Kristian Philpotts ’16, an Illinois State University alum who was fatally shot while working as a rideshare driver in Urbana, was honored Monday on what would have been his 31st birthday.
Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe ’94, M.S. ’96, Normal Town Council member Kathleen Lorenz, M.S. ’99 (filling in for Mayor Chris Koos), and Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin declared July 17 Kristian ‘KP’ Philpotts Day during a celebratory event at Bloomington’s Miller Park Zoo. The official proclamation was also adopted by the cities of Champaign and Charleston.
“Kristian ‘KP’ Philpotts’ life was defined by hard work, determination, passion, and kindness in pursuit of his goal to help others and care for animals,” Lorenz read from the proclamation.
To honor Philpotts, his family provided free admission to the first 300 Miller Park Zoo patrons Monday along with free carousel rides and snow cones. Reggie Redbird also made an appearance.
From an early age, Philpotts loved caring for animals, and he was on track to become a veterinarian with the ambition to work with exotic zoo animals.
“Kristian had a passion for so many things,” said Marla Rice, Philpotts’ mother. “He was passionate about animals, his family—he was just a loving, giving person and just enjoyed helping people.”
Philpotts graduated from Illinois State in 2016 with a bachelor’s in agriculture—pre-veterinary medicine, and he received a master’s from Eastern Illinois University in 2018.
The 29-year-old was earning money as a rideshare driver in Urbana to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine before his life was tragically cut short during an attempted robbery by three 17-year-old boys in January 2022. Two have pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, and murder charges are pending against the third.
At Illinois State, Philpotts served as an assistant farm manager, and he was active with the Student Pre-Veterinary Association. Philpotts was also a member of Iota Phi Theta Inc., and he brought the fraternity back to Eastern Illinois following a 27-year hiatus.
Philpotts immersed himself in each of his college communities, and at Eastern Illinois he created a pre-K program, “Kids for Science,” to teach children about science and pet safety. He also organized an annual holiday toy drive in his fraternity’s name, IOTA’S ‘R’ Us.
“He was one of the bright, young stars in our fraternity,” said Ed Stewart ’98, the Polaris (head) of the Eta Omega alumni chapter of Iota Phi Theta. “We’re always looking for that next bright young person who’s coming up to take over to lead the organization, and that’s the path that he was certainly heading on. His death was very tragic.”
Philpotts’ fraternity brother D.J. Jones, a recent Eastern Illinois graduate, was among the more than 30 people who gathered for Monday’s proclamation. Jones said Philpotts was a mentor who emphasized the importance of academic work and community service.
“This proclamation means a lot,” Jones said. “His name will live on forever.”
Rice is also memorializing her son through The Dr. Kristian “KP” Philpotts Memorial scholarship for aspiring veterinarians and animal science students at Illinois State. The first scholarship will be awarded this fall.
“He always said, ‘People are going to remember my name’—and they do,” Rice told the crowd during Monday’s proclamation. “Thank you for honoring him and keeping his memory alive.”
