@Mac Alumni Newsletter

Alumni on LinkedIn

Are you on LinkedIn? Do you want to stay connected to your fellow classmates and other Mac community members? If so, check out the MacMurray Career Connections group on LinkedIn &mdashl a private group for Mac alumni, faculty, students, and staff to stay informed about professional opportunities and other career-related topics, where

• alumni employers can post job opportunities within their companies;
• current students, recent graduates, alumni, and friends can learn about internships and other job postings from alumni employers or Mac staff connections.

This group should function as a large network of MacMurray family, and its success will be based largely on your participation! To join, log into (or create) your LinkedIn account, then search for the MacMurray Career Connections and ask to join. Once you have been approved, you will receive notifications of new job postings, as well as other related information. You, too, can post positions for the Mac community. If you have any questions, please contact Cori Wagner, Coordinator of Career Services and Student Activities, by calling 217-479-7141 or email her.

College celebrates 162nd Commencement



The 2013 graduating seniors walked across the stage in Annie Merner Chapel on Saturday, May 4, at the College's 162nd Commencement ceremony.

Rain moved the festivities indoors, where the traditional social work and nursing pinnings were held Friday evening, as well as the senior reception, where dozens of honors students were recognized.

Kathryn Kimura Mlsna, an official with the Chicago area Girl Scouts, talked about "The Promises," and she and MacMurray emeritus professor Richard Palmer received honorary doctorates of humane letters.

A photo gallery of the 2013 Commencement weekend is available shortly on the College's website and Facebook page. To see the Jacksonville Journal-Courier coverage of Commencement, click here. To see the list of May graduates as well as academic awards and other honorees, click here. To find out more about the honorary degree recipients, click here.

Alumnae volleyball games



Take the court with fellow volleyball alumnae, cheer on the Highlanders, and reconnect with friends. Join us on August 24 for the Alumnae Volleyball Game in Wall Gymnasium, located inside the Jenkins Education Complex. The games start at 6 p.m. and will be played tournament style. This year we will be offering a t-shirt and an informal social at Northridge Hills Golf Course (1265 Sandusky Road, Jacksonville). The social will start at 8 p.m. or shortly after the games. Register for the game (free), shirt ($7), social ($6), or all three ($13). To register, click here. Registration closes August 2.

Alumni soccer games



The annual men's and women's alumni soccer games will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at 9 a.m. (women) and 11 a.m. (men) on the soccer field at MacMurray College. After the men's game, at approximately 1 p.m., there will be a picnic sponsored by the soccer program and the athletic department. Food, drinks, and desserts will be provided. Join us for a little family fun and competition. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with our current players and reconnect with your former teammates. Please RSVP by August 9 to Coach Shane Taylor via email or 217-479-7150.

Lifetime trustee presented service award

MacMurray College lifetime trustee Bob Kellogg was recently presented the 2013 Distinguished Service Award by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

Dr. Kellogg, a 1968 graduate in elementary education, was an active member of the association for 14 years. During that time, he served as the administrator of CESA 8, a regional education agency serving 27 small and rural school districts north of Green Bay, WI.

The awards committee noted his efforts in economic development in the region and his efforts in bringing technology and the improvement in internet connectivity to the largely rural area.

He has retired to his home in Oconto Falls, WI, with his wife, Cathy, a special education teacher. They have two grown children — Kjirsten '00 and Doug.

Student news

Biology Club takes field trip



A dozen members of the MacMurray College Biology Club went to Winchester (IL) Elementary School last month for an afternoon science safari. The Biology Club set up stations in the gym where the K-5 students could explore biology, chemistry, and physics. Highlights of the stations included live animals, skulls of various creatures, a human skeleton, a human brain in a jar, playing with magnets, and watching chemistry in action.

College bestows honors

MacMurray College held its Alpha Lambda Delta induction on April 25 in Thoresen Recital Hall, inducting the College's first-year academic achievers. For a list of award recipients, click here.

The MacMurray College Honors Society inducted a dozen new members at the Senior Reception on May 3 in McClelland Dining Hall. For a list of inductees, click here.

The annual Honors Recognition Program was held on April 18 in Thoresen Recital Hall, presenting 32 awards to 29 students. For a complete list of award recipients, click here.

Nursing students lobby for health care



Pouring rain didn't stop MacMurray College nursing seniors from participating in the 15th Annual Student Nurse Political Action Day in Springfield. The entire class attended meetings in the morning and early afternoon and then proceeded to march on the Capitol to meet with their local representatives. A key fact that the students learned was that one in 48 employed persons in the state of Illinois is a nurse, and as a result, nurses could have the largest lobbying voice in Springfield if they banded together.

Student Leaders of the Month announced



Dana Steben (left), a senior double-majoring in accounting and business, was named Student Leader of the Month for April. Steben was selected for her strong work ethic, campus involvement, and her academic success. She is active in athletics, playing on the women's soccer, golf, basketball, and softball teams; is president of Belles Lettres, a literary society; treasurer of BACCHUS (Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students); president of the Mortar Board Honor Society; and is an active member in both the Campus Activities Board and Greek Council. For a full press release, click here.



Morgan McGee (right), of Camp Point, IL, was honored as the Student Leader of the Month for March. McGee is a junior. Click here for a full press release.

Pictured with each recipient is dean of student affairs Martin Sabolo.

Senior showcase takes viewers 'worlds away'



Senior art major Chelsea Verticchio, of Jacksonville, IL, opened her senior thesis show on April 18 in the Applebee Art Gallery, located in the Putnam/Springer Center. Over 70 people attended the reception, where they were able to view the artistic creations of Verticchio and other MacMurray art majors.

Mac student to take online course through Stanford

Sammy Jo Petefish, of Ashland, IL, a junior in the social work program, has enrolled in an open online course through Stanford University titled, "Mobile Health Without Borders." The course will address global health challenges, mobile health opportunities, and entrepreneurship in health care. Lectures from renowned experts will stream online, with online class discussion and placement into multi-disciplinary teams, resulting in a health innovation challenge competition.

Joe Squillace, director of the social work program, will serve as Petefish's mentor. "This course provides Sammy the opportunity to develop skills in her area of interest, allows her to continue to develop academic skills over the summer, and provides an opportunity for multi-disciplinary collaboration," Dr. Squillace said.

News from athletics

Senior recognized by national football organization



MacMurray College football player Dan Routh was recognized by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for his academic achievements. Routh graduated cum laude in May with a bachelor's in biology. He was honored with the Betsey Brooke Swigart '66 Memorial Volunteerism Award by the MacMurray College Alumni Association Board. For more information, click here.

Players, coaches aid sandbagging efforts along Illinois River



MacMurray College athletics helped emergency operations in several nearby communities along the Illinois River at the end of April, filling sandbags in preparation for rising river levels. A total of 44 students and six coaches took part in the efforts. Members of MacMurray's football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball teams were present to help protect the towns of Beardstown, Bluffs, and Meredosia.

Golfer earns conference distinction

Highlander Jeremy Rolf was awarded with the SLIAC Golfer of the Week honors for the week of April 15-21. Rolf came in first place out of 39 golfers at the MacMurray College Invitational tournament on April 6, shooting a seven-over par 79. For more information, click here.

Softball celebrates season

The MacMurray College softball team celebrated its season with an end of the year dinner on April 28. During the dinner, head coach Samantha Burmeister presented awards. For a full list of the awards, click here.

Soccer presents awards

The men's and women's soccer teams recently announced individual awards for their 2012-2013 seasons. These honors were voted on by the players and presented during the end of the year soccer banquet. For a full list of the awards, click here.

Faculty & staff news

College chaplain to open meeting of Illinois Senate

MacMurray College chaplain Amy Kay Pavlovich is scheduled to give the opening prayer for the Illinois Senate on Memorial Day, May 27. The senate typically opens its days with a prayer, and various pastors are asked to speak throughout the sessions.

Social work director presents in St. Louis



Joe Squillace, director of the social work program at MacMurray College, spoke earlier this month as the final speaker of the year for the speaker series, "Social Justice and Advocacy," sponsored by the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University. He lectured and also facilitated the final session of the series with a presentation titled, "Methods in Advocating." Approximately 30 students, faculty, and staff attended the presentation. For the complete press release, click here.