Carol Brandt ’78 has been recognized by Forbes as a Top Women Wealth Advisor 2020. Advisors are selected based on industry experience, assets, revenue and compliance.

Read more on Carol Brandt, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management from Chicago Business

Property and casualty insurer, The Hartford., appointed Bob Gulino ’97 as head of the Central Division for the company’s middle and large commercial insurance business.

Read more on The Hartford Names Bob Gulino Head Of Central Division Field Sales And Underwriting For Middle And Large Commercial from Global Banking & Finance Review

Ramona Cheek ’81 received the IWU 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Nursing. As Chief Nursing Officer for Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital in Ohio, Cheek currently oversees all nursing departments within the hospital.

Read more on Cheek ’81 Honored with Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award from Illinois Wesleyan

Dr. Raymond “Pete” Davis ’80, Sara T. Ghadiri ’11 and Gilbert “Gil” Dorsey ’62 were recipients of the 2020 Illinois Wesleyan University Alumni Awards. They  were honored during a video presentation as part of Illinois Wesleyan’s Virtual Homecoming.

Read more on Alumni Award Winners Honored During Homecoming from Illinois Wesleyan

Trevor Seibring ’17 was promoted to commercial lender for the Bloomington-Normal area by Heartland Bank and Trust Company. Seibring is a life-long resident of the Bloomington area and has been with Heartland Bank for three years.

Read more on Klein receives Land Broker of the Year award from The Pantagraph

Kim Bankston ’96 is one of five finalists for The Pantagraph’s annual Readers’ Choice Contest in the category, Best Primary Care Provider. Voting runs through Sunday, October 11.

Read more and vote on Best of Readers’ Choice Awards Bloomington/Normal from The Pantagraph

Chicago Sun-Times executive editor Chris Fusco ’94 was named founding executive editor of Lookout Santa Cruz, the first of a network of local news and information sites in central California.

Read more on Sun-Times editor Chris Fusco leaving for California news startup from Robert Feder

Charlene Carruthers ’07, an activist and academic is one of twelve researchers across the nation to receive a social and economic justice scholarship from the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Group Health Foundation.

Read more on Carruthers ’07 Earns $250,000 Grant for Social Justice Research from Illinois Wesleyan

Monica Bullington ’11 was among 26 McLean County women nominated for a YWCA McLean County Woman of Distinction Award.

Read more on Meet the 26 McLean County women nominated for Women of Distinction from The Pantagraph

Karl Pierburg ’98 takes lessons from playing football at Illinois Wesleyan into his role as vice president for data, analytics and technology for the Atlanta Falcons and AMB Sports and Entertainment.

Read more from Karl Pierburg takes football lessons from Illinois Wesleyan into vice-president role with Atlanta Falcons from The Pantagraph

Movie and theatre critic Chris Hewitt ’83 offered insight into his work and how it has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more on Chris Hewitt: Reviewing movies and theater in the age of COVID from Star Tribune

Richard Jenkins ’69 reflects on his career, upcoming films, and the assertion that he may be the most famous person in Rhode Island. Jenkins has appeared in more than eighty films, earning two Oscar nominations for “The Visitor” and “The Shape of Water”, and an Emmy win for “Olive Kitteridge”.

Read more on Is Richard Jenkins the Most Famous Person in Rhode Island? from The New Yorker

Alexa Baltes ’14, a Notre Dame Law School graduate, will clerk for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the 2021-2022 term.

Read more on Alexa Baltes ’17 J.D. to clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from University of Notre Dame

IWU alumna Dr. Courtney Botica opened Forever Family Dental in New Lenox, IL. The state-of-the-art dental practice opened to patients on September 8, 2020.

Read more on Dental Care Alliance opens de novo partnership practice in New Lenox, IL from Benzinga

The Ridgeview junior high gymnasium has been named “Coach Jones’ Court” in honor of Andy ’89 and Robyn Jones’ dedication and service to the school and its basketball programs. The couple have nearly 60 years of coaching experience between them.

Read more on Successful courtship: Andy and Robyn Jones build legacy with Ridgeview basketball from The Pantagraph

Jordan Baker ’20 is running for a seat on the McLean County Board in District 8.

Read more on Responsiveness, Transparency Key Issues In County Board District 8 Matchup from WGLT

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appointed Esther Franco-Payne ’96 to the Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee. She is currently the Executive Director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid.

Read more on Gov. Pritzker Announces Over Two Dozen Appointments to Illinois Boards from RiverBender

State Farm agent John Caywood ’08 directed a $10,000 grant to Champaign’s Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club. This program serves about 100 kids a day, many of whom would otherwise be home alone, serving them breakfast and lunch and providing help throughout the school day.

Read more on State Farm agent gives non-profit a boost from The News-Gazette

Mathew Timm ’77, Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Bradley University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Croatia, where he will conduct research at the University of Split.

Read more on Dr. Mathew Tim

Brad McMillan ’84, a professor of leadership at Bradley University, announced his campaign for a seat on the Normal Town Council.

Read more on Bradley University professor to run for Normal Town Council seat from The Pantagraph

DWS, one of the world’s leading asset managers, elevated JJ Wilczewski ’99 to Head of Client Coverage Americas and Global Head of Institutional Clients & Consultants.

Read more on DWS Elevates JJ Wilczewski to Head of Client Coverage Americas from Citybizlist

Martin McLaughlin ’87 is a nominee for the Illinois House’s 52nd District.

Read more on Martin McLaughlin, Illinois House 52nd District Republican nominee profile from Chicago Sun-Times

Former standout swimmer Mike Firth ’12 will lead the boys’ and girls’ swimming teams at (East Moline, IL) United Township High School.

Read more on Firth brings new perspective to UTHS girls swim program from QCVarsity

Taylor Glass ’24 won an Antonali College Scholarship, awarded to deserving high school seniors who follow their passions in all aspects of the theatrical arts in college.

Read more on Pittsburg Theatre looking to 2021 shows, while Center REP debuts online offerings from Pioneer Publishers.

Kayla V. White ’14 has been promoted to co-artistic director of Ghostlight Ensemble, a nonprofit storefront theatre company in Chicago.

Read more on Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Announces Kayla V. White as New Co-Artistic Director Ahead Of Season 4 Selection from Broadway World