"Hired!" social media campaign highlights 2018 graduates with jobs

A University of Illinois Springfield social media campaign is highlighting students who graduated with a job. The "Hired!" campaign was featured on the UIS Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages in the summer of 2018.

"Hired!" social media campaign highlights recent graduates with jobs

A University of Illinois Springfield social media campaign is highlighting students who graduated with a job. The "Hired!" campaign was featured on the UIS Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages in the Summer of 2017.

UIS to hold 44th commencement ceremony on May 16 in downtown Springfield

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams Streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,606 students eligible to graduate, over 950 will participate in the ceremony.

Because of the large number of graduates and the seating capacity of The Center, it is recommended that no more than six guests attend per graduate, though overflow seating will be provided.

Tickets are not required for admission and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reserved seating, except for special needs such as interpretive services and wheelchairs. The doors to the main floor will open at 3 p.m.

Chicago PR executive Thom Serafin is the UIS Commencement speaker 

The UIS Commencement speaker will be UIS alum Thom Serafin founder and CEO of Serafin & Associates, Inc., a leading Chicago communications, media relations and public affairs firm, whose diverse clientele includes multinational corporations, regional, local and state businesses and non-profit organizations.

“I am delighted that Thom Serafin, a distinguished graduate of the UIS Public Affairs Program, will address our graduates at the 2015 Commencement,” said UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. “His outstanding record of achievement in public affairs and communications is a testament, not only to Thom’s exceptional abilities, but also to the great value that his two UIS degrees have brought to his career and his community.”

Before establishing Serafin and Associates, Inc. in the late ‘80s, Serafin enjoyed a successful career as a political/legislative correspondent, which began as he covered the Illinois General Assembly for network radio.

Throughout his career, Serafin has advised numerous high-profile national and state policy makers. He served as press secretary for U.S. Senator Alan Dixon and U.S. Representative Dan Rostenkowski and was the Illinois campaign manager for Senator Gary Hart’s 1988 presidential bid.

His broad insight into political and governmental arenas has put him in great demand as a political analyst. Both knowledgeable, and often entertaining, he is regularly featured on national and Chicago TV and radio news programs.

Serafin earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from UIS in 1973 and a master’s degree in public affairs reporting in 1993. As an undergraduate, he assisted his professor and mentor, future U.S. Senator Paul Simon, in launching the UIS Public Affairs Reporting program (PAR). Thom endows an ongoing PAR scholarship.

Thom’s advocacy work on behalf of UIS has been extensive. He’s been chairman of the UIS Campus Alumni Advisory Board since 2006 and regularly offers his business expertise and resources to advance the mission of UIS. In 2010, Thom received the UIS William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate Leadership.

Faculty & student marshals announced 

Ted Mims, professor and head of the Computer Science Department, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Blake Hudson, who will graduate with a Master of Public Administration degree.

Faculty and students in each academic program select one graduating student who best exemplifies the goals and spirit of that program to serve as student marshal for the ceremony.

This year’s marshals are:

Accountancy: Sandra K. Huxtable – B.A. (Peoria), Elizabeth Marie Kesinger – B.A., Sara Sulamoyo – M.A.

Biology: Justin Daniel Sawyer – B.S., Logan Tyler Benedict – M.S.

Business Administration: Kristen Nicole Shaffer – B.B.A., Preston Todd Searl (Peoria) – M.B.A., Justin Charles Gumbel – M.B.A.

Chemistry: Jessica Leigh Krueger – B.S.

Clinical Laboratory Science: Aaron Cy Nightingale – B.S.

Communication: Kate McKenzi Catalano – B.A., Libby J. Bair – M.A.

Computer Science: Hayden Louis Esker – B.S., Andrew Oldfield – M.S.

Criminal Justice: Jonathan Wesley Powell – B.A.

Economics: Joseph Nicholas Langman – B.A.

Educational Leadership: David Ryan Van Aken – M.A.

English: Dana Papanikolaou – B.A.

Environmental Sciences: Kelsey Louise Townsend – M.S.

Environmental Studies: Alec J. Bergschneider – B.A., Jacquelyn A. DeBatista – M.A.

Global Studies: Shelby L. Bedford – B.A.

History: Benjamin B. Johnson – B.A., Susan Rebecca Dunne – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Timothy Roger Moody – M.A.

Human Services: Robert Colin Gilstrap – M.A.

Legal Studies: Julia Rae Westerfield – B.A., Kelly Phillips – M.A.

Liberal and Integrative Studies: Nicholas Lloyd Webb – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Larry M. Brown – B.A.

Management: Gary Michael Huwe (Peoria) – B.A., Jacob Aandrew Wherley – B.A.

Management Information Systems: Eric Frederick Seling – B.S., Collin Anthony Madding – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Michael Remington Walker – B.A.

Philosophy: Dimas C. Flores – B.A.

Political Science: Michelle Danielle Tuma – B.A., James G. Wilson – M.A.

Psychology: Trenton J. Adams – B.A.

Public Administration: Manuel Talavera – M.P.A., Michael Lee Woods – D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Seth Alexander Richardson – M.A.

Public Health: Hima Bindu Kondragunta – M.P.H.

Social Work: Katherine Marie Johnson – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Lisa Nicole Gregory – B.A.

Teacher Leadership: Cynthia Marie Arnold – M.A.

Visual Arts: Alexander B. Johnson – B.A.

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, including a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 8. Separate brunches for CAP Honors graduates and online degree graduates are scheduled for Saturday morning, May 16.

Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available from the commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

The ceremony will be webcast live at www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html. DVD copies of the ceremony can be purchased from the Office of Electronic Media for $25. Orders can be placed by phone at 217/206-6799 or at http://go.uis.edu/CommencementDVD.

For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

43rd Commencement marks new beginning for UIS students

Watch the full UIS Commencement Ceremony

The University of Illinois Springfield held its 43rd Commencement ceremony on May 17, 2014 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in downtown Springfield. For many students the day marked an important milestone, as years of hard work, culminated in a single event.

UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch presided over the ceremony, welcoming the crowd of around 6,000 people. A total of 740 students took part in the ceremony, walking across the stage and shaking Koch’s hand.

“Like the other two campuses of the U of I, we are ‘transforming lives and serving society’ in Illinois and far beyond,” said Koch. “We make a difference in the world. In saying that, I am not talking about an abstract ideal. I am talking specifically about each of you, our graduates – about your own future aspirations, contributions and achievements.”

Koch also congratulated first generation college graduates, thanked family members for supporting their students, and thanked members of the military.

Chancellor Koch was joined on the stage by campus leaders and University of Illinois President Robert A. Easter who reflected on what students have learned at UIS.

“You are world-ready critical thinkers with the ability to communicate, to analyze, to innovate and to adapt,” said Easter. “You have the tools needed to flourish in your first job, and the capacity to build on those talents and adjust to a fast-changing, global workplace that will no doubt look much different 10, 25 or 50 years from now.”

The 2014 Commencement address was delivered by UIS alum Donovan Pepper who is now national director of local government relations for Walgreens. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political studies from UIS. As a student leader in the early 1990s, he was so highly regarded as Student Government Association president that his peers renamed the student leadership award after him while he was still a student. In 2008 he was honored with the University of Illinois Alumni Association Loyalty Award for exceptional alumni service.

Pepper spoke to the graduates about his experiences at UIS and how they prepared him for his current career with Walgreens. He ended his speech by challenging graduates to get involved.

“I am challenging you today to share your time, talents and treasures beyond your soon-to-be new or current employer, or in the pursuit of another degree, or simply with your family and friends,” said Pepper. “There are people, places and causes outside of your sphere of influence that need your time, talents and treasures.”

Zachary Sullivan, the student speaker who earned a master’s degree in political science, started his speech by thanking UIS administrators, the Board of Trustees, staffers, and friends and family for their support of his fellow students. Sullivan reflected on his time at UIS and some of the more memorable moments.

"There are so many things that we will miss," said Sullivan. "Hilarious conversations in the PAC Food Emporium, all of the Welcome Week activities on campus, the excitement felt when a major internship or a good grade would come through, and of course, the craziness known as Springfest!"

Sullivan spoke about his choice as a non-traditional transfer student to return to college and first earn his bachelor’s and now his master’s degree from UIS. He spoke about the numerous leadership opportunities available to UIS students and how those experiences have changed him. He ended his speech by asking his fellow students to take Leadership lived a step further.

“We now possess the tools and know-how to make profound differences in our world,” said Sullivan. “Utilize these traits, and you will be fine. By getting involved on our communities, we can make this world a better place. It will require a lot of hard work, but in the long run, it will be worth it to you, and to those around you.”

Also at the ceremony, business leader Evelyn Brandt Thomas was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She is the co-owner of BRANDT, a multi-million dollar international agriculture company based in Springfield.

University of Illinois Trustee Karen Hasara, UIS Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Lynn Pardie, UIS Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tim Barnett, and UIS alumni speaker John Lowder also took part in the ceremony.

Photos and more video are available at the commencement website: www.uis.edu/commencement/.

UIS to hold 43rd commencement ceremony on May 17 in downtown Springfield

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,311 students eligible to graduate, 732 will participate in the ceremony.

Tickets are not required for admission and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reserved seating except for special needs such as interpretive services and wheelchairs. The doors to the main floor of the center will open at 3 p.m.

Walgreens executive Donovan Pepper is the UIS Commencement speaker 

The UIS Commencement speaker will be UIS alum Donovan Pepper, national director of local government relations for Walgreens. He is responsible for local legislative and lobbying efforts at the municipal and county levels in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Pepper earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political studies from UIS. As a student leader in the early 1990s, he was so highly regarded as Student Government Association president that his peers renamed the student leadership award after him while he was still a student. For the past twenty years and counting, the SGA leader who demonstrates the most outstanding leadership earns the Donovan Pepper Award.

Prior to his position at Walgreens, Pepper served as director of government relations for the Illinois Restaurant Association. He also worked for SBC (now AT&T) and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and served on the appropriations and substantive committee staff for the Illinois House Democrats, where he focused on areas of transportation, higher education and consumer protection.

He serves on the board of directors of the Civic Federation, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, HFS Chicago Scholars, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council, the Schaumburg Business Association, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association. He is the past President of the Chicago Area Public Affairs Group (CAPAG).

Pepper received the UIS Alumni Association Loyalty Award for exceptional alumni service in 2008. Despite all of this, Pepper considers his most significant moment at UIS as meeting his future wife, Heidi Waltner-Pepper, who is also a UIS graduate (M.A., Community Arts Management). They have two children.

Evelyn Brandt Thomas to be awarded honorary doctorate degree

Business leader Evelyn Brandt Thomas will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She is the co-owner of BRANDT, a multi-million dollar international agriculture company based in Springfield.

Today, at 90 years of age, Brandt Thomas continues to perform an active role in the business, going to work nearly every day. She has also been active in philanthropy for many years, making significant contributions to 4-H and many other non-profit organizations in central Illinois as well as to the University of Illinois campuses in Springfield and Urbana. She has encouraged women to pursue careers in business through her support of the Evelyn Brandt Thomas Scholarship at UIS.

Faculty & student marshals announced 

Donald Morris, Professor of Accountancy, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Zachary Sullivan, who will graduate with a master’s degree in political science.

Faculty and students in each academic program select one graduating student who best exemplifies the goals and spirit of that program to serve as student marshal for the ceremony.

This year’s marshals are:

Accountancy: Anna Cadmus – B.A., Megan Canny – M.A.

Biology: Sara Peterson – B.S., Patricia Strutz – M.S.

Business Administration: Daniel Sears - B.B.A., Stacy Bergen - M.B.A., Sripada Kuber – M.B.A. (Peoria)

Chemistry: Ritesh Uppuluri – B.S.

Clinical Laboratory Science: Brittnee Wojciechowski – B.S.

Communication: Aaron Mulvey – B.A., Kecheng Lu – M.A.

Computer Science: Andrew Webb – B.S., Matthew Derber – M.S.

Criminal Justice: Jarod Medbery – B.A.

Economics: Richard Rockwood – B.A.

Educational Leadership: Jennifer Durbin – M.A.

English: Jacob Cross – B.A., Margaret Burns – M.A.

Environmental Sciences: Omonike Ayorinde – M.S.

Environmental Studies: Makenzie Riedle – B.A., Emily Cross – M.A.

Global Studies: Dexter Burns – B.A.

History: Michael Martin – B.A., William Lear – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Lucy Parker – M.A.

Human Services: Sarah Erude – M.A.

Legal Studies: Anna Corcoran – B.A., Monica Prisco – M.A.

Liberal and Integrative Studies: Kathleen Brinkmann – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Sarah Trigg – B.A.

Management: Bobby Lee Stark – B.A. (Peoria), Ashley Tague – B.A.

Management Information Systems: Ankit Patel – B.S., Simi George – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Jacob Boehm – B.A.

Philosophy: Jeffrey Cosby – B.A.

Political Science: Elizabeth Kelly – B.A., Ryan Warner – M.A.

Psychology: Brianna Werner – B.A.

Public Administration: Lauren Gibson – M.P.A., Betsy Goulet - D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Chacour Koop – M.A.

Public Health: Logan Kirbach – M.P.H.

Social Work: Cary Kasten – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Megan Bott – B.A.

Teacher Leadership: Caryn Tierney – M.A.

Visual Arts: Jemilla Sadick Raji – B.A.

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, beginning with a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 9. Separate brunches for CAP Honors graduates and online degree graduates are scheduled for Saturday morning, May 17.

Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available from the commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

The ceremony will be webcast live at www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html. DVDs ($25) can also be ordered from the Office of Electronic Media, phone 217/206-6799. For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

Under the Dome teaches students about careers in state government

High school students from around Illinois got a behind the scenes look at state government during the University of Illinois Springfield's annual "Under the Dome" day on April 8, 2014.

“They see how bills get passed, how they get introduced, how lobbyists work, and how staffers work,” said Joan Sestak, UIS director of community relations. “It gives them an opportunity to see in-depth what it’s like to work in state government.”

The students started their day at UIS where they boarded buses to the Illinois State Capitol. Once they arrived, they took a tour, learned about the legislative process, and met with lawmakers.

“Especially for someone like me, who wants to go into politics, it is a way to really keen my interest in coming to something like this. It’s really an opportunity to understand what’s going on in state government,” said Austin Straley, a student Chicago’s Gordon Tech College Prep.

What makes the tour unique is the access UIS alumni provide and the knowledge they share with high school students during their visit.

“They wouldn’t get this experience on a normal tour of the capitol. Our alumni work with us and are able to take them back behind the scenes,” said Sestak.

Rochester High School student Kara Kestner has been to the capitol before, but for her Under the Dome was a unique experience.

“Today has been made special by the attention students are getting,” said Kestner. “It’s a one of a kind experience. You can’t get this in a classroom or just on a regular tour.”

The day is also designed to highlight the abundance of opportunities to study state government at UIS, while showcasing experienced faculty members.

“What we hope they really take away is that they look at careers in public service. That they think about those things they could study as they get ready to enter college,” said Sestak.

UIS has hosted the “Under the Dome” event for the past six years. For more information on the next “Under the Dome” event, visit www.uis.edu/welcome/dome.html.

UIS explores possible nickname/mascot change

The Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of Illinois Springfield is seeking feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members about possibly changing the Prairie Stars nickname and mascot.

For those unable to attend one of three public forums held on campus in mid-November we’ve recorded the presentation. Please email your feedback to uissga@uis.edu.

The six nickname options being considered include the Prairie Stars, Stars, Mammoths, Sabers, Stampede, and Springers (as in the dog).

Following the public forums, the SGA Nickname Task Force will prepare a report containing the feedback received from the UIS community. That report will be submitted to UIS Chancellor Susan Koch for consideration.

UIS online graduates meet face-to-face to celebrate achievements

Over 200 people attended the University of Illinois Springfield’s pre-graduation brunch and celebration for online students on May 11, 2013. The event brings online students from around the country to campus, often for the first time.

A total of 53 online students from 15 states attended the annual event in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby. Students traveled from Alabama, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The celebration recognized graduates and their families, online coordinators, and program faculty before Commencement at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

UIS has been recognized as a national leader in online education, having received multiple awards for online excellence and achievement. In spring 2013, a total of 1,494 students were enrolled exclusively online at UIS from 47 states. About 60% of all UIS students take at least one class online.

A group photo of the online graduates was taken and each of them was presented with a gift from the University. For more information on online programs at UIS, visit www.uis.edu/online/.

UIS to hold 42nd commencement ceremony on May 11

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,362 students eligible to graduate, 777 will participate in the ceremony.

Tickets are not required for admission and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reserved seating except for special needs such as interpretive services and wheelchairs. The doors to the main floor of the center will open at 1 p.m.

Award-winning journalist Kathy Best is the UIS Commencement speaker 

The UIS Commencement speaker will be UIS alumna and award-winning journalist Kathy Best, managing editor at the Seattle Times since 2007. She has helped the paper earn two Pulitzer Prizes – for breaking news in 2010 and investigative reporting in 2012. For those awards she credits the range of talents of a remarkable staff.

Best earned her bachelor’s in journalism in 1979 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and received her master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting in 1990 from the University of Illinois Springfield.

She joined the paper as managing editor for digital news and innovation, working primarily with the Web staff to create a 24/7 news operation, including use of social media, video storytelling and reader interaction. Two years ago, the Seattle Times reorganized the newsroom to break down the print/digital divide, and Best became the managing editor overseeing creation of stories and visual journalism for both print and digital readers. She oversees Metro, features, sports, business, photo and video and helps make sure that reporters and photographers are thinking about all storytelling options from tweets to narrative videos to Sunday enterprise and investigations.

Best went to Seattle from Baltimore, where she was the assistant managing editor for Sunday, national and foreign news at The Sun. She joined the paper in April 2005 and helped shape the reporting of the war in Iraq and the controversies over warrantless wiretaps and mismanagement at the super-secret National Security Agency.

Most of her editing career, however, was in local news. She was assistant managing editor/metro at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where, among other investigations, she directed coverage of the priest abuse scandal in the Catholic dioceses of Missouri and Illinois. She also led the metro operation at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, honing her breaking news skills on coverage of the World Trade Organization riots, a 6.8 earthquake and the nation's first legal whale hunt in a century.

Before her move into editing, Best was a reporter for fifteen years, twelve of them for the Post-Dispatch. She covered Illinois state government for six years for the Post-Dispatch: breaking stories on political corruption in state hiring and contracts, and covering campaigns for Chicago mayor, Illinois governor, and the Democratic and Republican nominations for president. She joined the paper's Washington, D.C., bureau in 1992, where she covered the Supreme Court, Congress and national politics. During the great Mississippi River flood of 1993, she spent six months investigating fraud and mismanagement in the National Flood Insurance Program, prompting changes in the law and ruining at least half her shoes.

Her first job in daily journalism was at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa. Two years later, Mike Lawrence, her mentor and bureau chief in the Public Affairs Reporting program, brought her into the Lee Enterprises Springfield Bureau. Best says that everything that came after that is his fault.

Best’s family still owns and operates a weekly newspaper in Sullivan, Illinois. She and her husband, investigative reporter and author Andrew Schneider, live in suburban Seattle.

Faculty & student marshals announced 

Keith Miller, the Louise Hartman Schewe and Karl Schewe Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Jinger Sanders, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Faculty and students in each academic program select one graduating student who best exemplifies the goals and spirit of that program to serve as student marshal for the ceremony.

This year’s marshals are:

Accountancy: Ryan Bouray – B.A., Devon Martin – B.A. (Peoria), Yixian Tang – M.A.

Biology: Jenna Voigtmann – B.S., Nathan Grider – M.S.

Business Administration: Abby Vorreyer – B.B.A., Paul Donahoe – M.B.A. (Peoria), Richard Johnson – M.B.A.

Chemistry: Jessalyn Fontana – B.S.

Clinical Laboratory Science: Sylvia Renee Johnson – B.S.

Communication: William Patrick Lilly – B.A., Janelle Gurnsey – M.A.

Computer Science: Kyle Noland – B.S., Siobhan Mary McCarthy – M.S.

Criminal Justice: Ryan McKanna – B.A.

Economics: Wesley Selinger – B.A.

Educational Leadership: Gina Coonrod – M.A. English: Natasha Pachecker – B.A., Kristen Chenoweth – M.A.

Environmental Sciences: Manasi Nanavati – M.S.

Environmental Studies: Joseph McNamara – M.A.

Global Studies: Michael McColpin – B.A.

History: Laura Weiss – B.A., Ariel Dunn – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Rosanna Ramilo – M.A.

Human Services: Mark Thomas Middlebrook – M.A.

Legal Studies: Michael Lipowsky – B.A., Robert Kulys – M.A.

Liberal and Integrative Studies: Matt Bernico – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Mladenka Totonchi– B.A.

Management: Marlene Trone – B.A. (Peoria), Brian Spencer – B.A.

Management Information Systems: Socrates Krishnamurthy – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Tim Viscioni – B.A.

Political Science: Shi Lynn Coleman – B.A., Elizabeth Kerwin Vogt – M.A.

Psychology: Robert Torrence – B.A.

Public Administration: Amy Uden – M.P.A., Matthew Montgomery - D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Regina Garcia Cano – M.A.

Public Health: Nitika Arora – M.P.H.

Social Work: Amber Daniels – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Emily Newcomb – B.A.

Teacher Leadership: Elizabeth Cook – M.A.

Visual Arts: Allan Johnson Masterson – B.A.

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, beginning with a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 3. Separate brunches for CAP Honors graduates and online degree graduates are scheduled for Saturday morning, May 11.

Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available from the commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

The ceremony will be webcast live at www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html. DVDs ($25) can also be ordered from the Office of Electronic Media, phone 217/206-6799.

For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

Students and alumni advocate for the U of I during annual visit to the state capitol

Almost 200 students and alumni from all three University of Illinois campuses came to the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on April 10, 2013 to advocate for state funding, the Monetary Award Program (MAP), and other important issues.

“The goal is to have all the legislators, all 177 of them, hear from students and alumni about the importance of the U of I,” said Amy Eichhorst, vice president of the U of I Alumni Association’s Illinois Connection.

Participants were assigned lawmakers to speak with based on their home districts. This year, UIS had a record number of participants with 40 students in attendance.

UIS senior biology major Jinger Sanders is a MAP grant recipient. She realizes the importance of the state-supported assistance and wanted to make sure lawmakers did as well.

“It wouldn’t be possible for me to attend UIS if I did not receive a MAP grant, so that’s really important for future students to come,” said Sanders.

Other students, such as John Tienken, a senior UIS political science and English major, came to the capitol pushing for higher education funding in general.

“Right now the University of Illinois is being supported at a 1960’s level,” said Tienken. “That’s just not enough. We need more funding to keep higher education accessible and affordable for students from all backgrounds.”

Besides lobbying for the U of I, the day also serves as an educational experience as students learn about state government and interact with legislators.

“It’s really experiential learning. The students have an opportunity to really see they can make a difference with the legislators, so they’re not only learning about the U of I, they’re learning about citizenship and what it means to be a good citizen,” said Eichhorst.

This is the 5th year the University of Illinois Alumni Association has coordinated the day of action through their Illinois Connection Advocacy Program.

Former UIS basketball player Richard Oruche earns a spot on the Nigerian Olympic team

Former Illinois Springfield guard Richard Oruche will play in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as a part of the Nigerian basketball team. He is believed to be the first UIS athlete to play in the Olympic Games.

“I never believed that I could be an Olympian,” said Oruche. “It is a surreal feeling. It still hasn’t sunk in completely. This is an athlete’s goal to be an Olympian.”

Oruche, 24, graduated from UIS in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has been playing basketball professionally in Portugal for two seasons. Most recently, he played for the Associacao Academica de Coimbra where he averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during the 2011-12 season.

“It was a nice place to start my career,” said Oruche. “It really gave me an opportunity. Portugal is right next to Spain, which is really a powerhouse league in basketball. It really gave me an opportunity to see where I am in comparison to where I need to be to play at an elite level.”

Oruche, whose parents are originally from Nigeria, holds dual Nigerian and United States citizenship. He was invited to play on the Nigerian basketball team earlier this year. The team defeated the Dominican Republic 88-73 on Sun., July 8, to earn the country’s first-ever berth into the Olympic Games. Nigeria is expected to play in the same Olympic pool as Team USA, giving Oruche the chance to play NBA all-stars, such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Deron Williams, and Springfield’s own Andre Iguodala.

“Not many people get the opportunity to go out there and play against people you kind of idolized growing up in your career. People who gave you passion to play the game,” he said. Oruche adds that Team USA is beatable. “We want to do something big with this opportunity we’ve been given.”

Oruche, who grew up in Bensonville, Ill., led the Prairie Stars in scoring (19.8 points per game) and rebounding (5.8 rebounds per game) during the 2009-10 season, the inaugural year of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) membership. Oruche was the first UIS student-athlete to earn postseason accolades from the GLVC by being named second team All-GLVC. He was also the first Prairie Star student-athlete to earn the league’s Player of the Week award in December 2009. He spent two seasons at Northern Illinois University as a red shirt freshman before transferring to UIS.

“A special thanks to UIS for supporting me and being there for me,” said Oruche. “It means a lot to know that my school has my back.”

Oruche will leave for London on Mon., July 16, to continue his training with the Nigerian team. Olympic men’s basketball action is scheduled to begin on Sun., July 29. Nigeria is expected to play Team USA on Thurs., Aug. 2 at 4:15 p.m. central time

Extra: Listen to a phone interview with Richard Oruche

UIS to hold 41st commencement ceremony on May 12 in downtown Springfield

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,316 students eligible to graduate, 770 will participate in the ceremony.

Tickets are not required for admission and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reserved seating except for special needs such as interpretive services and wheelchairs. The doors to the main floor of the center will open at 1 p.m.

Commencement Speaker: Wenguang Huang

The commencement speaker will be UIS Public Affairs Reporting alum Wenguang Huang, a Chicago-based journalist, writer and translator. He is the author of The Little Red Guard, a memoir that chronicles his growing up in central China during the 1970s. The book reveals his family striving to fulfill a grandmother’s last wish during a period of rapid societal change. The book, released by Riverhead, Penguin on April 26, 2012, has been mentioned by O Magazine and selected among the top 10 memoirs by Publishers Weekly for spring 2012.

A former staff member of the New York Times Beijing Bureau, Wen contributes regularly to Fortune, the New York Times, the Asian Wall Street Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, the Paris Review, The South China Morning Post and Chicago Public Radio.

In 2003, Wen started introducing contemporary Chinese writers to the West and since then, he has translated Chinese writer Liao Yiwu’s The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories: China From the Bottom Up, God is Red, For a Song and One Hundred Songs and Yan Xianhui’s Women from Shanghai. Wen is the recipient of the 2007 PEN Translation Fund Award.

Wen grew up in northern China and obtained his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and master’s degree in journalism from Fudan University in Shanghai, China. In 1989, Wen participated in the student pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square. After the government’s brutal crackdown, he came to Springfield and gained his master’s degree from the UIS Public Affairs Reporting program in 1991. While earning his degree, he interned at Illinois Issues magazine, covering Illinois state government. Following his graduation, he interned with the Illinois Legislative Research Unit, where he gained additional first-hand knowledge of how democracy works at the state level.

Since 1994, Wen Huang has held numerous day jobs for non-profit organizations and corporations. At present, he pursues his journalistic and book writings in his spare time.

Faculty and student marshals 

Stephen Schwark, professor of Political Science at UIS, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Jessica A. Odigie, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Legal Studies.

Faculty and students in each academic program select one graduating student who best exemplifies the goals and spirit of that program to serve as student marshal for the ceremony.

This year’s marshals are:

Accountancy: Megan M. Canny – B.A., Preston Todd Searl – B.A. (Peoria), Amanda J. Ball – M.A.  

Biology: Nathan T. Dennison – B.S., Benjamin Briddell – M.S.   

Business Administration: Lawrence Paul Crowley – B.B.A., Javan Daniel Hall – M.B.A. (Peoria), Amruta R. Prabhuwaingankar – M.B.A.   

Chemistry: Mark W. Frakes – B.S. Clinical Laboratory Science: Taylor Danielle Golden – B.S.   

Communication: Ryan B. Ivemeyer – B.A., Emily Jean Fox – M.A.   

Computer Science: Andrew W. Miller – B.S., Timothy W. Robert – M.S.  

Criminal Justice: Lindzee Edwards– B.A.   

Economics: Tyler Daniel McKay – B.A.   

Educational Leadership: Adam Bradley Dean – M.A.   

English: Hannah Rebekah Radford – B.A., Sarah Lauren Collins – M.A.  

Environmental Sciences: Gregory R. Fretueg – M.S. Environmental Studies: Araceli Eva Lopez Martinez – M.A.   

Global Studies: Johanette Druvinka Croos Moraes – B.A.   

History: Zachary James Clifton Watkins – B.A., Eleanor Claire Jerry – M.A.   

Human Development Counseling: Margaret Mary Wheelhouse – M.A.   

Human Services: Ruth Elaine Boardman – M.A.   

Legal Studies: Lisa M. Daykin – B.A., Joseph J. Walat – M.A.   

Liberal Studies: Valeri Jean Cooke – B.A.   

Management: Corey Matthew Curtis – B.A. (Peoria), Debra Sue Schmitz – B.A.   

Management Information Systems: Joshua Daniel Kilhoffer – B.S., Anusha Mathur Subramaniam – M.S.   

Mathematical Sciences: Carlin Thomas Venaglia – B.A.   

Philosophy: John Kevin Byers – B.A.   

Political Science: Caitlyn Elizabeth Barnes – B.A., Robert Joseph Skorczewski – M.A.   

Psychology: Rachel A. Tohme – B.A.   

Public Administration: Anupama Surendran – M.P.A., Nancy Leann Huyck - D.P.A.   

Public Affairs Reporting: David James Thomas – M.A.   

Public Health: Nelson Videnyi Agbodo – M.P.H.   

Social Work: Kendra V. Johnson – B.S.W. Sociology/Anthropology: Tiffany D. Gollahon – B.A.   

Teacher Leadership: Charity Lynn Workman – M.A.   

Visual Arts: Karen Elizabeth Boerema – B.A.

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, beginning with a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 4. Separate brunches for CAP Honors graduates and online degree graduates are scheduled for Saturday morning, May 12.

Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available from the commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

The ceremony will be webcast live at www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html. DVDs ($25) can also be ordered from the Office of Electronic Media, phone 217/206-6799. For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

UIS graduate honors former faculty member with Professorship

The University of Illinois Springfield proudly announces the establishment of a new named professorship, the first from a graduate honoring a former professor.

The Judith E. Everson Professorship in English honors Everson, an emeritus professor who taught at the university for 31 years. Everson’s former student, Cheryl Peck, who served as director of public relations at UIS from 1992 to 2009, donated $500,000 to establish the fund. The distinguished professorship serves as a tribute to Professor Everson’s extraordinary gift for teaching that opened up new worlds of possibility and accomplishment for her students, Peck said.

“Her devotion to her students inspired us to reach beyond our fears as midlife learners and to ask more of ourselves than we had ever thought possible,” said Peck. “The result was a new-found confidence that swept me on to further literary exploration and set me on a path of lifelong discovery in books and writing.”

Peck, who earned her B.A. in Literature in 1986 and M.A. in English in 1989, describes Everson as an “engaging tour guide,” who introduced her to the aristocratic worlds of Wharton and James, and made accessible Faulkner’s stream of consciousness narration, Hemingway’s spare writing style, and Dreiser’s literary naturalism.

In response to the gift, Everson said, “We’re often told that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. This was certainly the case many years ago when Cheryl Peck and I had our first meeting of the minds here on campus. If, as she kindly says, I helped to make her a better student, I can return the favor and say that she made me a better professor, which is what superior students always do for their teachers.”

As a charter faculty member, Everson came to Springfield in 1970 when Sangamon State University (SSU), now the University of Illinois Springfield, was still under construction. She taught courses in English, History and Public Speaking until her retirement in 2001. Everson has remained active on campus and was honored with the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award last year.

“It is my sincere hope that future students of English will be similarly inspired by the faculty who occupy the Everson Professorship in years to come,” said Peck.

Everson added, “Through this far-sighted gesture, (Cheryl) is making sure that there will be continued vitality in the department and on the campus that we both cherish.”

Before coming to UIS, Peck was assistant to the chancellor at the Illinois Board of Regents for nearly four years. The BOR was the governing board for SSU, Northern Illinois University, and Illinois State University.

Peck’s professorship, a planned gift, will add to UIS’ other distinguished faculty positions:

• The Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies
• The Ameren Professorship of Business and Government
• The PNC Distinguished Professor in Banking and Finance
• Two Louise Hartman Schewe and Karl Schewe Professorships in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• The Wepner Distinguished Professorship of Political Science
• The Hanson Professional Services Faculty Scholar
  

For more information, contact Vicki Megginson, associate chancellor for development, UIS, and senior vice president, University of Illinois Foundation at 217/206-6058 or email vhens1@uis.edu.

U of I Day at the Capitol sends funding message to lawmakers

Almost 200 University of Illinois alumni and students spent the day lobbying lawmakers, including Governor Pat Quinn, for critical state funding during University of Illinois Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 6.

While lawmakers passed a budget with substantial funding for higher education last year, the university still has not received much of the cash.

“They still haven’t paid us almost $500 million,” said Amy Eichhorst, director of Illinois Connection. “We need that money in order to run the university and for next year we’re asking them not to cut the budget.”

Alumni and students got a surprise when Governor Quinn showed up for their group photo on the steps of the Illinois State capitol.

“We believe in schools and education and higher education and we thank you for your commitment to the university,” Quinn told the crowd. “(The university) is really a special place, and jobs follow brainpower that’s what we believe in.”

UIS student Tia Mahr was surprised to hear from the governor, but came to lobby day ready to talk to lawmakers and hear their opinions on the future of the university.

“I decided to come out, make a difference, make a change,” said Mahr, a senior Communication major.

Other students, such as UIUC junior Political Science and Business major Meghan Schaffer hope the unified message from alumni and students makes a difference. Participants were grouped together based on their home legislative districts in an effort to speak with the lawmakers they helped to elect.

“I think it’s really essential to make sure they understand the student voice, that people need to really come here to show a presence of students, alumni, working together for this important cause,” said Schaffer.

Reductions in the number of state MAP Grants awarded have made it harder for UIC Finance major Regina Stevenson to make ends meet.

“I’m here to make a difference. I come from a low income area, so money is very important to stay in school,” said Stevenson, a junior.

Illinois Connection, part of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, organized the lobby day. The group has over 8,000 members in 49 states, which are fighting for higher education funding.

"Under the Dome" gives high school students an insider look at state government

Almost 50 high school students from central Illinois got a behind the scenes look inside the Illinois state capitol during the “Under the Dome” event on March 8, 2011.

“Under the Dome” is the University of Illinois Springfield’s premier immersion event for high school juniors interested in government, politics, and public service. The day of activities is designed to highlight careers in state government and talk about the degrees necessary to enter the field.

“It’s really not your typical tour of the capitol. We bring in a panel of students and alumni to talk about their experience at UIS, what they got to do, and what they got to accomplish,” said Joan Sestak, UIS Director of Community Relations.

Students not only got the chance to hear from alumni working in state government, but elected officials who attended UIS. Representative Wayne Rosenthal, a republican from the 98th District graduated in 1974.

“I think anytime we can provide educational opportunities and get kids involved in the process I think is good,” said Rosenthal.

UIS relies on the hundreds of alumni working in state government to help provide students with the behind the scenes tour. Students got the opportunity to meet with State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and talk with IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig, just to name a few during the 2011 tour.

“I think today is wonderful. I’ve gotten a lot of insight about what actually goes on behind the scenes in the senate and the house,” said Miles Crisp, a junior at Springfield’s Southeast High School. “I feel like instead of just reading it in the book or a textbook I actually know what really goes on.”

Crisp was thinking about a career in state government even before attending “Under the Dome”, but he wanted more information about the profession.

“This whole experience has taught me that and I think I might just go into a career dealing with politics,” said Miles.

For other students, such as Sacred Heart-Griffin High School junior Helen Cavanagh the day was spent learning more about state government in general.

“As a resident of Springfield, I want to know what’s better for me, what’s in the future, what’s in the future for my parents and if I can come and learn about what’s going on then that just makes me happier,” said Cavanagh.

UIS has hosted the “Under the Dome” event for the past three years. For more information on the next “Under the Dome” event visit www.uis.edu/welcome/dome.html.

Supporters lobby for state funding during U of I Day at the Capitol

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni members spent the day lobbying lawmakers for state funding during University of Illinois Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 21.

The annual event was organized by the U of I Alumni Association as a way for people to demonstrate their support for all three University of Illinois campuses.

“We are almost a half a billion dollars that the state is indebted to the university. Today is really about engaging the legislators and getting them to understand how bad the problems (are),” said Derek Felix, UIS student representative on the U of I Board of Trustees.

The day began with a lunch briefing and review of key messages. Throughout the afternoon, participants met with legislators and staff.

“What we’re trying to get them to understand is in dollars spent at the University of Illinois by the state returns back to the state usually 13 times every dollar that’s put in it,” said Edward McMillan, University of Illinois trustee.

The lobbying group from UIS was made up of both students and faculty. They met with local representatives like Senator Larry Bomke of Springfield to share their stories about how the financial problems are affecting them.

“We will get paid. It’s just a matter of when. I hope it’s a lot sooner than later,” said Felix.

McMillan says it’s important to have students meeting with their lawmakers directly. He’s especially glad to have a campus full of politically minded students right in the capital city.

“We’re very blessed to have this campus at Springfield to be part of the University of Illinois system,” said McMillan.

At the end of the day, alumni, students, legislators, UIAA leaders and University officials held a reception at the State Library.

Year in Video 2009

The University of Illinois Springfield is taking a look back at the Year in Video 2009.

DVD copies of this presentation are available free of charge, upon request by contacting Derek Schnapp, Director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

This video has been produced by the UIS Office of Campus Relations and Office of Web Services.

UIS Alumnus and Department of Defense Inspector General visits campus

The Honorable Gordon S. Heddell, Inspector General for the United States Department of Defense visited his alma mater on Thursday, November 5, 2009 to meet with students in the Capital Scholars Honors Program.

“I got absolutely a top notch graduate level education here,” said Heddell referring to his 1975 master’s degree in Legal Studies.

Heddell is visiting Springfield to accept the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding success and national or international distinction in one’s business, profession or life’s work.

“I feel humbled that the University Alumni Association is honoring me with this achievement award. I’m not sure that I probably deserve it, but I’m humbled that they think enough of me and I’m honored to be back here,” said Heddell.

Heddell was sworn in as DoD Inspector General on July 14, 2009, one year after being appointed as Acting Inspector General. Heddell began his Government service in 1966 as an Army Chief Warrant Officer, Helicopter Pilot, serving in both Korea and Taiwan during the Vietnam-era conflict. Following his military tours of duty, Mr. Heddell served for 29 years in the U.S. Secret Service, where he directed investigations of threats made against the President, Vice President, and other high-ranking government officials in Washington, D.C.

It was Heddell’s career with the Secret Service that brought him to Springfield to work in the field office. He finished his master’s degree after hours and admits it wasn’t easy, but it paid off.

“I’m a better Inspector general and a better public servant because of the things I learned here,” said Heddell.

Heddell says he’s pleased with the growth of the UIS campus over the years and the physical improvements that have been made since his time.

“I’m very proud of what Chancellor Richard Ringeisen has done here. He’s an example of exceptional leadership. I’m proud of what he’s accomplished. I’m proud of the entire University of Illinois system,” said Heddell.

Heddell just returned from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan where he meet with troops and top commanders in the region. Its Heddell’s role as Inspector General to make sure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely and to help troops get the equipment they need.

UIS alumna's book is recently published

UIS alumna Joanna Beth Tweedy, host of Quiddity Public-Radio Program on WUIS, is receiving high praise from esteemed writers for her debut novel, The Yonder Side of Sass and Texas, released this spring from Southeast Missouri University Press.

Tweedy will be reading and signing copies of her book on campus this Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Café Annex, located on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center.

The novel’s lyrical, poetic style is highly unusual, especially for a debut work of prose. It has been receiving praise from a variety of literati—novelists, poets, reviewers, and editors alike, including Robert Hellenga, Patrick Carrington, and Elaine Fowler Palencia. It’s been called “a simmering gumbo of linguistic delicacies,” “a dance that never missteps…absolute in originality and sophistication,” and “an inventive masterpiece.”

Hellenga, best-selling author of The Sixteen Pleasures, says of Yonder Side, “The prose crackles like a splash of water on a hot skillet and there’s a surprise on every page.” Palencia calls it “High Lyrical Down-home…a novel to read twice.” And Carrington, editor of the award-winning journal Mannequin Envy, calls the novel “a rollicking ride of unexpected turns.” Of the author he writes, “a new voice that is not to be missed, one you'll surely enjoy reading as much as it does speaking to you.”

With degrees in education and English from the Universities of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Springfield (UIS), Tweedy has taught creative writing, literature, composition and educational leadership, and has served as faculty-in-residence for the Capital Scholars Honors Program at UIS. Early versions of some of the novel’s chapters were included in her creative-writing thesis project, which was nominated for UIS’ Thesis of the Year Award by the English Department. In addition to hosting Quiddity on WUIS, Tweedy is also the founding editor of Quiddity’s companion international literary journal, housed at Benedictine University at Springfield, where she is an associate dean.

A book tour is planned this summer.

UIS staff and alums take top honors in national competition

Several staff members at the University of Illinois at Springfield, as well as several alumni of UIS' Public Affairs Reporting program, were among the winners of the annual competition sponsored by Capitolbeat, the national organization of journalists covering state and local governments.

The awards -- honoring excellence in Statehouse reporting in print, broadcast and online media -- were presented at the organization's annual conference, held this year in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Bethany Jaeger, Statehouse bureau chief for Illinois Issues magazine and a 2004 PAR alum, took first place in the magazine columns category for her "State of the State" column, which appears in the print and online versions of the magazine. Jaeger's winning columns touched on such subjects as gun control, feuding Democrats, Cook County property taxes, and the outlook for state policy.

Jaeger also received a second place award in the single report category for magazines for her September 2007 article "Clinic in a school," which analyzed state and national policies that contribute to the demand for health care centers in high schools, yet hinder their growth.

Daniel C. Vock, a writer for stateline.org and a 2000 PAR alum, won a third place award in the same category for his Illinois Issues article on why Illinois is a friendly place for immigrants.

Sean Crawford, Statehouse bureau chief for Public Radio station WUIS, won a third place award for radio beat reporting for stories he covered ranging from the deterioration of trust at the state Capitol to more lighthearted fare such as a plan to create a special a license plate for NASCAR fans.

Amanda Vinicky, WUIS Statehouse reporter and a 2005 PAR alum, won a third place award in the radio single report category for "The Truant Legislator," which focused on Rep. Rich Bradley (D-Chicago), his chronic absences during the legislative session, and the resulting impact on his district.

Together, Crawford and Vinicky won a third place award in the radio in-depth reporting category for "Making Little Cents," a series of reports on Illinois' problems in getting a budget put together.

PAR alums Ray Long (1981) and John O'Connor (1986) were also among those honored.

Long, of the Chicago Tribune, shared a first place award in beat reporting for wire services and newspapers over 75,000 circulation.

O'Connor, of the Associated Press, received an honorable mention in the single report category for wire services and newspapers over 75,000 circulation.

Capitolbeat, formerly called the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, has nearly 300 members across the country. Illinois Issues is a not-for-profit monthly publication focusing on analysis of public policy. WUIS is listener-supported public radio for central and west central Illinois. Both Illinois Issues and WUIS are part of the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS.

UIS' Public Affairs Reporting program is a one-year master's degree program focusing on coverage of state government news. In addition to academic work, students serve six-month internships with newspaper, magazine, radio, television, wire service, or audio news service bureaus in the Statehouse pressroom in Springfield.

For more information, contact Dana Heupel, executive editor of Illinois Issues, at 206-6507.