Sandra Steingraber ’81

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Sandra Steingraber ’81 testified May 21 at an Illinois House committee hearing against a bill allowing “fracking.” She appeared in Normal to speak against the controversial drilling method on May 20, as reported in The Pantagraph.

Here are a couple of links to articles relating to Sandra’s efforts.

This article is from the Illinois Times: http://illinoistimes.com/article-11428-fracking-bill-draws-.html

and this is for the Pantagraph: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/fracking-critics-seek-more-safeguards-in-illinois/article_dbe6535a-c1a3-11e2-b34e-001a4bcf887a.html

Don Ester ’80

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For his distinguished contributions to the arts, Don Ester ’80 was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Iota Chi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota in March. A music major at IWU, Don is a music education professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He received the 1998 Ball State University Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2006 Indiana Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year Award. He holds a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University, where he studied choral conducting and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Don has taught in the public schools as well as at the university level, and has served as a full-time church musician.  A frequent guest conductor and clinician for choirs of all ages, he founded and directed the White River Youth Choir from 1994 to 2008, leading them on performing tours in the US, Brazil, and Japan. His research and publications focuses on music literacy pedagogy, the adolescent voice, and instructional strategies. An accomplished pianist/accompanist and singer, he is also a past National Chair of the Society for Music Teacher Education. Don’s wife is Carol (Gore), also Class of 1980.

Don Ester Music

From Christine McHugh ’82

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“Older Ladies” the music video I recently directed has gone viral with almost 2 million views in less than two weeks (at the time of this writing). Oakland based Singer/Songwriter and longtime collaborator, Donnalou Stevens performs her song about the joys of getting right with getting old and it seems to have struck a chord with quite a few ladies (and men) around the world. Here’s what the Huffington Post had to say about it…http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/older-ladies-song-video-donnalou-stevens_n_5527127.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment

I’m pretty new to the filmmaking world but enjoying a fair amount of early success (my comedy short, On The Nature Of Hotness won Best Short Comedy at the NYC International FIlm Festival last year and it’s been screened at nine film festivals. It’s now available on Indiflix) and this Older Ladies video was a hoot to make. We’ve got a couple more up our sleeves (keeps your eyes open for Older Men) and I hope the fun just keeps on coming.

 

Attached you’ll find of pic of me in the video (salon chair) and a publicity shot.
Older Ladies Still 6 Older Ladies Still 27

All The Best,
Christine McHugh (Theatre ’82)

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A note of introduction…

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My name is Bob Poynton and I graduated with my BFA in Drama from IWU in 1980. I’ve been “recruited” to be your new class newsletter editor and will do my best to keep up with all the news that everyone sends me to post. Should be fun!

Here’s a cut an paste version of my bio so you can see what I’ve been up to since…. oh, about May 16, 1980…. Enjoy!

“After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1980 with a BFA in Drama, Bobby decided to leave the security of his suburban Chicago home and head to Hollywood to seek his fame and fortune as an actor. With $500, a beat up sports car and his Dad’s gas credit card in hand, he began his journey to pursue his dream.

Over the years the acting roles were there for the taking but the “fame and fortune” Bobby had sought proved to be elusive. Work on such shows as Days of Our Lives, Jake and the Fatman, Life Goes On, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Sentinel, Touched by an Angel, Viper, Promised Land and Walker: Texas Ranger as well as numerous theatrical credits all served to keep the dream alive, but were never enough.

Then the opportunity came to audition for an “international recording group” seeking an attractive male vocalist with a tenor voice, falsetto, and at least 6 feet tall. Well, the tenor voice used to be there when he was in college, so he figured he would wear boots for the height and hope the room was dark for the rest. The result was the 6 year stint as a member of The Lettermen.

Bobby recorded 6 albums with The Lettermen, performed in excess of 1000 concerts around the world and most importantly came to the realization that the “fame and fortune” he had so fervently sought was nowhere near as important or rewarding as the “fame” he had in his own family as a big brother or the “fortune of the heart” he receives daily from his wife Beth, son Robert V, and daughter Callie at their home in Illinois.

In 2001, Bobby began touring the country again. This time with the classic group The Diamonds, rock and roll pioneers who recorded the 50’s anthems “The Stroll” and “Little Darlin”. In 2002, the soundtrack for “The Adventures Of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina,” an animated film, included Bobby’s duet with Jennifer Love Hewitt. In 2010, Bobby was delighted to be invited to take the stage for a night with the legendary group, The Vogues.

In 2011, the door to a return to The Lettermen opened and Bobby walked back though. He considers his return to The Lettermen a true honor and looks forward to many years recreating the magic on stage and in the recording studio with his partners Tony Butala (founding member) & Donovan Tea. “