Summer Reading Program

brando skyhorse book cover

Join the new academic tradition known as the Summer Reading Program.  Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are reading:

 

The Madonnas of Echo Park

 by Brando Skyhorse.

  • If you would like to participate in an alumni only book discussion group in Bloomington, Chicago or Washington DC, please click here to register or contact your area Alumni Regional President directly.
  • Click here to RSVP for the campus book discussion group on Friday, August 20, 6-8pm.
  • Wednesday, September 3rd the author will be discussing his book at the President’s Convocation at 11 am at Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall, IWU.

“All in for Wesleyan,” a Historic Day of Giving

On July 17, over 2,500 alumni and friends made gifts to IWU totaling over $450,000. Unless otherwise specified by donors, all the money raised went to student scholarships and financial aid.  The “All in for Wesleyan” challenge began when Illinois Wesleyan Trustee John Horton ’82 and his wife, Joann, offered a gift of $100,000 if alumni and friends could raise $50,000 in one day.  When that challenge was met, several more challenges followed — and each was fulfilled.  Howard ’60 and Sharon ’60 Fricke offered a $10,000 gift if 600 donors participated.  Ed ’62 and Lin Phelps then offered $25,000 for 1,000 total donors.  Korey ’00 and Heidi Coon offered a $15,000 challenge for 1,200 donors.  Dr. Mike Sombeck ’83 offered $25,000 if we could reach 1,500.  Finally, at the end of the day, Dr. Randy ’73 & Jodie Reed offered $25,000 and Ed ’62 & Lin Phelps added $10,000 more to match every new gift, dollar for dollar…up to a total of $35,000 in gifts before midnight.

It was an exciting day to be a Titan.  The challenge became about so much more than numbers and dollars and donors.  It provided our alumni and friends with a chance to share their pride and explain how much IWU means to them.  If you weren’t following these conversations on social media, you can click here to read them now.  THANK YOU to all of our loyal alumni and friends who made July 17 an incredible day for our school and our students.

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