Former Chief Judges Elizabeth Robb ’78, Kevin Fitzgerald and John Freese will each lead a panel of eight members to propose new district maps, as the county board must draw new maps every 10 years based on census numbers. The 24 panel members consist of small business owners, farmers, teachers, and administrators from State Farm, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University.  The three new maps will be available for public view by July 8, and the 24-member advisory committee will conduct a public input meeting afterward. The full county board will vote to adopt a new map at its July 15 meeting.  See entire Pantagraph article here.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Financial Advisor Carol Brandt ’78 was recently named to the 2021 Forbes “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” list. Carol lives in Chicago and received her MBA from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. She is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill and Certified Financial Planner with 36 years’ experience providing personalized wealth management strategies to high-net-worth families. She has also been recognized as a Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors and Financial Times Top 400 Financial Advisors. Congratulations!

Paul E. Pedersen ’73, M.D., was elected trustee-at-large of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) during its 2021 annual meeting, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been a member of ISMS since 1980 and served as its president from 2019-2020. Dr. Pedersen will serve as trustee-at-large through April 2022.

Larry Ekin ’76 currently works as a Contact Tracer for the State of Maryland, serving as a Peer Mentor and Inbound Triage Agent as well as a contact tracer. “When I was going through my cancer surgery and subsequent radiation treatment, I realized the psychological importance of feeling like somebody was on my side. Part of my responsibilities as a contact tracer allow me to extend that feeling to others. So, my involvement as a contact tracer is motivated, at least in part, by a sense of paying my respect to the people who gave me that support when I needed it.” Ekin will soon observe his one year anniversary of contact tracing.

Tom Hensel ’71 was honored as Plainfield (Ill.) Central High School renamed its basketball court Tom Hensel Court in a ceremony in April 2021. Tom retired from the Plainfield school district in 2004 after serving as a teacher, coach and administrator for more than 33 years. In addition to Plainfield, he also taught in the Illinois communities of Minooka, Wyoming and Galesburg.

In September 2020, Chuck Kennedy ’76 was awarded the Bronze Medal for Technical Merit from the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) for his significant technical contributions in the field of undersea warfare.

On November 19, 2020 Steve Watts was awarded the Thomas B. Herring Community Service Award by the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce for “volunteer activities exemplifying the true meaning of service to others and a willingness to do so without recognition and publicity”. Watts retired from the practice of law in 2018. He currently serves as chairman of the Knox County Mental Health (708) Board.

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