The Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics Department will be made even stronger with the establishment of The Legends Endowment for Athletic Excellence announced by Athletic Director Mike Wagner, Tuesday, December 1. The new six-figure endowment was made possible through the generosity of Jeff (’74) and Janet (’74) Solberg, Dr. Cal (’73) and Kris Atwell, Pat Busch (’78) and Michelle Zeller, Doug (’73) and Vicky Stewart, and Steve (’73) and Deb (’74) Wannemacher.

“We are so excited to announce the Legends Endowment for Athletic Excellence to the greater IWU community,” Wagner exclaimed. “This new endowment will forever enhance the student-athlete experience at IWU, while providing our coaches with the tools they need to develop future leaders.”

The endowment is named in honor of IWU athletics “legends” who made a lasting impact on the lives of countless student-athletes while also laying the foundation for the success IWU athletics enjoys today: Jack Horenberger, AD and baseball and basketball coach, Bob Keck, track and field and football coach, Don Larson, football and golf coach, Dennie Bridges, basketball coach and AD, Barb Cothren, softball, tennis, and volleyball coach and administrator, and Edgar Alsene, IWU’s first sports information director.

“I would personally like to recognize and thank Jeff and Janet Solberg for their support, generosity and leadership in envisioning and providing the lead gift for this endowment,” added Wagner.  “The Solbergs and all the initial donors have laid the foundation for a fund that will provide perpetual enhancements to our athletic programs that would otherwise be impossible. Every year, funds from the endowment will have an impact on capital improvements, equipment and technology upgrades, student-athlete travel and nutrition, and many other departmental needs. It is a fitting legacy to their love of and commitment to Illinois Wesleyan.”

Illinois Wesleyan athletics has a national reputation for excellence in competition, academics, and service to the community. The Titans have won eight team NCAA national championships, 24 individual NCAA national championships, and 160 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles. 

Academically, IWU ranks in the top-30 nationally among all NCAA divisions with 133 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and has seen seven College Division Academic All-Americans of the Year recipients. Furthermore, six Titan student-athletes have earned the NCAA’s “Elite 90” award, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating at the finals site for the NCAA championships. 

More than one-third of Illinois Wesleyan students participate in Titan Athletics. In the Bloomington-Normal community, IWU student-athletes, coaches, and staff have donated more than $450,000 and completed roughly 35,000 community service hours over the past decade.

Please reach out to Tony Bankston (’91), Director of Titan Athletic Fund or Chris Murray (’91), Advancement Liaison to Athletics for more information about giving to this Endowment.

Read more here.

Gale Strenger Wayne ’78 carries on her family’s long tradition of civic duty through her role as vice chair of the Lake County Community Foundation. Read the full articleabout her at the Daily North Shore here.

Carol Brandt ’78 has been recognized by Forbes as a one of the top women wealth advisors 2020. Congratulations, Carol!  Read the full article here.

Elizabeth Robb ’78 was named to Governor JB Pritzker’s Restorative Justice and Safe Communities Committee. More about Elizabeth’s accomplishments can be found here. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Jan Peterson ‘78 has directed The Goldenaires, a seniors mixed choir, since 2009. The group performs regularly between September and May at retirement communities and senior centers in the Chicago area. The Goldenaires perform 7 concerts a year and have performed 75 concerts overall under Jan’s direction.

After over 45 years in healthcare, including population health and healthcare information technology, Janet recently retired. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family and vacationing at their Northern Arizona cabin. 

The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board are pleased to announce that Dr. Mathew Timm ’77, Professor, Department of Mathematics of Bradley University has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Croatia. Dr. Timm will conduct research at the University of Split during the Spring 2021 Term as part of the project Inverse Systems and the Topology of Generalized Baumslag-Solitar Complexes. The intent of the project is to expand our understanding of a class of geometric objects known as generalized Baumslag-Solitar complexes through a collaboration with members of the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Split. Several faculty at the University of Split are experts in inverse systems based approaches to the study of geometric topology. Congratulations!

Ooohh Titans, this world is changing. Our world is changing. I just last week cancelled my accommodations for homecoming this October. It will be my 45^th Class Reunion, 1975! Wow! Now, the plans for the weekend of October 7 – 9^th are for a virtual homecoming, due to the Covid19 pandemic. I hope that you, like me, plan to be in attendance. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

Let me say this, first and foremost, my deepest, most sincere condolences go out to my fellow Titans, who have lost a friend, spouse, family, colleague, or a loved one to the coronavirus.  I continue to pray for the safety and well-being of all. This concern extends itself to the many Titans of color, those of us who have had to contend with the racial pandemic that layers itself upon the healthcare crisis, which we all are suffering from. The war on several fronts rages on. We, together, must be strong and continue to press on.

Although, the numbers steadily rise, five million Americans have fallen victim to the coronavirus. Over 160,000 Americans, of all races, genders, ages, and social status have succumbed. If anyone had suggested to me, six months ago, that we would be in Depression Era unemployment, I would not have believed it. Yet, here we are. Be strong, Titans! Keep hope alive! Fight depression and despair. Do not give up! These words, give this Titan comfort. I hope that they give you solace and encouragement, as well.

Last of all, I want to share a few suggestions which I have found peace in practicing. My daughter, my oldest introduced me to meditation (A child shall lead them). Every day twice a day, ten-minutes sessions, helps to soothe, remove stress and anxiety, while giving focus using mindfulness techniques. Beginners may Google “Guided Meditation,” for starters. The old adage, “Every day is a gift, that is why they call it the present,” rings so true during these trying times. So, my Titan friends, embrace this gift of life, daily. If you believe in a higher power, let them hear from you. Wear your masks and practice all safety precautions.

Take care and be well!

DRBF

Marlon Nettleton ‘77 is a member of the Lake Ashtones, who sang the national anthem prior to a National Basketball Association game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers on December 27, 2019, in Orlando.
Wow, how exciting that must have been!

Michael Cooper ‘77 has returned to directing theatre full time after spending 21 years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. He was also recently named the Artistic Director of The Alchemy Theatre in Austin, Texas. Click here to read more.

Congratulations, Michael!