Augustana College in Rock Island plans a fall 2021 return to entirely in-person instruction for students and faculty. Augustana leaders have announced a return to the college’s normal, time-honored teaching and learning experience this fall. The announcement was made last week during one of the live virtual campus briefings hosted regularly throughout the pandemic. “Augustana College is very pleased to announce its intention to safely return to the in-person, deeply engaged learning environment that is core to its identity, and which our students and graduates value most,” college president... Read More

Western Illinois University School of Music alumnus Andrew Gibb-Clark has been named one of Yamaha’s inaugural “40 Under 40” music educators. Gibb-Clark received his master’s degree in music (choral conducting) from WIU in 2017. He is the director of choral activities and fine arts department chair at Highland High School in Highland, IL. He is also choir director at Faith Lutheran Church in O’Fallon, IL. Yamaha released its “40 Under 40” list, and accompanying music education advocacy program, in February. The program celebrates music educators at all... Read More

The Davenport Public Library is pleased to partner with the Hoover Museum and Presidential Library for this live webinar series presented by members of the Hoover Family! Three of Herbert’s great-grandchildren will each present a special program. Join us for a special event in honor of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover’s birthday on March 29 at noon on Zoom. Leslie Hoover-Lauble, President Hoover’s great-granddaughter, and Hoover Library Archives Technician, Spencer Howard, will share stories and photos illustrating the amazing life of Lou Henry Hoover from an independent girl, to scientist and... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University’s Virtual Discover Western events are underway. Prospective students and their families can register for the events, which are free, at wiu.edu/discoverwestern. Macomb Campus Discover Western Events: Monday, March 22, 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, 6 p.m. Quad Cities Campus Discover Western Events: Thursday, March 25, 3 p.m. According to Drew Donahoo, associate director of Undergraduate Admissions, the Virtual Discover Western events will include admissions information (including WIU scholarship incentives), student and faculty panels, and informational... Read More

EXCLUSIVE: River cleanup champion Chad Pregracke and a newly formed foundation unveiled conceptual plans tonight (March 18) for repurposing the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River into a wildlife crossing and pedestrian parkway called Bison Bridge. Pregracke, President & Founder of Living Lands & Waters, joined fellow members of the Bison Bridge Foundation in announcing the grassroots effort and professional concept for the existing Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge. Halfway between Chicago and Des Moines, it connects Illinois and Iowa in the Quad-Cities, the largest metropolitan... Read More

Western Illinois University denounces and condemns all forms of racism, hate, and discrimination. I am deeply saddened and affected by the recent violence and racism against the Asian and Asian American community. These acts, no matter where they take place, affect members of our Leatherneck family, and we stand with our students, faculty, and staff. Hate, racism, threats, sexism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and violence have no place at our University, in our community, and in our society. We remain committed to ensuring that our University remains safe, welcoming, and inclusive. Any member of... Read More

The Western Illinois School of Music will feature a series of Friday pop-up concerts at 1 p.m. on Fridays in March and April at the Browne Hall Quad. The concerts will feature WIU jazz combos, and will be held weather permitting. Safe social distancing protocols are required. The first concert will be held Friday, March 19. For more information, contact the WIU School of Music at (309) 298-2583.  Read More

WQPT, Quad Cities PBS will air Stout Hearted: George Stout and the Guardians of Art. The documentary was directed by Kevin Kelley, and produced by Marie Wilkes of New Mile Media Arts, a non-profit organization based in Iowa City, Iowa on March 18 at 9:00 pm. The film tells the story of Iowa native George Stout. Stout was the leader of the Monuments Men during World War II and was responsible for recovering over five-million pieces of art from the Nazis. Stout’s life continues to have international impact on the fields of art conservation and monuments protection. The legacy of The Monuments Men... Read More

Like most of her work this past year, Lindsay Hocker has been mainly at home as marketing specialist for Black Hawk College, Moline. This week, she’s attending the virtual national conference for the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), and the 33-year- old Milan native was honored as the group’s 2021 National Rising Star. The only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges, NCMPR has more than 1,700 members from nearly 650 colleges across the U.S. and Canada. “As a newspaper... Read More

The Davenport Public Library is pleased to partner with the Hoover Museum and Presidential Library for this live webinar! Join us Thursday, March 18th at 6:00 pm for “A Woman of Achievement: Stories from the Life of Lou Henry Hoover” with historian Annette Dunlap. To register, please visit http://bit.ly/dpl-thirdthursdaymarch. In World War I, Lou Henry Hoover helped start a hospital for wounded British soldiers. She was instrumental in establishing sewing factories to employ women whose men had gone off to war. In the early 1920s, she oversaw the nearly exponential growth of the Girl... Read More