Calendar of Events

Friday, March 14-
Wednesday, March 19
Wind Ensemble tour to Chicago suburbs and southern Wisconsin. Click here for details.

Tuesday, March 18
Plano, Texas - Join Millikin young alumni and your host Dan Stuby, associate director of young alumni relations, for a casual dinner at BJ's Brewhouse, 1101 N. Central Expressway, at 6 p.m. Appetizers are on Big Blue with a full menu and BJ's signature handcrafted beers available for purchase. Join us to catch up on the latest Millikin news, meet other Millikin alumni in the Plano area and enjoy great food! Please RSVP to Dan toll-free at 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586), by e-mail at dstuby@millikin.edu or by text at 217-620-5387.

Thursday, March 27
Decatur - Join the Millikin Central Illinois Alumni (MCIA) for a wine and cheese party from 7-9 p.m. at the James Millikin Homestead. Kevin Graham ’76, Millikin’s director of counseling services and co-owner of The Decanter Fine Wines, will share his wine expertise as you enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship in the historic home of James Millikin. Cost is $15. RSVP to the alumni office.

Saturday, March 29
Decatur - Join alumni and friends for the annual Penguin in the Park 5K run at 9 a.m. in Fairview Park. See right for details. For a registration form, click here.

March 30-March 31 and
April 6-April 7
On campus - Phonathon

Thursday, April 3
St. Louis - Join the Millikin Club of St. Louis for a social networking event from 6-7:30 p.m. at 5200 Shaw Avenue (The Big Club Hall building across from Giovanni's on the Hill), hosted by Jon Tiede '92 and Jump Co. Featured guest, Rick Bibb, associate professor of marketing. RSVP to the alumni office by Monday, March 31. This event was originally scheduled for Feb. 21 but postponed due to bad weather.

Tuesday, April 8
On campus - T.W. Samuels Lecture. See upper right for details.

Thursday, April 10
Indianapolis - Join alumni and friends for a 5:30-7:30 p.m. gathering hosted by the Millikin Club of Indianapolis and coordinated by Julie Roe Lach '97 at the Rathskeller, 401 E. Michigan Street. Entertainment by Milliikin's award-winning OneVoice vocal jazz ensemble. Free appetizers. RSVP by Monday, April 7, to the alumni office by calling toll free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586). Need directions? Click here.

Wednesday, April 16
Decatur - Second in the Food for Thought series, join Dr. David Horn, assistant professor for the biology department,
and George Bennett, associate professor for the chemistry department, as they present "Green Energy: The Role of Wind Power and Clean Coal in Reducing Greenhouse Gases," 6 p.m. dinner and lecture at Tuscany Steak and Pasta House, 1099 W. Wood. Cost is
$15 per person; pre-register by April 3 to the alumni office.

Friday, April 18
Nominations due for Homecoming alumni awards and Athletic Hall of Fame nominations.

Friday, April 18
Peoria, Ill. - Join us for a Peoria-area alumni and friends gathering from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Caterpillar Inc. Edwards Demonstation and Learning Center, 5801 N. Smith Road, Edwards, Ill., hosted by Doug Oberhelman '75, Caterpillar Group president. Highlights include a demonstration of Caterpillar Inc. equipment and campus update from President Doug Zemke '66 and Peg Luy '75, vice president for alumni and development. Refreshments provided. RSVP to the alumni office by Tuesday, April 15.

Tuesday, April 22
On campus - Author, fisherman, teacher, filmmaker and advocate, John Cronin will present the 2008 James W. Moore Lecture, 7:30 p.m. at Kirkland Fine Art Center. Free to the public; tickets required through the Kirkland Box Office at 217-424-6318.

Wednesday, April 30
Decatur - The final lecture in the Food for Thought series, Dr. Judy Parrish, chair and
associate professor for the biology department, and senior biology major Katrina Strauss will present "Beans and Increased Gases" at Tuscany Steak and Pasta House, 1099 W. Wood. Cost for this noon lunch and lecture is $15. RSVP to the alumni office.

Sunday, May 4
Decatur - Join MCIA friends in the lower level of Richards Treat University Center for Sunday brunch. The cost for brunch is $12. For more info, contact the alumni office at 424-6383 (toll free dial 1-877-568-2586). After brunch, you're invited to attend the Department of Theatre and Dance's annual Equinox Dance Concert at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Ticket sell for $6 each. Contact the Kirkland Box Office for tickets at 217-424-6318.

May 21-June 1
Argentina
Join Millikin alumni and friends for an eight-night trip to Buenos Aires, May 21-June1, including a cultural and educational look at Argentina through the eyes of your host, Dr. Eduardo Cabrera, associate professor of Spanish and a native of the city. For info, call Dave Brandon in the alumni and development office toll free at 1-877-568-2568 or send him an e-mail.

Saturday, June 21
Decatur - Greek reunion at 4 p.m. at Lock, Stock & Barrel. Drink and food specials will be available, and a cover band will begin at 8 p.m. If you are planning to join in the fun, please call the alumni and development center at 217-424-6383 or toll free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586) by Wednesday, June 18, so that we can give a count to LSB.

Sunday, July 6
St. Louis - Millikin Day at Busch stadium. Join alumni and friends at the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Chicago Cubs. See more details at upper right.

July 24-30
Danube bike trip
Join alumni and friends for a seven-day, six-night bike trip from Passau, Germany, to Vienna, Austria, on a flat bike path along the Danube. The cost is approximately $1,414 per person and includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, six evening dinners with three-course meals (including a farewell dinner at a Vienna wine cellar), guide and all transfers, including daily luggage transfers between route stops. A $50 gift in your name is made to the Millikin Fund for every trip booked. Airfare costs $1,275 additional. For info or to reserve your spot, contact Mandi Landacre Podeschi ’02 of the alumni and development office toll free at 1-877-568-2586 or send her an e-mail at apodeschi@millikin.edu. Or click here for more details.

Saturday, Aug. 9
Chicago - Join our alumni and friends’ pre-race gathering before Sunday’sChicago Distance Classic at Buca di Beppo restaurant at 6:30 p.m., Dutch treat. Click here for more info.

Sunday, Aug. 10
Chicago -Millikin hosts an alumni and friends event at the Chicago Distance Classic, a half-marathon organized by running expert John "The Penguin Bingham '70. Join us for a gear check prior and goodies after the race in the MU tent, which is sponsored by Bingham. Click here for more info.

Oct. 10-12
On campus - Homecoming 2008! Classes ending in three or eight, get ready for your reunion! Have ideas? Contact the alumni office at 1-877-JMU-ALUM.

Jan. 3-12, 2009
Galapagos Islands
Join Millikin alumni and friends for a cruise to the Galapagos Islands led by Dr. David Horn, associate professor of biology. Visit Fernandina, Floreana and Espanola islands to explore caves and underwater life, including dolphins, sea turtles and mola-mola, an elusive ocean sunfish. The cost is $5,950 per person for double occupancy ($8,258 for single) and includes hotel and cabin accommodations, round-trip airfare and coach travel from Central Illinois, admission to Galapagos national park, all meals and transfers, and a $50 gift is made to the Millikin Fund for every trip booked. A $250 early bird discount is available to those who book before April 3.Want to know more or be put on the mailing list? Call Dave Brandon in the alumni and development office toll free at 1-877-568-2568 or send him an e-mail at
dbrandon@millikin.edu.


Hot links
Online resources:
Milli-Link XP, online directory
Millikin Quarterly magazine
Wallpaper for your desktop
Listen live to WJMU-FM
Young alumni news/info
History of MU.

Support MU:
The Millikin Fund,
The Big Blue Club, Millikin's official athletic booster club.

Shop online: 
Blue Connection art gallery
First Step Records
Bronze Man Books
Millikin bookstore

Help a future student:
Big Blue VIP program.
Legacy scholarship.
Sibling scholarship

Tell us about yourself:
Submit a class note
Update your info

Alumni performers, actors, artists and authors can post details of upcoming engagements or releases on the Millikin website:
Add your event/release
View the list

Submit wedding photos for the online Big Blue wedding album by e-mail, or call toll-free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM for details. 

CURWOOD TO PRESENT ON-CAMPUS LECTURE.
National Public Radio’s Steve Curwood will present "The Good News About Global Warming" at Millikin’s 2008 T.W. Samuels Lecture on Tuesday, April 8, at 8 p.m. in Kirkland Fine Arts Center. MORE

SUCCESS!
More than 99 percent of 2007 graduates have found employment or are continuing their education, according to the 2006-2007 Success Report from Millikin’s Career & Experiential Education Center. MORE

SENIOR BASKETBALL PLAYER NAMED
ALL-AMERICA OF THE YEAR.
Senior nursing major and women's basketball player Lindsay Ippel was named the College Division’s Academic All-America of the Year by the College Sports Information Directors of America. MORE

IS THAT A PENGUIN IN THE PARK?
Why, yes it is! Join alumni and friends for the annual Penguin in the Park 5K run at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 29, in Decatur's Fairview Park. A 10:30 a.m. awards ceremony will feature running expert and motivational speaker John "The Penguin" Bingham '70 of Runner's World magazine. Other highlights include a post-race party in Griswold Physical Education Center. Alumni, students, faculty and staff receive a discount if they register by March 22. MORE

THEY STAYED UP TIL DAWN.
Millikin’s student chapter of Up ‘til Dawn raised more than $23,000 this year for St. Jude Children's Hospital. MORE

CAN YOU BELIEVE PACE IS FIVE?
To celebrate the program's fifth anniversary, the Professional Adult Comprehensive Education (PACE) program is offering two new awards: the Outstanding PACE Graduate Award, to honor successful alumni, and the Outstanding PACE Faculty Award, to recognize teaching excellence among faculty who have or are currently teaching in the PACE program. To nominate an alumnus or faculty member for an award or for award descriptions, visit the PACE website. Deadline for nominations is April 15. For more information, contact the PACE office at 217-420-6778 or e-mail Gail Crookshank at gcrookshank@millikin.edu.

HE'S OUT BUT HE'S STILL OUR BIG BLUE 'IDOL.'
Luke Menard ’01 of Crawfordsville, Ind., made it to the top 16 of FOX-TV's "American Idol" before he was voted off in early March. Watch for more details about Luke’s experience in the spring and summer issues of Millikin Quarterly magazine.

STUDENT A CAPELLA GROUP PLACES FIRST.
In other music-related news, the student a capella group, 5one, won first place at the 2008 Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes regionals, the same award that Chapter 6 won three times before winning the national competition in 2004. The national competition will take place Saturday, May 3 at the Marin Center in San Rafael, Calif. MORE

THREE COMPETE FOR 2008 HOLLIS PRIZE.
Three top students from the School of Music will compete for the annual Hollis Prize during a recital on Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Kaeuper Hall in the Perkinson Music Center. The recital is free and open to the public. MORE

THEY ARE CHINA BOUND.
The University Choir’s upcoming trip to China will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Illinois Stories" on WSEC-TV in Springfield. The choir will tour China and Taiwan in May. MORE

SCHOOL OF NURSING TO HOST SYMPOSIUM.
The School of Nursing is hosting the Gift of Hope Symposium to promote organ donation on Wednesday, April 9, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Pilling Chapel. MORE

THEY'RE THE NEXT BIG THING.
Grammy award-winning hip hop band "The Roots" will perform in concert at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Saturday, March 29, at 8 p.m. as this year's UCB Big Event. MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Join us for the fifth installment of our Food for Thought series, featuring six speakers, in four presentations, who are passionate about the environment and the impact we have on it. The series is co-sponsored by the alumni association and alumni and development office. MORE

GET YOUR PHONES READY.
The spring 2008 Phonathon is March 30-31 and April 6-7. Upgrade your gift or make a new one and you can take advantage of the ADM Challenge and make your gift worth double (plus receive a free latte from any campus coffee outlet)!Interested in helping make some calls? We have some great incentives for our volunteers, including two tickets in the Bank of America Clubhouse for the July 6 Cardinals-Cubs game for the alumni/friend caller with the most pledges! Contact Mandi Landacre Podeschi '02, associate director of development, at 424-3506 by Thursday, March 20, or e-mail her at apodeschi@millikin.edu.

GIVE A CLASSMATE A HIGH FIVE:
NOMINATE THEM FOR AN ALUMNI AWARD.
Do you know an alumna/us who deserves recognition? You can help the Alumni Association recognize achievement and service by sending a nomination for one or more alumni awards. Nominations are invited for Alumnus of the Year, Merit, Loyalty, Merit-Loyalty and Young Alumnus Awards and for induction into the Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame. Click here for nomination form and award descriptions. Nominations are due by April 18.

PLAN TO IMMERSE YOURSELF.
Millikin is offering a wide array of courses during its upcoming May Immersion and summer sessions, and many are open to alumni and friends. Registration begins April 2 for both sessions. MORE

WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR?
Join us for Millikin Day at Busch Stadium, Sunday, July 6, as the St. Louis Cardinals take on top rival Chicago Cubs at 1:10 p.m. The seats are right outside and include access to the air-conditioned Bank of America Clubhouse. Cost is $115 per person and includes a delicious all-you-can-eat buffet and beverages of the adult and non-adult variety. For tickets or more info, call toll free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM.

Round trip transportation, including beverages and snacks, from Decatur to the game from Decatur is also available for $25 per person. Be sure to let the alumni office know if you are interested.

WATCH YOUR MAILBOXES.
Be on the lookout for the spring 2008 issue of Millikin Quarterly to discover how Millikin promotes lifelong learning. This and much more will be arriving in your mailboxes early next month.

READY FOR SOME AWARD-WINNING TRIVIA?
Millikin's student newspaper, Decaturian, and several staff members were recognized during the recent Illinois College Press Association annual conference held in Chicago (Click here to learn more). In honor of their accomplishments, this month's trivia is about Millikin's historic student newspaper.

In what year was the Decaturian first published?

A. 1921
B. 1903
C. 1930
D. 1922

Send your best guess to alumnews@millikin.edu, and be sure to include your name and address. Five winners will be selected in a random drawing of all who respond correctly and each will receive a Millikin prize.  

Last month's winners --
Kim Skibinski-Brown '93
Stephanie Janecke '06
Carla Addison Halleen '06
Bridget Devlin '82
Franklin Coleman '63

...each won a Millikin frisbee for correctly guessing that Gwendolyn Brooks received an honorary degree from Millikin in 1972.