Closing One Door and Opening Another

As I finish the last two finals of my college undergraduate career at WIU, I’m feeling very nostalgic. I think about the day my parents dropped me off at my college residence hall; I thought there was no way I was going to be able to leave them. Then I think about moving into my first off-campus house for my junior year and dealing with the ups and downs of having a roommate. I think about starting my senior year and planning for my life outside of college. Now, I look at my cap and gown and I can’t believe these past four years of my life have gone by so quickly.

I also think about the time I’ve spent at the Alumni House this semester. I remember how nervous I was during my first interview and those nerves continued for the first week of this internship. I vividly remember one of my first interviews. It was with President Jack Thomas and I don’t think I could have been more nervous. It wasn’t him that made me nervous, it was speaking with the President of WIU that shook me a bit; I had never interviewed a prominent figure like President Thomas prior to this internship. After I finished the interview, I walked out of his office with a huge grin on my face. I was able to get over my nerves and interview President Thomas and I really enjoyed it. I felt like I could relate to him; he made me feel comfortable. Every other interview after that was a piece of cake.

Not only was I given the opportunity to interview President Thomas, I was also given the opportunity to interview several faculty, staff and students here on the WIU Macomb campus. I learned so many different things about WIU that I would have never known had I not taken this internship opportunity to blog for you. I enjoyed writing blogs every week about WIU and learning all about my alma mater.

I would like to thank the Alumni Programs staff, especially my supervisor Amanda Shoemaker, for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I’ve learned so much this past semester and will apply everything I’ve learned to my future writing. I’ve had a great time working with the Alumni Programs staff this semester and I am very grateful for everything they have taught me.

I would also like to thank my professors here at WIU for everything they’ve taught me over the past four years. I have greatly improved as a student due to their teaching. I am grateful for the faculty in the Communication Department for allowing me to explore the many different fields of communication and for helping me figure out exactly what I wanted to study. I would also like to thank Cindy Ridle for giving me the opportunity to be her Peer Mentor for the past two years. I have greatly enjoyed working with the freshmen students and with her.

Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant support. I’ve faced some rough times throughout my four years here and they have always been there to pick me up when I needed it. They have been extremely supportive of the choices I’ve made. I would not have been able to come as far as I have without their love and support.

As for my future, it’s looking bright and sunny! Come June, I’ll be basking in the hot summer rays in Austin, Texas. While I have yet to find a job, I am not worried! There are so many different opportunities in Austin. I hope to find a career where I can combine my love for the environment with my degree in communication. The opportunities are endless and I’m ready to explore them.

A big thank you goes out to you, WIU alumni, for reading my blogs each and every week. It has been a pleasure writing for you and I hope you’ve found my blogs informative and entertaining.

As cliché as it may sound, I’m preparing to close one door and open another and I couldn’t be more excited! Even though I’m excited for my future, I can’t help but feel a bit sad as well. I will miss WIU and all the people I’ve met, but I hope to see them again in the future. Thank you again and I hope to see you down the road! Go ‘Necks!

Seniors Prepare to Walk Across the Stage

For the past two weeks, my purple graduation gown has been hanging on my door serving as motivation to get through the hardest weeks of my college career. As I finish final papers and projects, I realize graduation is a week away and all my hard work will finally pay off. I’m not the only one feeling the excitement graduation brings. Seniors Amanda Gibson and Jordan Raper shared their excitement with me as we discussed our upcoming graduation and all the joys that come with walking across the stage in front of all our family and friends.

Graduating seniors not only have to worry about completing their final school work, but they also need to make sure they have prepared for the actual graduation ceremony. First, seniors must go to the University Union Bookstore to pick up their caps and gowns. Sizes are based on your height and tassel colors for your cap depend on your major. Seniors have the option of ordering souvenir items such as a WIU tassel and keepsake diploma covers. They also have the option of buying graduation announcements to send to family and friends. Once seniors have purchased their caps and gowns, they need to figure out which commencement ceremony they will walk in. Ceremonies are based on the different colleges at Western. There will be three undergraduate ceremonies in Macomb on Saturday, May 12 and another one in the Quad Cities on Sunday, May 13. Once seniors have found their ceremony time, they have the option of ordering pictures. Through the University, students can order pictures of them receiving their diploma.

Once graduation preparations are completed, I asked my friends what they are doing to prepare for life after college. Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) major Amanda Gibson is arranging her future plans. “I have my internship all lined up for the summer. I’m also sending out applications to hopefully put my education to work!” LEJA major Jordan Raper has already completed his internship and is coming back to Macomb to walk at graduation. Raper moved to Arlington, Texas in January after completing all his required courses. He interned at the Burleson Police Station and is grateful for the opportunity. “It was really fun and definitely a learning experience. I’m ready to come back to Macomb though to finally get my diploma,” exclaimed Raper. As for me, I have been applying non-stop to different public relations firms in Austin, Texas. I’ve had a couple phone interviews, but I have yet to get an offer. I’m keeping positive thoughts though!

Walking across the stage decked out in purple in front of family and friends is very important to Gibson, Raper, and I. The three of us agree walking in the ceremony is not only important to us, but also to our families. “My dad and little brother are so proud of me. I’m walking for myself, but I’m mostly walking for them. My dad has done such a great job raising me and I think him seeing his little girl graduating will be a very proud moment,” says Gibson. Raper is excited for his family to come see him as well. “My family from Texas will be here, so will my family from Illinois so it’s going to be nice to have everyone here for me on this big day.” My family will also be in attendance, all equipped with lots of tissues! As the youngest of the family, this ceremony is very important to my family. They are all extremely proud of me and will show it with lots and lots of happy tears!

As happy as Gibson, Raper, and myself are to graduate from WIU, we are also a bit sad. “I love WIU, but at the same time I am ready for a new chapter in my life!” says Gibson. Raper and I agree with Gibson. Graduation will be bittersweet. I look forward to walking across the stage and receiving my diploma while listening to the embarrassing (but awesome) cheers and whistles from my family. Go ‘Necks!

The WIU Men’s Golf Team Swings into the Championship

(Photo courtesy of goleathernecks.com).

 

Last week, the WIU Men’s Golf Team concluded their season, placing sixth overall in the 2012 Summit League Golf Championship. A major highlight of the championship was junior Ben Kilborn’s fourth place finish. As the Men’s Golf Team says goodbye to another season, Head Coach Mel Blasi discussed with me what he’s learned during his thirteen years as WIU’s Men’s Golf Coach and shared the strengths of the team.

Mel Blasi ‘87 has served as the head coach for the WIU Men’s Golf Team since the late nineties. Blasi got his start on the Western golf course playing for WIU in the mid ‘80s. Throughout his golfing career, Blasi has earned many titles both on and off the green. While at Western, Blasi played for the legendary Coach Harry Mussatto, former WIU Men’s Golf Head Coach whose tenure spanned 35 years. During his time on the green, Blasi earned all-conference honors three years in a row and was also named Mid-Con Player of the Year in 1985. As for his accomplishments off the course, Blasi has been named Coach of the Year four different times, breaking Mussatto’s record. He also made history by becoming the first WIU coach to guide a player to All-American Honors. Throughout his many years as head coach at WIU, hundreds of golfers have played under his leadership and he knows what to look for to further develop the golfer’s skills. “The golf swing – I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t; when to make changes and when not to. I’ve learned individual tendencies with swing mechanics and I’ve learned quick fixes in quickly making a player feel more comfortable with his swing.” Blasi knows the importance of having a strong golf swing so he teaches “the correct fundamentals and principles of the golf swing so I can analyze and diagnose effectively,” said Blasi. Aside from helping the players perfect their skills, Blasi wonders “what makes a player tick?” After determining that, Blasi is able to learn how to motivate, inspire and make players feel comfortable. “I’m still working on all of these things,” added Coach Blasi.

Travel and scheduling have provided Blasi with valuable lessons throughout the year. “I don’t need a map anymore.  Everyone has iPhones so I don’t even bring a map.  GPS will get us there much quicker.” Blasi also adds the importance of scheduling correctly to increase the team’s confidence and competition. As an experienced golfer and coach, he recognizes the need to stay grounded. “Be humble when you’re successful and certainly when you’re not.  You’re only as good as your players perform,” said Blasi.

As another season comes to a close, Blasi is pleased with the team’s individual and overall success. Some of Blasi’s favorite moments of the 2012 season include “watching our younger players grow up and mature.” He also adds seeing Kurt Slattery win a golf tournament and seeing Ben Kilborn become a leader to his list of highlights. The Leathernecks have used their strengths to prove they’re a tough competitor. “We drove the ball very well this year.  I think that fundamentally off the tee we were as good as any team I’ve ever coached,” Blasi said. A challenge Blasi has had to overcome this season has been “finding the right five players to play each week.” Coach Blasi advises golf fans to watch out for some hard-swinging players next season.

“There is a strong tradition here at WIU.   I enjoy wearing the purple and gold and representing Western Illinois University.  There is a lot of pride in our golf program,” said Coach Blasi. For more information on your fellow alumnus, Coach Blasi, or to read more about the 2012 season, visit http://www.goleathernecks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=12000&SPID=4952&SPSID=49973.

Homecoming 2012: A Preview of the Carnival

As we come to the end of another academic year at WIU, I’ve started to think about attending my first Homecoming as a WIU alumna. I think about the various events I can attend and I think about catching up with fellow alumni, talking about what we’ve been up to since graduation. Homecoming 2012 will be sure to provide all alumni a lot of purple and gold fun that WIU provides year after year.

Save the date for Homecoming 2012 which will be held on September 21 and 22. The 2012 Homecoming theme is “Cirque du Western: The carnival never ends.” The Alumni Association will again host the annual events alumni have come to love year after year. “The Alumni House should be your first stop when you return to campus for Homecoming. On Friday night, we have a social here at the Alumni House. It’s a complimentary social so you can stop by and enjoy complimentary food and drinks. Alumni can hear about what’s [happening] on campus before they go on and do their weekend plans,” says Associate Alumni Director Amanda Shoemaker. “We always do a breakfast on Saturday morning. If you are a runner or walker, alumni can run or walk in our 5k Fun Run. After that, we have the Homecoming parade that passes right in front of the Alumni House. A neat thing about that is the WIU Marching Band always stops in front of the Alumni House to play songs for the crowd because we always have a ton of people out on the front lawn.” Right before the big game, alumni can fill up on food while chatting with other alumni at “The Right Place” tent. From noon to 3 p.m., “we have a lunch at ‘The Right Place’ Tent. It’s the big tent west of Hanson Field. Alumni can enjoy a barbeque before the big game that kicks off at 3:00 p.m.,” says Shoemaker. Then, at 3:00 p.m., the Fighting Leathernecks will take on the ISU Redbirds at the Homecoming Football Game. There are a number of campus activities alumni can participate in throughout the weekend.

This year’s Homecoming Weekend will be a little different than in years past. You will still be able to participate in all the events you love, but now the annual event “Celebrating Town and Gown” will kick off the Homecoming festivities. “This year we are kicking off Homecoming with the annual event, ‘Celebrating Town and Gown.’ The traditionally spring event brings the University and the town together to celebrate the accomplishments the two have made over the past year. This year, ‘Celebrating Town & Gown is scheduled for Thursday, September 13,” Shoemaker explains.

So why is Homecoming Weekend so important to the Leatherneck alumni? “It gives them a chance to come back to campus and to reconnect with their college friends and roommates. It’s just kind of a fun nostalgic weekend where you can reminisce about the good times you had at Western, see what’s going on today, and cheer on the Fighting Leathernecks,” Shoemaker says. She also adds, “Homecoming is a way to celebrate all that is Western, all that is purple and gold. We can all rally together and cheer on the Fighting Leathernecks at the football game. We can all come together and reminisce about when we were students at Western. It’s basically just a big weekend full of school spirit.” Though Homecoming is still months away, be sure to save the date for Homecoming 2012! You don’t want to miss out on this fun weekend filled with purple and gold pride!

Secretary of Transportation Scheduled to Speak to the WIU Community

WIU will play host to the United States Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood early next week. Secretary LaHood will speak with WIU students, faculty, and staff on Monday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. in the University Union Grand Ballroom on “Investing in an America Built to Last.” Secretary LaHood and I are both Peoria, Illinois natives so I’m especially excited to hear him speak.

Secretary LaHood is delivering WIU’s annual Robert and Mary Ferguson lecture, an annual lecture that was created to honor the work of Robert Ferguson while he was at WIU. “The lecture is really based on Robert Ferguson. He was a WIU faculty member from the 1940s through the 1980s,” explains Schuyler Isley, director of communications and external relations for the College of Business and Technology. “Robert really believed in broadening the students’ experience at WIU. To do this, he brought in a variety of speakers to benefit the students’ professional development. The speakers also help the students get a flavor and feel outside of the university,” says Isley. Robert Ferguson was not only a professor during his time at WIU; he was also the business chair for 20 years. Ferguson played a key role in guiding the WIU Department of Business Education and he achieved his longtime goal of establishing the College of Business in 1966.

Secretary LaHood has held several public service positions before he was appointed by President Barack Obama to his cabinet. After graduating from Bradley University, LaHood taught junior high students for several years. LaHood’s first public service position was serving in the Illinois State Legislature. LaHood also served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Robert Michel and as District Administrative Assistant to Congressman Thomas Railsback. LaHood then went on to serve 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing 18^th District. During his time in the House, LaHood held positions on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and on the House Appropriations Committee. On January 23, 2009, President Obama appointed LaHood as the 16^th Secretary of Transportation. As Secretary of Transportation, LaHood leads an agency of more than 55,000 employees and oversees a $70 billion budget that includes air, maritime and surface transportation missions.

LaHood’s lecture to the WIU community will focus on “the importance of putting Americans to work building the transportation infrastructure we need to compete in the global economy. He will also touch on the topic of distracted driving and highway safety, which is especially important to our students,” explains Isley. LaHood’s lecture is unique to the WIU community because WIU does not typically have political figures present lectures. “In my 17 years at WIU, I don’t know that we’ve had a political figure like LaHood on campus. We mostly invite senators and business leaders to deliver the Ferguson lecture,” Isley says. Chairman of Amtrak, Tom Carper, will introduce LaHood. Carper is a prominent figure in the Macomb community. He was first a bar owner then mayor of Macomb and now is the Chairman of Amtrak. “Carper is really the tie between the Macomb community and the national political scene,” says Isley.

Isley encourages all faculty, staff, students and Macomb community members to attend Monday’s lecture. It is quite an honor to host Secretary LaHood and the WIU community looks forward to his presentation. For more information on the lecture, you can visit http://www.wiu.edu/cbt/.

WIU Alumna Talks Business and Wine in a Nationwide Video Contest

 

Does the above video entice you to visit Market Alley Wines? If you answered yes, then that is exactly what WIU alumna, Susan Kaufman ‘88, wanted to accomplish when opening Market Alley Wines. To promote her business, Kaufman has submitted a video into a national contest. If she wins first place, she will be awarded $25,000; second and third place awards are $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. Kaufman used her creativity to produce a fun yet informative video about Market Alley Wines and she hopes it’s creative enough to win first place.

Kaufman, a 1988 WIU graduate, majored in mass communications and journalism. While at Western, she was also a cheerleader and those skills helped “tremendously during the contest!” Kaufman didn’t start her professional career as a wine connoisseur, but that’s what it has evolved into and she’s not looking back. “I had worked in journalism for several years and although I loved it, I had a pretty severe case of burn-out. I took another job that made a lot more money and absolutely hated it. After some soul searching, I thought opening a wine shop would be enjoyable and successful. Plus it combined so many things I enjoyed about other jobs: working with people, learning new things, sharing knowledge and being creative. It all came down to the question, ‘What do I have to lose?’ And so far, it hasn’t been a thing! [It’s the] best decision I ever made,” exclaims Kaufman. Market Alley Wines was established in 2011 in Monmouth, Illinois and has been growing ever since thanks to the local community.

Kaufman credits the community of Monmouth for the success of her business. She also credits the community for helping her succeed in the video contest. “The support has been amazing and overwhelming. We came into this a popular business locally with a strong customer base. But this contest has really brought out the competitive nature in us Midwesterners. People really care and have showed it time and time again.”

The “This is Retail” video contest is a nation-wide contest hosted by the National Retail Federation or NRF. NRF’s mission is “to advance the interests of the retail industry through advocacy, communications and education,” according to the NRF website. Hundreds of videos were submitted in the contest and Kaufman’s video made it into the Top 5 videos. “Like so many of my decisions over the past few years I simply asked myself, ‘What do I have to lose?’ In this case, only a little brain power and a few hours of work,” says Kaufman. She worked with her significant other, Paul, to produce her video. “We’ve got some great, loyal customers and I wanted them to be candid in answering some questions about my store. We just used a little flip camera and an iPhone and edited it all on a computer.  Paul recorded the soundtrack and even brought me a sandwich which pretty much covers all jobs on a movie set!” says Kaufman.

The “This is Retail” video contest winners will be announced on May 1^st. As a fellow Leatherneck, we all are rooting for Kaufman in this contest! For more information on Markey Alley Wines, you can visit the interactive website at http://marketalleywines.com/.

WIU Students Prepare to Blast Off into Their Futures

Graduation is less than three weeks away and the WIU Alumni Association is ready to welcome seniors into the Alumni Association! As a senior, I couldn’t be more thrilled about graduation and joining all of you as a member of the WIU Alumni Association. To celebrate the graduating seniors, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) in conjunction with the Alumni Association, will host the annual Grad Blast event, tomorrow, at The Sports Corner @ 124 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Graduating seniors and alumni are welcome to join in the festivities!

The SAA members work to educate WIU students about the benefits of being a WIU alumnus and host several events throughout the year. Grad Blast is SAA’s last event of the year and is “basically the senior send-off party for all people graduating in the 2012 academic school year,” says Emily Isaacs, Alumni Programs graduate assistant. Grad Blast is an annual SAA event and this year Isaacs and others on the Grad Blast committee would like to see you there! “One thing that we’re trying to do this year is get more alumni involvement [at Grad Blast] so that we’re able to welcome the newest members of the Association by greeting them not only with the SAA [members], but with the Alumni Association and their members,” says Isaacs.

The SAA’s work on Grad Blast started months ago with electing a committee chair as their first priority. “We have our committee chair who organizes his committee and between the group they’re able to organize the prizes and get things like the Apple Photo Booth, decorations, and other things,” explains Isaacs. Isaacs was also able to use this event as a learning process both for her and members of SAA.  “It was really interesting getting in touch with Lindsey Swanson (the manager at The Sports Corner) and creating a contract for the event because it was something I have never had experience with. It was really neat learning that process,” Isaacs says.

When you graduate from Western, you automatically become a member of the Alumni Association. There are no dues or fees; with that membership, you receive a number of benefits and services. “Amy Spelman [director of Alumni Programs] will speak about the benefits of being an alumnus. Also, the event will provide free food and a fun time with friends. This is the last big senior send-off before finals, maybe even the only big send-off, so we have that niche. We also have a lot of prizes from the town to give away. Attendees can look forward to meeting alumni, sharing memories, and also just having a really great time,” explains Isaacs. Isaacs and the rest of the Grad Blast committee have worked with Macomb businesses for the past several months to receive a variety of prizes to give away at Grad Blast.  Some of these door prizes include: gift cards to area restaurants, a purse from Envy (a Macomb boutique), a County Market gift card, among others. “You don’t have to purchase anything to enter into the contest. It’s just our way of thanking them for coming to our event,” Isaacs says.

Come join your soon-to-be fellow alumni tomorrow at The Sports Corner @ 124! Be sure to join us so you can talk with the graduating seniors as well as with other alumni. The SAA has planned a fun-filled night to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2012 WIU senior class. For more information on Grad Blast, contact Emily Isaacs at EC-Isaacs@wiu.edu or call the Alumni House at (309) 298-1914. We hope to see you there!