A few years ago while attending an Alumni Shakespeare event on a beautiful summer evening at the Ewing Manor grounds, I crossed paths with Lynda Lane. I remembered Lynda as a fellow Illinois State coed on campus in the 1960s. Recalling that Lynda was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, I casually mentioned that if she ever needed an extra hand with alumni events, I would love to get involved.
That is all it took! Lynda invited me to be on the University’s Homecoming committee. Later I became a member of the Distinguished Alumni Award selection committee. Presently I remain on these committees, and am also the volunteer liaison for the Alumni Relations staff.
What a proud and life-altering experience it has been these past few years to have the opportunity to serve and represent our amazing, nationally recognized university as a volunteer. Volunteering is the perfect avenue to give back to the University, which prepares graduates with a broad and diverse education. I certainly attribute my long and successful teaching career to the dedicated professors in the Physical Education Department.
The Alumni Association relies on volunteers to help reach out to students, alums, and community populations at various events. Volunteers interact with students at Preview activities, Passages, job fairs, career days, and commencement. We have booths in Bloomington-Normal at the annual Sugar Creek Arts Festival, Farmer’s Markets, and the Sweet Corn Festival each summer.
Volunteers also assist with events at the Alumni Center, the Slam Dunk family event offered by Athletics, Homecoming, the annual Shakespeare alumni night, and many other activities. We definitely “Spread the Red” all year long.
Whether interacting with students, community members, or fellow alums, volunteers find that representing Illinois State University is extremely rewarding. It’s also a great way to meet new friends, or reconnect with old ones. There’s a spot waiting for you. Just simply say “I would love to get involved.” That’s all it takes!
Anita L. Gibb ’69
Alumni Relations Volunteer Liaison
Find out how you can get involved by completing the online form, contacting Alumni Relations Assistant Director Stephanie Duquenne at (309) 438-2586 or by e-mail at saduque@IllinoisState.edu.
