IWU Socks – 2 Weeks Only!

socks

Show your Titan Pride! 

From now through July 31, you can receive a pair of Illinois Wesleyan socks with your gift of $25 or more. All proceeds, unless otherwise designated, will support current students through the Wesleyan Fund.

These limited edition socks are only available through the end of the month.

Click here to order.

Get yours by making a gift of $25 or more at titanpride.org/socks today!

(This offer only applies to individuals who make a gift of $25 or more by July 31. Limit 1 pair per donor.
Per IRS regulations, the $10 cost of the socks is not tax-deductible.)

Summertime, and Titans are busy!!!

Hey there, fellow Titans, hope that you are enjoying your summer! I, started my summer off, in grand fashion, on Memorial Day weekend in Dayton, Ohio. My oldest son, Nicholas Wyatt Frazier married Sheri Elaine Marcellus in a beautiful ceremony. In the company of 280 friends and relatives they “jumped the broom,” literally and figuratively. It was truly a blessed event! There were all smiles from this mother-of-the-groom.:-)

Marva (Mech) Petty ’73 retired from the Medical Resource Network, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Marva was the first employee when MRN was established in 1996. She ended her 20 years as a legal nurse consultant, with a 43 year successful nursing career. During her career, she worked as floor RN, critical care RN, nursing supervisor, nurse manager, instructor in an associate degree nursing program and legal nurse consultant.

    Ray (Rodriquez) Bradford ’75 since January, has been Director of Programs, Enrichment Media for GLAAD (the largest global advocacy organization rewriting the script for LGBT acceptance). In this position, Ray advocates for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of our LGBT community in film, TV, music, video games, and comics. Ray’s previous position of 13 years was at SAG-AFTRA as their National Director of Equal Employment opportunities. There, all labor concerns of the LGBTQ community were addressed across all content areas of the unions (television news/media performers, performers, broadcast journalists and sound recording artists).

After accomplishing his “bucket list” of visiting all seven continents, including two weeks in Antarctica: hiking, camping on ice, and sea kayaking). Ray married his longtime partner, Terry, and happily resides in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, California.

Dr. Debbie Burt-Frazier ’75 spent five days last week on a college tour of southern Illinois and Missouri, with 30 students from Eisenhower High School, Blue Island. The participants are all a part of the Moraine Valley Community College TRIO Upward Bound program. The program offers tutoring in Math, Science and English(yours truly) while also offering ACT preparation with college readiness. Our group visited seven colleges and universities which included; University of Illinois, Springfield and Edwardsville campuses and St. Louis University.

Lastly, let me give a quick shout out to some of my generous alums of the 1970’s classes with there quick response to my phone requests for contributions to the Wesleyan Fund before IWU’s fiscal year ends, this month. I, personally called 50 Titans, and had some great conversations! Here are the names of a few donors: Jacqueline Beard ’73, Craig Johnson ’75, Patricia Kuni-Rogers ’75, Mary Leonard ’74, Jill (Gaw) Girolami ’75, Helen Peck ’74, Barre Mulliken-Briggs ’72, Hope Turner ’72, Helen Peck ’74 and Barbara Vendt ’75. Thank you, Titans!!!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, be safe!

Bob Grimes ’78 Retires as NCHS Softball Coach

573b955a0cb6e.imageBob Grimes is retiring at season’s end after fifteen highly successful years as Normal Community High School’s head coach. His record through Monday stands at 420-109-1 with one state championship (2007 Class AA), one state runner-up finish (2002 Class AA), nine Big 12 Conference championships, nine regional titles, three sectional crowns, and three state tournament appearances.

For additional information, you can go to a Pantagraph article.

Myra Travin ’79 Published

Myra Travin ’79 is now a post-futurist and woman entrepreneur. She has recently been published in two major U.S. newspapers and appeared at SXSWedu as well as conferences in the area of technology and learning. This year, she developed an algorithm called INSense AI and launched a new startup company. She pitched it at FundAmerica last month — one of her startup tech products. She was the only woman who pitched an idea.

Her book, School of You: Stop the Overload, Become a Guerrilla Learner and Change Your Life teaches you how to personalize your own learning, to discover your potential, and to exceed expectations. For more about her book or to purchase it, go to Amazon.

My Turn: Why Artificial Intelligence should freak you out is an article about why we should worry about Artificial Intelligence. It was published in the Arizona Republic. Click on the title if you want to read the article.

Saying goodbye to the future is an article Myra which appeared as an opinion article in the Austin American Statement. The article discussed how technology has short-circuited many of the paths to effective learning.

Myra  wanted to share her email address in the class newsletter so that her classmates could chat with her about her work or anything else. Her email is myratravin48@gmail.com.

Diane M. Ehmke-Badgley ’76 Passes Away

ins033136-1_20160407.jpgxDiane Ehmke Badgley, age 61, of Broad Ripple, Indiana, passed away on April 6, 2016. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Brent Badgley whom she deeply cherished. Diane, an artist and lover of all things creative, leaves behind an indelible imprint on the lives of family and friends. 

A private family Celebration of Life event occurred on Saturday, April 9th. Messages of condolence can be made at www.flannerbuchanan.com. Memorial contributions can be made in her name to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.

Published in the The Indianapolis Star on Apr. 10, 2016

Phill Wilson ’77 Still Leader in the Fight Against AIDS


Phill-wilson-suit-001For Phill Wilson—long-term HIV-survivor and founder of the highly-regarded Black AIDS Institute featured in the CNN docu-series, “The Eighties” celebrated his miraculous 60
th birthday on April 23—the poem, “Where will you be when they come?” holds profound meaning:

“Citizens, good citizens all
parade into voting booths and in self-righteous sanctity
X away our right to life,”
Pat Parker

The Black AIDS Institute held a fundraiser in celebration of Phill Wilson’s 60th birthday on Saturday, April 23. There was a surprise celebrity guests and a roast at the event.  When asked what he wanted for his birthday, Wilson said:

“I want to raise a lot of money for the Black AIDS Institute.  I would like for all of my friends, family, and anyone who I’ve ever touched in anyway over the last 60 years to help the Black AIDS Institute finally end the AIDS epidemic in our community.”

Go to Phillwilson60.com to see photos of Wilson through the decades and learn more.

For more about Phill you can go to  The Pride.

Congratulations, Phill.

 

Spring Has Sprung, Titans!!!

Yes, it is official! Warmer weather, birds singing trees budding are all harbingers of Spring. Not only has Mother Nature been busy, but your fellow Titan alums have been so, as well.

Joyce Beaulieu (1970) who now lives on her family farm located in Lomax, Illinois is a priest for Grace Episcopal Church in Galesburg, Illinois. This position is for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, where she serves as congregational development consultant and group facilitator for new clergy. Also, Joyce is Adjunct Faculty in the DMin Program in Congregational Development at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago.

Another clergy alumnus, Karen Turner-Kyles (1974) is celebrating her fifth year as pastor of Church of God Church, in Chicago.

Next there is, my fellow classmate and good friend, Janet (Laier) Green (1975) the author of a book entitled: Create a New Reality: 4 Simple tools to Revolutionize your life. Launched on April 15th in Toronto, Canada, Jan received an award there. To purchase the book online, go to: www.CreateaNewRealityNow.com. Janet wants all to know that 15% of all book sales is donated to The Insight Project for Kids, a non-profit which seeks to hire more teachers to teach stress management tools to school children ages 3 – 19.

Lastly, there’s me, the editor, who just completed a successful community theater run at South Suburban Community College’s Kindig Theater, of “Man of La Mancha.” The musical performances ran from April 19th until April 24th! It was great fun! I was blessed to be directed by SSC faculty theater genuis, Bobbie Saltzman. In addition, the high-spirited, diverse, talented, and youthful cast shared their energy with this mature thespian!

Well, until next time, oh, thanks for showing up for our annual “All In For Wesleyan,” on April 7th.  It turned out to be a great day for giving! And, here goes a big shout-out to our new President Eric Jensen who was inaugurated on April 2nd. Welcome to “The Prez,” and to his lovely wife, Elizabeth. Take care, Titans!