Congratulations to Charlene Recio ’02, who was elected by members of the Will County (IL) Women’s Bar Association as president of its executive board in January 2020. An eight-year veteran as Will County Assistant State’s Attorney, Charlene joined the organization in 2013. She has served in many roles, including as secretary, treasurer and vice president of the executive board. Charlene also currently serves as vice president of the Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association and is an active member of the Will County Bar Association.

Melissa Neis ’02 Was presented the 2019 OURHAUS Award, for her philanthropic leadership and dedication to supporting social change through theatre, by Collaboration Theatre Company, a Chicago-based non-profit arts organization. A vice president with Parr Insurance Brokerage, Melissa has served on Collaboraction’s Board of Directors for five years and played a leading role in the group’s spring fundraiser and donor cultivation event. She also currently volunteers with Heartland Alliance’s Women’s Empowerment Program. Congrats Melissa!

Mike Mayo returned to Illinois Wesleyan’s campus on April 13, 2019, to present the Mayo Alumni Award at the annual student art reception and awards ceremony in the Merwin and Wakeley galleries. Mike has sponsored the prize, awarded to students who share his passion for fine arts, for the past 11 years. While visting campus, Mike showed his children two of his pieces, completed while he was an IWU student, displayed in IWU’s Center for the Liberal Arts. 

Thank-A-Giver Day (TAG Day) is Monday, February 10. This day provides the IWU campus community with the opportunity to thank donors who support Illinois Wesleyan. IWU celebrates each year in mid-February because it marks the symbolic point during the academic year – about 70% of the way through – when we rely on support from alumni and friends, our endowment, and external grants.  

If you would like to be celebrated as a donor today, you can make a gift at iwu.edu/give. 

Thank you to Josh Steinhaus ’02 for speaking to Fred Hoyt’s Marketing 339 class in October about experience in sales.

Charlene Recio ’02 was recently elected President of the 2020 Executive Board by members of the Will County Women’s Bar Association. Here is the link to the article.

Michael Mayo ’02 and his spouse Sarah Evans ’03 moved to Wales to pursue Sarah’s dream of studying in her family’s homeland, and Michael’s dream  of working abroad. They filmed an episode of House Hunters International in December, which will likely air this spring. They continue to support the School of Art “Mayo Award” for outstanding juried exhibition efforts.

Matt Garard ’02 and his wife Elizabeth welcomed a baby boy, Levi Henry Garard, on February 22, 2019.

Welcome to the world Levi!!

Elizabeth Kensek ’02 was hired as Associate Producer by the Board of Directors of WaterTower Theatre, along with Shane Peterman, Producing Artistic Director. Here is the link to the article about her accomplishment.

Congrats Elizabeth!!