CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Michael Jordan’s son, Jeff, is leaving the Illinois basketball team after two seasons.
The former walk-on guard surprised nearly everyone Wednesday by announcing that he plans to focus on his studies, just a few months after Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Jordan had a chance to earn more playing time and even a leadership role during his junior year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4284085
May 5th, 2009
1989 – Jerome Walton earned Rookie Of The Year hitting .293 with 24 stolen bases. Fans took notice when he ran up a 30 game hitting streak and became a fan favorite.
In seasons he played over 100 games, that was his best season as his average and stolen bases were tops his rookie year.
In 1990 Walton hit .263, then in 1991 his hitting slipped to .219, and finally he hit .127 to end his Cubs career and joined the then California Angels
2008 – Geovany Soto earned Rookie Of The Year hitting .284 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI’s. He was the first rookie to ever start at catch for the National League in the All Star Game.
This season Soto is hitting .215, with 1 home run and 12 RBI’s.
June 3, 2009
MACOMB, IL — You could say that firefighters and Western Illinois University have a rock solid relationship. Perhaps “brick” solid would be a better way to put it, as the relationship between fire service personnel and Western Illinois University is forever commemorated through a brick inscribed with WIU’s logo, which has been placed in the Walk of Honor at the recently constructed National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.
The relationship between members of the fire service field and WIU is forged through WIU’s unique Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP) that, according to BOT/BA Director Richard Carter, enables fire service personnel from across the United States to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution without losing time on the job.
“Western Illinois University’s BOT/BA degree program is one of the seven original Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) institutions and programs selected to charter the DDP, a higher education project of the National Fire Academy,” explained Carter. “The program provides online access to higher education for all fire service personnel, and the National Fire Academy selected WIU as one of seven institutions because of the BOT/BA degree program and its flexibility. WIU has been affiliated with the National Fire Academy’s DDP since its inception in 1980,” he added.
Last weekend, Carter attended the 11th Annual FESHE Conference in Emmitsburg and took the opportunity to see WIU’s donated brick at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Site.
“Our Western Illinois University brick has been very appropriately placed in a center pod next to the FESHE seal. Such a node is reserved for the FESHE community. A bronze plaque bearing the FESHE program mark is centered within the node and surrounded by bricks purchased by colleges and universities that have academic fire programs and state fire training academies,” Carter said.
According to Carter, bricks will continue to be added to the park in Emmitsburg, and work continues on various memorial plazas, as well as on the visitors’ information center.
“It is the first permanent park in the U.S. that honors all members of the fire service, and plaques around the monument bear the names of more than 2,900 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since 1981,” explained Ronald Jon Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “When completed, the landscaped walkway will connect the different sections of Memorial Park — the National Monument, the historical Fallen Firefighters Chapel and the Memorial Plaza,” he added.
“It is a true honor to know that Western continues to be an active part of preparing future firefighters and leaders within the fire services field,” Carter noted. “Our investment in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for this brick serves as a statement of importance of education in changing the culture of firefighter safety.”
For more information about WIU’s BOT/BA degree program, visit wiu.edu/BOTdegree or contact Carter at (309) 298-1929 or R-Carter@wiu.edu. Visit WIU’s BOT/BA program on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Macomb-IL/WIU-Board-of-Trustees-Bachelor-of-Arts-BOTBA-Degree-Program/45519622420.
Learn more about the Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP) at wiu.edu/ses/distance and about the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education project at usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/higher_ed/feshe/feshe_ddp.shtm.
Copy By: Teresa Koltzenburg
June 17, 2009
MACOMB, IL – - Kids of all ages will enjoy the opening Summer Music Theatre production of “Seussical” Friday-Saturday, June 19-20, and Thursday-Saturday, June 25, 26 and 27 at Western Illinois University’s Hainline Theatre. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Join narrator Cat in the Hat, played by senior musical theatre major Josh Huppert (Oswego, IL), as he guides the youngster JoJo, played by Kellan Smith, son of Chris and Rachel Smith of Macomb, on a fun journey through the magical world of Dr. Seuss.
Various Seuss stories are set to music including “Horton Hears a Who” and “Gertrude McFuzz,” and then tied together into one unforgettable celebration of perhaps the greatest children’s literature of all time, said Ray Gabica, director and theatre professor.
“Seussical” the musical follows the adventures of the elephant Horton, played by senior music business major Dan Reem (Macomb), who one day hears voices coming from a speck of dust.
All of the favorite Seuss characters come to life including Gertrude McFuzz, played by junior musical theatre major Anna Zerwer (East Peoria, IL), and Mayzie, played by junior musical theatre major Alexandra “Alex” Palkovic (Peoria, IL).
The musical also includes the following characters and cast:
Mr. Mayor – Chad Tallon (Essex, IL), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) student, theatre-acting
Mrs. Mayor – Susan Brummet (Hollister, CA), MFA student, theatre-acting
Sour Kangaroo – Erin Glasnovich (Rio, IL), senior, musical theatre major
Baby Kangaroo – Rhapsody Courson (Macomb)
Bird Girl 1 – Lily A. Blouin (Anchorage, AK), senior, musical theatre major
Bird Girl 2 – Anna Clined (Macomb)
Bird Girl 3 – Allison Scherer (Geneseo, IL), junior, musical theatre major
Wickasham 1 – Lee Bussie (Round Lake Beach, IL), junior, musical theatre major
Wickasham 2 – Blake Davy (Morris, IL), sophomore, musical theatre major
Wickasham 3 – Joe Deveraux (Macomb), freshman, theatre-acting major
The General – Ashlee Edgemon (Greenwood, IN), MFA student, theatre-acting
Grinch – Dylan Streveler (Macomb)
Yertle – Kimmie Nott (Macomb)
The cast includes some 30 community children – - several in named character roles – - and 26 children cast as Whos, Fish and Who Cadets. They include:
Zachary Zahnle, Ann Astasia Inman, Natalie Kenny, Taryn Wright, Gabe Inman, Ben Walker, Ally Merrett, Minori Aoyagi, Elizabeth Briney, Madeline Inman, Julianna Kessler, Alyssa Lester, Macyn Seaver, Katelyn Whiteside, Allison Cumbie, Maggie Dexter, Kathryn Hays, Michelle Kenny, Natalie Kirwan, Claudia Ngati, Shannon Roon, Lizzy Rabchuk, Callie VanHootegem and Will Inman.
Ben Clemmens is playing Vlad the Hawk, and Minori Aoyagi is the Hunter.
Summer Music Theatre will also present “All Shook Up,” Thursday-Friday, July 2-3, and Thursday-Saturday, July 9, 10 and 11; and “Little Shop of Horrors” Friday-Saturday, July 17-18, and Thursday-Saturday, July 23, 24 and 25.
Three-show season tickets are $50. Individual show tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens age 62 and older and $10 for children 12 years old and younger. Call the Hainline Theatre Box Office, (309) 298-2900, between noon-5 p.m. weekdays.
For more information, contact Western’s theatre and dance department at (309) 298-1543.
Copy By: Bonnie Barker
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with outfielder Brett Jackson, the club’s first-round selection (31st overall) in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, pending a physical.
http://mystateline.com/content/fulltext_sports?cid=77971
June 24, 2009
MACOMB, IL — A farewell reception for Dan Hendricks, vice president of advancement and public services (VPAPS) at Western Illinois University, will be held from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 in the University Union Lamoine Room. Hendricks leave Western June 30 to pursue other professional opportunities.
Hendricks began his tenure as vice president for advancement and public services at Western Illinois University in August 2005. Since joining Western’s administration, he has added prospect research and campaign support services staff in the Office of the Vice President for Advancement and Public Services; and development directors have been hired in each college, as well as for the WIU-Quad Cities and the University Libraries.
During his time at Western, Hendricks has directed the most successful fundraising years in the University’s history, and has successfully initiated Western’s current comprehensive campaign.
Prior to joining Western’s administrative staff, Hendricks was the special assistant to the president for advancement and operations, Louisiana State University (LSU) Alumni Association. Hendricks received his bachelor’s from DePauw University and his master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University.
Copy By: Darcie Shinberger
June 23, 2009
MACOMB, IL — For the fifth consecutive year, Western Illinois University has received an Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grant for energy efficient lighting upgrades on the WIU-Macomb campus.
The most recent grant, which totals $$170,616, will allow Physical Plant staff to upgrade lighting in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant facility. The projects consist of retrofitting existing fluorescent lighting fixtures with high efficiency electronic ballasts and lamps that use 35 percent less energy than the original equipment, according to Benjamin Dedjoe, Physical Plant electrical engineer. The new high efficiency lighting will reduce air conditioning loads in summer, as well as electrical demand during high cost periods of peak electrical usage.
Last year Western received $210,606 to upgrade lighting in Tillman, Sallee, Browne, Brophy and Horrabin halls. Since receiving the initial grant funding in 2003, Western has upgraded lighting eight buildings on the WIU-Macomb campus.
“Improving environmental sustainability is a priority for the University,” said Western Vice President for Administrative Services Jackie Thompson. “We’re happy that Western continues to receive funding to implement additional energy conservation programs.”
The total cost of the project is $407,871, with WIU providing $237,255 in addition to the Illinois Clean Energy grant.
According to Dedjoe, the completed project in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant is expected to result in nearly $82,000 in costs savings per year and will also contribute to a reduction in air-born pollution emissions from power generating plants. Post-retrofit lighting levels is of equivalent or higher quality than current building lighting levels. Lighting efficiency upgrades are the most common energy management project in older institutional buildings and are usually accomplished with little or no disruption to the occupants or functions in the facility, Dedjoe added.
For more information, contact Dedjoe at (309) 298-1834 or BA-Dedjoe@wiu.edu
Copy By: Darcie Shinberger
June 22, 2009
MACOMB, IL – - Erin O’Connor, a Western Illinois University theatre-acting major and dance minor, was crowned the 2009 Miss Illinois June 20 at the Miss Illinois Pageant in St. Charles. She will advance to the Miss America Pageant, which will be televised live on Jan. 30, 2010 on TLC.
O’Connor (Evergreen Park, IL) was crowned the 2009 Miss Macomb on March 30. Her platform, “Take Care: Skin Cancer Education and Prevention,” is dear to her heart since her mother passed away from the disease. For her talent, O’Connor danced ballet on pointe.
On Monday before the state pageant, O’Connor was presented with a key to the City of Macomb for good luck.
An American Cancer Society volunteer, O’Connor was a team captain in a Spring 2009 Relay for Life event that raised $1,500 for cancer research. She also speaks to children at area schools about skin cancer prevention.
She has performed in University Theatre productions, unrehearsed Shakespeare plays through the theatre department and two major dance shows each year.
O’Connor is the fourth Western Illinois University student to be named Miss Macomb and then win Miss Illinois. It has been a decade since Western’s Marching Leathernecks Band Baton Twirler Amanda Meadows was crowned Miss Illinois (1999). Previous WIU Miss Macomb to Miss Illinois winners were Nancy Beaty (1977) and Carolyn Paulus Woodman (1972). Macomb High School graduating senior Kristin Castillo won the Miss Illinois title in 2001.
Erin is the daughter of Terrence O’Connor of Evergreen Park and a graduate of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School.
Copy By: Bonnie Barker
June 22, 2009
MACOMB, IL — The Western Illinois University Fraternal Order of Police No. 169 is currently accepting applications for book scholarships for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters.
Four $100 book scholarships will be awarded each semester to McDonough County high school graduates attending Western full-time. Members of the FOP and their immediate families are not eligible.
To obtain an application, visit the Office of Public Safety (Mowbray Hall) on the WIU-Macomb campus or send an inquiry to WIU FOP No. 169, P.O. Box 233, Macomb, IL 61455.
Copy By: Darcie Shinberger
