Illinois College News

2023 Illinois College Alumni Association Awards recognize outstanding service

rosalind.essig — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:06:20 +0000

2023 Illinois College Alumni Association Awards recognize outstanding service rosalind.essig Fri, 05/12/2023 - 09:06

5.12.2023

The Illinois College Alumni Association Board of Directors recognized the recipients of their annual awards during the Illinois College Society Gala held on campus May 5.

The awards recognized six individuals for their dedication and outstanding service to the college, their local communities and the nation. The individuals honored were Heather Miller Thompson ’10, Brandon Reed ’07, John Drea ’80, Kevin Klein, Vicki Hood, and Kevin Petty ’89.

The Young Alumna and Young Alumnus Award recipients are nominated and selected for meritorious service to Illinois College, professional achievement, and service to community, state, nation, or humanitarian and charitable causes. Recipients are under the age of 40 at the time of selection.

Miller Thompson

Heather Miller Thompson ’10 received the Young Alumna Award. She is director of innovation at GROWMARK, where she drives strategic priorities within the organization. She also serves as the business liaison to GROWMARK’s venture capital fund, investing in early-stage startups in crop production, supply chain and sustainability.

In her spare time, Thompson serves as secretary of the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board and volunteers as a youth leader with Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomington. After she earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from Illinois College, she earned her master’s degree in strategic management from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Heather said it was an immense honor to have the opportunity to work with Illinois College Trustee Jim Spradlin ’82, who served as the CEO of GROWMARK before his retirement last year. She called him a mentor and champion of her career and expressed her gratitude for his support.

Heather has stayed involved at Illinois College, contributing to the development of the agribusiness management program as a member of the IC Agribusiness Advisory Council. She and her husband grow corn and soybeans near Colfax, Illinois, and have two children.

Reed

Brandon Reed ’07 was awarded the Young Alumnus Award. He is a partner and owner at Crowe LLP, a global accounting and technology firm. Brandon is a CPA and the managing partner for Crowe’s Springfield office location.

Reed earned his degree from Illinois College graduating with a double major in accounting and environmental biology. His student involvement included being a member of the Accounting Club, the IC Environmentalists, the Outdoor Adventure Club and Parker After Dark. He was an IC Connections Leader and a Class Agent.

Today, Reed stays connected to his alma mater by participating in Homecoming events, attending football and basketball games with his family, and connecting with students to provide career opportunities. Reed resides in Jacksonville with his wife, Kristen Prief Reed ’07, and two daughters.

Faculty Ambassador award recognizes a member of the Illinois College faculty who has made lasting connections in the alumni community, influencing students well beyond graduation. Two faculty members who each have made a positive impact on countless students during their long careers were recognized with the honor.

Drea

John Drea ’80 was a recipient of the Faculty Ambassador Award. He joined the faculty of his alma mater in 2014 and retires from IC in May as the Ruth Badger Pixley Professor of Social Sciences and a professor of business. He received his degree in English, business administration and economics from Illinois College in 1980, his MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 1982, and his doctorate degree in marketing from Southern Illinois University in 1994.

Drea spent 30 years of his career in public higher education, including 10 years as a department chair and Associate Dean of the College of Business and Technology at Western Illinois University. He is the author of 40 refereed journal articles and conference proceedings. He has led hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students on consulting projects with professional sports teams. John has been the recipient of innovation and teaching excellence awards. His recent work on innovative post-pandemic course delivery was published by Harvard Business Publishing. A native of Kincaid, Illinois, Drea has been married for 37 years to Brenda Mohrman Drea. They have two grown children and grandchildren.

Klein

Kevin Klein is a recipient of the Faculty Ambassador Award. Klein is a professor of economics and serves as the business department chair and the coordinator for online business majors. He joined the faculty at Illinois College in 1986 and has taught a variety of courses in business and economics. He earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in economics from Illinois State University, and his Doctorate of Arts in Economics Education from ISU.

Klein’s research interests include entrepreneurship and economics development. In 1999, he was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study alternative energy production in Germany. For the past six years, he has served on the board of directors for the Illinois Electric Cooperative, which was organized in 1936 to provide electric service to local rural areas.

Klein has traveled with IC students on BreakAway trips to places like Germany and Austria, and he has appeared alongside students in theatre productions. He is married to Jaime Klein, department chair and assistant professor of education at Illinois College, and they share two daughters, Brianna Klein ’16 and Kendi Klein.

Each year a Friend of the College is awarded. This is an individual who, though not a graduate, has supported Illinois College in important ways and displays the traits IC hopes to instill in its alumni.

Hood

Vicki Hood was the recipient of the 2023 Friend of the College Award. She is a retired partner of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, where she was head of the employee benefits practice group at the firm. Her work focused on the employee benefits aspects of complex restructuring cases, as well as business transactions and fiduciary issues.

Hood is a proud graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned her bachelor’s, Juris Doctor and MBA degrees. She served on the Northwestern Law Board and Kellogg Alumni Council, and continues to serve on Northwestern’s Council of 100 women graduates. Hood has been an active volunteer for several charitable organizations in Chicago, and currently serves on the board of Desert X, a biennial site-specific art installation in California’s Coachella Valley.

Hood’s commitment to Illinois College was a partnership with her late husband, Bill Hood ’66, who was a strong advocate for higher education. Bill credited IC with launching him into adulthood and allowing him to pursue two great passions — photography and journalism. Bill Hood came from very modest beginnings and was adamant that it is a duty and a privilege to give back to his community. The couple was married for over 50 years, and has two sons and four grandchildren. Vicki Hood currently divides her time between Palm Springs and Chicago.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes meritorious service to Illinois College and the recipient’s chosen profession, for contributions to the life of the mind; and for service to humanitarian and charitable causes.

Petty

Kevin Petty ’89 was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Petty is the CEO of Aeris LLC, a software engineering and scientific technical services company specializing in high-resolution numerical modeling of the atmosphere and the analysis of potential impacts to environmentally sensitive systems. His interests lie in the advancement of science and its application, science policy, corporate governance, fostering innovation, and increasing diversity in the sciences. Petty has a long history of working with members of the global weather, water, and climate enterprise, including government agencies, academia, and private-sector companies.

Petty graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary education from Illinois College and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in atmospheric science from The Ohio State University. Before joining Aeris, he served as senior vice president of weather and Earth intelligence at Spire, director of science and forecast operations at IBM, and chief science officer for Vaisala. He has also worked as a project scientist and scientific program manager with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and as an accident investigator and senior meteorologist for the National Transportation Safety Board.

An American Meteorological Society Fellow, Petty is regularly tapped for his insights and expertise. He has led and been a member of several advisory boards and has testified before Congress on the future of weather research in the United States. He has contributed to the World Meteorological Organization’s global initiatives on innovation and public-private partnerships.

Petty shared that his time at Illinois College was instrumental to establishing a solid foundation for his life and career. Today, he stays connected to his alma mater by reading the Quarterly magazine and following social media to learn about news happening at IC. He is encouraged to see how the College has evolved over the years and the growing number of people it has positively impacted.

To keep up with the latest news about Illinois College alumni, visit ic.edu/alumni.

Alumni

Celebration of Excellence highlights achievement in 2022-2023

rosalind.essig — Tue, 09 May 2023 16:32:14 +0000

Celebration of Excellence highlights achievement in 2022-2023 rosalind.essig Tue, 05/09/2023 - 11:32

5.09.2023

Illinois College recognized academic achievement during the eighth annual Celebration of Excellence on Friday, April 21. The daylong celebration allowed students and faculty to take part in activities that commend academic excellence, a hallmark of the college since its founding in 1829.

The Honors Convocation, the ceremonial portion of the day’s activities, was held in Sherman Gymnasium in Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center. Catharine O’Connell, provost and dean of the college, offered remarks on the subject of excellence, after which five major awards for academic excellence, service and teaching were awarded to Illinois College students and faculty. The student marshals for the 2023-2024 academic year were named, graduates slated for induction into Phi Beta Kappa were recognized, and the Julian Monson Sturtevant Campus Leadership Award winners were announced. The Harry Joy Dunbaugh Distinguished Professor Award and the Don P. Filson Faculty Award for Vision for the Future were also presented.

Brent Chandler, associate professor of chemistry, was presented the Harry Joy Dunbaugh Distinguished Professor Award during the convocation. This prize is considered the greatest honor bestowed upon an Illinois College faculty member. A student committee, with oversight from the dean of the college, selects the recipient each academic year. The selection process and identity of the winner is kept secret until the honors convocation.

Isabella Aguirre ’24 and Trenton Terry ’24 were chosen as student marshals for the next academic year. Marshals are chosen based on demonstrated academic excellence and campus leadership and will lead academic processionals held on campus throughout the year. This designation is considered one of the highest honors a member of the incoming senior class can receive.

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most distinguished honor society. One of only 11 colleges in the state to offer membership into this distinguished society, the Illinois College Epsilon chapter was founded by Charles Rammelkamp in 1931. Those inducted into Phi Beta Kappa were Nathan Ellis ’23, James Fletcher ’23, Suzanne Green ’23, Aurora Reyes Gutierrez ’23, Abbi Jett ’23, Justine Kennedy ’23, Joshua Knight ’23, Kendall McCalla ’23, Rachel Paule ’23, Cody Phillips ’23, Anna Schimpf ’23, Olivia Shimmin ’23, Willie Terry III ’24 and Allison Woosley ’23.

The Julian M. Sturtevant Campus Leadership and Service Award calls attention to a select group of students who demonstrate active campus service and leadership throughout their college careers. Those honored were Emily Bone ’23, Ana Cacho ’23, D’Ajahnae Croft ’23, Ar’Mand Erving ’23, Sydney Geyston ’23, Tyra Johnson ’23, Jayden Kasai ’23, Kendall McCalla ’23, Olivia McCullum ’23, Crystal Moreno ’23, Haley Nieuwkoop ’23, Saydey Shubert ’23, Brandi VanMatre ’23, Tre Wahlig ’23, AR Washington ’23, Allison Woosley ’23 and Madeline Wilkins ’23.

The Don P. Filson Faculty Award for Vision for the Future was awarded to Josiah Kunz ’12, assistant professor of physics. This honor is awarded to faculty members who see beyond the scope of the status quo to further develop or implement a vision which can move the college forward. This faculty award was established by 1970 Illinois College graduate Darlene Nelson ’70 in memory of Dr. Filson’s vision which was for Illinois College to have a computer science department.

Edward Capps Professor of Humanities, Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English Beth Widmaier Capo received the Enkyklios Award for exhibited excellence in the three areas the College considers in reviews: teaching, professional engagement and service. The award honors the rare ability of an individual to demonstrate excellence in all three areas within a single year. Recipients are nominated by faculty colleagues.

The Celebration of Excellence featured nearly 100 student presentations on recent research efforts and demonstrated excellence in the arts covering a wide range of the liberal arts curriculum throughout the day. For more photos taken throughout the day, visit the Illinois College Facebook page.

Student Achievements

Calmese, Marker inducted as new Illinois College trustees

rosalind.essig — Fri, 05 May 2023 22:55:53 +0000

Calmese, Marker inducted as new Illinois College trustees rosalind.essig Fri, 05/05/2023 - 17:55

5.05.2023

Joseph Calmese ’07, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Joanna Marker ’02, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were inducted at the winter meeting of the Illinois College Board of Trustees held on February 24-25, 2023.

“I am delighted to welcome two exceptional alumni to the Illinois College Board of Trustees,” Board Chair Steven R. Mills ’77 said. “Trustees Joseph Calmese and Joanna Marker bring a wealth of skills and abilities to our board in addition to a passion for serving their alma mater. I look forward to working with them to advance the mission and vision of the College.”

Calmese

Calmese is chief executive officer of ADDMAN Engineering. He began his career as an engineer and held leadership roles with several firms before joining ADDMAN as CEO. He has extensive leadership and professional experience in administration, business, long-range planning and engineering.

After graduating from Illinois College with a Bachelor of Science in physics, Calmese studied engineering in the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Manufacturing Engineering Dual Degree Program. In 2017, he earned an MBA from the Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School.

Calmese was elected to the Illinois College Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2021. He and his wife, Marilu Torres, have four children and are members of the Illinois College Society.

“Servant leadership has been a guiding principle in my 20-year commitment to the Illinois College community, a special family that has taught, nurtured, challenged and supported me in countless ways,” Calmese said. “Now, as a new member of the board of trustees, I am dedicated to championing this leadership principle and fostering an environment where students can develop their leadership potential. I am excited for the opportunity to serve the students of IC — past, present and future — to advance the mission of Illinois College and help shape the next generation of compassionate, innovative and effective leaders.”

Marker

Marker is lead principal for distribution performance at Northwestern Mutual, where she has held a number of roles over the course of a more than 20 year career. She is an experienced leader with experience in administration, business, human resources and sales and marketing.

Marker received her undergraduate degree in business and managerial economics from IC and earned an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2009. She holds designations from The American College of Financial Services as a chartered leadership fellow and chartered life underwriter.

Marker and her husband, Eric Dettmann, are members of the Illinois College Society.

“I am honored and thrilled to join this esteemed group of trustees as a new board member,” Marker said. “The work that the board does has generational impacts; the opportunity to support the ongoing sustainability of Illinois College in this way brings me great joy.”

For a complete listing of the Illinois College Board of Trustees, visit ic.edu/trustees.

Leadership

Illinois College celebrates 189th Commencement

rosalind.essig — Thu, 04 May 2023 15:49:45 +0000

Illinois College celebrates 189th Commencement rosalind.essig Thu, 05/04/2023 - 10:49

5.04.2023

Approximately 280 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to members of the Class of 2023. Commencement exercises are scheduled to take place in Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, May 14, Illinois College celebrates its 189th commencement. Approximately 280 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to members of the Class of 2023. Commencement exercises are scheduled to take place in the Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be available via livestream.

Collin White ’23 will speak during the ceremony as this year’s senior class representative. White majored in agribusiness management, with minors in economics and business administration. He successfully completed the IC Scholars Honors Program and was a member of the track and field and cross country teams, the debate and speech team, the investment club and IC Aggies, and served as president of the state organization, Illinois Professional Agriculture Students. He also worked as a peer mentor in the Office of Career Readiness and Experiential Learning and as an IC Ambassador. He has completed internships with Agrigold and Fornoff Fertilizer. After graduation and a global experience on a BreakAway trip to the country of Jordan, White will return to his family’s Mason County farm where he will continue the business alongside his parents.

During the commencement ceremony, Illinois College will recognize Trustee Bob Chipman ’74 with the degree Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa on the occasion of his retirement from the Board. Chipman is an active community member and native of Jacksonville, where he is the owner of Chipman Realtors and Appraisers. After graduating from IC, he completed the Realtors Institute (GRI) in 1987 and served as president of the Jacksonville Area Association of Realtors in 1991, 1996 and 2008.

Chipman is deeply committed to his community and has served on the boards of the Jacksonville YMCA, Passavant Area Hospital (now Jacksonville Memorial Hospital) and the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, which he led as board chair. He has held leadership roles as president of the Kiwanis Club, president and co-chair of Prairie Land United Way, and president of Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation.

In 2001, Chipman received Illinois College’s Distinguished Service Award. He served as an alumni trustee for five years before becoming a charter trustee in 2003. During his long tenure on the Board of Trustees, he has served as vice chair of the Board, chair of the Governance Committee, chair of the Presidential Search Committee in 2012, and chair of the Development Committee and Literary Society. Chipman currently serves as chair of the Capital Improvements Working Group and on the Executive Committee.

The College will host several additional events during commencement weekend. The Illinois College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s first and most distinguished academic honor society, will conduct installation ceremonies for new members at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, in Sibert Theatre in McGaw Fine Arts Center. The Nurse Pinning Ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 12, in Rammelkamp Chapel and will be available via livestream.

The popular Osage Orange Festival and Senior Celebration is scheduled from Saturday, May 13, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the lawn at the corner of Mound Road and Lincoln Avenue. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Entertainment will include live music by Backseat Radio, inflatables, face painting, games and fun activities for all ages. A variety of the area’s favorite food trucks, including Leo’s on Wheels, Twyford BBQ and Lazy Laker, will provide festive food and drink options, including beer and wine, for purchase.

The Baccalaureate Service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in Rammelkamp Chapel. The service will feature the IC music department, speakers and readings. Special events for graduates and their families will be held after the Baccalaureate and after Commencement that day.

For more information about commencement weekend or to RSVP for events, visit the 2023 commencement schedule.

Student Achievements

Students learn about how nature meets policy during service trip

rosalind.essig — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:59:51 +0000

Students learn about how nature meets policy during service trip rosalind.essig Fri, 04/21/2023 - 15:59

4.21.2023

Six students traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for Illinois College’s 2023 Alternative Spring Break focused on urban environmentalism and water conservation.

The College’s alternative spring break program is an approximately one-week trip that combines a commitment to service, the pursuit of an academic topic and an interest in engaging with the host community’s culture. This year’s trip was led by Ryan Flynn ’15, director of civic engagement and public service pathways, and Elora Agsten, research services librarian and assistant professor of library science.

“These trips provide students with an opportunity to learn about a new community, learn through service and get outside their comfort zones,” Flynn said. “We treat this as a transformational experience for students, giving them an opportunity to take learning outside the classroom and into the community.”

During the trip, students devoted volunteer hours with Cleveland Metro Parks and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes.

For the Cleveland Metro Parks, students engaged in the hard work of removing invasive grapevines growing in a local park. At Shaker Lakes, students helped start the construction on a new archery range – building a bench to support archery targets and the poles for netting that will be strung up behind the targets.

In addition to work on service projects, students learned about the rejuvenation of the Cuyahoga River and ongoing restoration projects, the city’s history, and the intersection of environmentalism and LGBTQ+ activism.

“This trip really helped me learn about how interconnected economic, political, and environmental issues are in policy making and advocacy,” Miranda Araujo ’25 shared. “Plus, it was so much fun getting to know everyone and discovering new places.”

Flynn and Agsten prepared students for the trip with weekly discussions on Cleveland history, especially environmental history. Discussion topics included pollution in Lake Erie, the fires on the Cuyahoga River, and how this helped provide momentum for a national environmental movement that would spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Earth Day and major federal legislation.

“The Cleveland Alternative Spring Break trip has been one of my favorite experiences at Illinois College so far,” Payton Radcliffe ’24 said. “We learned so much about the city and its history, as well as how the environment is impacted by things such as politics or the economy. I had so much fun making memories with such a great group of people.”

Funding from the Khalaf Al Habtoor Leadership Center endowment is used to offset the student cost for Illinois College’s annual Alternative Spring Break trip.

Visit ic.edu/activelearning to learn more about experiential learning at Illinois College and ic.edu/careerservices to learn more about the Center for Career Readiness and Experiential Learning.

In the World

IC to host discussion of African American history in central Illinois

rosalind.essig — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:31:02 +0000

IC to host discussion of African American history in central Illinois rosalind.essig Mon, 04/10/2023 - 10:31

4.10.2023

Illinois College will host Community Unity for Racial Equality: Reflections on the African American Experience in Central Illinois on April 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is being offered in collaboration with Grierson Days and is sponsored by the Grierson Society, the Jacksonville African American History Museum and IC’s Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science and Religion.

The event will include a panel discussion of the rich and fascinating African American history of central Illinois — a history that often goes untold.

Learn from the unique perspectives of a panel that includes a star athlete who went on to play for the NFL, a veteran of the US Marines who transforms his community through museums and historic sites, a widely recognized library director and performer, and a community activist and historian with stories to tell.

Kathryn Harris :: A leading historian of African American history in Illinois, Harris served for more than 25 years as the Library Services Director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Harris brings an extensive and impressive record of community engagement and activism, including one-woman performances of well-known African American women, such as Harriet Tubman.

Ruth Linear :: A Jacksonville resident and historian of African American history, Linear has engaged with schools, churches and the community. She says, “My life as a Black Historian began at a young age. Living the life of segregation but reaping the harvest of integration gives me much history to speak about.”

Creston Whitaker :: A graduate of Jacksonville High School, Whitaker has been considered the best all-around athlete in Jacksonville history. He received All State recognition in three sports — football, basketball and baseball. He went on to play basketball for Southern Illinois University, and then football at North Texas State. Both schools have inducted him into their hall of fame. As a professional athlete, he played for Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. Whitaker retired as a lieutenant with the Dallas Fire Department.

Art Wilson :: A graduate of Jacksonville High School, Wilson served for 11 years in the United States Marine Corps. He has extensive experience as a history researcher, lecturer and historian. He is the founding director of the Woodlawn Farm Underground Railroad site and the Jacksonville African American History Museum.

Learn more about history, philosophy, political science and religion at ic.edu/majors-programs.

On Campus

Alumni return to Sibert Theatre with touring performance April 13

rosalind.essig — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:15:06 +0000

Alumni return to Sibert Theatre with touring performance April 13 rosalind.essig Mon, 04/10/2023 - 11:15

4.10.2023

Drew Stroud ’16 will perform the one-man show Exhausted Paint: The Death of Van Gogh on April 13 at 7 p.m.

Also returning to the Hilltop is the show’s tour director, Carly Holmes Stroud ’13.

The performance explores the life of painter Vincent Van Gogh through a “chaotic one-act built around ideas of disorientation and struggle,” according to the show’s website.

The show is largely based on Van Gogh’s letters and was written by Justin Maxwell, an associate professor teaching playwriting in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of New Orleans. The original production of the show was directed by R’Myni Watson.

Drew and Carly studied theatre at Illinois College, where they met, and co-founded the Springfield-based improv troupe, Capital City Improv. They were both involved and held leadership roles in many theatre performances and activities, including the LSD improv troupe, which Carly founded.

Today, Drew is based in New Orleans, where he is an MFA candidate at the University of New Orleans. In addition to Exhausted Paint, some of Drew’s roles have included Richard III (Richard III), Mr. Blake (Mud, River, Stone), Azdak (The Caucasian Chalk Circle) and Paul (Barefoot in the Park).

Carly has directing credits that include Literary Cannon Fodder, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged], Good ‘n' Plenty and Bonnie & Clyde. She is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Learn more about the show at exhaustedpaint.com. Visit ic.edu/theatre to learn more about the theatre program at Illinois College.

On Campus

Fine Arts Series concludes with Boston-based winds and strings quartet

alexia.helmer — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:08:16 +0000

Fine Arts Series concludes with Boston-based winds and strings quartet alexia.helmer Fri, 03/24/2023 - 09:08

3.24.2023

Hub New Music will perform in Rammelkamp Chapel on Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Praised as “contemporary chamber trailblazers” (Boston Globe), Hub New Music is a “nimble quartet of winds and strings” (NPR) forging new paths in 21st-century repertoire. The ensemble’s ambitious commissioning projects and “appealing programs” (New Yorker) celebrate the rich diversity of today’s classical music landscape.

This Boston-based ensemble has commissioned dozens of new works and continues to usher in a fresh and culturally relevant body of work for its distinct combination of flute, clarinet, violin and cello. In their first-ever Fine Arts Series performance, Hub New Music will premiere a new work by Timothy Kramer, Illinois College professor emeritus.

Individual tickets for the Illinois College Fine Arts Series are $15 each. Students of all ages receive free admission. Tickets are available for purchase in advance by phone at 217.245.3192 or at the door on event day.

For more information about the Illinois College Fine Arts Series visit ic.edu/fas.

Arts

New York City-based string quartet to perform for Fine Arts Series

alexia.helmer — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:26:47 +0000

New York City-based string quartet to perform for Fine Arts Series alexia.helmer Thu, 03/16/2023 - 11:26

3.16.2023

Momenta Quartet will perform in Rammelkamp Chapel on Sunday, March 26, at 3 p.m.

Momenta: the plural of momentum. This is the idea behind Momenta Quartet, four individuals who are in motion towards a common goal. The ensemble’s eclectic vision encompasses contemporary music of all aesthetic backgrounds alongside great music from the recent and distant past.

This New York City-based string quartet has collaborated with more than 250 living composers and was praised by the New York Times for its “diligence, curiosity and excellence.” Momenta’s educational-performing circuit includes Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Hawaii, Michigan State, New York, and Washington Universities. This will be the ensemble’s first Illinois College Fine Arts Series performance.

For a complete listing of Fine Arts Series concerts visit ic.edu/fas.

Arts

Gifts expand scholarships for local students supported by Million estate

rosalind.essig — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:43:40 +0000

Gifts expand scholarships for local students supported by Million estate rosalind.essig Fri, 03/03/2023 - 10:43

3.03.2023

Additional gifts from the estate of the late Howard Million H’12 have advanced his generous support for educating students from his community.

Illinois College and The Jacksonville Promise each recently received $850,000 thanks to the generosity of the Million family. With this additional gift, the estate of Howard and Vera Million has provided $2.3 million in support for scholarships at Illinois College.

The endowed scholarship is awarded annually to students entering Illinois College from high school in Greene, Morgan, or Scott counties in Illinois. The following Illinois College students are 2022-2023 recipients of the Howard and Vera Million Endowed Scholarship: Justine Gaive Agsalda ’26, Haley DeGroot ’23, Megan Suttles ’24, and Elizabeth Weber ’23, all of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Promise is a donor-funded organization offering place-based scholarships to area students who plan to attend college in Jacksonville at Illinois College or Lincoln Land Community College. The organization’s mission is to provide the financial support necessary for all graduates to thrive. It aims to achieve improved academic performance in primary grades, increased college enrollment and college retention, and decreased truancy and juvenile crime among students in the region.

“The Jacksonville community has been forever strengthened by the Millions' vision to support area students to attend college and build a life in this region. I am grateful to Frank Cummings and the team from Brown, Hay + Stephens who invested their time to ensure these funds support students through scholarships,” said Stephanie Elpers Chipman, vice president for external relations at Illinois College and The Jacksonville Promise board member. “This endowed scholarship will help generations of students realize their dream of a college education, one it took Howard Million nearly a century to achieve.”

Million was a distinguished friend of Illinois College. Raised on a farm near Roodhouse, he had a successful career as a farmer and was the founder and president of the former Roodhouse Savings and Loan Association. Illinois College awarded Million an honorary bachelor of arts degree during the 2012 Commencement ceremony.

That same year, Million approached the College about helping ensure deserving students have the opportunity to attend Illinois College and receive the type of education he had not been afforded. Working closely with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Million established a gift through his estate to provide for the scholarship.

Estate gifts have long been a vital source of support throughout Illinois College’s nearly 200-year history. Planned gifts have funded scholarships and made it possible to establish impactful academic and co-curricular programs. They provide a meaningful legacy for the donors who leave a lasting impression on the lives of the students they support.

Giving