EMPOWERMENT
M I L L I K I N M A G A Z I N E // V O L . X X X V I // F A L L 2 0 2 1
FALL 2021 // VOL. XXXVI, NO. 2
MILLIKIN MAGAZINE 2 4 6 10 14 16 18 20 22 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE PRESIDENTIAL WELCOME TOUR MILLIKIN NEWS THINGS WE LOVE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT DARRAH RAMOS MILLIKIN HOMECOMING ALUMNI AWARDS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WOMEN IN ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT PAT KINAS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT JEFF GEARY MILLIKIN ATHLETICS ALL-AMERICANS COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES ELEXIS RICHARDSON COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS STARK WINTER COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES GRETCHEN GOULD TABOR SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BRANDON & MEGAN LOCKHART ALUMNI LEGACY MEG & OLIVIA MARQUARDT
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UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: DR. JAMES M. REYNOLDS VICE PRESIDENT FOR ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT: GINA BIANCHI, CLASS OF 1993 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT & MARKETING: SARAH SHUPENUS VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & BUSINESS AFFAIRS: RUBY JAMES VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS: RAPHAELLA PRANGE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: DR. CRAIG WHITE CHIEF OF STAFF/BOARD SECRETARY: MARILYN DAVIS, B.S. CLASS OF 2000 & MBA CLASS OF 2011 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: KYLEE RONEY DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS & PUBLICATIONS: DANE LISSER ART DIRECTOR: MICHAEL RAUCH UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER: RICHARD NDEMBE SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: CARLY CONWAY, CLASS OF 2016 UNIVERSITY WRITER: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013 COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: JEREMY COULTER, CLASS OF 2000 COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: SYDNEY MCREYNOLDS, CLASS OF 2019 CONTRIBUTORS: ROBERT BERGLAND, CLASS OF 1990; ALYSE KNUST; KAELA WILLIAMS
It is the policy of Millikin University to afford equal opportunity for all persons without distinction or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or age. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the University. Millikin Magazine (ISSN 8750-7706) (USPS 0735-570) is produced by the Millikin University Marketing & Media Relations Office.
Millikin-University
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©2021 Millikin University.
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WRITTEN BY: PRESIDENT JIM REYNOLDS
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Dr. James M. Reynolds
Dear Millikin alumni and friends: For many of us who have been educators for the entirety of our professional lives, our internal calendars have different annotations. Typical holidays generally come at the close of one academic session or at the beginning of the next, and New Year’s Eve is always on a Sunday night in August. Each fall, we welcome back our returning students along with a new group of students, our next academic generation, with their hopes and dreams for a better life because of what we do here. I’m incredibly proud of the work that our staff and faculty continue to accomplish to help our students to make the best of a much different experience than they might have expected. Our response to the continued surge of the pandemic has been successful and we have few cases of the virus reported on campus. Our testing program with the University of Illinois continues to be a vital part of our ability to keep our classes in person and to have a more normal slate of events and performances on campus. Every day, it’s inspiring to me to watch as our students adhere to our public health guidelines while still creating their best lives on campus. Despite the setback with the Delta variant during the summer months, our campus is alive with high quality activities and experiences, including a full schedule of athletic and performing arts events.
President, Millikin University
Because of our experience with the pandemic and understanding the relative risks, Sue and I have been able to begin our “Welcome Tour” visiting alumni across the country, albeit 16 months delayed. This fall, we were part of several events in Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Nashville where we had terrific conversations with alumni and Millikin friends. Our plan for the spring includes trips to Texas (week of January 17), Florida (week of February 7), California (week of March 21) and Arizona (week of April 18) among others. I hope that if you're from one of these areas, you will find time in your busy schedules to come out to one of our events and spend time with Sue and me.
“I’m incredibly
proud of the work that our staff and faculty continue to accomplish to help our students to make the best of a much different experience than they might have expected.”
As alumni and friends of Millikin, your support and your contributions of your time, talents and treasures make all of this possible for our students and I want you to know how grateful we are to be able to provide a campus environment that is still the same today as when you were members of our community. Let me close by asking for your continued support of our mission and purpose. Just like many small colleges and universities across the country, we are facing some significant challenges. We need the generosity of all of our alumni and friends to weather the storm that is changing the landscape of American higher education. We could use your help to continue to provide each of our students the opportunity to be part of our beloved community. With great respect for you all,
Jim Reynolds, President
— President Jim Reynolds
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PRESIDENTIAL TOUR
PRESIDENTIAL TOUR
PRESIDENTIAL WELCOME TOUR All events begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Invitations forthcoming.
NYC
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Jim and Sue have been hitting the road for a Presidential Welcome Tour!
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The Presidential Welcome Tour is an opportunity for alumni, parents and friends across the country to meet and welcome our 16th president. Jim will share his vision for the future of Millikin, and looks forward to hearing stories of Big Blue pride and addressing your questions.
CHECK FOR ADDITIONAL EVENTS IN YOUR REGION
The three events in Chicago, plus those held in Indianapolis, Nashville and St. Louis this fall were resounding successes thanks to the Alumni Regional Clubs in those cities.
millikin.edu/welcome-tour MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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Join us for an upcoming event: Jan. 18: Houston, TX Jan. 19: DFW, TX Feb. 8: Naples, FL Feb. 9: Bonita Springs, FL Feb. 10: Ft. Lauderdale, FL March 21: San Diego, CA March 22: Laguna Beach, CA March 23: Thousand Oaks, CA April 19: Phoenix, AZ April 21: Tucson, AZ June 1: New York, NY
*Further cities may be added at a later date. Check back often.
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WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER
NE WS
NEW S
MILLIKIN NAMED THE BEST REGIONAL COLLEGE IN ILLINOIS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
Mary Black Appointed Permanent Provost
Millikin University President Dr. Jim Reynolds announced on Nov. 18, 2021, that Mary Black was appointed permanent provost. Black has been serving as interim provost since July 2021 succeeding Dr. Jeffery Aper who retired in June 2021.
by U.S. News & World Report
A BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IN THE MIDWEST
NAMED AMONG TOP COLLEGES IN THE NATION
LEADING INSTITUTION IN HIGHER ED
WASHINGTON MONTHLY
TIMES HIGHER ED WALL STREET JOURNAL
U.S NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
In August and September of 2021, media publications announced their college rankings for the 2021-22 academic year. Millikin University was once again recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the 158 best colleges in the Midwest. Washington Monthly's 2021 College Guide and Rankings recognized Millikin University as being a Top
Dr. Jeffery Aper Equity & Justice Library Collection
Millikin University's Provost of seven years, Dr. Jeffery Aper, retired
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Bachelor’s College and "Best Bang for the Buck" Midwest University. The Times Higher Education/Wall Street Journal named Millikin among the top colleges in the nation in its 2022 college rankings. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Millikin University as a leading institution in higher education in its 2022 "Best Colleges"
in June of 2021, but not without leaving the University with a resource that will be used for years to come. Upon Dr. Aper's retirement, a library collection of titles centered around the theme of equity and justice was created, aptly named the Dr. Jeffery Aper Equity & Justice Library Collection. This collection of books and materials will benefit students by providing them ready access to titles that relate to the emphasis of Millikin University's Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program. The LongVanderburg program, named in honor of Millikin's first two African
guidebook. For the third year in a row, Millikin was the highest ranked college in Illinois in the Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest category. Millikin was also recognized for distinction in several other categories, including Best Value Schools in the Midwest at No. 30, Social Mobility at No. 37 and was ranked as the No. 4 Undergraduate Nursing Program in Illinois.
American graduates, Fred Long, Class of 1918, and Marian Vanderburg McCants, Class of 1934, recognizes high scholastic achievement among students who have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, leadership and community service. Located in Shilling Hall, the goal of this new resource is to ensure that students are utilizing the library and its collections for scholarly endeavors as well as reading enjoyment. Provost Dr. Jeffery Aper and his wife, Sandy, have committed to supporting the library annually for the next five years to support the growth of this resource for the Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program.
The primary role of the provost is to serve as chief academic officer for the University, working closely with faculty and academic staff to ensure the overall academic quality of the university. Black serves as an advocate for both faculty and students striving for excellence across the disciplines in teaching, learning, advising, scholarship and artistry.
Mary Black joined the faculty at Millikin in 2009 as an assistant professor of theatre. She was promoted to associate professor in 2015 and to professor in 2021, and most recently served five years as the director of the School of Theatre & Dance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Technology from Indiana University. Her primary area of teaching and research is in theatrical production and technical direction, but she has also produced artistic work in the areas of theatrical scenic and lighting design.
RJ Podeschi (Millikin Class of 2002, MBA Class of 2004) Appointed Dean of Tabor School of Business Millikin University appointed RJ Podeschi, associate professo of information systems and chair of the Tabor School of Business undergraduate programs, as dean of the Tabor School of Business. Podeschi specializes in relational databases and information technology infrastructure. Prior to his full-time faculty appointment, Podeschi served his alma mater 11 years in a variety of information technology roles, primarily building and maintaining enterprise databases and administrative systems. The majority of his IT experience revolves around Oracle database administration and enterprise reporting. Previously, Podeschi owned a local IT consulting company with two other partners serving the technology needs of small businesses in the central Illinois area. His passion for the classroom and student learning came out of his work as an adjunct faculty member for Millikin two years prior to earning his full-time teaching post.
LE A R N M O R E
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Big Blue Backpacks Expands
CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS ’92 VISITS CAMPUS TO SEE GROWTH OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOM In August of 2021, Millikin University Chef Brian Pehr invited Congressman and Millikin alumnus Rodney Davis, Class of 1992, University President Dr. Jim Reynolds and his wife, Sue, Provost Mary Black and students Serron Pettis and Jacob Vietti to the Rooftop Garden atop the LeightyTabor Science Center. Since 2019, Chef Pehr and his son have been tending to the garden and using produce grown to prepare meals for Millikin students. The garden is home to several varieties of produce, including tomatoes, squash, beans, strawberries, pumpkins, okra and more. The produce is used to feed Millikin students, faculty and staff, as well as the Decatur community. Congressman Davis toured the garden as Chef Pehr described the different types of produce and where they end up, along with his goals for the Rooftop Garden at Millikin. Congressman Davis spoke about other agriculture programs in schools across Illinois and applauded Chef Pehr's plans, describing how they could help continue the good work other schools are doing. "A lot of schools are doing this already. We've encouraged them, through the school nutrition program and investments, to grow gardens at their schools that would be able to feed themselves. That's already out there, but you're unique because you're in higher education," Congressman Davis said.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Big Blue Backpacks, a Millikin University-based organization seeking to address food insecurity in the Decatur community and the lives of children and families, began its sixth year of providing nourishment to students in need at Dennis Lab School. This year, Big Blue Backpacks expanded its efforts to provide 80 students at American Dreamer STEM Academy in Decatur with food each weekend during the academic year.
Dr. Laura Zimmerman, Class of 2005, and associate professor of biology at Millikin University was awarded a Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), with a placement at the Veterans Affairs Office of Health Services Research and Development.
Millikin Biology Professor Named AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow Dr. Laura Zimmerman, Class of 2005
With the support of private donors in the community as well as local agencies, Big Blue Backpacks provides food for students in need. The organization purchases food items and packs them into food bags for over-the-weekend nourishment. This year, Big Blue Backpacks will serve 160 students with these meals. Big Blue Backpacks provides meals and snacks to children in an effort to ease hunger and related academic deficits.
Each bag that Big Blue Backpacks provides contains 10 food items for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Examples of common items found in the bags include granola bars, oatmeal, breakfast bars, noodles, soups, canned vegetables, pasta, tuna, macaroni, gummy bears, fruit snacks, pudding cups and fruit cups.
Millikin Jazz Faculty Members, Students Invited to Prestigious Conference
To be invited to the Jazz Educator Network Conference is one of the highest achievements for any jazz musician. Thousands of members come together to celebrate the incredible artform that is jazz by engaging in performance resources and promoting educational outreach. It is the largest performance/educational conference to the global jazz community, and a number of Millikin University School of Music faculty members and students have been invited to perform. Dr. Mark Tonelli, assistant professor of music and guitar studies coordinator; David Moore, instructor of music; and Ben Hawkinson, associate director of choir programs and area director of vocal jazz, will be traveling to Dallas for the 2022 Jazz Educator Network Conference taking place Jan. 5-8. Also joining the faculty will be OneVoice, the flagship ensemble of the vocal jazz program at Millikin.
Dr. Zimmerman is among 284 highly trained scientists and engineers who will spend a year serving professionally in federal agencies and congressional offices as a Science & Technology Policy Fellow. The U.S. government benefits from the contributions of highly trained scientists and engineers while they learn first-hand about federal policymaking and implementation.
"Jazz Education Network is the professional organization for jazz and jazz education. It is essentially the largest gathering of jazz educators and musicians in the world, and its annual conference draws about 4,000 people," Tonelli said. "Those people are drawn from the ranks of music and education across the world."
As part of the fellowship, Dr. Zimmerman will help the Veterans Affairs Office of Health Services Research and Development shape research geared toward rural veterans' issues. FALL 2021
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T H ING S WE LO VE
THINGS W E LOVE
CELEBRATING THE SYMBOL OF THE NURSING PROFESSION The "lamp" is a symbol of Florence Nightingale, exemplifying the light of learning, knowledge and caring.
More than 50 Millikin nursing undergraduates and six graduate students were recognized during the School of Nursing’s annual Legacy of the Lamp ceremony that took place during the 2021 Homecoming celebration. The nursing majors received a ceramic lamp as a symbol of their move into the next level of their clinical studies. The "lamp" is a symbol of Florence Nightingale, exemplifying the light of learning, knowledge and caring. "The Legacy of the Lamp is a longstanding tradition at the Millikin School of Nursing. Although there were nurses before Nightingale, none of them galvanized the attention of the world like she did," said Dr. Wendy C. Kooken, director of the Millikin School of Nursing, as she addressed the students. "She felt a calling from God to become a nurse despite all the opposition. This sort of passion and focus is absolutely what it takes to get through this difficult course of study and to remain resilient throughout your career of nursing." Kooken says that now more than ever, with a complicated shortage, nurses are needed. According to Kooken, there will be close to 200,000 nursing positions available through 2030. "We can make the world a better place, and I believe you can make the world a better place," she said. MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Millikin Professors Receive Love of Learning Awards
Dr. David Cook, assistant professor of clarinet and chair of instrumental performance studies, and Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, associate professor of biology and director of academic effectiveness at Millikin University, were each awarded a Love of Learning Award worth $500 from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Cook and Schroeder are two of 200 recipients to receive the award.
MILLIKIN LAUNCHES NEW MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION MAJOR
To help prepare creative multimedia professionals, Millikin University's College of Fine Arts launched a new multimedia communication major in the fall, offered through the Arts Technology & Administration Department, that will allow students to use a multitude of platforms and technologies to creatively communicate to audiences.
Love of Learning Awards are designed to help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members including graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, travel related to teaching and research, career development and more. Dr. Cook will use the funds to explore and acquire new teaching materials, including pieces for concert performance as well as pedagogical methods, while Dr. Schroeder will use the funds to support cancer research examining the effects of potential chemotherapeutics on rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Central to the multimedia communication major is the art of storytelling, digital publishing and media production. The major is grounded in theory and practice with multimedia production opportunities throughout. The multimedia communication major is a future-focused program that prepares creative professionals to use communication theory and digital media principles to entertain, sell and enrich the lives of others through news, storytelling and publishing. The major capitalizes on Millikin's state-of-the-art creative studios and technology in design, video and audio, and existing publishing opportunities in audio communication, visual communication and digital journalism.
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THINGS W E LOVE
T H ING S WE LO VE
MILLIKIN PROFESSOR RECEIVES FULBRIGHT U.S. AWARD TO BRAZIL School of Music: Dr. Mark Tonelli
NEW STUDENT-RUN VENTURE WJMU PRODUCTIONS Millikin University’s newest student-run venture, WJMU Productions, arrived on campus in the fall of 2021.
Students enrolled in this venture perform the myriad tasks of a professional audio media services firm. Rooted in the established WJMU brand, this new endeavor is an opportunity for student creatives to immerse themselves in audio media formats outside of traditional broadcasting. Podcasts, audio/visual marketing, consulting, recording and voiceover talent are all services offered from WJMU Productions. The new student-run business is open to majors from across campus and is particularly poised to serve students interested in multimedia, communication studies, technology and business.
They come together to brainstorm, critique and craft comprehensive strategies for audio media design and production. The students serve as storytellers, recording engineers, advertisers and artists working collaboratively towards the creation of engaging audio content. “It's pretty clear that the future of media will be one in which those who disseminate their message across more platforms will be those who reach the greatest audience,” said Sam Meister, instructor of communication and general manager and faculty advisor of WJMU. “We want the MU student who graduates with a degree in multimedia communication to be prepared to compete for the best jobs and stories in that evolving field.”
The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has honored Dr. Mark Tonelli, assistant professor of applied guitar and coordinator of the Guitar Studies Program at Millikin, with a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Brazil for the 2021-22 academic year. Tonelli will serve as a visiting professor at Universidade Federal de Uberlandia in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais. For four months, he will teach courses in jazz ensemble, jazz guitar and music entrepreneurship and conduct research into the arts and political movement Clube da Esquina.
LEARN MORE AT millikin.edu/wjmu-productions
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As a Fulbright Scholar, Tonelli will share knowledge and foster meaningful connections across communities in the United States and Brazil. In addition to directing a jazz ensemble and teaching jazz guitar studies, Tonelli will teach arts entrepreneurship to help students build strategies for their careers. Since arriving at Millikin in 2016, Tonelli has expanded the Millikin Guitar Studies Program by adding the Electric Guitar Ensemble that focuses on jazz, rock and pop styles. In addition to teaching applied lessons and guitar pedagogy, he teaches jazz improvisation and serves as professor for Arts Café, a course he created where students learn how to operate a live performance venue.
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ALU MNI S PO T LIG H T
Darrah Hulva Ramos Class of 2014
“My degree in communication helped me be able to have the hard conversations that you are forced to have with patients and their families” – Darrah Hulva Ramos ’14
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013, AND KAELA WILLIAMS
ALUMNI SP OTLIGHT
MILLIKIN NURSING ALUM MAKES BIG IMPACT ON LITTLE PATIENT Alumni Profile: Darrah Hulva Ramos ’14
Following six-year-old Shoni Anderson’s diagnosis of leukemia in February 2021, her family has seen an outpouring of support from the Decatur community, which has helped them find comfort and positivity amidst the challenges of their daughter’s illness and treatments. Shoni’s mother, Becky Clayton Anderson, graduated from Millikin University in 1995, and found a shared Millikin bond and a bright spot in one of her daughter’s nurses at St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Ill. Fellow Millikin alumna Darrah Hulva Ramos, Class of 2014, provided treatment in Shoni’s fight against leukemia. Anderson has been touched to see how her daughter and Ramos bonded during her treatment and is grateful for the level of care that Ramos showed Shoni, both personally and medically.
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“It means a lot to me as her mom,” Becky said, describing how Ramos has become a source of comfort during Shoni’s hospitalizations and treatments. “To see Darrah work so hard to make her smile is heartwarming,” she said. Ramos' work as a pediatric oncology nurse presents a unique set of challenges in communicating and caring for her young patients. She credits Millikin for her preparation. “My degree in communication helped me be able to have the hard conversations that you are forced to have with patients and their families,” Ramos explained. She earned a degree in communication, and then later a degree in nursing from Millikin. Despite the challenging details of working in pediatric oncology, Ramos is also able to find great joy in caring for her young patients and in forming special bonds with the children and their families. The bond shared between her and Shoni is especially meaningful to both nurse and patient. Both Ramos and Shoni are larger than life, sharing big personalities and great senses of humor.
know what is going on,” said Ramos, who used Shoni’s American Girl Doll® to explain Shoni’s own IV placement. Ramos frequently uses the familiar and comforting objects around her young patients to explain procedures or treatments that the child is about to receive. Building trust with her pediatric patients is a top priority for Ramos when she is helping them through cancer treatments. She puts in extra effort to ensure that her patients have a good experience. Shoni’s big personality continues to shine throughout her cancer treatments, and her family continues to find faith and positivity through the Millikin and Decatur communities who are consistently rallying for Shoni in her fight against leukemia. For fundraisers, events or more information about the Anderson family’s fight for their daughter, search the following hashtags on Facebook: #godsgotthis #teamshoni #leukemiwho #imnotscared
Ramos’s ability to connect closely with Shoni personally has been key in helping make treatments easier for the little girl. “Sometimes you have to play by their rules, and they just want to
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H O ME CO MING 2 0 21
HOMECOMING 2021
CLASS OF 1966
CLASS OF 1960-1961
CLASS OF 1970
CLASS OF 1971
CLASS OF 1960
S A VE THE DA TE
HOMECOMING 2022 OCT 7-9, 2022 CLASS OF 1960 SAE'S MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
(Audience members will be masked)
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ALU MNI FE ATAWARDS U RE
ALUMNI AW AR DS
ALUMNI AWARDS 2021 MILLIKIN UNIVERSIT Y ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
C. Thomas Harrington
’70
C. Thomas Harrington is a 1970 Millikin graduate who majored in accounting and minored in economics during his time as an undergraduate. Born, raised and educated in Decatur,
Tom started his working career with a local public accounting firm in Decatur. In 1982, Tom established Thomas Harrington & Company, a regional accounting firm serving clients from St. Louis to Chicago, until its eventual sale in Dec. 1997.
After his firm's sale, Tom and his wife, Cordia, established a wholesale bakery manufacturing company originally located in Dickson, Tenn., called Tennessee Bun Company, which later became Crown Bakeries.
Tom was recognized with the Millikin Alumni Loyalty Award in 2014. Tom and his wife
Cordia have given generously to Millikin, including gifts to the Harrington Entryway Plaza at the Workman Family Baseball Field, Millikin Fund and Annual Scholarships
LOYALTY AWARD
MERIT AWARD
YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Dr. Randall Rentfro ’78
Angela Osborne ’09
Dr. Randall Rentfro graduated from
Sir Edward "Kidd" Jordan ’67
accounting in 1978, completed his
Sir Edward "Kidd" Jordan is one of
Millikin with a bachelor's degree in
Internationally acclaimed saxophonist
master's degree in accountancy at
the true master improvisers who still
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign in 1986, and earned a
Doctorate in Business Administration (accounting concentration) at Florida Atlantic University in 2000. Now
retired, Dr. Rentfro most recently served as an associate professor of accounting at the University of Tampa.
under-documented jazz musician of his
generation, though … one of the busiest in the world." A multi-reedist, he plays the baritone, soprano, C-melody and sopranino saxophones, as well as the contrabass and bass clarinet.
For more than 50 years, Jordan has shared
projects at Millikin, establishing the the
an educator for 34 years, Jordan retired in
Ron Lennon, have supported myriad Dr. Randall W. Rentfro and Dr. Ron
in the Center for Theatre and Dance.
his gifts and passion for music. Serving as 2006 as the chairman of the jazz studies program at Southern University in New Orleans, La. Notably, he continues to
serve as the artistic director of the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz
MERIT-LOYALTY AWARD
Dick Dechert & Marilyn Trainer Dechert
Jazz, Jordan is "probably, the single most
Dr. Rentfro and his husband, Dr.
Lennon Scholarship, and naming offices
’54
performs at age 86. According to Indie
Camp since its 1995 inception.
’55
associate vice president of Risk and
Emergency Management Solutions for Guidepost Solutions, LLC, a leader in
domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting.
Osborne went on to become a Certified
Protection Professional (CPP), a certified Physical Security Professional (PSP),
and a Professional Certified Investigator
(PCI) by American Society for Industrial
Security (ASIS) International. In 2020, she
received the Karen Marquez Honors, which is presented annually to a female security
professional who has consistently worked for the betterment of the security industry over an extended period; Osborne was chosen
out of 33,000 ASIS members. Osborne was also named the 2019 Outstanding Young Professional at the Outstanding Security
Performance Awards (OSPA), became the
youngest director on the ASIS International
A 1954 graduate of Millikin lettering in baseball and track and field, Dick Dechert earned a
Professional Standards Board, and previously
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, while Marilyn Trainer Dechert earned a Bachelor of Science
served as co-chair of the ASIS International
in Chemistry in 1955.
FACULTY STAFF AWARD
Both Dick and Marilyn are joyfully retired and enjoy life in Decatur, Ill., attending many
Young Professionals Council.
music and fine arts events at Millikin, as well as leading philanthropic causes that are near to
Dr. Ngozi Onuora
ventures. Marilyn had a very successful business career with a pharmaceutical company. Her
Dr. Ngozi Onuora is an associate professor in the Millikin School of Education. She teaches
their heart. Dick had a successful professional life in sales and dabbled successfully in various experience in chemistry at Millikin set her up for a lifetime of success professionally. Marilyn
literacy courses in early childhood and elementary education, such as children's literature and
was also the head women's golf coach at Millikin from 2001-14.
reading methods. Her research interests focus on multicultural representation in children's
Dick was selected in 2012 for Millikin’s Alumni Loyalty Award. Dick and Marilyn have
literature and graphics. Known as "Dr. O" on campus, she also serves as chair of the African
Men’s and Women’s Golf, Patrons Society, Big Blue Billiards and Millikin Fund.
the Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program. Dr. Onuora earned a Doctor of Education in
American Studies minor, teaches in the Honors Program, and serves as co-director of
established the Dechert Endowed Golf Program Fund and their support has also benefitted
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Angela Osborne currently serves as an
Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. FALL 2021
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A T H L E T IC H ALL O F FAME
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME 2021 MILLIKIN UNIVERSIT Y ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Donald Hartlaub
’73
Donald Hartlaub of Springfield, Ill., was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame
posthumously for his contributions to Millikin's track and field, cross country and basketball programs. While attending Millikin, Hartlaub majored in education and was a member
of the SAE fraternity where he met many lifelong friends. Following Millikin, Hartlaub
furthered his education at North Texas University where he obtained his Master of Science. Hartlaub was a teacher and coach for 40 years beginning at Tri-City Community Unit
School District in Buffalo, Ill. He also taught at Saginaw Middle School in Saginaw, Texas,
while pursuing his master's degree and Riverton High School in Riverton, Ill. He retired as a dean of students/administrator at Plainfield Central High School in Plainfield, Ill., where he was the head track coach. Hartlaub coached high school girls basketball and established the
Sangamon County Girls Basketball Tournament in 1993. He was one of the co-founders of the Honor Roll Classic which began in 1981 and is still held annually.
Audrey Krajec’15
Matt Snyder’92
Alyssa Visvardis’16
Audrey Krajec of West Salem, Ill., was
Matt Snyder of Decatur was inducted
Alyssa Visvardis of Homer Glen, Ill.,
women's volleyball. As a sophomore at
Millikin. During his time with the Big
softball and women's volleyball. During
honored for her accomplishments in
Millikin in 2012, Krajec became the first volleyball player at Millikin to be named
a First Team All-American. She received the honor again in her junior season and again in 2014 as a senior, becoming the
first Millikin women's volleyball player to receive the honor three times.
Krajec was also named CCIW Freshman
Wes Hillen
Wes Hillen of Columbia, Ill., was honored for his accomplishments as a member of the
Millikin golf program. As a player, Hillen was a two-time College Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW ) Champion in 2012 and 2013, and a two-time NCAA Division III
National Tournament qualifier. Hillen had 14 career tournament wins and was twice named to the PING All-American Third Team.
Hillen is currently a part of six records at Millikin. Individually, he holds the Millikin
record for lowest 36-hole score (136) and lowest season scoring average (73.52). During his
Blue, Millikin won two CCIW titles
including an undefeated season in 1989. As a quarterback, Snyder threw for
2,909 career passing yards and had the
most yards per completion for a season at 24.5 and most yards per completion in a game at 51.7 versus Carthage College in 1989.
of the Year in 2011 and was named
Majoring in history-secondary
2014. She went on to earn a Bachelor of
on to earn a master's in educational
CCIW Co-Player of the Year in 2013 and Science in Nursing from Millikin. Upon graduation, Krajec became a traveling
’13
for his standout career in football at
nurse in 2017 and was presented with an opportunity to play volleyball in France in 2018.
In April of 2020, Krajec traveled to New York City, where she worked as a nurse
to help patients and be a part of the fight against COVID-19. Currently, Krajec is living in Colorado serving as a Denver Health Registered Nurse.
education at Millikin, Snyder went
administration from Eastern Illinois
University as well as a superintendent endorsement specialist degree. He
served as a teacher and a coach for
13 years before moving into school administration. Snyder currently
serves as the regional superintendent
at the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education, a position he has held for over 15 years.
was honored for her accomplishments in her time with the Big Blue softball
program, Visvardis was a four-year letter winner earning CCIW All-Conference
First Team as an outfielder in 2014, CCIW All-Conference Second Team in 2016
and was named CCIW Academic AllConference from 2013-16.
Visvardis currently holds school records in career hits (170), runs scored (120), career doubles (41), career home runs (22) and
holds the record for the most home runs in a single game (2) which she accomplished
back in 2016. As a member of the women's volleyball program, Visvardis was a
three-year letter winner earning CCIW
Academic All-Conference from 2013-15 and was named Team Captain in 2015.
Throughout her Big Blue career, she earned the Big Blue Award (2016), the Lindsay
Medallion Award (2016) and was named Two-Sport Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Currently, Visvardis serves as an English teacher at Lockport Township High
School District 205 in Lockport, Ill.,
senior year, he was ranked number six in the country for scoring average. In 2012, Hillen
where she teaches freshman English and
qualified for and competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship, the U.S. Public Links
sophomore honors English.
Championship and the Patriot All-American. Hillen also won the Decatur Men's City
Amateur Championships in three separate years and played in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Tournament at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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WO M E N IN AT H LE T ICS
Millikin University has a long-standing history of women’s athletics dating back to 1970 when Harriett Crannell assembled the University’s first women’s basketball team, marking the beginning of MU’s storied history of women’s athletics.
Now, over 50 years and 10 NCAA teams later, Millikin is celebrating a proud tradition of women wearing the Big Blue who have excelled in competition, who became campus leaders and role models for the next generation of student-athletes.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER
WO M E N IN AT H LE T ICS
W OMEN IN ATHLETICS
PAST MEETS PRESENT
2020 marked the 50th year of women’s athletics at Millikin, and although the University planned to host various events in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic altered the schedule. However, the University will be welcoming athletes and loyal supporters of women’s athletic teams back to campus May 13-15, 2022, for a celebration weekend.
To be a student-athlete at Millikin University takes sacrifice and commitment. “Wearing the Blue” is a privilege reserved for individuals willing to do anything to represent Millikin and the Big Blue family.
As the campus community gears up for this momentous occasion, we
Ariel Robinson, Class of 2013, and a
Majoring in athletic training, Robinson
in 2020, set many records as a member
sorority and was a Long-Vanderburg
Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame inductee of the women’s track and field program,
including indoor records in the 60m and 200m, and outdoor records in the 100m, 200m and 400m. She was a College
Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
(CCIW ) champion in the 60m (2012) and 55m (2013), and an outdoor champion
in the 100m and 200m, both in 2012 and 2013. The supportive atmosphere she
received and being a part of a team paid dividends in her life after Millikin.
“Track and field has always been a big part of my life … I actually ran my very first
race at Millikin because I’m from Decatur [Ill.]. When I was in 6th grade, we had a track meet at Millikin,” Robinson said.
wanted to take the opportunity to
Robinson initially began her college career
and current students to learn more
Champaign but transferred to Millikin
significance of being an athlete.
purpose on campus after joining the
share stories from alumni, coaches
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-
about their Big Blue journey and the
where she found a sense of comfort and
was a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Scholar. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida
International University in 2016 and
has recently returned to the place “that chose her,” Millikin, to serve as an admission counselor.
Reflecting back on her career at Millikin and celebrating women’s athletics,
Robinson prides herself on being a
woman athlete. “As a woman athlete, you have certain perspectives on life, and I felt I played a balance of being
who I wanted to be outside of track and who I needed to be on the track,” she
says. “My teammates respected that. I’m excited to be a part of Millikin’s history and I’m thankful that I can be a part of the conversation.”
track and field program. “There’s people who want you around. I felt part of a
community during that time as a studentathlete,” Robinson said.
Ariel Robinson Class of 2013 Track & Field
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER
WO M E N IN AT H LE T ICS
Current track and field athlete MacKenzie Moyer, a junior nursing major from Carlinville, Ill., can agree – the program has given her a community of people supportive of her athletic and academic careers.
“When I came to Millikin, I was ready to
“Being a Millikin student-athlete means
best friends and the girls in my wedding
can rely on, starting from your professors
with.”
having a huge community of people you and advisors, to your teammates and
coaches,” she says. “It also means having
a reputation to uphold, so it holds people accountable in their school lives as well as their personal lives.”
As a nursing major, Moyer has
strengthened her ability to manage her
become a music teacher. I was burned out
from the summer before school was going to start, and I wanted to put all my eggs into one basket and be a music teacher.
However, at freshman orientation, I knew I had to start playing softball again,”
Even when I look back on those years
after my freshman year, my roommates, were all people that I played softball
Safe to say the decision worked out –
Herek was named Team MVP in 2013, CCIW All-Conference First Team and Capital One Academic All-American Division III Softball Second Team in
2013 and set the Millikin career stolen base record with 82 bases.
that the community of student-athletes is continuing to grow and develop,”
she noted. “Student-athletes, no matter what sport, can relate to one another,
of music education. But being a part of the softball program was the first time
and appreciates the proud tradition of
Class of 2023 Softball
women wearing the Big Blue before
her. “People like Lori Kerans and Deb
Kiick, they had to really work for it and
I’m glad that Millikin is telling the story and celebrating the women so we can remember and appreciate everything that they have earned for us and for generations to come,” she said.
Like Cora, current softball player Gretchen Gould, a junior elementary education major from Sterling, Ill., is one of many studentathletes who take great pride in representing Millikin through sports.
“My teammates are very hardworking and that encourages me to be hardworking in everything I do in life.
have influenced her in areas outside of
community of people you can relate to is
knew Millikin was on her radar because
the rarity of having truly dedicated,
Gretchen Gould
positive examples set by her teammates
people and friends in college. Having a
accomplishments in softball, always
Oreana, Ill.
The pride she has for her school and the
and support each other as you meet
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020 for her
Argenta-Oreana Elementary School in
passionate teammates by her side,
celebrating 50 years of sports means
was also inducted into the Millikin
currently a K-5 general music teacher at
would be losing that part of who I am.
because if I didn’t play softball I knew I
stay organized after graduation. “Millikin
Cora Jeffers Herek, Class of 2013, who
from Holy Family College and is
Looking back, Herek appreciates
important skill she believes will help her
stage of your life.”
Master of Music in Music Education
Herek said. “I’m just so glad that I did
time and energy in efficient ways – an
very important as you go through a new
Following Millikin, Herek earned a
Cora Jeffers Herek Class of 2013 Softball
softball.
“My teammates are very hardworking and that encourages me to be
hardworking in everything I do in life. And being on such a large team has
taught me a lot about working well with others, which is important as a future educator,” Gould said.
Gould understands the full value of
The lessons that Gould has learned
team’s recent success comes directly
athlete, along with the relationships she’s
teamwork and believes that the softball from their ability to work together
effectively. “Our success really comes
from our willingness to work together as a team,” she said.
through her time as a Big Blue studentmade with her teammates are things
she believes will be with her long after graduation … a common theme for Millikin athletes past and present.
she ever felt that her peers' passion and love of the game matched her own.
S AVE T H E DAT E
WOMEN IN ATHLETICS CELEBRATION WEEKEND MAY 13-15, 2022 MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
W OMEN IN ATHLETICS
WO ME N IN AT H LE T ICS
“Women did it all early in my career,” Kiick said. Through decades of coaching,
she has witnessed the landscape of women’s participation in sports change vastly. Many
women she now coaches, and some younger
members of Millikin’s coaching staff did not face the challenges and scant opportunities that Kiick experienced. “We didn’t have to fight for the same types of things. A lot of things have been more equal, and we were
BIG BLUE COACHES REFLECT ON IMPACT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS
definitely more included,” remarked Olivia Lett, head coach of Millikin’s women’s basketball program.
While great strides have certainly been made
ongoing effort that will be passed to the next generation of female athletes. “The fight for equality in women’s athletics is not linear. We make improvements and sometimes
coaching career has been dedicated to the
Depending on the perspective, the
fight for women’s inclusion and equality, Millikin softball’s co-head coach Katie discussed what the momentous occasion
meant to them, as well as the importance
of sports and the impact they hope to leave upon the women they coach and mentor.
Debbie Kiick is in her 21st season as head coach of Millikin’s volleyball program and her coaching career spans back
more than 40 years. Her perspective on women’s athletics encompasses the era
before athletic opportunities for women to participate and the groundbreaking
changes that occurred when Title IX was
passed in 1972. “When I was young, I got
to catch fly balls for my father and brother, but I didn’t have the same opportunities to
milestone of 50 years of women in
actually play,” Kiick said, recalling her first
to reflect upon, or an opportunity that
they got 500 swings,” she said.
athletics is either a long stretch of time hasn’t been around nearly long enough.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
experience in sports. “If I got five swings,
During Kiick’s senior year of high school, girls were first allowed the opportunity to participate in organized sports, but they
to think about what other people didn’t
achieve equal opportunities for women is an
While a great deal of Kiick’s athletic and
Three Big Blue women’s athletics coaches
an assistant women’s basketball coach.
in athletics, Kiick believes the work to
there are backslides,” Kiick explained.
In 2020, Millikin University marked 50 years of women’s athletics, an occasion that the University is celebrating this year by honoring the courage and determination of the women who forged the path for future generations of Big Blue women to compete in sports.
that stretch beyond career and athletic
“It is hard to grasp a world without women’s sports. I appreciate that Millikin was one of the front runners in terms of a lot of things in women’s athletics”
for women to receive equal opportunities
Tenboer has a different history with sports. “I started playing whenever T-ball started
and have played forever,” Tenboer recalled.
Lett highlights these same values with her basketball players, while also striving to
demonstrate examples of strong women achievements, including Whitney Getz,
Lett explained. “For me, it’s a moment
“Whitney is a mom of four who stays at
necessarily have, because I think we
home, and that is also a strong woman. I
try to show my athletes how success looks different for everyone,” Lett said.
were not afforded the same resources as
As co-head coaches, Tenboer and Whitney
When asked to consider what 50 years of
were retired football jerseys. We bought
have on their student-athletes, on and off
Lett and Tenboer mentioned how they
the existing men’s teams. “Our uniforms our own fabric and made our uniforms.
We glued felt numbers on cotton shirts,” Kiick described, mentioning that actual
opportunities to compete were few and far between.
Kiick continued her athletic career at
Sowers are passionate about the impact they the field. “If all they leave with are memories of how many games we won and lost, that would be tragic,” Tenboer said. Sowers’
coaching strategy takes into account her
athletes’ entire lives, not just their role as softball players.
women in athletics meant to them, both were the first generation of women in
their family to see girls playing sports as a norm. “Sports were a large part of my family’s life. It was part of our identity, and that wasn’t abnormal,” Tenboer
women’s basketball teams. Following her
is what we are doing in that two hours and
the same opportunities to participate in
be a decorated career in coaching women’s sports. The qualities she developed as an
athlete, including her work ethic, attention to detail, grit and determination helped shape Kiick’s identity as a coach.
how we can have an impact on them off the
field,” Sowers said. Values such as leadership and teamwork are also emphasized by
the softball coaches in their mission to
prepare their team for games and life after graduation.
FALL 2021
inequalities that still exist for women in athletics, the growth in opportunities has been exponential and has greatly impacted women of all ages. “We’ve
come a long way and I think celebrating that is important,” Tenboer reflected. Kiick, who witnessed first-hand the
of 50 years in women’s athletics
Lett said that she was impacted by how
graduation in 1980, she began what would
Tenboer says that despite the
growth in opportunities for women in
“They spend 22 hours a day off the field and two hours on the field. A lot of our focus
concluded.
recalled.
Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill., competing on both the softball and
take that for granted sometimes,” she
other women in her family didn’t have organized sports. “My mom never got to play basketball growing up and my
grandma, I’m sure, has probably never
touched a basketball and she’s been in a
gym hundreds of times,” Lett remarked.
sports, said that Millikin’s celebration
demonstrates the value of reflecting on
the past and working toward the future. “I feel a great sense of pride looking
from where we started to where we are now, as well as a continued focus on
the responsibility to carry the torch for equality,” she said.
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ANNUAL REPORT
ALUMNI/LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
2021 YEAR IN REVIEW ENROLLMENT 1,742
TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE
75
ADULT FLEX PROGRAM
94
GRADUATE PROGRAM
1,911
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
RACE/ETHNICITY WHITE : 69% BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN : 16% HISPANIC : 6% UNKNOWN : 1%
57% FEMALE
43% MALE
TWO OR MORE RACES : 4% ASIAN : 3% AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN < 1% HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER < 1%
99%
117
29
$49M
42
24%
FY21 ANNUAL REPORT
97%
COSTS
STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID
FINANCIAL AID GIVEN
TOTAL DONORS NEW DONORS ALUMNI PARTICIPATION
1,308 437 8.77%
INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES STUDENTS REPRESENTED
STATES REPRESENTED
FROM OUTSIDE OF ILLINOIS
GRADUATE PLACEMENT
$38,800 : TUITION $792 : FEES $6,780 : ROOM $5,910 : BOARD
88% EMPLOYED 9% GRAD SCHOOL
$52,282 : TOTAL
SCHOLARSHIPS:
$4,341,260 MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
This annual scholarship is renewable for four years, and scholarship recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible each year.
Support MU in a way that works for you.
ENDOWMENT : $111,500,000
ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENT TO APPLY TO MILLIKIN TODAY.
millikin.edu/apply
Choosing the right method to make a charitable gift to Millikin depends on your personal circumstances and intended impact. While all gifts help fulfill the University’s mission, different gift assets or structures may also help you fulfill your own financial and philanthropic goals.
GIFTS MU CAN PUT TO WORK TODAY
GIFTS ARRANGED NOW, FULFILLED LATER
GIFTS THAT EARN INCOME FOR THE DONOR
» CASH & CREDIT CARDS
» BEQUESTS
» CHARITABLE GIFT
» STOCKS, MUTUAL
» RETIREMENT PLAN
FUNDS OR OTHER SECURITIES
» IRA ROLLOVER
TOTAL RAISED:
$6,821,775.99
Continue your family’s Big Blue legacy at Millikin University! Students with a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who attended Millikin are eligible for our $1,000 Alumni/Legacy Scholarship.
OR LIFE INSURANCE BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
For more information, or to discuss your philanthropic goals, visit millikin.edu/give or contact the Office of Alumni and Development at 217.424.6383. Our staff can provide confidential service to you, without obligation. Let us help you plan your Big Blue legacy today. FALL 2021
ANNUITY
» CHARITABLE
REMAINDER TRUST
millikin.edu/give 31
WRITTEN BY: ROBERT BERGLAND, CLASS OF 1990
ALU MNI S PO T LIG H T
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
BROADCASTING THE OLYMPICS
Pat Kinas
Alumni Profile: Pat Kinas ’92
Class of 1992
For many athletes, reaching the Olympics is a dream, the goal and pinnacle of their career.
Patrick Kinas, Class of 1992, while a standout tennis player for the Big Blue, never made it to the Olympics on the court. But this summer in Tokyo, he realized his dream of making it to the Olympics in a television broadcast booth. Well, technically not in Tokyo — COVID protocols kept him in the NBC booths in Stamford, Connecticut — but that didn’t dampen his joy of reaching his Olympic dream by calling the swimming preliminary rounds with gold medalist Amy Van Dyken. “It’s a dream I had when I was 7 years old,” Kinas says. “There’s a million things that have to go your way to make that happen.” One of those things that happened that set him on the right path was teaming up with the late Jimm Seaney, the WJMU general manager, early in his freshman year. Sweeney had him call the first quarter of a Millikin football game. Impressed, Sweeney let him call the rest of the game, and then the rest of the games the next four years, including a noteworthy playoff matchup.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
FALL 2021
CHAIR, EXCERCISE
SCIENCE AND SPORT “My most memorable game was the DIRECTOR, ATHLETIC year that Millikin made the playoffs TRAINING my senior year,” Kinas says. “We were loaded. We had (future NFL player) Jeff Query, we beat Augie at the end of the season. The playoff game in Dayton was the biggest game I had called in my career — it was life changing.”
Following an internship at WGN and master’s work at Northwestern, he got a radio job in Clinton, Iowa, before landing jobs in North Carolina calling Carolina Mudcat games and then the Triple A Durham Bulls baseball team games. He’s called many sports and many teams along the way, including Division I football games. He called the Olympics on the radio for the Westwood One network for the 2016 Games in Rio (swimming) and the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea (figure skating, short track speedskating and the opening/closing ceremonies). He was expecting to be on the radio for the Tokyo Olympics, but NBC called, asking him if he’d like to be on TV for the Olympic Trials in Omaha and the Games. “I immediately said yes,” Kinas says. The 10 days and approximately 25 hours of coverage on the USA Network was the most difficult broadcasting gig ever for Kinas, especially since they had to bring the races to life from thousands of miles away.
“It was the most pressure-packed assignment I’ve ever had and the most fulfilling assignment I’ve ever had, on the grandest stage,” Kinas says. The most pressure-packed assignment so far, anyway. He looks forward to the challenge of becoming a father in a few months, as he and his wife of six years, Kathryn, are expecting a boy in December. Now that he’s achieved his dream of being an Olympic broadcaster, his next goal is to reach the Major Leagues or network-level major sport television/radio packages. But, he has just as much love for sports like swimming that are less popular — outside of Olympic years — than baseball or football. He says covering any elite athlete, such as American gold medal swimmers, is a joy. “They all deserve our respect,” Kinas says. “These are the finest athletes on the planet, so I try to treat any event I’m calling as such — it’s the biggest event of these athletes’ lives. Their friends and family are watching, they are making a date with us. I was extremely fortunate to be the one delivering that to them.”
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WRITTEN BY: SYDNEY MCREYNOLDS, CLASS OF 2019 WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
ALU MNI S PO T LIG H T
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MILLIKIN ALUM WALKS IN SOLIDARITY WITH POTAWATOMI PEOPLE Alumni Profile: Jeff Geary ’91
Jeff Geary
The route for the historic Potawatomi Trail of Death begins in Twin Lakes, Ind., and stretches approximately 660 miles through Illinois and Missouri before ending in Osawatomie, Kan., along the Osage River. When Rev. Jeffrey A. Geary set off on his journey to traverse the Potawatomi Trail on foot, he did so with intention to acknowledge the forced removal of nearly 900 Potawatomi tribe members from their land and to remember the more than 40 people, many of whom were children, who died during the march. Rev. Geary, a graduate of Millikin University’s Class of 1991, is the senior minister of the White Plains Presbyterian Church in White Plains, NY. When he decided to take a sabbatical after ten years of service to the church, Rev. Geary wanted to use his time meaningfully. He said that by walking the entirety of the Potawatomi Trail of Death he was accepting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s invitation to “X-ray the
Class of 1991
necessarily complex and detailed history that disfigures our society,” as mentioned in the 1964 book, “Why We Can’t Wait.” When asked his purpose for walking the Trail, Rev. Geary said, “I walk first of all to acknowledge the legacy of settler colonialism, and the great injustice done to Native Americans in general, and the Potawatomi in particular.” Throughout his nearly 700-mile trek, Rev. Geary planned to visit the 80 memorials placed along the Trail to honor the memory of the Potawatomi people and
recognize their inhumane treatment and loss. Since 1994, the Potawatomi Trail of Death has been a designated Regional Historic Trail. To Rev. Geary, the pilgrimage also held personal meaning. He described how the forced removal of the Potawatomi enabled his ancestors’ settlement in northern Indiana and in adjacent land in Illinois around 1850. “I walk secondly to acknowledge that I and my family have benefited from the federal policy of Indian Removal,” Rev. Geary said.
The policy he referred to was the Indian Removal Act, which was signed into law in 1830 by U.S. President Andrew Jackson and authorized negotiation to remove Native American tribes from their land to lands west of the Mississippi River. On Aug. 30, 1838, a militia was authorized to forcibly remove the Potawatomi from the State of Indiana.
Millikin University. He also stopped to visit the historical monument placed to commemorate the Trail. The monument, which is engraved with journal entries that detailed the Potawatomi peoples’ struggles, was placed in Mueller Park by Zeta and Bernard Wright in 1994.
Throughout his journey across the Trail of Death, Rev. Geary walked approximately 15-20 miles each day, similar to the distance traveled daily by the Potawatomi during their march. He made stops along the route both for rest and to share his story and the history of the Trail of Death with people he met along the way.
On July 4, 2021, after wearing down several pairs of shoes, enduring near-100degree temperatures without shade and with immense gratitude toward those who showed him hospitality along the way, Rev. Geary completed his walk of the Potawatomi Trail of Death in the City of Osawatomi, Kan.
The path traveled by the Potawatomi people crosses through Decatur before continuing west toward Springfield. After walking nearly 250 miles, Rev. Geary reached Decatur and briefly paused his walk to visit his alma mater,
Rev. Geary refers to this as the physical end of his journey. “The spiritual end of the trip was a bit further south at what was known as Sugar Creek,” he detailed in a blog post about his experience. “It is here that the Potawatomi joined those from other removals and made a home. It is a place I experienced grief upon grief, and overwhelming sorrow as the magnitude of the loss became clear,”
Rev. Geary wrote. “It is therefore crucial to connect with Potawatomi and other Native American peoples and listen to their needs today.” In recognition of the injustices and inhumane treatment experienced by the Potawatomi people during their march, Millikin University has included the original landowners on a dedication plaque for the recently built Center for Theatre & Dance facility. The plaque reads as follows: Millikin University is located on the traditional territory of the Kiikaapoi, Peoria, Myaamia, Ochethi Sakowin, Illini, Potawatomi, Kaskaskia, Peankashaw, Wea, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Ojibwe and Chickasaw Nations and people. We honor the original ancestors of this land and their displacement, dispossession, and continued presence. We strive to be accountable by acknowledging this history and cultivating respect in our relationships with our Native neighbors and land.
MORE
READ REV. GEARY’S BLOG ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE HERE:
https://revgeary.wordpress.com/2021/03/01/a-sabbatical-plan/ MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
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WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER
AT H LE T ICS
ACADEMIC ALLAMERICANS in the 400 Meters at the 2021 CCIW Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Kuxmann set a new school record in the 800 Meters (1.50.12) and ran Millikin’s third all-time fastest 400 Meters (48.75 seconds) during the season. He was a member of a school record setting 4x400 Relay Team as well. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Despite the many challenges during the 2020-21 academic year brought on by the pandemic, two Millikin University student-athletes excelled in the classroom and in athletic competition. Senior Bradan Birt and junior Ben Kuxmann were named to the Academic All-America® Team, selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizing the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Birt was named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America® Men’s At-Large Second Team becoming the first wrestler in school history to earn the honor. The men’s AtLarge program covers student-athletes competing in fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Kuxmann was selected to the Academic All-America® Men's Track & Field/ Cross Country Second Team and was the fourth track and field athlete in school history to earn the honor and the 79th Millikin student-athlete to be selected for the prestigious program. Birt, a sports management major, was the 2021 National Champion at 165 pounds at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) DIII National Championships where he was named the event’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Birt won his fourth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) individual title and finished the season with a 15-0 record. Birt has a career record of 118-13. He has earned NWCA All-American honors four times. Kuxmann, an English major, has a near perfect grade point average and finished in third-place in the 800 Meters at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track National Championships in May. Kuxmann was the CCIW 800 Meters winner and finished in second place
Ben Kuxmann Class of 2023
Millikin has a long history in the Academic All-America® program dating back to 1960 when football player Ryan Jorstad was Millikin’s first honoree. Twenty-five Big Blue football players have received the honor along with 17 in women’s softball and 15 in men’s basketball. Eight women’s basketball players have been selected along with five baseball players, four track and field athletes, two women’s volleyball players and one student-athlete in wrestling, women’s tennis and men’s golf. Thanks to an NCAA season of eligibility wavier for 2020-21, both Birt and Kuxmann will be back to compete for the Big Blue this season.
Bradan Birt Class of 2022
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WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
C O L L E GE O F ART S & S CIE NCE S
COLLEGE OF AR TS & SCIENCES
LEI G H T Y S C I EN C E S C H O L A R
"FLIES" THROUGH SUMMER RESEARCH
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Robertson, professor of biology, advice from
Dr. Randy Brooks
other professors within Millikin's Biology Department such as Dr. Travis Wilcoxen,
Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
associate professor of physiological ecology,
Despite the pandemic, the College of Arts & Sciences has had an excellent year of recruiting and continues to enroll over a third of all Millikin students in our academic programs. As of Aug. 23, 224 of the 568 new students entering Millikin University this academic year had majors in Arts & Sciences. Approximately 100 of these new students are in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. We are also glad to be introducing a new major this year in engineering science.
and with the support of a $3,000 stipend to
Our academic programs at Millikin continued to provide student learning and development opportunities this past summer. This summer 476 students enrolled in immersion courses for a total of about 1,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate student credit hours. Just over 100 students completed summer internships, directed studies or independent studies over the summer as well. Our Leighty Science Scholars Program and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) students were also active on campus, completing undergraduate research projects under the guidance of various faculty.
Since starting her research, Elexis says that
For example, this summer Dr. Dan Miller, Professor of Mathematics, mentored two students with Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grants in the development of educational programs engaging in building robotics. Both students are active members of Blue Bots, Millikin’s intercollegiate robotics team. Jayme Reed ’22 is developing an honors seminar focused on programming robotics. Brian Freeman ’23 is creating a K-12 outreach program intended to bring computer science and robotics to local schools. The faculty and students in the College of Arts & Sciences are so glad to be back on campus in person this fall. It is a joy to re-engage students in Socratic dialogues and Performance Learning in the classroom.
fund her research, Elexis started researching the answer to her question.
Initially, Elexis had not planned to spend her
summer with a vast collection of fruit flies. "I wanted to do my project with spiders at first, but Dr. Robertson told me that was going to take a long time, so we decided on flies instead."
she has learned a lot of valuable lessons,
both about the fruit flies and skills she needs to succeed in the future. "I had to learn a
lot of patience and I also learned that the
idea of the flies' sex ratio being fifty-fifty is not true," Elexis said. "My skills with the
microscope have really improved and I've
learned strategies about how to research things Richardson's project, which examines the effect of female/male ratios on female
Once she uncovered the answer to the
more commonly known as fruit flies, is
continued to expand upon her work by
life spans in Drosophilia melanogaster,
Elexis Richardson
exposing her to graduate-level research well before her planned graduation in
During the summer months, most students say that time flies. Elexis Richardson, a Millikin University junior from Carbondale, Ill., has a different take on that popular phrase as she performs a research project for the Leighty Science Scholars Program.
effectively."
2023.
Elexis explained that the original
idea for her project came during her
animal behavior class. While discussing maintenance, growth and repopulation
of organisms, she asked the question that
question that inspired her research, Elexis experimenting with different ratios and
collecting flies to track female/male ratios and measure lifespans. Once her research is complete, Elexis' work will continue to
"It's really cool to be able to say that I've
done graduate-level research," Elexis said. "I'm glad I've gotten to go through the
whole process and I'm going to be a lot
more confident when I get to vet school and need to do a research project."
As a biology major with a minor in gender studies, Elexis is preparing to attend
veterinary school after graduating from
Millikin. She plans to be a zoo veterinarian
and credits Millikin's support for preparing her for the next step toward her career. "Millikin has done a really great job of supporting my research," Elexis
commented, discussing how she has
benefited from being a Leighty Science
Scholar. "My professors are so enthusiastic and supportive through it all. Having professors like that really makes a difference."
The Leighty Science Scholars Program
awards high-achieving biology, chemistry,
physics and pre-engineering students with a $2,500 annual scholarship, graduate-
level research opportunities and a stipend to perform summer research between
sophomore and junior years at Millikin.
Department has purchased an incubator to facilitate future research projects involving flies.
While discussing the overall experience of
and reproduction?" Under the
opportunity to perform in-depth research
guidance of her adviser, Dr. Marianne
Millikin offers.
benefit Millikin students since the Biology
became the basis for her research: "Is
there a tradeoff between maintenance
one that she is grateful that
her summer research, Elexis stated that the during her undergraduate career is unique and
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FALL 2021
39
WRITTEN BY: DANE LISSER
C O L LE G E O F FINE ART S
COLLEGE OF FINE AR TS
T H E AT R E D E S I G N & P R O D U C T I O N S T U D EN T S TAY S
AHEAD OF THE GAME gives students the opportunity to meet with
Throughout all the productions, lessons and
course of several meet-and-greet events. Each
an easy person to work with is one of the
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
designers from across the map over the
Laura Ledford
student is paired with a mentor who provides academic and career guidance for the next
Dean of the College of Fine Arts
year and beyond.
Students and faculty in the College of Fine Arts faced enormous challenges last year with pandemic restrictions. In the performing arts, particularly, opportunities to tour, perform for live audiences and rehearse in groups were either canceled (tours), moved online (streamed concerts) or re-imagined to be rehearsed and recorded remotely on video (plays and musicals). An unexpected benefit of moving performances online was the creation of opportunities for students in our Arts Technology and Administration Department to both come to the rescue of our other departments, and learn valuable skills in audio and video production, editing and streaming technologies. Because of these students and creative faculty, the College was able to share its Performance Learning activities with our students and with the public in new ways.
“I'm hoping to get guidance regarding
Even in the midst of these challenges, faculty have developed new majors for the College of Fine Arts. In the School of Music, new majors in music business have been launched that will allow students who are not necessarily musicians or performers to experience current music industry practices and the skills involved in event planning, label management, revenue streams, touring and marketing strategy. The other major that has been created and launched is multimedia communication within the Arts Technology and Administration Department. The curriculum unites media production expertise in audio, video, design, writing and web development with courses in communication theory, media ethics and storytelling. Finally, the College of Fine Arts is thrilled to have Marie Jagger-Taylor onboard as the new director of the soonto-be launched Millikin Community Arts Academy. The MCAA, an outgrowth of the Preparatory Program in the School of Music, will expand programming for kids in the Decatur area with dance, visual arts, technology, theatre and more music. We are very excited to share more opportunities for arts education with the community, especially for kids who may not have arts programming in their schools, or who would like to explore other artforms beyond music. The MCAA may eventually offer programs for adults too. MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
professional skills, such as networking and
working as part of a design team and learn about handling unusual design requests or types of productions," said Winter. "Since lighting design can be used in so many
different forms of art, and it's such a quickly
growing field, I want to be prepared to work
on as many types of productions as possible." Matt Albrecht, associate professor of theatre and dance and lighting director at Millikin, has served as Winter’s mentor, providing guidance over the last few years.
“He offers advice on not only lighting, but As a student at Millikin, Stark's
experience includes lighting for theatre,
live entertainment and dance. Productions
Stark Winter
featuring Stark's design work include
"Dido and Aeneas," "Solstice: A Concert of Dance" and more. Stark's lighting
design work was also seen in the Millikin
Millikin University’s hands-on learning curriculum in the School of Theatre & Dance offers many unique opportunities to understand the landscape of the industry — especially in the area of live event design. With multiple productions, new equipment and a state-of-the-art Center for Theatre & Dance, it’s these resources that have helped student Stark Winter prepare for the growing field that is lighting design.
productions of "She Loves Me" and "Violet."
“Millikin's Performance Learning has
provided me opportunities I would never have gotten at a lot of other schools,” Winter said.
In fall 2021, Winter became the first Millikin student to be accepted into Electronic Theatre Control's (ETC) Fred Foster Student Mentorship
Program, a prestigious program that
pairs entertainment industry lighting
professionals with students across the LEARN MORE
country. Hosted virtually, the program
millikin.edu/cfa FALL 2021
working as part of a creative team, managing life after graduation, and how to handle
working in an industry where most jobs are short, and connections and networking are
vitally important,” Winter said. “Jana Henry Funderburk has also provided me with so
many chances to learn and grow, and has been a consistent source of constructive criticism
experiences, Winter has learned that being
most important attributes a lighting designer can have.
“So many areas that lighting designers work in are heavily collaborative, and if you're a
fantastic artist but not friendly, you'll have a tough time getting hired,” Winter said.
“On top of that, an artistic eye and an ability to adapt — whether that's to changing
production requirements, budget shifts or new technology.”
Every facet of the live event industry is
evolving especially during a period of so
much uncertainty, and Winter understands
the importance of keeping up with the latest trends.
“Live event design is such a broad field, and it's going through a period of rapid change right now,” Winter said. “Job expectations are changing, what audiences want is
always evolving, and lighting in particular is
booming. Between hundreds of new products and dozens of new pieces of software, people in this industry need to be able to stay ahead of change.”
and help throughout the years.”
This fall, Winter had the rare opportunity to
design a large-scale amusement park show in Kansas City, Mo., and that experience gave
them the perfect chance to learn on the job,
doing what they plan to do after graduation,
and that’s move to Chicago to begin work in the Windy City.
“I enjoy designing for musical theatre as well
as dance, but I'm certainly open to other types of design work based on what I learn from this mentorship, as well as whatever I find
myself enjoying once I've started to establish myself," Winter said.
41
WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
C O L L E GE OF PRO FE S S IO NAL S T U DIE S
COLLEGE OF P R OFESSIONAL STUDIES
ED U CAT I O N M A J O R B R I N G S
AG TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Dr. Pam Lindsey
“The STEM camps focused on science and
special education, which is a passion she
influences everything in our world, down
professors encouraged me to pursue an
agriculture, specifically how agriculture
Dean of the College of Professional Studies
to what we eat and how we produce food,”
The School of Exercise Science and Sport received University and Board of Trustees approvals for a new Master of Science in Athletic Training. While many scholarly activities were slowed due to the pandemic, a number of ESS faculty participated in virtual conferences in their related disciplines. Exercise science students in principles of strength training took the National Council on Strength & Fitness Personal Training Certification examination and demonstrated a 89% pass rate. The national average for 2021 was 70%.
she explained, discussing how students can
Dr. Wendy Kooken began as Director of the School of Nursing on Aug. 1. School of Nursing faculty and students are to be commended for helping to administer thousands of vaccinations and assisting with contact tracing. The National Council Licensure Examination Summary report for 2020 demonstrated a 98% pass rate for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates and a 90% pass rate for the Master’s Entry for Nursing Practice (MENP) graduates. These compare to an overall pass rate nationally of 87% and overall pass rate for Illinois at 88%.
their interests in all types of topics, whether
Dr. Chris Cunnings assumed the role of interim director of the School of Education beginning Aug. 1st. Director Cunnings will be defending the Master of Arts in Teaching at a State Education Preparation & Licensure Board (SEPLB) meeting at Illinois State Board of Education headquarters in Springfield. The MAT is anticipated to roll out in the Fall 2022. The Elementary Education program was named "Exemplary" in the first iteration of IEPP (Illinois Education Preparation Profile) ratings. The School of Education faculty are to be applauded for their support of students, as well as their effective and innovative pedagogical implementations during very challenging teaching and learning circumstances.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
enjoy studying agriculture and benefit from learning about nutrition and diverse career opportunities.
it is food, animals, science or even chemical engineering,” she said.
Through the hands-on opportunities available in Millikin’s Professional Studies program
and encouragement from her professors, such as Dr. Chris Cunnings, Gretchen was able to develop an entire unit to teach hydroponics
Millikin University junior Gretchen Gould is working to bring agriculture back into elementary school classrooms with the help from her professors and inspiration from her internship experiences. Gretchen is an elementary education major in Millikin’s School of Education and is also pursuing an endorsement in special education.
to COVID-19, she found alternative
methods to deliver agricultural education
to a third-grade class. “I love how the School of Education allows us to be creative with
our own lessons and gives us the opportunity to teach things we are passionate about,” Gretchen stated.
to students. She created videos intended
Specifically, Gretchen expressed how she will
agriculture into different subjects like
gained at Millikin directly to her career after
to teach them about how to integrate science and art.
“I really had a passion for it, so I visited a
bunch of local farms to talk about various ways we could implement agriculture
into our educational programs,” Gretchen
be able to apply the lessons and skills she’s
graduation. “Along with the opportunity to explore our interests, Millikin gives us an
opportunity to produce something that will
allowed her to combine her passions for
while also hoping to work with children in
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personally and they want to help you get as connection between students and teachers is something that a larger university may not be able to offer,” she said.
Outside of Gretchen’s passion for
teaching, she is also a member of Millikin University’s softball team, who were the
2021 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season and
tournament champions and qualifiers for the 2021 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. She said that what she’s
learned about working effectively on a team will be important in her future career in education.
Gretchen said that, to her, “Millikin is a small community with a lot of big opportunities.”
she said.
After graduating, Gretchen plans to continue
both teaching and agriculture.
professors have shaped her education.
actually be useful in our future classrooms,”
said. This past summer, she was invited to host a STEM camp for students, which
the positive and supportive influences of her
many opportunities as possible. The close
“Ag gives students an opportunity to express
Gretchen Gould
for,” Gretchen said, further describing how
agriculture in their classrooms, Gretchen set was engaging and connected with students.
her local farm bureau were canceled due
an opportunity I never thought I would go
“The professors really want to know you
out to bring agriculture back in a way that
was running through an internship with
endorsement in special education, which is
After noticing that several local elementary schools had opted out from including
After the farm camps that Gretchen
discovered through Millikin. “A lot of my
teaching elementary agriculture education,
L EAR N MO R E
millikin.edu/cps 43
WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
T A B O R S CH O O L O F B U S INE S S
TABOR SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
LOCKHARTS TAKE ON MILLIKIN TOGETHER Megan was greatly influenced by the
Both Brandon and Megan had unique purposes
business and said that she learned a lot
to be taking on the challenge together. “After
challenging work of opening their
TABOR SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
from the experience. “Professionally, it
RJ Podeschi
taught me a lot of responsibility. We had a lot of people counting on us, and that
Dean of the Tabor School of Business
really caused me to do my best and stay on
for returning to school, but they were happy
learning so much through watching Brandon,
I knew I needed to find something purposeful
for myself. Millikin has a great reputation and is right across the street from our house, so it was
The ground level of ADM/Scovill Hall is currently undergoing a remodel to refresh the space to serve as a gateway to the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as continue to serve the 24/7 collaboration and study needs of students. Plans are being designed for a business accelerator space and business incubator for students to build and collaborate on their entrepreneurial ideas. In addition, the ground level will have comfortable lounge furniture for late night studying. Improvements are projected to be complete in the spring semester.
top of things,” Megan said.
The Tabor Investment Portfolio, the student-managed equity fund, has just eclipsed $500,000. The fund started as a capstone experience for finance majors in 2010, and continues to provide students the opportunity to analyze and evaluate U.S. equities, make recommendations on which securities to buy, hold, or sell, and report to the Board of Trustees on the fund performance.
By 2014, Brandon had also opened
For Brandon and Megan, earning their
which saw quick success thanks to
one another through the journey’s highs and
Tabor continues to provide Performance Learning experiences for students to build their resumes while working toward their degree. First-year students are immersed in business creation and team dynamics to develop new business ideas. Dr. Yuhan ( Jane) Hua and Dr. Marcos Hashimoto teach this introductory course. Students work in teams and partner with volunteer mentors as they develop their business plans. Our volunteer mentors are alumni, business owners and leaders, and experienced professionals who spend time with student teams coaching them through the process. At the end of the semester, a panel of judges from the Decatur community judge all of the business plans in a competition. The students on the winning team get awarded money that can be used for a travel course experience while at Millikin. Management information systems majors are doing back-end and front-end upgrades and maintenance to an organizational chart web application in partnership with Millikin’s IT department. The web application, first built in Professor Ed Weber’s web application course, is due for an upgrade. The new version will include an upgrade to the code base as well as additional feature enhancements. In MU Performance Consulting, an IT-based student-run venture, students from various disciplines continue to build websites for the community and campus. The firm recently agreed to build and host a new commercial site for Main Place Real Estate in Decatur. Dr. Mark Munoz and his global business strategy course, the senior business capstone, are working with Select Registry, a hospitality group, to build a strategic plan for their 260 independently owned hotels and inns across the United States.
She also recalled how watching Brandon
“I decided to sell my barbering business and
“Without realizing it, he has taught me
believe I was fulfilling a significant enough
work toward his dreams motivated her.
how to strive for a purposeful life, to find direction and to get out of my comfort zone to reach my goals,” Megan said.
Lockhart’s Barber College in Decatur,
When Brandon and Megan Lockhart decided to go back to school together and pursue their undergraduate degrees at Millikin University, it was with a wealth of experience and foundation of success already under their belts. The husband and wife pair are the founders and previous owners of Lockhart’s Barber Shop and Lockhart’s Barber College, both successful businesses in Central Illinois, as well as owners of more than 100 rental units.
Brandon and Megan both took classes
his growing reputation and effective
after which, Brandon decided to pursue
Barber Shop featured five locations,
looking for opportunities. “After realizing
college, and was the recipient of several
As members of Millikin’s Class of 2022, they are both
pursuing degrees in accounting. After graduation, they
hope to combine what they’ve learned at Millikin with their previous business experience to build an even brighter future together.
from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill.,
marketing strategy. At its peak, Lockhart’s
his interest in entrepreneurship and began
including four shops and the barber
there weren’t many barbers in Illinois, I
notable awards.
decided to go to barber school, because it allowed me the opportunity to start my
own business. I didn’t plan on barbering forever, but I knew it could be a great
launching pad and learning experience,” he said.
Throughout the experience, Brandon said
built relationships with so many people. I
license in 2012 from Illinois Quad Cities
“I also learned a lot from the business
Ill. Later in 2012, Brandon and Megan
I started from scratch. It taught me the
Shop in Decatur with a small budget and
further interest in business creation and
Barber & Hairstyling College in Moline,
perspective, as this was the first business
were preparing to open Lockhart’s Barber
fundamentals of business and inspired a
a lot of hard work. “My wife, her family
management,” he stated.
the street,” Brandon said.
headed in the right direction,” he concluded.
degrees together has enabled them to support lows. Megan said attending Millikin with her husband has been a great experience.
“Continuing our education has been no easy
feat, and it is just so nice having your best friend with you when times get difficult. It’s also a
great feeling seeing him grow right alongside me,” she said.
most intelligent person I know. She inspires me
importance of serving my community. I
grew a lot in the process,” Brandon said.
take one. I would try to pull people in off
to change paths. “I’m very optimistic that I’m
him in future ventures. “I learned the
license in 2011 and his barber instructor
handed out flyers to anyone who would
purpose,” Brandon said, explaining his decision
Brandon expressed similar sentiments about
and personal connections would influence
Brandon went on to receive his barber
shop ready. We walked around town and
change the direction of my life because I didn’t
that the lessons he learned about business
learned a lot from those connections and
and I handled all the labor to get the
just the perfect option,” Megan said.
In 2018, Brandon and Megan decided
to switch gears by selling their barbering business. Soon after the sale, the pair
began taking classes at Millikin University to earn their undergraduate degrees.
being at Millikin with Megan. “My wife is the every day and I learn and grow just by being
by her side. Doing this together creates such a
strong bond and support system for both of us. I feel so fortunate to have her on this journey with me,” he said.
Along with their busy schedules as Millikin
seniors, the Lockharts stay busy with their large collection of rental properties. Brandon began investing in real estate in 2014 and is also a licensed real estate broker.
The couple, who recently celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary, enjoy spending time with
their two mini-dachshunds, Walter and Henry, and are avid runners in their spare time.
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FALL 2021
45
WRITTEN BY: KENDALL TRUMP, CLASS OF 2013
ALU MNI LE G ACY
ALUMNI LEGACY
BIG BLUE LEGACY PASSED FROM MOTHER TO DAUGHTER
Meg & Olivia Marquardt
The diverse range of opportunities offered at Millikin have helped Olivia develop both in the classroom and in competition. “I've had the opportunity to do so many things outside my comfort zone here,” Olivia said, mentioning how she has gotten the chance to study ballet this semester also.
Class of 1989 & 2023
Though much has changed since her mother attended Millikin University, Olivia Marquardt, Class of 2023, and her mother, Meg, share a timeless bond — competing as part of the Big Blue athletics program. From lifelong friendships with their teammates to learning how to tackle difficulties commonly faced by female athletes, Olivia and Meg’s involvement with Millikin athletics has helped shape their futures.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
As a junior biology (pre-physician’s assistant) major and an accomplished member of Millikin’s women’s swim team, Olivia works hard to balance her schedule. Though Olivia recalled initially not wanting to attend the same university as her mother, the passionate faculty in the biology department and the opportunities on the swim team helped sway her decision toward Millikin. When asked why she chose to join the women’s swim team during her first year on campus, Olivia said she was influenced by the atmosphere surrounding the team and the potential of her recruitment class. She was also excited by the determination from Millikin’s Director of Swimming, Dr. Molly Duesterhaus. “Coach Duesterhaus was excited to get Millikin swimming back to where it used to be,” Olivia said.
FALL 2021
Olivia’s mother, Meg Marquardt, took advantage of several Big Blue sports opportunities before graduating in 1989 with a degree in psychology. While at Millikin, Meg competed in women’s basketball, women’s tennis and softball. The demands of being a multi-sport student-athlete taught her the skills to be successful in a variety of areas. “In order to be my best, I had to be disciplined and put forth my best effort both in the game and the classroom,” Meg recalled. Participating in women’s athletics at Millikin encouraged the motherdaughter duo to recognize and overcome the difficulties faced by amateur and professional female athletes alike. Olivia explains that those obstacles further motivate her. “There is always adversity surrounding women in athletics, whether people are overlooking your accomplishments or undermining your athletic ability. This is simply a reason to work harder,” Olivia said.
inspired her with a similar approach toward overcoming hardship and adversity as a female athlete. “My professors and coaches instilled the attitude to give one hundred percent, and with that, you can achieve your goals and overcome the adversity of being a woman in athletics,” Meg stated. Both mother and daughter went on to express how the relationships with their teammates and the lessons they learned about teamwork proved invaluable to them. Olivia and Meg each formed strong friendships with teammates through countless practices, competitions and time spent together as a team. “Millikin taught me to invest in my teammates,” Olivia explained. “I have definitely gained lifelong memories and friends from my time on the swim team,” she said. This year, Millikin University celebrates 50 years of Women in Athletics. During this celebration, Millikin recognizes the pioneering efforts of women who paved the way for future generations of female student-athletes to compete in Big Blue athletics and honors the legacy of all Millikin women who have worn the Big Blue with pride.
Sharing in her daughter’s sentiment, Meg said that role models at Millikin
47
WRITTEN BY: JEREMY COULTER, CLASS OF 2000
F ACU LT Y S PO T LIG H T
FACULTY SP OTLIGHT
EXPLORER OF KNOWLEDGE A self-described “explorer of knowledge,” this Tabor School of Business professor takes Millikin’s Performance Learning model into uncharted waters
Millikin University faculty are well-known for their innovative work with students. Across all areas of study, through the University’s hallmark Performance Learning model, Millikin’s faculty give students unprecedented access to hands-on, real-world experiences that fuel their growth, providing them with a level of confidence and cool expertise that most students don’t develop until graduate school.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
The groundbreaking Performance Learning work being done by Dr. J. Mark Munoz is no different. As a prolific author, global award-winner and dedicated professor, Munoz has consistently found ways to turn his personal and professional passions into a curriculum that takes Tabor School of Business students into uncharted waters. “I have learned over time that our students are so talented and always come up with amazing ideas,” Munoz said. “Some of these ideas come up at the tail-end of the project, when key research has been done and we desperately need fresh strategies and solutions. I have developed so much respect and admiration for the abilities of our students — when it’s time to deliver, they always do.” Case in point: Munoz’s International Business Consulting students have worked with governments around the world to develop economic and branding strategies that impact the populations of entire countries. On two occasions Munoz has led teams of Millikin students as consultants for Ecuador. In 2017, Millikin students developed a market strategy for the country as it sought to enter the U.S. handicrafts market.
Haley Hogenkamp, Class of 2017, was one of the 11 students involved with the project. “It was an incredibly formative experience for me as an undergraduate,” she said. “At the beginning of our project, we had no idea just how immense the undertaking of the project would be. Additionally, it was high stakes.” Government officials from Ecuador reached out again in 2019, asking Munoz and his students to take on a branding project to boost tourism in the Ecuadorian province of Imbabura, which led to work on a global branding strategy for the entire country. These global opportunities have continued, even during the pandemic: “As a class, we developed a global branding strategy for Liberia under a fully online format. It was the first time this course was taught online. Thankfully … our students can adapt and reinvent themselves and find new ways to learn and complete projects.” From one project to the next, Munoz has seen this global work fuel the growth and development of his students in several ways.
Dr. Mark Munoz “One, students gain a stronger international perspective — they learn to appreciate foreign countries and cultures and the intricacies of doing business overseas. Second, they develop heightened research and analytical skills, discovering how to do comprehensive market research in foreign environments … And third, they experience global citizenship. They realize that they are part of a global community and can leverage their talents and abilities to make a real difference in the world.”
FALL 2021
Munoz has been modeling that global approach his entire career — a career that includes publishing more than 25 books across a diverse array of disciplines, from AI to entrepreneurship to a recent topic that takes a decidedly personal look at his life’s work. “One of my recent books, ‘Creating a Business and Personal Legacy,’ was written from the heart. I hope the book helps others think about how they want to be remembered and what contributions they can make to the world. … We all have the potential to make a difference in a profound way. A key part of Millikin University’s mission is to prepare students to live a life of meaning and value. I have made it a point to weave in key lessons from the book in all my classes.”
Part of Munoz’s legacy is the professional recognition he has received throughout his career — and his recognition of how fundamental his time at Millikin has been as a part of that legacy. “I learned a lot from our community, honed my skills here and received a lot of support. The mentoring I received from Millikin professors early in my career helped me develop my teaching skills. My students have always been my ‘compass’ and served as a source of inspiration in my work as a teacher, author and researcher.”
No doubt his students would say the same.
49
CLASS NOTES
CLAS S NO T E S
Dana Williams, Class of 1998,
1964
Allen Kaisor, Class of 1964, Smithton, Ill., is celebrating 60 years in the field of banking. Allen began his career in June of 1960 as a bookkeeper at Northtown Bank in Decatur while attending Millikin University. Upon graduation, Allen worked at several banks, but became president at a bank in 1972 at age 29. Allen retired as president of Buena Vista National Bank in Chester, Ill., in 2015. He remains on the board of directors for that bank. Patricia Moore Hopkins,
Class of 1966, Ottawa, Ill., retired from teaching after 34 years. She taught music and first grade in addition to directing at the same church for more than 50 years.
1972
Claudia Murphy,
Class of 1972, Maryville, Ill., retired on March 25, 2021, from the Central Intelligence Agency after 23 years as a finance officer.
Jeanette Hope,
Class of 1986, Lake Villa, Ill., retired in December 2008 as a major from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service. Jeanette works with Assured Healthcare in the Chicago area. She has held positions as a substitute school nurse and now gives COVID-19 vaccinations to staff at local high schools and the Lake County Fairgrounds.
Daniel Kampwerth, Class of 1986, Breese, Ill., accepted a position at First Federal Savings Bank as the vice president and loan officer. Daniel and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Breese with their two dogs, Lincoln and Riley. Bryan Smith, Class of 1987, Decatur,
was elected on April 6, 2021, to a fouryear term as town clerk for Long Creek Township.
1993
Randall Parson, Class of 1975,
Decatur, retired January 2021 from Bickes Inc.
Daniel Swihart, Class of 1994, Des Plaines, Ill., married Dede Demski Swihart. Kelly Wamser Remijan, Class of 1996, Belleville, Ill., wrote “Flag Designs of African Countries: Enriching the Graphing of Linear Equations and Inequalities.” which was published in the Lighthouse Almanac by the Benjamin Banneker Association. Most recently, Kelly presented “Meaningful Math: Activities, Applications and Career Connections for Algebra and Geometry Concepts” at the National NCTM Virtual Conference. Kelly is a PD and curriculum specialist with Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy – Center for Teaching and Learning, as well as director-at-large for the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Ind., was elected as the vice president of the Chancel Players of Lafayette, a notfor-profit theatre company in Lafayette. Chancel Players is dedicated to providing the community and its churches entertaining, thought-provoking plays with a moral and ethical focus from the Judeo-Christian perspective.
Brenda Urfer Elliott, Class
CLASS NOTES SUBMITTED MAR. 1, 2021 - AUG. 30, 2021
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2001
Caylee French Noggle, Class
of 2001, Atlanta, Ga., was appointed to serve as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health on July 1, 2021.
Paula Tuetken Ake, Class of 2003, pictured here with 2020 Marquette High School graduate who decided to attend Millikin.
Brian Parrish, Class of 2010, and Ashley Nelson-Parrish, Class
Kyle Borcz, Class of 1997, Lafayette,
1983 of 1983, Chatham, Ill., started a new position July 1, 2020, as the director of apprenticeship programming at Lincoln Land Community College. Brenda is developing a pipeline between the staffing needs of businesses and the programs Lincoln Land offers. She works with businesses to develop programs that combine the right mixture of education and on-the-job training.
Cottage Grove, Minn., works as an adult services librarian at Park Grove Library, Cottage Grove. In this position, Dana creates a lifelong program for adults and maintains the materials in the collection at the library.
Paula Tuetken Ake, Class of 2003, pictured here with 2020 Marquette High School graduate who decided to attend Millikin.
Paula Tuetken Ake, Class of
2003, St. Peters, Mo., accepted a position at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Mo., as a college and career counselor. In this position, Paula helps students discover their passions and set out on a path to achieving their post-secondary goals.
Elizabeth Marie Safranski,
Class of 2004, Springfield, Ill., celebrated 15 years of service as a traffic modeler at Hanson Professional Services Inc.
Corwin earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a somatic concentration.
Lori Hoffman Frater, Class of
Dr. Heather Corwin, Class of
1993, Oak Park, Ill., is now co-owner of Lake Behavioral Health Associates in River Forest, Ill. Corwin is one of two therapists at Lake Behavioral Health Associates who help people address a variety of psychological challenges.
Adam Sursa, Class of 1998, Knoxville,
Tenn., accepted a promotion at Humana as a senior market manager. Adam won Humana’s top President’s Club award each of the past 4 years.
of 2009, both of Ballwin, Mo., celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary this past summer. They took their three children to Millikin’s campus to show them where they first met, fell in love and shared so many memories with friends and faculty.
Mount Vernon, Ill., is completing her third year of law school at Massachusetts School of Law – Dartmouth. She is interning under Representative Christopher Hendricks in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives. She serves as both the president of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternityand vice president of Legal Association Against Sexual Exploitation. She is also a 3L (third year) representative for the Student Bar Association.
2012
Megan Jackson, Class of 2012, Troy, Ill., accepted a position as a youth services supervisor at St. Charles City-County Library in Missouri. Megan will be overseeing all youth services at the Kathryn Linnemann Branch. Alexandrea Groves, Class of 2013,
2008, Springfield, Ill., welcomed a daughter, Lucy Rose, on July 10, 2021.
Superior, Wis., is employed by the University of Wisconsin-Superior as an upward bound coordinator.
Jeremy Polley, Class of 2009, Elgin,
Brittany A. Walsh, Class of 2017,
S.C., started a new position at the University of South Carolina as a coordinator and instructor of Music Industry Studies. Polley earned a master’s in music, music history and performance – guitar.
Megan Owens, Class of 2019,
Roselle, Ill., accepted a position as the assistant director of admissions at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, Ind.
millikin.edu/alumni MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
FALL 2021
51
F ACU LT Y ME MO RIAL
MEMOR IALS
ALUMNI & FRI ENDS MEMORIALS Barbara McCrory Jasper, Class of 1956, Oreana, Ill., August 7, 2021.
Arvid Adell Roscoe, Ill., May 13, 2021
Dr. Adell began teaching at Millikin University in 1970, later becoming chairman of the Philosophy Department. A beloved professor, he also coached basketball and golf during his tenure at Millikin before his retirement in 2013. Dr. Adell was the pastor of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Decatur until 2000.
ALUMNI & FRI ENDS MEMORIALS Marian Ann Olson Allen, Class of 1946, Mason City, Ill., March 22, 2021.
Victor Lanzotti, Class of 1950, Springfield, Ill., April 28, 2021.
Doris Smith Trapkus, Class of 1951, Naples, Fla., July 12, 2021.
Robert Birchfield, Class of 1955, Woodstock, Ill., December 29, 2019.
Charlotte Caldwell Frantz, Class of 1946, Bozeman, Mont., April 11, 2021.
Robert Roberts, Class of 1950, Decatur, April 22, 2021.
Donald Trimmer, Class of 1952, Mansfield, Texas, May 2021.
Gerald Brilley, Class of 1955, Forsyth, Ill., August 11, 2021.
Marilyn Jean Markley McLaren, Class of 1946, Houston, Texas, March 3, 2021.
Roy Baker, Class of 1951, Springfield, lll., January 17, 2021.
William Strandt, Class of 1953, Hilton Head Island, S.C., January 22, 2021.
David Carr, Class of 1951, Toledo, Ohio, June 5, 2021.
Daniel Weisman, Class of 1953, Springfield, lll., April 13, 2021.
Ruth Ann Butts Murray, Class of 1955, East Greenwich, R.I., June 4, 2021.
Guido Guidotti, Class of 1954, Cambridge, Mass., April 5, 2021.
Suzanne Poppleton Steiner, Class of 1955, Orrville, Ohio, April 17, 2021.
Bob Sefton, Class of 1954, Evanston, Ill., February 3, 2021.
Floyd Stradley, Class of 1955, Kankakee, Ill., June 15, 2021.
Mary Rominger Dickinson, Class of 1947, Ventura, Calif., June 21, 2021. LaVerne Crackel Dollahite, Class of 1947, Decatur, Ala., April 15, 2021. Barbara Barta, Class of 1950, Glen Ellyn, Ill., June 2, 2021. June Vermillion Elwyn, Class of 1950, Sparta, Ill., May 25, 2021.
MIL LIKIN MAGAZI N E
Burton “Bob” Evans, Class of 1951, of Atlanta, Ga., May 1, 2021. Norma Hudson Lockmiller, Class of 1951, Decatur, July 28, 2021. Leland Riggins, Class of 1951, Monticello, Ill., May 28, 2021.
Dorothy Whitmer Sexton, Class of 1954, Franklin, Ind., July 12, 2021.
Carolyn Tenney McKelvey, Class of 1955, Leawood, Kan., June 16, 2021.
Lawrence Turner, Class of 1955, Decatur, August 16, 2021. Barbara Ann Van Gundy Wills, Class of 1955, of Tuscola, Ill., May 10, 2021.
Albert Journey, Class of 1960, Bethalto, Ill., April 17, 2021.
John Schnittker, Class of 1956, May 12, 2021.
Judith Lynn Hagebush Larson, Class of 1960, Clinton, Ill., March 9, 2021.
Kent Brown, Class of 1957, Phoenix, Ariz., December 21, 2020.
Lauralee “Lee” Wheeler Cohen, Class of 1961, Decatur, July 9, 2021.
Lois Peter Ferre, Class of 1957, Parker, Colo., August 13, 2021.
Roger Baum, Class of 1962, Fountain Valley, Calif., March 15, 2021.
Mary Sue Whaley Butcher, Class of 1958, Decatur, June 5, 2021.
Virginia “Ginny” Nicholson Nichols, Class of 1962, Decatur, June 10, 2021.
Donald Garnett, Class of 1958, Watervliet, Mich., December 14, 2020.
Marcia Conway Ritchie, Class of 1962, Bloomer, Wis., May 3, 2021.
Sherry Britsch Ritchard, Class of 1958, Aurora, Colo., August 18, 2021.
Roscoe Brady, Class of 1964, Monticello, Ill., July 31, 2021.
Gene Scott, Class of 1958, Indianapolis, Ind., February 23, 2021. Albert Babb, Class of 1959, Jensen Beach, Fla., August 4, 2021. J. Phillips Carnock, Class of 1959, New Berlin, Wis., April 11, 2021. Mona Ann Slater Kaiser, Class of 1959, Champaign, Ill., August 10, 2021. Maryann Moore Parker, Class of 1959, Decatur, January 29, 2021. Richard Gardner, Class of 1960, Morton, Ill., May 11, 2021.
S U PPO R T
MEMORIAL GIFTS CAN BE MADE IN HONOR OF LOVED ONES AT:
millikin.edu/memorialgift FALL 2021
Bonnie Sue Brooks, Class of 1964, El Paso, Texas, March 3, 2020. Mikal Rasheed, Class of 1965, Chicago, July 7, 2021. Frank Werstein, Class of 1967, Canoga Park, Calif., June 23, 2021. Nelda Elizabeth Dalluge, Class of 1968, Blue Mound, Ill., June 23, 2021. James Gollings, Class of 1968, Decatur, May 12, 2021. David Houck, Class of 1969, Greencastle, Ill., February 14, 2021. Joseph Kohlrus, Class of 1969, Springfield, Ill., February 25, 2021.
Michael “Mike” Dearing, Class of 1979, Mackinaw, Ill., May 27, 2021.
Susanne Elliot Manner, Class of 1969, of New York City, N.Y., February 24, 2021. Susanne married her Millikin University sweetheart, John T. Manner, on August 26, 1967.
Cynthia Reed, Class of 1980, Decatur, March 28, 2021. Gary Simms, Class of 1980, Oakley, Ill., August 13, 2021.
Lawrence Altmansberger, Class of 1970, Belleville, Ill., December 14, 2020.
John Semple Jr., Class of 1981, Schaumburg, Ill., July 17, 2021.
Jeffrey Boone, Class of 1970, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 24, 2021.
Frank Neal, Class of 1982, San Diego, Calif., May 21, 2021.
Joyce Ann Baker Courtois, Class of 1971, Festus, Mo., August 15, 2021.
Robert “Bob” Lourash, Class of 1987, Decatur, May 2, 2021.
Dwight Hill, Class of 1971, Decatur, March 24, 2021.
R. Joan Hendon Bird, Class of 1988, Decatur, August 2, 2021.
Jack Rogers, Class of 1972, Wichita, Kan., February 2, 2021.
Brent Zwick, Class of 1993, Peoria, Ill., May 8, 2021.
Daniel Morrison, Class of 1974, Elkhart, Ill., March 12, 2021.
Dolores Folkerts, Class of 1994, Roxana, Ill., January 18, 2021.
Michele Connelly, Class of 1976, Memphis, Tenn., April 10, 2021.
Michael Anderson, Class of 1995, Peoria, Ill., March 6, 2021.
Dorothy Meyer Osthus, Class of 1976, Springfield, Ill., August 22, 2021. Brian Watkins, Class of 1976, Raymond, Wis., April 5, 2021. James “Jim” Douglass, Class of 1977, Decatur, August 12, 2021. Judith Marshall Kuypers, Class of 1977, Homer Glen, Ill., August 13, 2021. David Rupert, Class of 1978, Decatur, March 13, 2021.
Charles Bostic, parent of MeLinda Bostic Potter, Class of 2001, Danville, Ill., August 17, 2021. Memorial contributions may be made to Millikin University. Michelle “Mickey” Hrvol, Class of 2006, Sullivan, Ill., June 10, 2021. Bruce Leonard, friend, Decatur, July 31, 2021. Founder of the Millikin University J. Graham Provan History Prize and Scholarship.
MEMORIALS SUBMITTED MAR. 1, 2021 - AUG. 30, 2021 53
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