BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – This year, Illinois Wesleyan University welcomed 587 first-year students to campus. Of those students, 32 have siblings, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and generations farther back who call Illinois Wesleyan their alma mater. Often referred to as legacy students, this year represents the largest class of such distinction in the University’s history.
Craig Rapp, class of 2004, called attending Illinois Wesleyan “a family extravaganza.” With his two older brothers having already attended IWU, and his father Randall Rapp being a member of the class of 1973, he had spent a fair amount of time visiting the University prior to becoming a student. Choosing IWU was an easy decision and a gut instinct, he said. Although his father was happy he had selected IWU, he still encouraged his son to look elsewhere.
“My dad pushed me to look at other schools to make sure this was the right fit for me,” said Rapp. “He was delighted that I was looking at IWU, but he was also very firm that he would be fine with whatever school I chose.”