Homecoming 2003 at Illinois Wesleyan Honors Four Alums

Sept. 30, 2003

Four alums will be honored at Illinois Wesleyan’s Homecoming festivities the weekend of Oct. 10-12. The theme for the alumni Homecoming this year is “A Class Act.”

J. William Roberts, Class of 1964, of Springfield, will be awarded IWU’s Distinguished Alumni Award; Todd French, Class of 1993, of Dana Point, Calif., will receive the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award; and Margaret and Dennis Watson, Class of 1950 of Bloomington, will receive the Loyalty Award. The awards will be presented on Saturday at the 11:45 a.m. alumni luncheon in the Shirk Center, 302 Emerson St., Bloomington.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to an alumnus/na who has made a distinguished contribution to society, has achieved professional distinction, or has demonstrated civic leadership. Roberts, who has held several positions, is the managing partner of Hinshaw & Culbertson, an AmLaw 200 firm with 23 offices located in eight states. His practice in complex civil and criminal litigation, government relations and employment law is located in the firm’s Chicago and Springfield offices. He also serves as the chairman of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. Among his many positions for Sangamon County and the Central District of Illinois, Roberts was also appointed the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, a position he held from 1986 to 1993.

French is founder and president of StringWorks, one of the leading violin-family instrument retailers in the nation. He is also the founder and CEO of ISIS, which provides a registration and recovery database with a network of instrument dealers and retailers that serve all instrumental musicians worldwide. French, a cellist, performs with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale Sinfonia, and with many of the major Hollywood studios for movie soundtracks. He was featured in 2002 on CNN/Money.com as a “Millionaire in the Making,” and will soon be the subject of an article for Forbes Magazine. The Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is named for a 1968 alumnus and former IWU Alumni Director (1970-73), in recognition of alumni within 15 years of their graduation for outstanding professional achievement, civic leadership, or both.

The Loyalty Award recognizes alumni and friends who have benefited Illinois Wesleyan either through service to the University, strong financial support, or both. The Watsons have served the university in several capacities for more than 30 years.

Dennis was director of Service and Systems at State Farm until his retirement in 1990 and Margaret worked at Bloomington’s Gailey Eye Clinic.

Alumni Homecoming Activities
Other homecoming activities will include an alumni and friends golf outing at 11 a.m. on Friday, at Prairie Vista Golf Course, 502 Sale Barn Road, Bloomington. The entry fee is $75 and includes greens fees, cart rental, lunch and prizes.

• Also on Friday, a series of free lectures will be presented in the “Back to College” program. The 50-minute programs are:
• “Tips and Tricks for Palm OS Users,” Patrick McLane, Information Technology, instructional technologist, 10 a.m., The Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
• “We know what to do to be Healthy. Why don’t we do it?” Missy Smock, director of IWU’s Wellness Program, 10 a.m., North classroom of the Shirk Center.
• “The Mission of a Contemporary School of Music in a Pop Culture-Dominated Society: the Challenges and Opportunities,” Mario Pelusi, director of the School of Music and professor of composition and theory, 11 a.m., Presser Hall, room 258.
• “An Overview of Making Digital Movies on Your Computer,” Tim McKeown, Information Technology, training coordinator, 11 a.m., The Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium.
• “Costa Rican Biodiversity: A Treasure Worth Protecting,” R. Given Harper, associate professor of biology and co-director of environmental studies, 1 p.m., The Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium
• “The Economy, International Security and the 2004 National Elections,” Tari Renner, professor and chair of political science, 2 p.m., held in Shaw 106.
• “What Is Art, and Why Is Art So Important?” Gay Sweeley, Class of 1968, visiting assistant professor, Department of Art and Design, Eastern Kentucky University, 2 p.m., Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.
• “60’s Protest Music”, W. Michael Weis, professor and chair of history, 3 p.m., The Ames Library, Beckman Auditorium.

On Saturday, throughout the morning the IWU Titan Band will be performing on the Sheean Library steps and there will be family activities, including a classic car display.

Open to the public as well as alumni is the 12th annual Titan 5-K Run/Fun Walk at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the IWU Track located in the 400 block of E. Kelsey St., Bloomington, just north of the Shirk Center. Entry fee for the event is $15 and includes a T-shirt and special prizes.

A complimentary Homecoming luncheon will be provided at the Shirk Center beginning at 11:45 a.m., followed by the IWU versus Augustana football game at 1:30 p.m.

On Sunday at 10 a.m., there will be a Homecoming chapel service, “Looking Forward and Back,” presented by William Luther White, emeritus university chaplain and professor of religion at Illinois Wesleyan. At 11 a.m. there will be a Minority Alumni Network Recognition Ceremony and Service at the chapel, which is located at 1301 Park St., Bloomington.

There also will be an alumni softball game at 1 p.m. at the IWU field.

To sign up for the alumni events, contact Mary Bible at (309) 556-3091.

Student Homecoming Activities

“Starry Nights” is the theme for the university’s student Homecoming celebration. All week long IWU students will conduct philanthropy activities to benefit the local community. Money raised for the Community Cancer Clinic (CCC) in Normal will benefit programs at the CCC that are unfunded, such as social workers, support groups, dieticians, and the on-site library. All funds will be donated in the name of President Minor Myers, jr., who died on July 22 from lung cancer at the age of 60.

The students also will sponsor a canned food drive for the community, and a tailgate party to help Habitat for Humanity make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless. On Sunday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m., students will decorate the Hansen Student Center and Memorial Center and at 9:30 p.m. in the Hansen Student Center there will be an ice cream social. Other events will include:

Monday, Oct. 6, Lip Sync Contest, 9 p.m., Main Lounge, Memorial Center

Tuesday, Oct. 7, Spirit Day, 12-4 p.m., Eckley Quadrangle (rain location, Shirk Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Wednesday, Oct. 8, Talent Show, 8 p.m., Hansen Student Center

Thursday, Oct. 9, Hall Decorating Contest, 7:30 p.m. (judging); Coronation, 8 p.m., Hansen Student Center

Friday, Oct. 10, Tailgating, 4-6 p.m., Shirk Center parking lot (rain location, Shirk Center, 4-6 p.m.); Titan Games, IWU Stadium, 6-8:30 p.m.; Fireworks, IWU Stadium, 8 p.m.; Date Auction, Hansen Student Center, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11, IWU vs. Augustana football game, 1:30 p.m.; dinner at the Radisson Hotel, Veteran’s Parkway and Brickyard Dr., Bloomington, 7:30 p.m.; dance at the Radisson, 9 p.m.