.
The group then spent time with the Maryville wrestling team in the Dojo, learned about cyber security in the Cyber Fusion Center and explored Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker Hall, including stops in the exercise science lab and the nursing simulation lab. The day concluded with dinner in Gander Dining Hall featuring a Q&A session with Maryville admissions counselors.