Summer in the City! 

Join us for our term starting July 9th. Enrollment is open for all five our programs. Flexible schedules, real-world experiences, and faculty & staff that are invested in student experiences. 

Contact us today to learn more!

There’s something about summer that brings out the patriotism in Americans. Perhaps it’s that the season celebrates several holidays that pay tribute the heroes who serve our country. Or maybe it’s those quintessential American pastimes like catching a baseball game or enjoying a float trip on one of the beautiful rivers that remind us why it’s so great to live in the U.S.A.

For us at Siba, it’s a time to reflect on the price veterans, first responders, and their families pay to keep us safe and protect our patriotic pastimes. We know that it’s impossible to match the sacrifice they’ve made, but we aim to show our appreciation in small ways. 

We waive all fees for veterans and first responders. That means no application fees and no textbook/resource fees. We also waive the deposit requirement. All that’s needed when you apply is confirmation of this service – a military ID or something similar works. That same waiver also applies to the families – spouses and children – of military service members and first responders.

Siba is also authorized by the Education & Training arm of the VA to offer the following benefits to qualifying heroes:

• -ACE (American Council on Education) credits-ACE collaborates with the Department of Defense to review military training and experiences in order to recommend appropriate college credit.
• -MyCAA financial assistance for spouses-This program is for Military Spouses and provides monies for financial assistance for military spouses pursuing an Associate’s degree.
• -Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
• -Montgomery GI Bill benefits-This bill is available for those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces and enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months; and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation.
• -Military Tuition Assistance-The VA pays this benefit equal to the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount of Tuition Assistance that is paid by the military for the course.

We at Siba consider it a privilege to serve our military members and first responders – in the summer and every other season. Thank you!

A long-time member of our Siba family is making a big change at the end of the spring 2018 quarter. Emily Huey, Siba’s Career Services Director and Retail Management/Fashion Merchandising faculty member, will be giving up her full-time position to pursue a retail enterprise of her own.

Mrs. Huey’s career at the college began in 1995 when Siba was known as Patricia Stevens College (our name changed in 2010). Not long after graduating from grad school, “I looked in the phone book (that’s how many years ago it was) for colleges and universities that offered Fashion Merchandising programs, prepared my cover letter & resume, put on my best suit, and went to Patricia Stevens College and asked to speak to the hiring manager about a position. I got an interview on the spot.” After getting her foot in the door at the college and working as an Admissions Rep and Field Recruiter for a couple of years, Emily pursued an opportunity with the Missouri Athletic Club as their Retail Operations Manager. While there, she enhanced and expanded her experience in retail buying, merchandising, product development, and inventory control. But while she was gone, she had not been forgotten….

When Cindy Musterman took over the office of college president in 1999, one of her first missions was to get Emily back to the college…and this time as a faculty member. Thankfully for her colleagues and hundreds of students, Emily accepted the offer and has been an exceptional mentor, educator and administrator ever since.

The fearlessness to take a chance on the unknown is a lesson Emily has passed on to her students over the years, “I tell this story to our Career Orientation students because I want them to have the courage to go get what they want!”

In her current role as Career Services Director, Emily has worked to help students polish their interview skills, edit their resumes, facilitate meetings between students and potential employers, and identify internship/externship opportunities. She has also been primarily responsible for organizing and hosting Siba’s annual Career Seminar where panels of alumni and employers come together to advise and mentor current students on industry trends and tips for getting hired.

Emily’s efforts have helped students connect with outstanding employment opportunities both before and after graduation, yet she humbly credits those successes back to the students who “worked really hard to network, and put themselves out there!”

In addition to her work in Career Services, Emily has never lost her passion for the retail field. Through her leadership at Fashion Group International St. Louis (FGI), Emily gave her students a wealth of educational and networking opportunities. Her connections in the fashion world opened doors so that students could gain invaluable experience working behind the scenes at fashion shows in St. Louis and beyond, including New York Fashion Week.

Next up for Emily: she’s joined Source Retail Consulting to provide merchandise planning, peace of mind, and work-life balance to independent retail clients. After spending the summer growing her business and enjoying time with her husband and two daughters, we hope to see Emily again: “I will always be there for my Siba family, students & alumni and I want to stay connected. I would enjoy coming back to teach some of my favorite classes!” And of course, she will always be welcome to return.

Join us for the 5th Annual Siba Scholarship Fund Trivia Night. Complete in ten rounds of general knowledge trivia with cash prizes for the 1st place team! ALL proceeds from the event benefit deserving student at Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts. 

$200 for tables of 8, OR $25 for individual tickets.**Special rates for students and alumni!** 

Doors open at 6pm, with questions starting at 7pm. 

Location: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local One
5850 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Your ticket includes soda, water, and popcorn. Feel free to bring your own food and beverages.Fantastic silent auction items up for bid, wine pull, and 50/50 raffle in between rounds.

It’s finally starting to warm up in St. Louis, and with summer fast approaching, Schlafly is launching a tropical-inspired beer. The aptly-named special release, “Coconut Creme Ale,” is fermented with coconut puree and aged on toasted coconut flakes. To help promote their new offering, Schalfly reached out to Siba’s Graphic Design Department for animation ideas that would be as unique as their product.

As the Winter term was coming to an end, Graphic Design students had a very small window of time in which to develop their ideas. Teams worked together to develop their concepts—ten storyboards were pared down to three final projects that were eventually presented to Schlafly Senior Graphic Designer, Sarah Frost.

Second year student Elizabeth Welker devised the watercolor theme of her team’s proposal: “The coconut crème flavor of the beer inspired the beachy theme…at the time it was cold so I was dreaming of warmer weather. I personally love watercolors and the look of them.” The concept won 1^st place among the three Siba teams that presented ideas.

The 2^nd place team also went the “beachy route.” Their animated concept featured a man stranded on an island. Luckily for him, one of the palm trees has a tap for Schalfly’s Coconut Creme Ale. The storyboard ends with a tropical-inspired version of the arch.

The third team presented a tropical version of the Rube Goldberg Machine. A nearby island had the pineapples which are necessary to create the beer, so “carrier toucan birds” bring the pineapples over and drop them into the Rube Goldberg Machine. The coconuts and pineapples roll through the machine and…Voila!...the beer is made. The end result makes the Tiki People very happy!

The project was a fun and inspiring real-life assignment that challenged students to work effectively on teams and present their completed ideas to a leader in the industry. According to Welker, it was all the more challenging due to the tight deadline in which they had to turn it around. “Working in a group was great! Brady, Lukas and I were very busy (completing other assignments) during the whole process but we made time for this important opportunity.”

Students on the “winning team” received a $100 Visa card & 2 cases of Schlafly Coconut Creme Ale. All of the students were able to expand their portfolios and refine their presentation skills, however, which can certainly pay off with future work opportunities. Siba staff, faculty and fellow students continue to be very impressed by the artistry and creativity of these emerging graphic designers!