A chance for local school children to learn more about music of the Big Band-era will premiere in the coming weeks as part of Western Illinois University’s Youth Performing Arts Series (YPAS), despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A 25-minute video, featuring WIU’s Jazz Studio Orchestra (JSO) and singers from WIU’s jazz studies program, performing live songs from the 1930s and 40s, will be played in the music programs of local schools. The video is narrated by radio disc jockey Eddie Dupree, also known as WIU Professor of Music John Cooper, and was created... Read More

For the third time in three years, a team of Western Illinois University students have finished high in the CME Group Trading Challenge, a four-week, international electronic trading competition. This year’s team was made up of Cooper Bounds, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Taneytown, MD; Amy Johnson, a senior agriculture major from Cambridge, IL; Matthew Swanson, a senior agriculture major from LaHarpe, IL; and Arthur Wasilowksi, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Des Plaines, IL. The team finished in the top 8 percent of the competition,... Read More

Western Illinois University Theatre Professor Emeritus Jeannie Woods was recently presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. Woods retired from WIU in May 2018, after serving as an actor, stage director and theatre historian and chair of WIU’s Department of Theatre and Dance for more than a decade. “Of course, it is wonderful to be so honored, but I must say that the support and encouragement from my husband, Dan Woods, and my colleagues in theatre and education were essential ingredients in my success,” said Woods. “I... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – When Western Illinois University graduate student Tom Reagan began taking classes for his second semester in the University’s College Student Personnel (CSP) program, he wanted to develop a program to help student veterans make informed decisions about where to attend college. Reagan, a retired captain from the East Moline Police Department and a Marine veteran, is now the coordinator of veterans’ services at Black Hawk College in East Moline, IL. He began taking classes in WIU’s CSP program in Summer 2020. This semester, as a student in Assistant Professor... Read More

It’s time to apply for the Thomas K. Evans Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 award that will help one student pursue higher education in science, technology, engineering or math. Deadline to apply is noon March 1, 2021. Complete information about the scholarship, including application materials and directions, is available online at www.americanpowerinc.com/scholarship. To be eligible to apply, a student must be graduating from a school located in Bettendorf, Davenport, East Moline, Eldridge, Moline, Pleasant Valley or Rock Island. In addition, he or she must plan to matriculate for the first time... Read More

During a period of time when the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting virtually every activity nationwide, faculty and students in Western Illinois University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) are finding a variety of ways to reach the populations they are learning to serve. RPTA Instructor Julie Eggleston is working with students in her classes to create programming for the McDonough County Special Recreation Association (MCSRA) and residents at Macomb’s Bickford Cottage. The MCSRA, housed in the Macomb Park District, provides recreational experiences, including... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – After a year-long promotion process, Western Illinois University Veterans Resource Center Director Ron Pettigrew was promoted to the military rank of captain (0-6). His new rank was pinned on his uniform this summer. This branch of service is a familiar one to Pettigrew’s family. “My dad served in the Navy for 22 years. When he got out, he worked in civil service in the same field,” he said. “I traded my dependent military identification card for one of my own. I grew up in military towns, with Navy role models, and families who cared about me and impacted... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Western Illinois University has merged five undergraduate majors, three master’s degrees and one post-baccalaureate certificate to form the School of Accounting, Finance, Economics and Decision Sciences (AFED). The new school, located within the College of Business and Technology, will allow curricular synergies between the multiple disciplines. This merger will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the curriculum, encourage collaboration between the students and faculty across the disciplines and benefit WIU overall. “Although each of the four primary academic... Read More

The following first-person testimonial about her experiences was written by Cara Crumrine, RN for UnityPoint Health As an intensive care nurse at UnityPoint Health, I’ve seen fellow medical personnel in my life putting out scary memes and begging posts asking people to help them. I’ve seen other community members speak about how it’s not right or fair to have government officials interfere in their livelihood. I’ve seen these comments, plus countless more, and decided it’s time to speak up. This is hard. I haven’t been in a situation where I watch the world I’ve built with hard work... Read More

An alumna of Western Illinois University Sport Management graduate program was promoted to associate director of athletics and compliance, business and internal operations for the Prairie Fire athletics programs at Knox College. Lexie Vernon received her master’s degree in sport management from WIU in 2015. She joined the Prairie Fire staff in 2010 as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and has served as an assistant athletic trainer, assistant softball coach, assistant director of athletics and interim co-director of athletics at Knox College. Vernon is also the athletic department’s... Read More