MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University English Professor Rebekah Buchanan has the perfect “How I Spent my Summer Vacation” essay just in time for back to school. Over the summer months, Buchanan embarked upon an initiative to purchase books by diverse authors for every classroom in the Macomb Community School District No. 185. As a result of donations of books, and funding to purchase books, Buchanan, working with Linda Cox, owner of New Copperfield’s Book Service in Macomb, was able to obtain more than 160 books for every teacher in Macomb. Donation-wise, that equals close... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – A total of 238 undergraduate students enrolled at Western Illinois University were named to the 2020 Summer Dean’s List. The total includes 47 students at the WIU-Quad Cities Campus. To receive this award, an undergraduate student must earn at least a 3.6 grade point average on a scale of 4.0, which equals an A in a minimum of 6 credit hours of graded courses; pass-fail hours are not counted (e.g., student teaching, internships). Students earning Dean’s List honors are listed by Illinois counties, cities and towns, as well as other states/towns and other nations. The... Read More

MACOMB, IL – If ever the catchphrase “following in your father’s footsteps” applied to someone connected to Western Illinois University, it would be the late Dean Emeritus of Graduate Studies Hank Sather, and his daughters, Kristi, Signe and Ingrid. Not only did Sather influence nearly a decade of students in the University’s biological sciences department, his daughters followed his example to earn degrees in and advance to careers in biology. A lifelong educator, Sather went beyond the traditional classroom with his students for a series of summer field trips to America’s... Read More

MACOMB IL – Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation, the Western Illinois University Physics Department’s Astrophysics Research Laboratory provided $3,000 scholarships to two undergraduate students and a full-time Research Assistantship to a graduate student to participate in a 2020 Summer Research Experience. Under the supervision of Professor of Physics Esteban D. Araya, students conducted research in the area of star formation, based on data analysis of observations conducted with the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico, and the Arecibo Observatory in... Read More

MACOMB, IL – A 2018 Western Illinois University alumna has won the Seth Sing-Off: Stephanie J. Block edition. Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate Sam Bonzi won the competition, which is part of “The Seth Concert Series.” The edition aired online Monday, Aug. 17. Bonzi submitted a tape of her singing a portion of “The Wizard and I,” and was chosen as one of five finalists to appear on the live show. She then was chosen the winner. The concert series is named after Seth Rudetsky, and first began in Provincetown at The Art House in 2011. It is now a weekly, virtual series. Stephanie... Read More

MOLINE, IL – The Student Services Center at Western Illinois University’s Quad Cities campus is offering extended hours as the Fall 2020 semester gets underway. Because of COVID-19, masks are required to be worn on campus. Additional information about the University’s pandemic plan is available at wiu.edu/coronavirus. The Quad Cities Student Services Center will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28; 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 29; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31-Thursday, Sept. 3 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. For more information about WIU-QC offices, departments and services,... Read More

WQPT is holding a special screening of Ken Burns Presents: THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY followed by a 45-minute talk with “Charles Darwin” (actor Brian “Fox” Ellis – storyteller and science teacher).  Immediately following, “Darwin” will answer questions from the audience. The screening is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26 through the OVEE platform and runs from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. To RSVP visit wqpt.org or https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/cb7yx WQPT is working in partnership with the Butterworth Center & Deere Wiman House to present this unique experience WQPT... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19, several offices and service areas at Western Illinois University will have extended hours in preparation for the Fall 2020 semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 24. Because of COVID-19, masks are required to be worn on campus. Additional information about the University’s pandemic plan is available at wiu.edu/coronavirus. The University Bookstore will open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. The hours for Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23 are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The University Union is open from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, from 7 a.m.-12:30 a.m.... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University senior agriculture major Sydney Riden, of Good Hope, IL, was named the Reserve World Champion Novice Amateur Showmanship this weekend at the National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Show in Tulsa, OK. Riden’s horse is named “Cool Lopin Lady,” with a barn name of “Willow.” Riden and the 9-year-old American Quarter Horse mare ride with Clint Ainsworth Show Horses. “I would like to thank everyone for their support, including my dad, mom, sister, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and everyone from the Clint... Read More

MACOMB, IL — The Western Illinois University Food Pantry will resume full operations for all students, staff and faculty from noon-5 p.m. Thursday Aug. 27. Due to the ongoing health crisis, the pantry has updated its policies and procedures to keep all patrons and volunteers safe and healthy while visiting the WIU Food Pantry. Health precautions: • All patrons will be required to wear an appropriate facial covering while at the food pantry • Social distancing will be required while visiting the food pantry • Hand sanitizer will be available to use while visiting • Volunteers will... Read More