Please join me in congratulating our class member Neil Stratman on his role in Fiddler on the Roof!

Light Opera Works presents Fiddler on the Roof, starring Ryan Naimy ’07 as the Fiddler and Neil Stratman ’10 as Motel! The show runs from August 9-24 at Cahn Auditorium

For directions to the show: http://www.lightoperaworks.org/directions.html

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.lightoperaworks.org/Fiddler.html

Please wish me in congratulating Amanda Pilgrim 10′, who is currently the Head of Children’s Services at the Algona Public Library and was named to the Iowa Library Services Advisory Panel. This group of 22 librarians “advises and recommends evidence-based best practices…determines service priorities, articulates the needs and interests of Iowa librarians.”

Congratulations on your exciting opportunity to positively affect library services in Iowa!

Please join me in wishing Amanda the best of luck with her new position!

Please join me congratulating Paul on his success. Good luck in your future career!

Kabbes Named Associate AD for External Operations

Kabbes Named Associate AD for External Operations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – University of Illinois Springfield Director of Athletics Kim Pate announced the hiring of Paul Kabbes as Associate Athletic Director for External Operations.12119

“I am pleased to announce another very talented addition to our athletics staff,” said Pate. “Paul Kabbes is an up-and-coming athletic administrator who will have an immediate impact on our external operations. He brings great experience and a proven record of success. Paul understands the importance of athletics in its role as the front porch to community and is passionate about developing a top notch student-athlete experience. He is the perfect person to take our external operation to the next level.”

Most recently, Kabbes was the Associate Director of Development at Division I University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). His main focus was oversight of annual giving for the Blazer Boosters office.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to join the UIS family and Springfield community,” said Kabbes. “I want to personally thank Kim Pate and the entire staff for this chance to contribute to an outstanding institution and athletic department. A great vision is in place for the future of UIS Athletics thanks to talented coaches and staff members and I am ready to be a part of that.”

Kabbes coordinated UAB’s B Club, a former student-athlete booster group, and managed the annual Blazer Rep program. In addition, he oversaw the Blazer Bulletin and Blazer Boosters website.

Prior to joining the Blazers, Kabbes spent two years with the Illinois State Athletic Department as the Development Graduate Assistant. While at ISU, he worked primarily on generating annual fund revenues.

He also managed donor rooms for men’s basketball and football, worked on various external events and served as tournament director for the annual Redbird Golf Classic. Kabbes also assisted with the selling of club seats for a newly renovated Hancock Stadium on Illinois State’s campus.

While completing his Master’s degree in Sport Management at Illinois State, Kabbes became strongly involved with the Miracle League of Central Illinois, a non-profit organization that provides children with mental or physical disabilities the chance to play baseball. He served as a coach and also worked as a fundraising intern. Kabbes aided with various fundraising events working towards the construction of a new field for the Miracle League.

No stranger to the central Illinois area, Kabbes hails from Normal, Illinois and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in Business Management. Kabbes was a three-year letterwinner with the IWU baseball team and pitched for the 2010 Division III National Championship team.

Kabbes begins his duties on July 21

Ann Harding

After decades of service to Illinois Wesleyan, Ann Harding retired this month as director of Alumni Relations.

We’ll remember her as patient, helpful and caring to all students. Thank you for your time and passion helping each one of us.

Please join me in wishing her the best leading into her retirement.

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.

Dr. Christopher J. Betzle is among 65 new physicians in the Class of 2014 who graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine on Saturday, May 17. He will enter an orthopaedic surgery residency at ­­Western Michigan University School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, Mich., in July.

Betzle is the son of John and Elodie Betzle of East Moline. He is a graduate of United Township High School in East Moline (2006) and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology (2010).

Commencement exercises for the School’s 40th graduating class were held in the Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield. The convocation address was delivered by Dr. Benjamin P. Sachs, senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The medical degrees were conferred by Rita Cheng, SIUC chancellor, and diplomas were presented by Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey, Ph.D., dean and provost of the medical school.

Established in 1970, SIU School of Medicine is based in Carbondale and Springfield and focused on the health care needs of downstate Illinois. It is specifically oriented to educating physicians prepared to practice in Illinois communities and has graduated 2,615 physicians since the first class in 1975. Its website is www.siumed.edu.

Please take this time with me to congratulate Dr. Christopher Betzle!

Suman Gautam ’10 developed a blog related to Nepal’s energy issues:

Energy For Nepal : A Complete Blog on Nepal’s Energy Issues

“Suman is a graduate Student in Energy Management and Policy – an interdisciplinary program combining energy engineering, economics, and policy – at Pennsylvania State University with research interests in energy economics, energy policy, and electric markets. He completed bachelor’s degree in Physics and Economics from Illinois Wesleyan University. He also maintains a blog on Nepal’s energy issues.”

Please join in congratulating Suman in his research and development. We hope the blog is successful!