Student Union

Getting to know you: Katie Pavelko

eewest2 — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:46:10 +0000

Getting to know you: Katie Pavelko eewest2 Wed, 08/13/2025 - 13:46

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation

hbruc3 — Wed, 14 May 2025 01:20:13 +0000

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation hbruc3 Tue, 05/13/2025 - 20:20

Updated Student Union Hours

hbruc3 — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:38:11 +0000

Updated Student Union Hours hbruc3 Thu, 01/02/2025 - 09:38

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement

hbruc3 — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:12:30 +0000

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement hbruc3 Mon, 12/16/2024 - 12:12

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration

hbruc3 — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:47:08 +0000

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration hbruc3 Tue, 12/03/2024 - 09:47

Faculty and staff are cordially invited to our Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration!

3 to 5 p.m.
Monday, December 9
Student Union Pre-Function Area

Come celebrate and extend your well wishes to our summer and fall graduates! There will be refreshments, a UIS swag raffle and opportunities to connect with alumni, the Career Development Center and International Student Services.

When

Mon, Dec 9 2024, 3 - 5pm

Location

Student Union Pre-Function Area

Event Type

Employee

Faculty

Department

Alumni Relations

Student Affairs

Student Union

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

ahall53 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:36:32 +0000

Summer and December Graduate Celebration ahall53 Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:36

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

You are cordially invited to the Summer and December Graduate Celebration at the Student Union on December 9th from 3-5 p.m.

Join UIS Alumni, UIS Student Affairs, UIS Bookstore, Career Development Center, International Student Services and the Student Union in celebrating students who have graduated in summer 2024 and who will be graduating December 2024.

There will be refreshments, a photo booth, pictures with Orion and raffles for UIS Diploma Frames and UIS Alumni Shirts and UIS Alumni Magnets from the UIS Bookstore.

When

Mon, Dec 9 2024, 3 - 5pm

Location

Student Union

Event Type

Student

Department

Student Union

Student Artwork

khobb2 — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:10:22 +0000

Student Artwork khobb2 Thu, 08/08/2024 - 09:10

Student Artwork Submissions

Please fill out our Student Artwork submission form to display your artwork in the Student Union!

Student Spotlight

Jae Scott

Kurosawa
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

I was inspired by my appreciation for old films from the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.

An Imperfect Star
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

At the time of looking for inspiration, I went outside and saw a shooting star after a while. I began to think of the connection between humans and the bright meteor. And how we give meaning to shooting stars to grant wishes. To me, the star is not perfect but tries its best to shine elegantly. And we are able to achieve our greatest wishes and dreams if we put the effort to shine our best in life.

Love/work: Locked in
(2023)

This piece was inspired off of my desire to grow and get better at my career through the university; it features a variety of my in-class notes that I took throughout my 5 years here and surrounds an eye figure constructed with painted rice that represents my growth and intent to stay focused to achieve my goals.

Ashley Martinez Alvarez

Synchronicity
(2023)

The name of my piece is "Synchronicity." It was created this year in April. Synchronicity was painted with Acrylic paint on a round piece of wood. I also used flat-back gems on the piece. When I first thought of this piece, it was last year, 2022. This is a similar version of my other work named "The Reunion."... I gave this piece its own name because it is still a unique piece. My art greatly reflects what I go through in my life. This piece, along with my other piece, "The Reunion," reflects my journey in finding and healing my inner child. This piece speaks explicitly about the meeting between the older and younger versions of oneself.
The setting in this painting is a magical land, one that is hard to access. At the bottom, there is a pond. In this pond, there are two figures. Each of the figures has strings; each of the strings is either painted or made with gems. The small figure on the left is a child, the younger and hurt version on the right. The figure on the right, a much older version, knows who and what that younger version has gone through, so it places its hand upon the head of the kneeling child. Upon this, the strings appear. They reflect the divine timing and the healing process of both figures.
"Synchronicity" is the moment before my next piece, "The Reunion." What I want my audience to understand is as we grow older, we often forget we were once children with hopes and dreams. Although those dreams and hopes have changed, they will always be a smaller, younger version of us to thank. One that keeps us going. The younger version of ourselves might be hurt, but without them, we wouldn't be where we are today.

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You
16 x 20 in.
Acrylic on Canvas

The work describes the story behind two newly born souls. The moment they sensed each other's soul, they knew they wanted to spend every life they could together. They became eternal soulmates.

Hasani Cannon

Lukasa (Memory Board)
(2022)

The piece is an abstract self-portrait in the shape of a Lukasa or a memory board, using recycled material as mnemonic devices for a particular point in the artist's history.

Oba
(2022)

Oba means "ruler" in the Yoruba and Bini languages of West Africa. The piece depicts an Oba surrounded by trash and discarded material in the shape of a pillar.

Savannah Saltsgaver

Hats Off to Lincoln
20 x 24 inches
(2023)
Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

This work was created for and won 3rd place for the Capital City Visitor Cover Art Contest in Springfield, IL in 2023. Featured in this work is Abraham Lincoln tipping his hat to the signature staples of Springfield, �山�� such as our white-tailed deer, cardinals, and Lincoln's house.

Hydrangeas
20 x 24 inches
(2021)
Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media

This piece was created by piping an acrylic paint paste onto a canvas to create a large Hydrangea on a two-dimensional surface, as if it was cut rectangular out from a huge bush and hung on a wall.

Oluwatobi Akinroluko

IRORA
(2022)

This piece was an exploration of Nigerian Mythology referencing Greek Mythology, Irora means pain in the Yoruba language and this work seeks to understand and connect the significance of pain in human existence.

The Sitting Man
(2021)

This piece was the catalyst to embracing and seriously expressing my skill as an artist. This work acts as a point of reflection towards my identity in general. I had an urge to create something more presentable between semesters at school especially after meeting someone who shared my culture and who I consider a big art advocate in the Minneapolis art scene. I credit him as my muse for this piece.

If anyone wants to see more of my work, I have an art page on Instagram @madebytobs

Samy Iverson

Watching the Blue Angels
(2021)

Lake Springfield Island
(2021)

Samy was a UIS student who passed away in July of 2023. He was the heart of campus and was loved by all. He viewed his decision to come to UIS as “the best choice he’s ever made.” Samy loved to photograph wherever he lived - these two photos represent how he viewed Springfield.

Student Union Winter Break Hours

hbruc3 — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:07:01 +0000

Student Union Winter Break Hours hbruc3 Mon, 12/18/2023 - 10:07

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm

bwood8 — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:06:15 +0000

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm bwood8 Wed, 07/05/2023 - 14:06

Reserve A Space

khobb2 — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:10:36 +0000

Reserve A Space khobb2 Thu, 09/01/2022 - 10:10

Reserve a Space

To book your event at the UIS Student Union, simply follow these steps:

Contact the Student Union to check the availability of the room for the date and time you need.

You can reserve a room in the following ways:

Start your reservation online at UISConnection (RSO’s) or
University Department reservation form
Call the administrative office at (217) 206 8611 (public event requests)
Explore further information about catering

For guidelines about events, please see our Student Union Manual (pdf).

For event planning in the Student Union, please see our Union Event Check List (pdf).

Student Union

Getting to know you: Katie Pavelko

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation

Updated Student Union Hours

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

Student Artwork

Student Artwork Submissions

Student Spotlight

Jae Scott

Kurosawa(2023)Acrylic Paint

An Imperfect Star(2023)Acrylic Paint

Love/work: Locked in(2023)

Ashley Martinez Alvarez

Synchronicity(2023)

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You16 x 20 in.Acrylic on Canvas

Hasani Cannon

Lukasa (Memory Board)(2022)

Oba(2022)

Savannah Saltsgaver

Hats Off to Lincoln20 x 24 inches(2023)Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

Hydrangeas20 x 24 inches(2021)Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media

Oluwatobi Akinroluko

IRORA(2022)

The Sitting Man(2021)

Samy Iverson

Watching the Blue Angels(2021)

Lake Springfield Island(2021)

Student Union Winter Break Hours

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm

Reserve A Space

Reserve a Space

Kurosawa
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

An Imperfect Star
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

Love/work: Locked in
(2023)

Synchronicity
(2023)

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You
16 x 20 in.
Acrylic on Canvas

Lukasa (Memory Board)
(2022)

Oba
(2022)

Hats Off to Lincoln
20 x 24 inches
(2023)
Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

Hydrangeas
20 x 24 inches
(2021)
Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media

IRORA
(2022)

The Sitting Man
(2021)

Watching the Blue Angels
(2021)

Lake Springfield Island
(2021)