TangleKnot Theatre in Chicago presented Joan Holden’s Nickel and Dimed as its inaugural production July 19 through Aug. 11.

TangleKnot’s Artistic Director Dani Snyder-Young is assistant professor of theatre arts and head of the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts program at Illinois Wesleyan. She also directed Nickel and Dimed, with alumna Britnee Ruscitti ’10 who served as assistant director. Curtis Trout, director of the School of Theatre Arts, was the production’s scenic designer. Alumnus Tristan Meredith ’12 was lighting designer, and Celeste V. Kelley ’13 designed Nickel’s costumes. Antonio Gracias ’12 was the production’s sound designer. Current student Sarah Menke ’15 received an Eckley Summer Scholar fellowship to serve as assistant stage manager and audience development and outreach associate. The project was funded in part by an Illinois Wesleyan Artistic and Scholarly Development grant to Snyder-Young and Trout.

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.

Brett Moore ’10 of the Harvard Office of Athletic Communications was selected by the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) as the 2012-13 Men’s Northern Division Sports Information Director of the Year.

Erin Bradley ’10 is a project coordinator in Chicago with the Digital Learning Research Project of New York University’s Institute of Human Development and Social Change. She co-authored a study, “Teens, Digital Media, and the Chicago Public Library,” published by the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research. She also co-authored a case study for a MacArthur-funded program, “Hive Fashion: Translating Interest Into Career Opportunity.”

Janelle Santos’ trek to a four-island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean began when she saw a notice in the Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights.  “I found myself intrigued,” she said. “Here was an opportunity to help promote world peace and friendship.”  For 32 months, Janelle Santos faced constant 86-degree days and a lot of rain without benefit of electricity, gas or hot water.

The Harwood Heights resident returned May 13 from Pohnpei, Micronesia, after serving as a member of the Peace Corps.  The population of the island is 35,000.  “Technically, I was in the federal states of Micronesia, a really small island nation,” she said. “I was an (English as a second language) teacher and community development teacher.   “I taught high school kids how to read and write English.”  In return, the residents of Pohnpei taught Santos to speak Pohnpeian.

Living as the residents live gave Santos the opportunity to become part of community, learning language and the crucial components of their culture.  Her favorite part was the traditional feast, called Kamadipw.  “It’s a huge party where everyone goes to the nahs, the community house, and celebrates the local leaders,” she said.  “Everyone brings a plate of food. There’s ceremonial drink called sakau, more widely known as kava, and they slaughter pigs. And they dance.”

Santos said she learned a lot about herself while in Pohnpei.  “I learned about perseverance, commitment,” she said. “And I learned to love and appreciate the people of Pohnpei.  She becomes wistful thinking of her days in Micronesia.  “I was lucky to have my own room,” she said. “I had a mattress, but not much in the way of utilities.  “There was no hot water, but it was great. It’s all part of the learning experience.  “And I will never forget the welcoming warmth of the Pohnpeian people.”

Santos graduated from Pennoyer Elementary School, Maine South High School and Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where she earned degrees in international studies and sociology.  Santos now attends the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working on her doctoral degree in social work.