A new giving circle scholarship has been launched to honor the late Robert M. Leekley, emeritus associate professor of economics, a tribute spearheaded by his former colleague Michael Seeborg. The circle seeks to raise at least $2,500 to be awarded to an outstanding junior or senior economics major starting in fall 2021.

Learn more and make a gift here: Professor Robert M. Leekley Memorial Giving Circle Scholarship 

Illinois Wesleyan’s elementary education program has been designated “exemplary” by the Illinois State Board of Education. This is the board’s highest ranking, placing IWU’s program in the top 35% across the state.

Read more on Elementary Education Program Rated Exemplary from Illinois Wesleyan.

The Illinois State Board of Education has designated Illinois Wesleyan’s music education program as “exemplary,” their highest ranking, placing IWU’s program in the top 10% across the state.

Read more on Music Education Programs Earns Exemplary Rating from Illinois Wesleyan

Heartland Community College and Illinois Wesleyan have adopted a Guaranteed Admissions Agreement that will provide an easy transition for students transferring from one institution to the other.

Read more on Heartland Community College and Illinois Wesleyan Announce Guaranteed Admissions Agreement from Illinois Wesleyan

The IWU men’s basketball team won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship for the first time in program history on March 12, with a victory over top-seeded Wheaton College on the Thunder’s home court.

Read more on Men’s Basketball Wins CCIW Championship Over No. 3 Wheaton from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics

Sharla Brown-Ajayi brings more than eight years of experience at Illinois Wesleyan into her new role as director of the University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Brown-Ajayi has served as ODI’s interim director for the past two months and has contributed largely to the campus community.

Read more on Brown-Ajayi to Direct Office of Diversity and Inclusion from Illinois Wesleyan

Issac Funk Endowed Professor of Philosophy Robert Erlewine’s new book Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known By God brings together writings by rabbi and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel, whose words he says are “beyond merely relevant, they are urgent” for today.

Read more on Faculty Book Explores Philosophy of Jewish Faith and Civic Leader from Illinois Wesleyan

The student-produced podcast Slightly Underwhelming featured an interview with Indea Powe, counselor in Counseling and Consultation Services. Editor Caleb Hansen ’21 talked with Powe about why she decided to work at IWU, why she became a counselor, and her experiences at the school so far.

Listen to the full podcast on The New Counselor: Indea Powe from Spotify

Charlotte Coats ’17 has joined the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic as an attorney, where she will assist the clinic’s domestic violence practice. Previously, Coats was a domestic violence team legal intern at the Legal Aid Society in Chicago.

Read more on North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic brings on new attorney from the Daily Herald

The men’s basketball team defeated North Park University in the CCIW Quarterfinals and will host Elmhurst University in the Semifinals at the Shirk Center on Tuesday, March 9.

Read more on Men’s Hoops Pushes Past NPU in CCIW Quarterfinals from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team advanced to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship with a win at North Park University on March 6.

Read more on Women’s Basketball Advances to CCIW Title Game with Gritty Win at North Park from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics

Illinois Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees recently approved recommendations for faculty tenure and promotions. Six professors advanced to tenure and five advanced from assistant professor to associate professor.

Read more on Faculty Promotions and Tenure Announced from Illinois Wesleyan

The IWU Action Research Center has partnered with various community organizations to develop #12MonthsIn6Words, a project to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the pandemic by recording six word reflections from the community on the past year. Reflections can be submitted here until March 31.

Read more on #12MonthsIn6Words Initiative Commemorates One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19 in McLean County from Illinois Wesleyan.

Illinois Wesleyan’s student-run newspaper, The Argus, earned 12 awards from the Illinois College Press Association, the paper’s most wins in nearly two decades.

Read more on The Argus Earns Illinois College Press Association Recognition from Illinois Wesleyan

The IWU men’s tennis team advanced to 5-1 on the season after its 9-0 sweep against Illinois College on Friday, Feb. 26, at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington.

Read more on Men’s Tennis Sweeps Illinois College 9-0 in Dual from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics

A five-year endeavor to catalogue the art of Illinois Wesleyan has culminated in an online collection of more than 1,000 pieces. The goal of the project was to create an easily accessible collection of IWU art for research and classroom use, as well as to highlight the students, faculty and donors who have contributed art to the University.

Read more on More than 1K Campus Art Pieces Catalogued through Multiyear Project from Illinois Wesleyan

Current Illinois Wesleyan students, high school juniors and seniors, alumni, community members and others are invited to enroll in IWU’s Summer Term courses. Many courses are being offered online but some will have an in-person option.

Read more on Expanded Summer Term Courses Offered to Students, Alumni, Community from Illinois Wesleyan

The Illinois Wesleyan softball team opened its season with a pair of wins over Illinois College on Feb. 18 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Dome in Peoria.

Read more on Softball Breaks Out the Brooms in Season-Opening Sweep of Illinois College from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics

Illinois Wesleyan’s Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year consisted of 771 students from 28 states and 15 countries.

Read more on Illinois Wesleyan Announces Fall 2020 Dean’s List from Illinois Wesleyan

The Campus Activities Board (CAB), a student-led organization committed to creating a vibrant campus life at IWU, won the Programming Organization of the Year Award for the Mid-America Region from the National Association of Campus Activities. They also received a marketing award for their fall 2020 calendar poster.

Read more on Campus Activities Board Recognized for Outstanding Programming from Illinois Wesleyan

Esports have thrived during the pandemic at Illinois Wesleyan while traditional sports struggled. Esports can be done remotely which has been a huge benefit.

Read more on Sports have had to adjust to new normals during Covid. Not esports. from NBC News

Byron S. Tucci Professor of Hispanic Studies, Carolyn Nadeau, helped present “It’s All in the Salsa: Mexican Stories of McLean County,” part of a virtual speaker series highlighting local immigrant stories from the McLean County Museum of History.

Read more on ‘Breaking Bread In McLean County’ Highlights Local Immigrant Stories from WGLT

Illinois Wesleyan students participated in the school’s annual Thank a Giver Day on February 8. Many students said challenges of the pandemic have made them even more grateful for support from donors to the university.

Read more on Illinois Wesleyan University students thank donors amid pandemic from The Pantagraph

Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Amanda Vicary discussed the popularity and implications of True Crime podcasts.

Read and listen more on Investigating Our Obsession With True Crime Podcasts from 1A

Senior Kendall Sosa’s record-breaking 47 point performance led the women’s basketball team to a win over Millikin. Sosa broke the women’s single-game scoring record set by Lila Wagner Jan. 5, 1980 and tied Greg Yess for the most points in a game by a Titan ever.

Read more on Sosa’s Record-Breaking Night Leads IWU to Win Over No. 13 Millikin from Illinois Wesleyan Athletics