MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University will offer the Early Childhood Degree on the Quad Cities campus, beginning Summer 2022. WIU will also launch a new, flexible program option designed for those who are currently working in the education field and want to work toward their bachelor’s degree, with an option for PEL (Professional Educator License). Enrollment is open now at wiu.edu/apply. All courses will be offered in flexible course formats, including online programming with in-person or live-streamed support. WIU has also established pathways for customized student... Read More

Eight Western Illinois University law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) students recently received awards from Go West/McDonough County Transit for their work as Go West security officers. Nakyah Smith, a sophomore from Chicago, was named “Security Officer of the Semester” for her ability to handle critical situations with professionalism and for excellent performance throughout the semester. Seth Lewandowski, a senior from West Chicago, was recognized with the “Exceptional Mentorship Award” for going above and beyond his duties as an officer and the hours spent... Read More

A life filled with local, state and national volunteer service has earned a Western Illinois University alumnus the highest award given by the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB). David Erickson, a 1980 agriculture education graduate, from Altona, IL, was presented the Charles B. Shuman Distinguished Service Award during the IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. “The award honors distinguished service within agriculture, as well as in other organizations,” said Erickson. Erickson and his wife, Nancy, farm in Knox County, and run a farm management business. He was originally... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University Program Coordinator, Business Advisor Ann Friederichs, of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb 2021 Civil Service Employee of the Year. Friederichs, who was named the Civil Service Employee of the Month for June 2021, received an engraved clock and a $500 stipend from the WIU Foundation. She came to WIU in 2017, as a faculty assistant in the SBDC. In 2019, she transitioned to Civil Service and her current title. Her nominator said Friederichs has helped several small businesses flourish during the... Read More

A group of Western Illinois University students have found part-time work through an artistic endeavor at the McDonough County YMCA, which teaches class members gymnastics and circus-related skills, and has resulted in educational lessons for the young women. Junior social work major Jessie Fansler; junior exercise science major Whitney Piper; and sophomore agriculture science major Alyssa Ring, all of Macomb, are coaches within the YMCA’s Circus Academy, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend with free Friday and Saturday performances, at 6:30 p.m. each day in the center’s... Read More

Eight Western Illinois University law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) students recently received awards from Go West/McDonough County Transit for their work as Go West security officers. Nakyah Smith, a sophomore from Chicago, was named “Security Officer of the Semester” for her ability to handle critical situations with professionalism and for excellent performance throughout the semester. Seth Lewandowski, a senior from West Chicago, was recognized with the “Exceptional Mentorship Award” for going above and beyond his duties as an officer and the hours spent... Read More

For eight years, Western Illinois University Associate Professor of English Barbara Lawhorn has shared the love of literacy and WIU with area school children, with her English 100 students writing letters of inspiration to elementary and secondary students in the region. This semester, Lawhorn’s English 100 students have sent letters, along with literacy kits, to 34 West Prairie Middle School eighth grade students in WIU 2021 English Education Graduate Connor Sullivan’s classroom. According to Lawhorn, her 41 students have written letters to each student to encourage literacy and share... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Lora Lidaywa, procurement officer supervisor at Western Illinois University, has been named the director of purchasing at WIU, effective Dec. 1. Lidaywa has served as the procurement officer supervisor since September 2012. In this role, she was responsible for bids and proposals of $100,000 and more; serving as the lead buyer for construction projects; serving as a trainer for purchasing procedures; served as the P-card administrator; and built and maintained vendor relations to ensure BEP compliance. Previously, she was a purchasing officer III for four years. Lidaywa joined... Read More

Western Illinois University was awarded a Bronze Seal Monday from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan student voter participation efforts in the 2020 election. A Bronze Seal designates that WIU students had between 50-60 percent voter turnout in the last presidential election. “I am honored that the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge has recognized Western’s efforts to encourage student voting with this Excellence in Student Voter Engagement recognition,” said WIU Political Science Chair Keith Boeckelman. “We plan to continue this important work in upcoming... Read More

Three Western Illinois University students recently received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award for their work with the Cass-Putman Rescue Squad. Sophomores Elizabeth Markley, a political science major from Smithfield, received the silver award, and Bradley Mercer, a geographic information systems major and Taylor Lester, a fire protection services major, both from Cuba, received the gold award. They were recognized with the service award at a ceremony on Sept. 11 in Cuba. The trio were nominated by Cass-Putman Rescue Squad Chief Bob Schnarr “As I’ve been saving lives... Read More