On Saturday, Jan. 9th, senior forward Deavis Johnson scored his 1000th career point in loss to Webster University. This season alone the East St. Louis native averages 18.5 points per game, leads the conference in rebounds, and is on the top five list for field goal percentage, total blocks, and minutes played. Johnson was also named this week as St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) player of the week.

Head Coach Todd Creal said, “Not a lot of guys at the division III level have scored that high as well as capture that many rebounds. We’re very fortunate Deavis transferred in here. His transfer is a testament to his character and work ethic, and not a lot of kids can handle it as well as he has. He’s definitely flourished here. He’s gained extra freedoms to be a leader and shoulder the load. We’re expecting bigger things from him as we go forward.”

Johnson came to MacMurray his junior year after connecting with Coach Creal. He explained his bond with Coach Creal, and emphasized on the importance Creal had not only on the court, but in his personal life as well.

“Coach has been like a father figure to me. Our relationship is not an ordinary coach-player bond. Coach Creal is a strong mentor that helps me through things on and off the court. He gives great advice and is there when I need him,” Johnson said.

During his time at MacMurray Johnson has scored 461 points and 329 rebounds. With a career total of 1,010 points and 764 rebounds, Johnson has already found a spot in the MacMurray record books. These totals are also excluding a semester that Johnson was unable to play due to injury. Making these statistics even more incredible. The Highlanders are still scheduled for 12 regular season games and have a great chance to make it into the post season. With plenty of season left to play, Johnson remains on a mission to break several school records.

“Not many people can say they’ve reached this milestone. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Coach and my teammates. They believe in me to take care of the ball and put us in a more sustainable position,” Johnson said.

The Highlanders are currently 6-7 and ranked fourth out of the ten teams in SLIAC. With Johnson continuing to lead the team, they are bound to finish out successfully. Next action for the Highlanders comes Wednesday, Jan. 13th as they travel to take on SLIAC opponent, Spalding University.

Women’s Soccer team will be having a soccer recruit day after MacMurray open house on Feb.15th, 2016. Check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Putnam/Springer Center. The program will end at approximately 1:15 p.m. Soccer recruit schedule will begin at 2 pm in Jenkins Educational Building and will end at 5 pm. Schedule will include: Meet and Greet with team, Individual Coach meet and greet, Parent Q&A, Open gym, Dinner.

How to sign up?

· Online at https://www.mac.edu/admissions/open_house.asp

· Email Women’s Soccer Coach at Andrew.lenhardt@mac.edu

What to bring?

· Official Transcripts

· Indoor Soccer Shoes and workout gear.

· Release from current university or college if transfer student.

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On Sunday, January 17 the MacMurray Volleyball team reminisced on an unforgettable season. This year the team added three players to the Highlander record books and captured the best winning percentage since the 2005 season. This year also marked the first back to back double digit win seasons (12 in 2014 and 14 in 2015) since the 98-99 seasons.

RECORD BOOKS

Morgan Hauser- Hauser set a new all-time individual single season record, recording 385 kills this season. She placed second in Mac All-Time for kills per game at 3.32. Last season, Morgan broke the school record for total attacks with 869. This year she dominated that number finishing the 2015 season with a total of 1,248 attacks.

Alexa Boyer- Boyer holds second place in the MacMurray record books for single-season assists at 782, just behind the all-time 786 record. Boyer also captured a career total this year of more than 2,000 assists.

Aly Ferrari- Aly led her team in digs this season and made a mark in the record books with a single-season total of 391 digs. Aly also captured over 1,000th career dig in the 2015 season.

AWARD WINNERS

Most Improved Player -Maddie Langellier

Most Valuable Defensive player- Taylor Hewitt

Most Valuable Offensive player- Morgan Hauser

Coach's Choice Award- Alexa Boyer

The Science in the Movies film series showcases Hollywood’s sharp turns, big jumps and quick reversals in They’re After Us! Chases in the Movies.

The event will be Sunday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. in the Bailey Auditorium, located in Julian Hall on the MacMurray College campus. All showings in the series are free and open to the public.

Joanne Budzien, assistant professor of physics and the organizer of the series, will show clips of blockbuster films and discuss whether what’s on the silver screen squares with the natural and physical sciences. Snacks will be provided, and everyone is welcome to bring their own favorite movie snack and enjoy the show.

Children are welcome with adult supervision. Even though the clips are edited for language, excessive violence, and adult situations, some film segments show people in extreme danger and may be too intense for very young viewers.

The events are held on Sunday each month at the same time and place in Julian Hall, located on Clay Street in Jacksonville between the Henry Pfeiffer Library and Freesen Football Field on the MacMurray campus.

Sponsored by the MacMurray College Division of Social and Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Science in the Movies looks at whether Hollywood special effects and technology are good, bad or ugly science.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  MacMurray College 95  Iowa Wesleyan University 79
LOCATION: Jacksonville, IL – Bill Wall Gym
RECORDS: MacMurray College 9-8, 6-4 SLIAC Iowa Wesleyan University 11-6, 7-3 SLIAC
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams rallied back in forth early in the first half, until the Highlanders were able to break away with an 11 point streak. Struggling to overcome that deficit early in the game, the Tigers did not stand a chance. The crowd lit with enthusiasm, Bill Wall Gymnasium was booming. The Highlanders feeding off the excitement, became unstoppable. At the half, MacMurray would lead 51-33.  Mike Cameron rallied up the fans with his consistency at the arc. He and Taten Musso connected perfectly to continue the streak. Musso would finish with 11 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds. The Highlanders outshot their opponent with a 56.9% and Iowa Wesleyan falling short with 45.2%. With the victory, MacMurray now stands with a 9-8, 6-4SLIAC record.  

FOR THE HIGHLANDERS 

Brent Long led for the Highlanders with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Mike Cameron followed with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Deavis Johnson captured another double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.  Johnson also added 3 blocks, 4 assists, and 4 steals.

FOR THE FOES

The Tigers were led by Chris Fowler with 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.

Brock Butler added 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Steven Archibald followed with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Next action for the Highlanders comes Wednesday, Jan. 27 as they take on conference foe, Blackburn College in Bill Wall Gymnasium for Coaches vs Cancer game. 

After winning the annual St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) canned food drive competition for two consecutive years, MacMurray Athletics will blitz the town, going door-to-door on Tuesday, Feb. 23 to collect canned for the third year of the SLIAC challenge.

In addition to door-to-door collecting on Feb. 23, the Highlanders will also be taking donations on Wednesday, Feb. 17 during the men’s and women’s basketball games beginning at 6 p.m.

Cash donations are also accepted, with every dollar being counted as two canned food items. All donations will go to the Jacksonville Food Bank.

The SLIAC competition, which began in 2014, is organized by the MacMurray Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2014 in efforts to further develop citizenship amongst student-athletes and allow them the opportunity to give back to their community. The annual food drive is a competition among the 10 SLIAC member colleges. MacMurray has placed first both years of the competition.

This year, MacMurray again remains on top, leading the fall challenge with a total of 812 cans, followed by Iowa Wesleyan with 516 items. The competition is divided into three periods; fall, winter, and spring.

 “We are excited to continue the streak and help out the Jacksonville community,” said MacMurray Athletic Director Justin Fuhler, “This has been a great success, and we hope to remain as the defending champions. We are grateful to all of those who have contributed and are lucky to be located in such a supportive community.”

To benefit the local Salvation Army chapter, MacMurray will hold its first Nearly Naked Mile at 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8, beginning at the Gamble Campus Center. Prizes will go to the fastest male and female runners, the best costume, and the best team theme (four persons maximum on a team).

All the clothing donations will go to the Jacksonville Salvation Army. Community members are welcome to participate, and may also bring items to donate without making the run. There will be a Salvation Army donation bin at Gamble until about 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12.

Participants wear clothing to the event they wish to donate, stripping down to the bare essentials (but at least what a swimming suit will cover) before running the one-mile course. At least one donated garment is required to participate.

The event is to highlight the College’s efforts with the Prairieland United Way, which serves Jacksonville and the surrounding area. The College’s annual United Way donation drive, organized by the Office of Institutional Advancement, kicked off Monday with a luncheon for faculty, staff and students.

The Applebee Art Gallery on the MacMurray College campus will be holding a reception for the exhibition, “Transition,” by Rushville-Industry High School art instructor and sculptor Jason Ackman, at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Gallery. Ackman will discuss his work at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Ackman, a teacher and studio artist, has been focusing his studio practice for the past five years on the use of reclaimed materials as a sculptural medium, such as his work, “There are Times” (pictured), from reclaimed lumber, clay, steel spring, latex house paint and beeswax.

“The symbolic meaning that can be found in the most ordinary, outdated and utilitarian objects intrigues me,” Ackman said. “I embrace the challenge of making something out of a material that has seemingly lost its purpose or need -- the things that others look past, the things that so often don't fit the standard mold of perfection.”

In addition to his studio work, Ackman has been teaching a wide range of art classes at Rushville-Industry for the past 16 years.

“Transitions” can also be viewed now through Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during workdays when the College is open.

Request interpreting services 72 hours prior to event at dss@mac.edu or call 217.479.7123.

For further information, contact MacMurray’s Office of Public Relations, 217.479.7027, publicrelations@mac.edu, or visit our website, mac.edu.

JACKSONVILLE, IL – MacMurray College will be hosting a community-wide Career Fair with more than 30 area businesses signed up (see list below) and more possible.

The Jacksonville-area Career Fair will be Wednesday, March 23 in the Bill Wall Gymnasium, located in the Jenkins Education Complex on Hardin Street on the MacMurray campus.

The Fair will be open to the public 1-2 p.m. that day and is sponsored by MacMurray and Illinois College. The Fair will be open to students 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Businesses my begin setting up their booths at 10 a.m. with a welcome by MacMurray President Mark Tierno at 10:20 a.m.

Here is a list of businesses and organizations registered to participate as of Feb. 15. Businesses wishing to participate may sign up here: Career Fair Registration Page Here.

Buchheit Inc.

HSHS Medical Group

MacMurray College

Illinois State Police

Home Instead Senior Care

Blessing Health System

Girl Scouts of Central IL

CCK Automations, Inc.

West Central Mass Transit District

Illinois State Police

University of Illinois Springfield - Office of Graduate Intern Programs

Western Illinois University - School of Graduate Studies

Scheels

Memorial Health System

SIU School of Medicine/ SIU HealthCare

Illinois Department of Revenue

Modern Woodmen of America

Pathway Services Unlimited

Dot Foods

Crisis Center

Northwestern Mutual

Western Illinois Youth Camp

Hobby Horse House

Illinois Department of Employment Security

Family Video and Highland Ventures

Residence Inn by Marriott

Residence Inn by Marriott

Memorial Health System

Girl Scouts of Central IL

Diversified Crop Insurance Services

Ware Group

MacMurray College is hosting a Career Fair on March 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bill Wall Gymnasium, located in the Jenkins Education Complex on Hardin Street on the MacMurray campus. There are still spots available for local business to host a table and talk with prospective employees.

There is no cost to have a table at the fair, and it will be open to the public as well as college students. The event is hosted by MacMurray and Illinois College.

The fair is looking for businesses, excluding the fast food industry, with internships, part-time, full-time and seasonal positions available. Currently, more than 30 businesses have signed up in such industries as marketing, social work, sales, customer service, nursing, accounting, and more.

To reserve a table, please register here. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Career Services Anne Godman, at anne.godman@mac.edu or call 217.479.7141.

The Science in the Movies film series showcases the physics behind time travel in Got a Watch? Time in the Movies. Also included in the discussion will be the new discovery of gravitational waves, which made the news this month as evidence supporting Einstein’s theories related to space-time.

The event will be Sunday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium in Julian Hall the MacMurray College campus. All showings in the series are free and open to the public.

Scientist Joanne Budzien will show clips of blockbuster films and discuss whether what’s on the silver screen squares with the natural and physical sciences. Snacks will be provided, and everyone is welcome to bring their own favorite movie snack and enjoy the show.

Children are welcome with adult supervision. Even though the clips are edited for language, excessive violence, and adult situations, some film segments show people in extreme danger and may be too intense for very young viewers.

Science in the Movies looks at whether Hollywood special effects and technology are good, bad or ugly science. The events are held on Sunday each month at the same time and place in Julian Hall, located on Clay Street in Jacksonville between the Henry Pfeiffer Library and Freesen Football Field on the MacMurray campus.

See full line up of topics.

MacMurray College’s new wrestling program took large stride toward launch with the hiring of a head coach with broad experience at the collegiate and high school levels and an extensive track record of building successful wrestling programs.

Pete Di Pol hopes to arrive at MacMurray next month to take over the helm of the College’s men’s and women’s wrestling program, which will begin its first year of competition in the fall semester 2016.

“It is evident with my discussions with our Athletic Director Justin Fuhler and College President Dr. Mark Tierno that they are committed to ensuring the success of the wrestling program and our future wrestlers on and off the mat,” Di Pol said. “Their passion for this new program resonated with my own passion and desire to succeed here and develop champions on and off the mat as well.”

For 16 years, Di Pol has led highly successful wrestling programs at both the high school and college levels, compiling an overall record of 295-92. He was named Coach of the Year eight times during his coaching career, three times as a college coach.

“MacMurray Athletics is excited about getting a head coach who has Pete’s impressive and repeated success in building championship programs to help the College launch its men’s and women’s wrestling programs,” said Fuhler, MacMurray’s athletic director. “We know he can hit the ground running, and we wouldn’t be the least surprised if MacMurray Wrestling quickly returns to its former glory under his direction.”

See more information about MacMurray’s storied wrestling program here.

“Getting a chance to build a program from the ground up is an opportunity that not many coaches get,” said Di Pol. “The historic past of MacMurray Wrestling will make that job easier, and I’m looking forward to fielding a strong team from Day One.”

At the college level, Di Pol boasts a 46-22 record, coaching one national champion wrestler, two national finalists, seven All-Americans, 29 national qualifiers, three regional champions and five Academic All-Americans.

As head wrestling coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, 2013-2015, he shepherded his team to two national rankings, No. 16 in 2014 and No. 14 in 2015 and the conference duals championship in 2015. He also coached at the collegiate level at what is now Rowan College at Gloucester County in Sewell, NJ, a community college, 2011-13, when his teams also won conference championships and placed 4th and 5th in the country in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Di Pol comes to MacMurray from Heelan High School in Sioux City, IA, where he was head coach during the 2015-16 season. He took over a team that had a 10-27 record last year; this year, the team set a school record with 24 wins and Di Pol was a finalist for Northwest Iowa Class 2 wrestling Coach of the Year. Previously, Di Pol coached wrestling in several high schools in New Jersey, where his teams won three New Jersey state championships, and he taught special education at the high school and middle school levels. He also served as a police officer in Wildwood, NJ, before entering the teaching and coaching ranks.

He has completed coursework for his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Boston; received his Ed.S. in instruction and curriculum and his master’s in counseling and human relations, both from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and his bachelor’s in history from Rutgers University in Camden, NJ.

Di Pol also completed the National Wrestling Coaches Association Leadership Academy in 2012, and the Association’s Women’s Leadership Academy in 2014.

Di Pol expects to live in Jacksonville, with his wife Tina and their two school-age children, Angelo, 10, and Cecilia, 9.

The MacMurray Volleyball Team volunteered their time on Sunday Feb. 14th at the annual Doll-i-Day fundraiser for Midwest Youth Services.The Doll-i-Day event is held in efforts to raise money for at-risk, runaway, and homeless children.  This event has become a regular volunteer activity for the MacMurray volleyball team, as they have participated the last three years.  During the event the team helps to paint faces, do makeup, make cookies and participate in musical chairs. The theme for this year's Doll-i-Day was frozen. 

The Applebee Gallery at MacMurray College features a St. Louis-area artist for a one-woman show. The opening reception for “Moments,” a show of fiber arts by St. Charles, MO, artist Melissa Whitwam, will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Gallery, with an artist talk at 6:15 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The show exhibits a number of Whitwam’s work, including “Nocturne” (pictured), and continues through March 24. After the opening, the exhibit may be viewed 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when MacMurray is open. The Applebee Gallery is located in the Putnam/Springer Center at the southeast corner of Clay and State streets on the MacMurray campus.

In her work, Whitwam seeks to represent the weaving together of unique moments in life. “Informed by the processes and materiality of fiber arts, I create art reflective of the time and meditations necessary to make it,” Whitwam said. “My interests in mathematics, natural systems, perception (versus experience), and cultural mythologies manifest themselves visually in work that asks for a contemplation on the processes of creation, the necessity of details, and the elegance of the whole. 

She received bachelor’s degree in literature and a B.F.A. in Fiber Arts from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, in 2003, and earned her M.F.A. from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, in 2007. She currently lives and works in St. Charles, MO, showing her works throughout the country and is a member of many local art organizations. She says her proudest accomplishment is being able to combine her love of the arts with her career. Serving as the Foundry Art Centre’s exhibition manager, she is able to work with other artists, promoting, curating, and sharing their artwork with the community.

Request interpreting services 72 hours prior to event at dss@mac.edu or call 217.479.7123.

A group of MacMurray students and staff members headed to the Illinois Capitol Building in Springfield last week for the MAP Grant Rally.

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a State of Illinois program that provides financial aid to Illinois residents who attend public, private and community colleges in Illinois.

Funding for MAP grants has been stalled as part of the overall state budget standoff. MAP Grants are a need-based, and nearly half of the student body at MacMurray College is eligible for.

Among the student who attended are:

Tierra Stiverson, of St. Joseph, IL

Chaise Pratt, of Belleville, IL

Chaylynn Pratt, of Pontoon Beach, IL

Timothy Frazier, of Springfield, IL

Ariyon Jones, of St. Louis, MO

            After the rally, students went to the offices of their local representatives and senators to tell them how MAP affects them. Students attended a press conference later in the afternoon in support of the elected officials who support a bill to fund MAP Grants. On Friday, Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill the authorized payment of MAP Grants.

Pictured from left: MacMurray students Chaylynn Pratt, Chaise Pratt, Tierra Stiverson talked with Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) after a press conference last week about how MAP Grants affect their ability to pay college.

MacMurray College will host a poetry celebration to honor Black History Month on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Marian Chase Schaeffer Studio Theatre, second floor, south side of the Jenkins Education Complex on Hardin Avenue on the MacMurray College campus.

MacMurray students, faculty and staff and members of the community are invited to perform and attend the event.

The celebration will include the performance of poems, rap, and spoken word written or influenced by African-American poets. Original works are also welcome.

Performances are limited to five minutes per poem. Participants should sign up 15 minutes before the performance. There will be a maximum of 15 performers for the evening.

Prizes will be awarded to the poetry presenters and the audience can win prizes for correct answers to quiz questions about cultural diversity and African American culture and history.

For the second straight year, MacMurray is the co-regular season conference champion, sharing the honor with Greenville College, both with 12-6 records in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).

Due to a tiebreaker, MacMurray College will host the 2016 SLIAC Tournament, which begins Thursday, Feb. 25, as the Highlanders take on Spalding University at 8 p.m. in Bill Wall Gymnasium. It is the first time that MacMurray has hosted the SLIAC Tournament since 1993.

This is the first time in Highlander history that the Men’s Basketball program has earned back-to-back regular season champions. The program has taken the title only five times, with the last two championship teams led by current Head Coach Todd Creal.

“This is a true testament to our two seniors,” said Creal. “Losing four seniors last year who were an integral part to our team, it really shows how much Kollin Keltner and Deavis Johnson have stepped up for us. They have done a tremendous job, and I hope we earn the opportunity to go further.” The winner of the SLIAC Tournament earns a place in the NCAA Division III basketball tournament.

Westminster College and Spalding University earned the third- and fourth-place seeds, respectively. The semifinal games begin at 6 p.m. as No. 2 Greenville will take on No. 3 Westminster. The No.1 Highlanders are scheduled to play at 8 p.m. against No. 4 Spalding University.

The winners of Thursday’s games will meet back in Bill Wall Gym on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. for the conference championship. 

MacMurray is hosting the 2016 SLIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament starting Thursday, Feb. 25. The games are held in Bill Wall Gymnasium in the Jenkins Educations Complex on the campus of MacMurray College. Here is the schedule for Thursday’s games.

Seed #2 Greenville College vs. Seed #3 Westminster College

Bill Wall Gymnasium

Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.

There will be a brief award ceremony between the two semifinal games.

Seed #1 MacMurray College vs. Seed #4 Spalding University

Bill Wall Gymnasium

Thursday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m.

The winners of Thursday’s games will meet back in Bill Wall Gym on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. for the conference championship.

Tickets will be sold at the door. Admission is:

            $5 – Adults

            $2 – Children (Age 5-16), students with student ID from SLIAC schools

            Free – Children under 5

Admission is for both games on Thursday.

Parking is available, but will be limited. Here is a map of the parking available around campus. A pdf version is here. 

MacMurray College combines a core foundation of courses with majors that lead to professional careers that are in high demand.

And while you’re getting preparedfor the profession of your choice, you will be embraced by the Mac Fam. Watch the video below to find out why you matter at MacMurray.

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The Humanities Film Series will feature Crash, a movie showing interweaving stories of a diverse group of people in all walks of life dealing with racial and social tensions.

The film will be shown Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.         

According to Roger Ebert, the characters in Crash are all defined in one way or another by racism. All are victims of it, and all are guilty of it. Crash won the Best Picture Oscar in 2006 at the 78th Academy Awards.

This installment of the Humanities Film Series will be moderated by Dr. Christopher Strangeman, associate professor of history at MacMurray College. The series is co-sponsored by MacMurray College, Illinois College, and the Jacksonville Public Library.