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Volume 12 • Number 3 • Winter 2012
Disappointing Olympic moment turns golden for Doug Collins
The 1972–1973 Illinois State University men’s basketball media guide included a section titled, “All America digs Doug … and we’ve got him.” Indeed, by the beginning of that season, all of America knew Doug Collins ’73 was a terrific basketball player. Folks from Miami to Spokane also knew he played at Illinois State. Six months earlier,
ISU alum protects nation’s greatest treasures
Our national parks are in danger. Whether from buildings encroaching on our magnificent horizons or companies tearing into nearby natural resources, our nation’s greatest treasures are at risk of becoming broken, tainted, and ultimately destroyed.
Alum closes his wallet to win yearlong challenge
Is it possible to go an entire year without using cash, checks, or credit cards? Josh Stevens ’06 found out when he was selected by Chicago-based Groupon to live and travel for a year using only the company’s deal of the day coupons offering discounts to restaurants, activities, and services in metropolitan areas.
Changing student needs lead to new chapter at Milner
When students were asked what they’d like to see more of at Milner Library, the answer was surprising. Outlets. No one said books, and a wander through the six floors tells you why.
Technology elevates nursing training at Mennonite
The nation’s nursing shortage is expected to reach 1.2 million by 2020. Most nursing college students are trained with outdated equipment, but not at Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN). The 10,000-square-foot MCN Nursing Simulation Laboratory, valued at more than $2 million, opened last fall. The facility includes assessment and skill labs, plus a virtual hospital
Where are they now? Mark Wyman
When the phone rang in 1971 and ISU History Chair Earl Reitan offered me a job, I spoke out in a voice that probably could have traveled from Seattle to Normal without telephone lines: “Yes—I accept!” And that began my 33 years of teaching history at the University. I had some familiarity with the place
Mail to the Editor: February 2012
Mail to the Illinois State magazine editor for May 2012: RUNNING MAN I clipped an article about Al Medina Jr. (Pause for Applause, May 2009). He had run the Athens Classic Marathon and noted that he planned to enter again in 2010 for the 2,500th anniversary.
Season of change begins at Hancock
For the first time since Hancock Stadium was built in 1961, major renovations are planned for the home of Illinois State football. The facility will undergo a $20- million upgrade that will boost seating to about 14,000. Completion is targeted for the fall of 2013. “Hancock Stadium is literally the most visible front door to
NCAA certification earned by Athletics
Illinois State Athletics was one of 27 programs to meet certification requirements by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification last fall. The designation denotes that an institution operates its athletics program in compliance with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership. “It was an easy story to tell the NCAA,” said Associate
Soccer and cross country teams claim Valley titles
The women’s soccer and cross country squads claimed Missouri Valley Conference titles last season. The soccer team won its fourth regular-season title in the last five years. The Redbirds also earned an automatic NCAA Tournament bid with a win over Missouri State in the 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament. Freshman Rachel Tejada was MVC Player
Plan to be a part of Valley basketball tournaments
Tickets for either the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference men’s or women’s basketball tournaments are still available. They can be ordered through the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at GoRedbirds.com, or call (309) 438-8000. The men’s tournament runs from March 1-4, and will once again be played at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis,
The Survey Says… Alumni Responses Help Guide Outreach Efforts
The campus community works to connect with students so that they never feel like just another name on the roster. Illinois State students consistently praise the personal attention they receive from faculty and staff. The connection with alumni is just as valued, which is one reason the Alumni Relations office circulates an alumni attitude survey.
Feedback key to academic programs
Members of the graduating classes of 2011 and 2007 will be receiving a letter from President Al Bowman as an invitation to participate in the Annual Alumni Survey. The information that is provided to the University through the online survey will be used to improve the educational experience at Illinois State. Personalized instructions for completing
Global relief effort ShelterBox inspires alum
ShelterBox is unlike any international disaster-relief charity. Created in April of 2000, the nonprofit distributes aid to people affected by natural or manmade disasters worldwide. The agency’s goal is to help 50,000 families each year, delivering equipment and materials that provide means of survival during a time when most only have the clothes on their
Broadcaster joins Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Former student Jim Durham was a 2011 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. He received the Curt Gowdy Media Award for his work as the voice behind the microphone. Durham went from calling ISU games for WJBC Radio to becoming the youngest announcer in professional basketball history when hired by the Chicago bulls at
Fear is no factor for Gamma Phi Circus alum
Barely Balanced is billed as an acrobatic act that will “strike fear into the hearts of insurance adjusters everywhere.” Former Gamma Phi Circus performer Margret Ebert ’09 is the newest member of the daredevil trio. She now contorts her limbs and juggles knives with the show that is inspired by Jackie Chan, Cirque Du Soleil,
CFA’s art business lands in global design contest
Jane (Kalkwarf) Diaz ’73 went from teaching art to helping her husband build a family business that now includes their two sons. Diaz Sign Art is in Pontiac but gained international fame last fall with a win in a global design contest. Youngest son Joe was the only American to have his work included among
Graduate wins Golden Key scholar award
Kelsey Coker ’11, who just completed undergraduate degrees in English and Spanish last year, was hoping for some financial help for graduate school. What she received was a $20,000 scholarship as the top winner of the Golden Key International Honour Society Graduate Scholar Award. She was one of only 11 considered for the award, which
How we met: Pauline Mapes and Wes Drew
Pauline Mapes ’51 and Wes Drew ’51 met during the fall of their freshman year in 1947. Pauline was on stage in a skit called Campus Life; Wes was in the audience, captivated. Their first “real” meeting occurred the following year while working on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Pauline was in heavy costume, while Wes worked
Redbird legacy: Shared history at the Vidette
Members of the Hieronymus-Schrader family hold more than an Illinois State legacy dating back to 1979. They also have a history going back three decades at the student-run newspaper, the Daily Vidette. Kent Hieronymus ’79, M.A. ’87, was the first to attend ISU, enrolling with plans to become a Spanish teacher. He met his wife,
