“I used to live a double life as both firefighter and student,” said Josiah Davidson, a middle-level science and social studies major. That often meant working a 24-hour shift, then driving 100 miles from his hometown of Sullivan to campus for class. Davidson was inspired to change careers after leading firefighter trainings alongside an experienced captain.
Jessica Irwin is also balancing a lot: a full-time job as a patient care liaison at Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, mom to 15-year-old Matthew and 13-year-old Ava, and Illinois State student who commutes to classes. She doesn’t let the busyness of her life get her down; instead, it’s a motivating force for reaching her career goals.
There’s a saying in Panama—tranquila—which means, “no worries.” Senior marketing and international business major Kamya Monga got to live out the meaning of tranquila after she received the Matt Busey Endowed Scholarship, which made studying abroad in Panama possible.
University supporters can rise to the challenge by donating to the COVID-19 Redbirds Response Fund on May 5—Giving Tuesday Now—a global day of giving in response to the pandemic.
Tom and Claire Lamonica are alums who have been working and teaching on campus for more than 40 years. Despite their commitment to Illinois State, neither envisioned making a major gift to the University.
Meaningful change is made when people like Redbird political science graduate Richard Greenfield ’17 live out their passions. Greenfield is among the University’s youngest donors and has been contributing to ISU since he graduated. With his recent annual gift, Greenfield became the 10,341st donor in Illinois State’s quest to reach 15,000 Redbirds in Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020.) Now, he has decided to further his impact with a planned gift commitment.
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the University is working hard to keep Redbirds learning. Illinois State donors now have an opportunity to help students keep thriving as they adjust to learning from afar.
The LGBTQ+ Student Support Fund was created in 2009 to provide emergency financial assistance to students who have lost the financial support of their family due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Randi Goodwin came to Illinois State with a clear focus: to one day become a criminal psychologist who works with juveniles and adolescents.
Terrence “Terry” Tapley Sr. has taken up his brother Eric’s mission in life to help people. Mennonite College of Nursing graduate Eric Tapley ’83, ’97, passed away suddenly in 2010, but not before changing the world for the better.
