Lora Weliky died Sept. 28, 2020, in Kansas City. She was 60. Lora earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Illinois Wesleyan. She was active in community theater and particularly enjoyed her role as Mother Superior in a production of Nunsense. She was also passionate about cooking and game shows. She is survived by her son, three siblings, and many extended family members and friends.
Congratulations to Alex Calvert ’86, who was elected to the First State Bank of Bloomington’s Board of Directors. Read the Pantagraph article here.
Congratulations to Jennifer (Scott) Seeling ’89 who had this news to share:
As Las Vegas shows come back after the COVID-19 shut-down, I am pleased to announce my promotion from Sales Director to GM for Legends in Concert Las Vegas the longest running show of the Las Vegas Strip. I will also serve as interim Production Manager as we bring our show back to the Legends in Concert Theatre located inside the iconic Tropicana Hotel and Casino.
Netflix’s The Prom, produced by Bill Damaschke ’85, is nominated for a Golden Globe in the category of Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Winners will be announced at the 78th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Feb. 28, beginning at 7 p.m. CT on NBC. Read the full IWU article here.
Dr. Kris Condon ’84, Educator/Corporate Trainer and Director of Curriculum Development with the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute, presented four workshops during fall semester on how to navigate LinkedIn. She also conducted one-on-one LinkedIn profile reviews with alumni and students after the workshops. More than 46 million students and recent college graduates use LinkedIn. She taught how to create your profile, connect with IWU alumni through the system, apply for jobs/internships, and more.
Jeff Poltawsky ’81 is leading efforts to build a $300 million, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Tacoma, Washington.
Jeff is president of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Network, which is part of the MultiCare Health System. The current 82-bed children’s hospital shares operating rooms and imaging suites with Tacoma General Hospital, but the new, freestanding facility will be dedicated just to kids. It will have operating rooms, intensive care and medical surgical care units, as well as a pediatric trauma center, emergency department, mental health crisis center, heart program, cancer center, and more. The children’s hospital is currently being developed using lean-led design with ground-breaking slated for early 2022.
The new Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital will open in the fall of 2024.
Dr. Leonidas A. Johnson ’81 has written a book called Phenomenal Vision Eyesight to Life Sight.
Eyesight to Life Sight is an intriguing exploration of Rev. Dr. Leonidas A. Johnson’s pioneering insight into the relationship between eyesight and the various ways we view and process information in life. The aim of this book is not only to help teach how to process information about our world that encompasses a biblical worldview but also to help develop a biblically sound decision-making strategy. In his book, his perception of the linkage between physical, mental and physical sight is credibly drawn and offers a new, easily accessible way to examine one’s life and faith.
It can be found on Amazon.
You can also watch the book trailer below!
Professor David Bollivar, PhD. was a co-authored “Aerobic Barley Mg-protoporphyrin IX Monomethyl Ester Cyclase is Powered by Electrons from Ferredoxin,” in the journal Plants, in August 2020. He also co-authored “Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Microbacterium spp,” in PLOS One, in June 2020.
Monday, February 8 is Thank-A-Giver Day at Illinois Wesleyan and we’re eager to celebrate generous Titans!
Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day is the symbolic point during the academic year — about 70% of the way through — when tuition dollars are exhausted and Illinois Wesleyan relies on donor generosity to continue providing a world-class education and rewarding collegiate experiences.
Each and every year, every gift matters. Contributions benefit students and faculty, enhance academic excellence, and strengthen the IWU community.
Thank you to all who give back to move IWU forward. 
New work from the studio of Renee McGinnis
This new painting “Money or Mercy” represents the lure of wealth
over health during this time of seeking safety from a powerful virus.
One pistil stem from the lily depicts a dollar sign and jewel which represents wealth and the desire to return to work. The other nestles safely under the Red Cross of the Mercy ship. The hummingbird however makes a typical choice of securing toilet paper. The bottom center flowers are full bloom covid cells.
See more at reneemcginnis.com
