Wayne Messmer ’72 sang the national anthem for the Chicago Cubs’ opening day at Wrigley Field. Although he has sung the anthem for thirty-five opening days at Wrigley and hundreds of times at other events, this year’s April 9 season opener was a milestone. It marked twenty-five years since a gunshot to Wayne’s throat left him wounded and worried he would never sing again. Here is the link to the article about Wayne and a video of his national anthem performance. Wayne lives in Glenview, Illinois.

You did it, Titans! You were the key to IWU’s success on All In for Wesleyan day! On April 11, 2,205 donors collectively raised $518,316. And thanks to the generosity of the pacesetter challenge donors, the grand total is $776,316 (and still counting!)

This video captures a few successes from #AllInforWesleyan.  Check out the social media activity and revisit iwu.edu/all-in to see how your gifts made a difference.

If you are a donor, you are about to be tagged!

Thank-A-Giver Day (TAG Day) is Monday, February 11. This day gives the IWU campus community the opportunity to thank the donors who support Illinois Wesleyan. Each year in mid-February, IWU celebrates the symbolic point during the academic year – about 70% of the way through – when tuition dollars run out and support from alumni and friends, our endowment, and external grants kick in for the remainder of the year.

Thank you to all donors who help make the IWU experience possible!

Congratulations to Dr. Kent Taulbee ’72, who received the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award from the Normal University High school Alumni Association Awards and Recognition Program. The honor was presented in conjunction with Normal High School’s Homecoming Week in September. After graduating from IWU, Kent earned his M.D. degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Madison. He went on to specialize in dermatology and practiced in Bloomington-Normal for nearly 40 years. 

Here is the link to the article.

Tom Wetzel ’72 returned to campus this month to speak to two marketing classes and students taking risk management and commercial risk insurance classes. Tom is owner of Thomas H. Wetzel Associates, a digital marketing firm for the insurance industry. In addition to sharing his professional experiences, he wanted to learn more about the students likes and dislikes of the industry. He also wanted to figure out how to persuade them to choose a career in insurance after they graduate. Wesleyan students asked Tom about available jobs, career paths, and how the industry is changing as a result of technology. Tom lives and works in Forest Park, Illinois.
Read more about Tom’s visit here.

Katherine James, a 1973 theatre major, is starring in The Gin Game, which opened September 8 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre, California, and will run through October 6. In addition to acting, James also writes and directs. She is the founding director of ACT of Communication, the first organization to apply theatre to the law. Among other activities, ACT of Communication conducts stagecraft workshops for lawyers (actofcommunication.com).

 The first person to tell James about the glowing review of The Gin Game was another 1973 theatre graduate: Nancy Rose Harrington, who is flying out to Sierra Madre to attend the play. Here is the link to the review: https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Review-Sierra-Madre-Playhouse-Offers-Brilliant-Production-of-THE-GIN-GAME-20180910