Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

The East St. Louis Chapter Teens have a history of their own.

In 1981, Raymond Paradise was elected Teen President of the Central Region. From 1989 – 1990 John Collins, Jr. served as Regional Teen Treasurer. In 1991 Kevin Collins became Central Region Teen Treasurer and was elected Regional Teen Secretary in 1992. The East St. Louis Chapter Teens also won 1st place in the Skit Competition in 1992. In 1993 Sonya Springfield was elected Central Region Teen President, graduating senior, Alvin J. Jackson, Jr. was awarded the Carol Robertson Award, and the Chapter Teens received 2nd place in the Skit Competition. In 1994, Raymond Brickhouse, Jr. was elected Regional Teen Vice President, graduate Sonya D. Springfield was awarded the Carol Robertson Award, and the Chapter Teens received 3rd place in Skit Competition.

At the 1995 teen conference, hosted by our chapter, Wylan Peterson was awarded the Carol Robertson Award, Jason Solari received 1st place in the junior oratorical, Raymond Brickhouse received 2nd place in the senior oratorical, Christopher Jackson received 2nd place for Best Hobby, our chapter teens were awarded 1st place for per capita contribution to Foundation, 2nd place for largest contribution to Foundation, and 2nd place for Best Service Project.

At the 1999 teen conference, hosted by the St. Clair Chapter in Collinsville, Illinois, Portialyn Peterson was elected Regional Teen Secretary. At that conference, our teens placed 1st in Best Hobby and 3rd in the Scrapbook Competition.

At the 2001 Teen Conference, hosted by the Kansas City, Kansas Chapter, Lorran Lewis was elected Central Regional Teen Secretary.

At the 2003 Teen Conference, hosted by the Des Moines, Iowa Chapter, Lorran Lewis received the Carol Robertson Award.

At the 2005 Teen Conference, hosted by the Air Capital Wichita, KS Chapter, Ashley Carey placed 2nd in the Lillian Parks Oratorical Contest.

At the 2007 Teen Conference, hosted by the South Suburban Denver Chapter, the East St. Louis Teens received 1st place in the Banner competition and 2nd place in the Skit competition.

At the 2008 Teen Conference, hosted by the East St. Louis Chapter, Lauren Willis placed 2nd in the Writing competition, and Hadiya Harris placed 2nd in the Outstanding Student competition.

At the 2009 Combined Family Conference held in the Sheraton in St. Louis, Missouri, Paige Henry received 1st place in the Short Film and 2nd Place in the Hobby competitions.

At the 2010 Teen Conference, the East St. Louis teens again received the 1st Place Banner award.

At the 2012 Teen Conference, teen Jered Willis received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his community service hours.

At the 2013 Teen Conference, the East St. Louis teens placed 2nd in the Banner competition. ​

At the 2014 Teen Conference, the East St. Louis teens received the honors of the 1st Place Banner and 2nd Place T-shirts. Teen Lillian Parks-Goins received 2nd Place - Division 2 Lillian Parks Oratorical award and 3rd Place - Hobby award.

At the 2015 Teen Conference, the East St. Louis Chapter was again honored with awards and recognition. Following the conference, teen Brendon Bush was appointment Central Region Teen Sergeant-at-Arms.

At the 2016 Teen Conference held at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the East St. Louis Chapter teens brought home two 1st place Art Awards received by brothers Carlos Sanford, Jr. and Tyler Sanford among other awards. Carlos was also appointed Regional Teen Parliamentarian.

At 2017 Teen Conference held in Oklahoma City, the East St. Louis Chapter Teens won 1st place in the banner competition. They also won 2nd place in Teen Foundation total per capita contribution.

At the 2018 Teen Conference held in Des Moines, the East St. Louis Chapter Teens won 1st place in the Chapter Program Book competition, 2nd place Foundation Largest Loose Change Contribution, and 3rd place Foundation Largest Foundation Contribution per Capita. Teen Myles McGee was awarded 1st place in the Division III Aleksandr Pushkin Writing competition and 2nd place in the Division III Best in Hobby competition.

At the 2019 Teen Conference held in Peoria, Il., the East St. Louis Chapter won 1st place Chapter Foundation Award – Largest Contribution per Capita and 1st place Highest Percentage Attendance.

In 2020 at the Teen Leadership Conference held virtually, the East St. Louis Chapter won 1st Place for Highest Percentage Attendance, 1st Place for the Chapter Service Project “Let’s Read”, 1st Place Largest Foundation Contribution per Capita. Individual awards were achieved for our teens including 1st Place Photography for April Johnson, Best in Class Outstanding Freshman Teen for Myles McGee, 3rd Place in the Dr. Lillian A. Parks Oratorical contest for Gunnell Jones, and Distinguished Division 2 Male Athlete for Jeremiah Hardnett. Teen President Myles McGee was elected the 2020-2021 Central Region Teen Nominating Chair.

At the 2021 Hybrid Teen Conference, the East St. Louis Chapter won for Highest Percentage Attendance. Teen Gunnell Jones was a Finalist for the Dr. Lillian A. Parks Oratorical Division 1 (Ages 16-19) Teen Myles McGee served as the Central Region Teen Nominating Chair and 1st Place Best in Hobby Division 11 (9th and 10th grade). Teen Kameron Dixon received Excellence for Outstanding Male Athlete Division 11 and after the conference, was appointed the Regional Teen Sergeant-at-Arms. Graduating Senior Harrison Brooks received Excellence for Best in Class. Teen Gunnette Jones was recognized for her Participation in the Legislative Chair category.

The East St. Louis Chapter hosted the Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated Central Region 2022 Regional Teen Conference. We were excited about this opportunity and coordinated our conference planning committee to work with our regional representatives in selecting a venue, organizing vendor information, and ensuring a regional conference to remember.