Torri “T.J.” Newman ’06 has a new book that is set to be released on May 30. Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 is a thriller about a plane that crashes and sinks into the ocean with passengers enclosed in the cabin and the rescue mission that ensues. She also recently secured a film deal for this new book with Warner Bros. “It’s been a huge honor and a huge learning experience. In a novel, you have 10 pages to write a scene. In a screenplay, you have one page. Executing that kind of compression well is extremely difficult and I’ve loved the challenge of it,” she said. You can read more about the new book/movie here. Congratulations Torri!

Landis Wiedner ’06 was interviewed on CBS Chicago on March 23rd for the podcast she created called What the EF. It’s an epilepsy awareness podcast where they share, cry, and laugh at all of their epilepsy WTF moments. It’s a space that discusses, points out, and chuckles at the ridiculous, poignant, heartbreaking, and sometimes funny stuff that happens with epilepsy. It’s available on all major podcast streaming services, such as Apple and Spotify. For more information, here’s the website: https://www.whattheefpodcast.com/. To watch the interview, click here.

In January 2023, Kelly (Goodpaster) Fuller ’06 joined Type A Events as Senior Manager, Incentives & Conferences where she supports clients in selecting, planning and operating incentive trips, sales meetings, and other corporate programming worldwide. She also continues to be involved in the event planning industry as a member of SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Excellence) and has attained her CIS (Certified Incentive Specialist) and CITP (Certified Incentive Travel Professional) certifications.

Dr. Lindsay Sicks ’06, IWU alumna of the Class of 2006 and Associate Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry, was the recipient of the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award by the American Academy of Optometry. Congratulations, Lindsay!

Mike McGraw ’06, President and owner of McGraw Enterprises, Inc., was recently selected as a recipient of a “40 Under 40” business leader award in the Springfield and surrounding community area. Sponsored by the Springfield Business Journal, the award features 40 leaders who are under the age of 40 and are selected based on their contributions to our local business community and the community in which they reside. The recipients, in part, represent the future of business in Central Illinois communities. Mike is the owner/operator of McGraw Family McDonald’s(R) in the Springfield, Litchfield and Williamsville areas. He is involved in the McDonald’s Corporation OPNAD Owner/Operator Group, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House of Central Illinois and is a member of the Springfield First United Methodist Church.

In May of 2020 Sarah Mysiewicz Gill ‘06 graduated 1st in her class from Catholic Law School while working full time. After working for nearly nine years with AARP as the private sector retirement lead for the Association’s state government affairs team, she started a new job as an associate at Groom Law Group in Washington, D.C., where she works as a tax and retirement attorney.
Wow! You sure have been busy, Sarah! Keep up the great work!

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.