Persistence Fund grants make a difference

Illinois State University seal with a quotation mark in the foreground

The CAST Persistence Fund was created in 2019 to encourage and support deserving students in the College of Applied Science and Technology with demonstrated need and/or high academic impact. The grants awarded from this fund have been making a significant difference in the lives of CAST students

Alum provides life-saving blood as a medical lab scientist and frequent donor

Eddie Gordon, seated, giving blood while giving a thumbs up

When Eddie Gordon ’12, ’17 isn’t on the job as a medical lab scientist for Carle Foundation Hospital’s blood bank in Urbana, he’s often either organizing a local blood drive, promoting the importance of blood donations, or donating blood himself. For Gordon, giving blood—a liquid essential to life—is personal.