Brian Smith ’00 and Gina (Schopp) Wither ’99

IWU grads Brian Smith ’00 and Gina (Schopp) Wither ’99 have worked at Steamboat Mountain School, a small, independent boarding school, for nineteen and twenty years, respectively. Brian is the Dean of Students and teaches Calculus 1 and 2. 

Brian and Gina recently took kids on a five-day canoeing trip on the Green River through Labyrinth Canyon for their annual Desert Week trip.

Are you ready to join in on a milestone? Come see your classmates, take a couple classes, see a show, and, of course, see the Titans beat Carthage on Saturday afternoon!

Celebrate 100 years of IWU Homecoming with us on October 5 – 7.
See the schedule and register here.

In Sympathy – Professor Elizabeth (Susie) Balser

We are very sorry to inform you that Professor Elizabeth (Susie) Balser, faculty member in Biology for more than 20 years, passed away last month following an extended illness. Susie was recognized as an expert on the anatomy of echinoderms. Her passion for invertebrate animals inspired the creation of three new courses at IWU. Both as an instructor and as a research mentor, Susie challenged students to carefully study the natural world and make their own discoveries.

In Sympathy – Professor Emerita L. Jane Brue

Jane Brue, 84, of Bloomington, passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.  A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. this Friday, May 18, in Evelyn Chapel, with a visitation prior to the service from 9-10 a.m. in the Chapel.

Jane was a nursing professor at Illinois Wesleyan for 21 years, leading many study abroad classes and receiving multiple accolades from students and colleagues. More details on her dedication to her profession, to IWU basketball, and to her family are in her obituary. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.

Jamie-Rose (Guarrine) Knapp ’00 and  Karl Knapp ’00

Three guest composers and four alumni performers graced the Westbrook stage during Illinois Wesleyan’s New Music Cafe concert on Thursday, March 8.  IWU’s own Kyle Shaw, Bloomington native Edward Breitweiser, and Will Pearson, a U of I doctoral composer who has taught recently at IWU, are the composers.  The alumni, all of whom have careers as college professors, preformed contemporary art songs.  They were soprano Jamie-Rose (Guarrine) Knapp ’00, who taught at IWU several years ago; her husband, cellist Karl Knapp ’00; bass-baritone Seth Keeton ’98; and pianist Robert Elfline ’97.  Rounding out the program was a performance of Three Songs  by Northern Illinois University professor emeritus Jan Bach, performed by IWU professors Ingrid Kammin and Andrew Voelker.  

Here is a link to more information about this year’s New Music Cafe concert: https://www.iwu.edu/news/2018/events/new-music-cafe-to-feature-guest-faculty-alumni-and-student-talent.html
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Knapp!

Christopher Olson ’00 Flies High

Christopher Olson ’00 was hired to fly with United Airlines in March 2015.  He took his first flight lesson in 1997 and has been flying commercially since 2001. Chris resides in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and is based in Chicago/O’Hare on the Boeing 737. He is happily married to Stephanie Olson (Seale) ’01, with whom he has two children, Aaron and Julianne.

Below is a picture of Christopher after he was hired and his daughter, Julianne (then nine months old).

Below is an image of Christopher at the helm.

Otis Carter ’00 Stays Busy as General Counsel, MBA Student, and Hockey Dad

Otis Carter ’00 serves as General Counsel for TriMark USA, the country’s largest provider of commercial food service equipment and supplies, based in South Attleboro, Massachusetts. He is currently obtaining his MBA at The Wharton School at UPenn while he and his wife, Molly, deal with the harsh realities of being hockey parents of three boys in hockey-mad New England.

 

All In For Wesleyan – April 3, 2018 – Think Bigger!

Tuesday, April 3rd is our day of giving at Illinois Wesleyan, and this year’s theme is Think Bigger!

Not only is today a day for giving, it’s a day to celebrate IWU and all of the things that make it special. Last year, our class had 28 donors. Let’s try for 35 this year! We contributed $3,510. Our goal for this year is $4,000! Think of the impact this can make for IWU students and their families!

Click here to learn more and to donate on Tuesday, April 3rd.
Help spread the word using #AllInForWesleyan and take advantage of our social media toolkit.