Hey Titans!

I never doubted that we would rise to the 2021 All In challenge, and we did! After President Nugent’s video announcement, you glorious Titan Warriors went to work. I am so very proud to announce that we surpassed our million that was matched, and reached $2,539,574.00. We blew our donor goal of 2,500 out of the water with 3,587!

Thank You! Well Done, mighty, mighty, Titan alumni, parents, students and friends. You continue to make a difference, even during a pandemic to deliver on behalf of Illinois Wesleyan University. Thank You! I am ever so proud to be one of your own. Take care and stay safe! Much love.

DRBF

Frankie Faison ’71 was recently featured in an article in The Daily Press, which can be found here, discussing his distinguished, decades-long career in theater, film and television.

Cheryl L. Portwood-Peden Emery ’74 gave a Titan Career Chat: Experiences in the Spanish Caribbean. Presented virtually, the power-point photo slide presentation helped students learn how Cheryl’s cultural immersion experiences during her IWU Study Travel Seminar to Puerto Rico inspired her. Cheryl earned her B.A. from IWU in Spanish leading to a rewarding and satisfying teaching career in Spanish; Spanish Bi-lingual/E.S.L., and Special Education that has spanned 38 years. Cheryl retired from teaching in the Chicago Public Schools in 2012.

David McCord ’75  is retiring in May. After six years practicing law, he was a professor at Drake University Law School for thirty-six years. He plans to enjoy life with his wife Laura (‘75), their three children, and their grandson. He plans to do volunteer work with his church and other nonprofits.

Debbie wished to give the following message:

Hey There, COVID Weary Titans!

Congratulations to Lucy Carmody Simkins on her second children’s publication! The Summer Kitchen Bully summary reads

“Cocooned within a field of cornstalks rests Farmer’s homestead. An ancient summer kitchen inhabited by a group of field animals sits just steps away from the main house. Inside this primitive kitchen, fierce threats from Flame, the tomcat, scare the field mice, Jasmine, the spiders and others. Bullying is something everyone needs to learn how to deal with, and the ways these animals learn how to counter and defuse bullying offers solutions to anyone!”

Jay Payleitner has published his 29th book! The Prayer of Agur ponders and unpacks the only prayer in the Bible’s book of Proverbs. The unexpected prayer by an overlooked minor prophet reads in part, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8). With sales of more than half a million copies, Jay’s earlier books tackled family and life issues from a Christian perspective. All his books are available on Amazon and jaypayleitner.com.

Congratulations on your achievements!

We extend our deepest condolences to fellow alumna, Birda (Buzan) Ferguson ’75. Her husband, Glenn Ferguson (not an IWU grad) died January 19th, just three weeks after their 40th anniversary.  Our thoughts are with Birda and her family.

Greg Poland ’77, who is leading Mayo Clinic vaccine research, addresses COVID vaccine misconceptions.  Read more here.

Norm Eash ’75 has been featured in a Pantagraph article about enduring a full year without football games. Read it here.