Western Illinois University senior psychology and music double major Paula Ramirez, of Bogota, Colombia, has been named Western Illinois University’s recipient of the 2020-21 Lincoln Academy of Illinois’ Student Laureate Award. The prestigious award, presented annually to an outstanding senior of each of Illinois’ four-year degree-granting institutions, honors a student’s overall academic excellence and participation in extracurricular activities. “Receiving the 2020 WIU Student Laureate for the Lincoln Academy is not only a great honor, but also an opportunity to... Read More

It has been six months since eight Western Illinois University alumni shared their heartfelt stories about being on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic is ongoing and cases are beginning to rise throughout the nation, the WIU Alumni Association will host another virtual panel discussion with WIU alumni front line workers beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26. The virtual panel, which will be held via Zoom, will feature three alumni from the April panel and three additional alumni who work or have worked in ICU/COVID units in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Arizona, Indiana... Read More

MACOMB, IL – The #MaskUp campaign by the Western Illinois University Department of Communication Social Media Lab has been honored for outstanding volunteerism by the McDonough County Quality of Life Advisory Committee. The award was presented to WIU Associate Professor of Communication Josh Averbeck on campus Thursday morning. Averbeck worked with students in the Social Media Lab on a campaign to encourage the University communities in Macomb and the Quad Cities to wear protective masks during the pandemic. “I’m proud of the work we did,” said Averbeck. “Our posts were... Read More

The Western Illinois University Food Pantry is implementing new COVID-19 procedures, as the current health situation continues. The food pantry, now located in Horrabin Hall, room 10, will remain open every Thursday from noon-5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-noon. One patron will be allowed to enter at a time, and will be accompanied by one volunteer. Social distancing will be required. All other patrons will be required to stand outside the building, using social distancing markers, until they are allowed to enter. All patrons and volunteers will be given hand sanitizer upon entering, their temperature... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Western Illinois University’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society was scheduled to host its 48th annual induction ceremony just prior to the Spring 2020 commencement, but the event was cancelled by COVID-19. Admission to Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only, and invitations are extended to the top 7.5 percent of juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors and the top 10 percent of graduate students. The honor society is open to all academic disciplines. The ceremony also recognized scholarship and undergraduate research award winners. This year’s... Read More

Western Illinois University alumna Tyanna J. Buie, of Detroit, MI, is one of five artists chosen to collaborate on a 7,400-square-foot mural in downtown Milwaukee, called “Voting Rights are Human Rights.” Buie received her bachelor’s degree from WIU in art in 2006, and is now an assistant professor and printmaking section chair for the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The mural, by internationally-acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey and his Obey Giant team, was started on the north side of the Colby Abbott building last week. The central image is of an African American man... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — According to the Western Illinois University Presidential Search Committee, six finalists will be considered for the position of Western’s 12th president. Interviews will begin Monday, Oct. 19. The finalists who will participate in virtual on-campus interviews include: Monday, Oct. 19: Martin Abraham, interim president, Western Illinois University. Tuesday, Oct. 20: Bahman Ghorashi, former provost and vice president for academic affairs, Tennessee Tech University. Wednesday, Oct. 21: Cady Short-Thompson, provost, Hope College (Holland, MI). Friday, Oct. 23: Steve... Read More

Champaign, IL, artist Steven Hudson will have a solo exhibition of his paintings, “Adaptations,” on display through Friday, Nov. 20 at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. According to his artist statement, Hudson’s work navigates the space of an imagined post apocalypse, depicting a remnant human presence that navigates a bleak landscape. The people and animals exist without direction or purpose among the familiar debris of our time. The work forebodes our current environmental annihilation. Hudson seeks to record a sometimes beautiful, but always melancholy, portrait... Read More

The Western Illinois University Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition by the Experiencing Veterans and Artists Collaborations (EVAC) Project through Friday, Nov. 6. Through “Bridging the Gap,” EVAC uses storytelling and art to educate the public about life in the military. EVAC curators have interviewed veterans about their experiences and artists have made an edition of prints based on their interpretation of those stories. Veterans who participated in the project served from W.W. II through the post 9-11 period, in all branches of the armed services. Sections of the interviews are... Read More

MOLINE, IL – A collaborative research paper about Quad Cities bicycle trails by one Western Illinois University graduate student and one alumna, along with their professor, has been projected to “make a major contribution to the field,” with its findings related to diversity among those who use the trails. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) graduate student Sadie Parker, of Redlands, CA, and RPTA alumna Haily Hinson, of Hohenwald, TN, are in the process of making edits to their paper, “Spatial Accessibility of Bicycle Routes in the Quad Cities: Impacts for Environmental... Read More