Mrs. United States
Appears InToby Atkinson ’05 was crowned Mrs. United States 2023. The longtime pageant contestant represented her home state as Mrs. North Carolina in the competition for married women over the age of 21. Atkinson is a national director of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and management programs for Cintas Corp. She’s also a dedicated wife and mother whose love of family has inspired her to honor her grandmother and two aunts who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease by using her platform to raise awareness. Atkinson also advocates for education, Habitat for Humanity, and Feed NC Org. At Illinois State, she was a member of Redline Express, Sigma Gamma Sorority, and the Business Information Systems Club.
Learning never stops
Roland Axelson ’69 was recognized as the Connecticut Association of Adult and Continuing Education’s Leader of the Year. Axelson has been an elementary school principal in Manchester, Connecticut, for 24 years, the last nine of which he’s also served as the Manchester Adult and Continuing Education program’s English as a second language and citizenship program coordinator. Axelson was previously a teacher and administrator in Hartford, Connecticut, for 25 years, after teaching two years in Chicagoland and serving two years in the VISTA program in Puerto Rico. The former Redbird men’s basketball player who was active in Student Government Association is now a great-grandfather.
From the battlefield to the bench
André Auggeretto Battiste Sr. ’95 was sworn in as a magistrate judge of the 12th Judicial District of Cumberland County, North Carolina. Battiste is a retired U.S. Army officer with 27 years of active service spent mostly in airborne and special operations organizations working with strategic operations, high-profile engagement, and personnel management. He participated in missions stateside and around the globe. Upon his retirement in 2017, he served as secretary for the local Special Forces Association and as a volunteer for the Fort Bragg USO Club. At Illinois State, Battiste was active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Office of Residential Life Night Management, Black Student Union, TV-10, and Army ROTC.
Excellence in teaching
Ashley (Mistak) Meyer ’16, a first and second grade mentor-teacher at Horizon Honors Elementary School in Phoenix, was presented a Milken Educator Award in December 2023. The award recognizing excellence in teaching comes with an unrestricted $25,000 prize. Meyer was recognized by the Milken Family Foundation for forming special bonds with her students, prioritizing inclusive strategies, and modeling the importance of collaboration. Meyer is part of her school’s instructional leadership team and sponsors a spirit squad club afterschool program. At Illinois State, Meyer was an active member of Delta Zeta Sorority, chairing its philanthropy efforts.
