Jacksonville, Ill. – MacMurray College is excited to announce a new scholarship program in partnership with RaiseMe, a social enterprise focused on expanding access to higher education by making scholarships more accessible and transparent for all students.

Starting as early as 9th grade, students across the country now have the opportunity to earn micro-scholarships from MacMurray for a wide range of activities including getting good grades, volunteering in the community or participating in extracurricular activities. By partnering with Raise.me, MacMurray is improving clarity and access around financial aid.

As the newest member of Raise.me’s growing movement, MacMurray will now offer students a variety of different scholarships, such as participating in community service, perfect attendance and attending the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar (HOBY). Together, MacMurray and Raise.me are dedicated to creating new opportunities for students by enabling them to earn scholarship dollars during their high school career and learn about the kinds of behaviors that will empower them to be successful students in high school, college and beyond.

“We are excited to begin our partnership with Raise.Me,” says Tressman Goode, director of admissions. “At MacMurray, we believe in providing access to a quality education at an affordable price. This partnership will allow us to achieve this early in a student’s high school career.”

"We are excited about the impact of this partnership on high school completion and college readiness amongst our growing student population on Raise.me nationwide. As we selected our next institution for partnership, MacMurray stood out as a mission-driven institution dedicated to access, affordability, and student success,” says Amanda Flores, the Director of Partnerships.

For additional information about Raise.me, contact press@raise.me.

About Raise.me — Raise.me was founded in 2012 as a social enterprise focused on expanding access to higher education, especially among low-income and first-generation students. Starting as early as 9th grade, Raise.me enables students to earn scholarships throughout high school as they reach the goals that best prepare them to succeed. Whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community, or joining an extracurricular, on Raise.me students are rewarded by colleges for being motivated, driven and committed to success. Students at 1 out of 2 high schools across America have signed up to earn micro-scholarships from a diverse set of over 250 colleges and universities. Students, educators, and parents can learn more at www.raise.me.

MacMurray College will step back in time to the Renaissance period for a special Madrigal Reunion Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 2 in McClelland Dining Hall. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and performance at 6 p.m.

The madrigal dinner was an annual event at MacMurray from 1967 to 1997 and this year, 25 alumni will be returning to campus to perform and revive a popular tradition at the College.

During the evening, traditional songs will be performed such as “Here We Come a Caroling,” “Wassail,” “Boar’s Head,” “Our Host and His Plum Pudding,” “Joy to the World” and other concert songs such as “Masters In This Hall,” “Weep O Mine Eyes” by John Bennett, “Sing We and Chant It” by Thomas Morley, and “Fair Phyllis” by John Farmer. Robert Seufert will be the narrator and J. Warren Mitchell will be directing the music.

Tickets are $50 each; and $20 for students. Please RSVP by Nov. 27 by calling 217-479-7024, emailing alumni@mac.edu or by registering online at www.mac.edu/alumni/register.

MacMurray College will be hosting a book signing for Joe Squillace, associate professor and director of the social work program, on the release of his new book, “A History of the Poorhouse and Farm in Morgan County, Illinois,” on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Thoresen Recital Hall in the Putnam/Springer Center from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

At the book signing, Squillace will give a short talk at 5:15 p.m. and be available to sign copies of his book throughout the course of the event. Books will be available for purchase for $15, with all proceeds going to the Morgan County Historical Society.

In the book, Squillace traces the history of the poorhouse and farm, outlines the various groups served by the institution and reveals stories that profile the populations that the poor farm served. A product of the intellectual and religious surrounding community in Jacksonville, the book outlines the history of the three locations from 1842-1951, and how it served the various human, social and mental needs of both local and transient persons.

For more information, contact Squillace at 217-479-7108 or at joseph.squillace@mac.edu.

MacMurray College’s annual Advent candlelight service, Lessons and Carols, will be Sunday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. in Annie Merner Chapel, located on the northeast corner of College Avenue and Clay Street on the MacMurray campus.

The celebration of Christmas will include the MacMurray Concert Choir along with the congregation singing traditional Christmas carols. The service will also feature scripture readings from the Christmas story by MacMurray students. The program will be led by College Chaplain Todd Sweatman and Director of Performing Arts Christine Smith.

The event is free and open to the public. Request interpreting services 72 hours prior to event at dss@mac.edu or call 217-479-7123.

The MacMurray College women's basketball team took part in the Daytona Beach Classic College Basketball Tournament on December 18-23. The team competed in the tournament as they took on Bethel University (MN) and Wheaton College (Mass.), but they chose to give up their time on the beach for the chance to make a difference in the lives of others.

Throughout the week, the women's basketball team volunteered their time helping out Daytona natives. They spent a day at the Homeless Prevention Shelter where they registered clients, sorted donations and cleaned the shelter. Another day was spent at the First Baptist Church of Daytona where they helped cook and package meals for homebound senior citizens. The team also had the opportunity to work at the Women's Resource Center, which offers free assistance to women dealing with unplanned pregnancies, where they helped clean the center and organize donations.

"This trip was about more than basketball," said Todd Sweatman, coordinator of religious life and college chaplain. "The players had the opportunity to grow as a team and serve people that they did not know; people that are in unfortunate situations that needed our help. We realized how blessed we are and that we can make a choice to put the interest of others ahead of our own, even when it's not convenient. We are deeply grateful to all who helped the team experience a wonderful week of service and basketball in Florida."

The basketball trip was made possible by the donations from many people, including families and local businesses. The team hosted a golf outing and other fundraisers while the United Methodist Church also provided a large grant to help with the expenses involved with the community service projects. 

MacMurray College will showcase the aviation-themed works of Wisconsin artist John-Thomas Richard in the Applebee Gallery until Feb. 28.

The opening reception for the exhibit, “Experiments in Historic Flight,” will be on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Applebee Gallery, located in the Putnam/Springer Center on the southeast corner of State and Clay streets on the MacMurray campus. The gallery talk will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Richard grew up loving planes, for both their technical beauty of construction and their seemingly impossible ability to fly. Richard is currently exploring the idea of human flight through the use of ceramic forms, silhouettes and structures.

His family was a major influence. Richard’s grandfather flew around the South Pacific during World War II on different planes fixing communication equipment on the islands. His grandmother worked at an airplane plant in Detroit during the war. Richard’s father built a sailplane in the family barn with a friend and was responsible for introducing Richard to all things aviation by taking him to air shows. No one in his family has ever been a pilot but that has not stopped them from being part of the aviation spirit. Ultimately, Richard is aware that his ceramic planes and parts may never truly fly but he wants to provoke the idea of flight in the minds of the viewer.

For more information on the exhibit, contact Khara Koffel, professor of art and Applebee Gallery director, at 217-479-7092 or khara.koffel@mac.edu.

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Jacksonville College and Community Career Fair will take place on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bill Wall Gymnasium at MacMurray College. Over 50 employers will be recruiting for internships along with part-time and full-time positions. 

The Career Fair is made possible by the joint efforts of MacMurray College, Illinois College and Lincoln Land Community College. 

For a full list of employers attending visit http://libguides.mac.edu/CS. For more information contact MacMurray College Career Services at career.services@mac.edu or call 217-479-7141.
 

MacMurray College inducted four alumni into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday evening at a ceremony held on campus. Edward Kowalczyk, class of 2002, the late Kelsey Vaughn-Turner, class of 2007, Kimberly (Ryan) Byers, class of 2007, and Tobias Alaribe, Jr., class of 2012, were honored for their years as Highlanders.                

During his time playing baseball at MacMurray, Kowalczyk received Rookie of the Year, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) First and Second Team All-Conference, Team Captain, MVP, and currently holds the records for home runs, runs batted in and hits.

Vaughn-Turner was recognized for her performance on the volleyball court for being a key player in one of the first winning seasons at MacMurray. She was named SLIAC Honorable Mention All-Conference, SLIAC Conference Tournament Qualifier, Second Team All-Conference, MVP, and is 10th all-time in kills with 274.

Byers, along with Vaughn-Turner, was another star on the volleyball court in the class of 2007. Byers was also a key player in helping turn the program around in one of the first winning seasons. She received many awards including MVP, leader in assists (673), 3rd in blocks and digs, SLIAC Conference Tournament Qualifier and was a part of the SLIAC All-Tournament Team.

The fourth Hall of Fame inductee was a star on the football field in the class of 2012. Alaribe, Jr., who played defense, was crowned MVP all four years of playing at MacMurray as well as being the football team captain from his sophomore year to his senior year. He also received SLIAC-UMAC First Team All-Conference, and UMAC Second Team All-Conference.

Pictured (from left to right): Kallie (Vaughn) Edge, Class of 2009, Kyla Whitehead, Kimberly Byers, EdwardKowalczyk, and Tobias Alaribe, Jr.

The following students were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2017 semester at MacMurray College. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must have a 3.5 grade point average and be enrolled full time for at least 12 credit hours.

Monteirra Alexander — Springfield, Ill.

Filippa Alfano — Jacksonville, Ill.

Benjamin Alli — Centralia, Ill.

Haley Alt — Freeburg, Ill.

Lauren Anderson — Mt. Pulaski, Ill.

Collin Antoine — Lincoln, Ill.

Kody Bryce Appel — Manville, Ill.

Mackenzie Archamb — Smithton, Ill.

Sarah Bailey — Hettick, Ill.

Allison Baker — Lincoln, Ill.

Nicholas Balkenbusch — Pocahontas, Ill.

Storme Barton — Alpha, Ill.

Peyton Noel Beal — Jacksonville, Ill.

Niah Grace Bevolo — South Roxana, Ill.

Katie Bland — Pittsfield, Ill.

Allison Boehs — Washington, Ill.

Aubrey Boos — Grand Rapids, Mich.

Derek Bourke — Nokomis, Ill.

Katelin Boyer — Belleville, Ill.

Auryana Bradley — East Galesburg, Ill.

Ryan Bradley — Karnak, Ill.

Charles Brauch —  St. Charles, Mo.

Andrew Bridges — Nilwood, Ill.

Wyatt Bright — Rochester, Ind.

Kaitlyn Brown — Chatham, Ill.

Kasey Jo Burger —Franklin, Ill.

Jayne Burton — Springfield, Ill.

Grant Carmody — Jacksonville, Ill.

Edgar Castillo — Carpentersville, Ill.

Marshall Corbin — Louisiana, Mo.

Nicole Craycraft — Riverton, Ill.

Abigail Marie Crocker — Springfield, Ill.

Noelle Crocker — Springfield, Ill.

Shallon Crossley — Springdale, Wash.

Kayla Dannaman — Greenville, Ill.

Ryan Davidson — Jacksonville, Ill.

Alejandra De Los Santos — Beardstown, Ill.

Rebecca lyse Delaney — Aurora, Ill.

Erin Detter — Atoka, Tenn.

Jacquelyn Donohoo — Jacksonville, Ill.

Margaret Doss — Jacksonville, Ill.

Mia Dow — Walnut, CA

Kaitlyn Drake — Winchester, Ill.

John Dunker — Easton, Ill.

Kendale Eads — Chaffee, Mo.

Meka Elmore — Streator, Ill.

Jeremy Fennewald — Joliet, Ill.

Kaydee Jo Fletcher — Havana, Ill.

Brittany Foldes — Chicago, Ill.

Randa Freeze — Crystal City, Mo.

Mary Freiburg — West Chicago, Ill.

Katherine Fuhrman — Wylie, Texas

Christopher Gardner — O' Fallon, Ill.

Jordan Gill — Franklin, Ill.

Megan Gillis — Springfield, Ill.

Hannah Glanzer — Tolono, Ill.

Amanda Gorell — Streamwood, Ill.

Alex Hafliger — Riverton, Ill.

Mason Hale — Springfield, Ill.

Hannah Harbaugh — Freeburg, Ill.

Brooklyn Hatalla — Thayer, Ill.

Jaynie Henry — Sherrard, Ill.

Matthew Heren — Auburn, Ill.

Annahi Hernandez — Beardstown, Ill.

Nichole Hester — Springfield, Ill.

Emily Hocking — Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Caitlyn Hoene — Teutopolis, Ill.

Chey Hopping — Vermont, Ill.

Sean Hynes — Jacksonville, Ill.

Darren Iozia — Orlando, Fla.

Noah Jeckel — Mackinaw, Ill.

MaKendra Jennings — White Hall, Ill.

Montgomery Jennings — Norwalk, Calif.

Melanie Johnson — Lombard, Ill.

Sophie Jury — North Branch, Minn.

Molly Kern — Vandalia, Ill.

Kourtney Knecht — Washburn, Ill.

Trevor Knipe — Nauvoo, Ill.

Kellie Ann Knox — Hillview, Ill.

Samantha Jo Knox — Jacksonville, Ill.

Kasi Korza — Springfield, Ill.

Elizabeth Kruemmelbein — Bunker Hill, Ill.

Samantha Kubes — Lindstrom, Minn.

Jeffrey Kuhlmann — Dardenne Prairie, Mo.

Brittney Lehr — Eldred, Ill.

Ian Leib — Flora, Ill.

Logan Link — Fairview, Ill.

Savanna Long — Jacksonville, Ill.

Nathan Luft — Clinton, Ind.

Kendall Lustik — Plainfield, Ill.

Alec Lyle — Farmer City, Ill.

Baxie Maggart — Greenfield, Ill.

Sean Malcom — Hartville, Wyo.

John Manzano — Plainfield, Ill.

Omar Martinez — Arthur, Ill.

Nicole Anne Maul — Jacksonville, Ill.

Brian Mayberry — Jacksonville, Ill.

Lucas McEvers — White Hall, Ill.

Brooksana McKinney — Park Hills, Mo.

Clint Meadows — Sorento, Ill.

Darin Michael — Jacksonville, Ill.

Christa Mikulezva — Dawson, Ill.

Mikaela Milligan — Lockport, Ill.

Brady Milnes — Roodhouse, Ill.

Samantha Milnes — Roodhouse, Ill.

Anthony Moll — Mascoutah, Ill.

Alexis Moore — Winchester, Ill.

Cady Moore — Jacksonville, Ill.

Jessica Ann Moore — Minooka, Ill.

Kayla Moore — Winchester, Ill.

Ali Morton — Chambersburg, Ill.

Gabriel Mullink — White Hall, Ill.

Kalyn Murre — Yorkville, Ill.

Nicholas Newton — Sherman, Ill.

Diamond Norwood — Carbondale, Ill.

Bailey O'Brien — Evergreen Park, Ill.

Clifford O'Rourke — Pana, Ill.

Christopher Pakeltis — New Lenox, Ill.

Jezebel Pardo — Lewisville, Texas

Courtney Pearson — Pearl, Ill.

Karyssa Pedersen — Abingdon, Ill.

Benny Perkins — Springfield, Ill.

Amanda Petersen — Highland, Ill.

Colton Pettyjohn — Jacksonville, Ill.

Zoey Pickerill — Harvel, Ill.

Codi Poe — White Hall, Ill.

Hillary Pulliam — Springfield, Ill.

Nathan Randall — White Hall, Ill.

Brenna Rande — Joliet, Ill.

Justin Renoud — Jacksonville, Ill.

Leah Rhead — Evergreen Park, Ill.

Maeghanne Roemer — Taylorville, Ill.

Ryan Roscetti — Riverton, Ill.

Abigail Rowe — Ottawa, Ill.

Lyndi Saccaro — Springfield, Ill.

NauJah-Lek Sanders — Springfield, Ill.

Brittany Scanlan — Sandwich, Ill.

Jordyn Schone — Winchester, Ill.

Trevor Schubert — Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Kelly Scullans — St. Charles, Ill.

Lois Seck — Springfield, Ill.

Lucaas Secrist — Hillsboro, Ill.

Trisha Sheley — Pleasant Plains, Ill.

Abby Shockley — Troy, Ill.

Nora Slater — St. Joseph, Ill.

Andrew Smith — Jacksonville, Ill.

Tiffani Snodgrass — Edinburg, Ill.

Mariah Spence —Matherville, Ill.

Craig Spencer — Highland Park, Ill.

Riley Spencer — Dennison, Ill.

Peyton Spitzner — Clay City, Ill.

Elizabeth Staub — Millstadt, Ill.

Jordyn Steiner — Williamsville, Ill.

Haley Stewart — Taylorville, Ill.

Tierra Stiverson — St. Joseph, Ill.

Kaylie Stowe — Newburgh, Ind.

Sarah Strader — Hanna City, Ill.

Chancey Sturgeon — Alsey, Ill.

Patricia Stuthard — Springfield, Ill.

Georgia Suau — Peoria, Ill.

Brianna Sutton — Springfield, Ill.

Alexandra Taberski — Plymouth, Ind.

Alec Taylor — Beardstown, Ill.

Bailee Taylor — Fonda, Iowa

Brock Taylor — Malden, Ill.

Cheyanne Taylor — Malden, Ill.

Jacob Thaller — East Peoria, Ill.

D'artagnan Todd — Hamilton, Ill.

Nickolas Todd — Edinburg, Ill.

Victoria Trujillo — Red Bud, Ill.

Corbin Tullis — Springfield, Ill.

Briana Turner — Jacksonville, Ill.

Gregory Urbanc — Edelstein, Ill.

Zachary Vespa — Springfield, Ill.

Cory Volz — Cooksville, Ill.

Parker Weiss — Smithton, Ill.

Emma Weller — Palmyra, Ill.

Rebecca Wellman — Pleasant Hill, Ill.

Taylor Westfall — Edwardsville, Ill.

Hannah Wetzel — Blue Mound, Ill.

Kacie Whalen — Franklin, Ill.

Jade Williams — Braceville, Ill.

Rebecca Williamson — Williamsville, Ill.

Elaine Wisneski — Freeburg, Ill.

Austin Wombacher — Mascoutah, Ill.

Brady Young — Ashton, Ill.

Abigail Youngblood — Charleston, Ill.

Matthew Zulfer — Bolingbrook, Ill.

Cody Zulkowski — Decatur, Ill.

Sean Anderson ’20 of St. Louis, Mo., and Auryana Bradley ’21 of Knoxville, Ill., were named the January Students of the Month at MacMurray College.

Anderson graduated from Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo. and recently transferred to MacMurray College from Culver Stockton College. He is the son of Samuel Anderson and Sherry Mcintee of St. Louis, Mo.  

He was nominated by Joana Ramsey, assistant professor of sport management. Ramsey noted that Anderson uses his experiences at other institutions when sharing his ideas and opinions. “Sean is extremely polite and very helpful. I am excited to see his growth personally and academically,” Ramsey said.

Bradley graduated from Knox High School and transferred to MacMurray from Carl Sandburg College. She is the daughter of Jennifer Johnson of Knoxville, Ill., and Stephen Bradley of East Galesburg, Ill.

She was nominated by Dr. Joseph Squillace, director and associate professor of the Social Work Program. Bradley has demonstrated active participation on campus and she regularly volunteers her time at local agencies like Cedarhurst Assisted Living Facility and PAWS. She is also a volunteer firefighter in her hometown. “She is well liked by fellow students, faculty and staff, and is a hard worker,” Squillace said.

MacMurray College is set to present the musical, “The Spitfire Grill,” on March 9-10 at 7:30 p.m. and March 11 at 2 p.m. at the Marian Chase Schaeffer Theatre in the Jenkins Education Complex on the campus of MacMurray College.

The musical is set in Wisconsin during the late 1990s. Having just served five years in prison, Percy Talbott moves to the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin, where she hopes to start over and find solace among nature. Percy eventually finds out that she’s not the only one with secrets; the natives of Gilead have their own secrets and sorrows they have kept hidden.

Christine Smith, the director of performing arts at MacMurray, is the musical director, and Dr. Jeannie Zeck, professor of English at MacMurray, is the stage director of the musical.

“Before Christine Smith arrived at MacMurray last fall, I had not heard of ‘The Spitfire Grill,’ but when I read the script and heard the music, I was excited to bring it to life on campus,” Zeck said. “We have a talented cast of five students, one staff member and one community member. Audiences will be captivated by the story and songs.”

General admission is $5 per person at the door. For reservations, email jeannie.zeck@mac.edu.

Top Photo: First-year students Maggie Fulton (Shelby Thorpe) and Cheyanne Taylor (Perchance Talbott) perform “The Colors of Paradise” in the musical, “The Spitfire Grill.”

Cast photo (L to R): Sophomore Jabril Wali-Uddin (Sheriff Joe Sutter), first-year student Maggie Fulton (Shelby Thorpe), senior Brock Taylor (Caleb Thorpe), first-year student Cheyanne Taylor (Percy Talbott), first-year student Kourtney Knecht (Effy Krayneck), MacMurray alumna Tasha Amore (Hannah Ferguson), and community member Caleb Elmore (The Visitor)

Not pictured: first-year students Chilo Dore  (Bill) and  Kendale Eades  (Hank)

Bruce Liebe, senior director of the School of Professional Studies and assistant professor of homeland security, will have an article, “Establishing a Structured Training Program,” published in the upcoming spring 2018 edition of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) journal, “The Tactical Edge.”

The focus of the article is advocating the development of an assessment program for specialized law enforcement functions. “While police academies employ formal assessment processes for accreditation purposes, individualized units often do not,” Liebe said. “The assessment process put forth in the article is essentially the model that has been adopted by MacMurray College.”

Liebe is a regular contributor to the NTOA’s quarterly publication, authoring pieces on various aspects of critical incident management. The selection of the current topic was based on two considerations, one being an identified need for specialized units to formalize their training programs. The second was more practical. “By diving into the assessment model and relating it to others, it afforded the opportunity to become more fluent in the MacMurray Assessment process,” Liebe said.

In addition to being published, the article will be included as mandatory reading in the NTOA’s management training program in their national Command College program. The content of the article was focused on formalizing specialized unit training to ensure structure, appropriate documentation, and a means of quantifying training outcomes.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and MacMurray College aims to continue the conversation on the prevention of sexual assault on college campuses.

Centered in this conversation is the “It’s On Us” campaign. MacMurray adopted the campaign created by the White House in 2014 to get students more involved in ending sexual assault and domestic violence on college campuses. Students take the initiative to stand up against sexual violence by taking the “It’s On Us” pledge.

The month of action will consist of the following events:

April 9-13
Resource Table – Gamble Campus Center

Wednesday, April 11
“Make It Teal” Day – Wear teal and stop by the photo booth in the Gamble Campus Center to show your support of #NoMore domestic violence or sexual assault.

Tuesday, April 17 
“Unbreakable” feat. Mariah Coleman­ – Thoresen Recital Hall in Putnam/Springer at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25 
Denim Day – Wear jeans to help raise awareness of rape and sexual assault.
“It’s On Us” Pledge – 12:05 p.m. on Rutledge Lawn

Mariah Coleman will be speaking at MacMurray College as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She will tell her “Unbreakable” story in Thoresen Recital Hall in the Putnam/Springer Center at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17.

Coleman will be on campus as the Title IX Seminar featured guest speaker. She will share her story of growing up in rural Illinois and facing issues such as sexual assault and mental illness.

“In battling these examples along with other issues, I began to understand the importance of recognizing my own ability to control my situation,” Coleman posts on her website, theunbreakablemessage.com. “I have a great passion for sharing my story and educating others on the importance of being unbreakable and fighting to reach goals, weather emotional storms and overcome unsavory circumstances.”

For more information on the Title IX Seminar and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, contact Danielle Doerfler, Title IX Coordinator, at 217-479-7156 or at danielle.doerfler@mac.edu.

The MacMurray College Choir along with students in the social work program will perform “Music and Emotions” on Sunday, April 29, at 4 p.m. in Annie Merner Chapel.

“We will be performing a wide variety of music that focuses on the emotions of fear, sadness, anger and joy,” Christine Smith, director of performing arts, says.

Social work students Faythe Newberry and Colton Pettyjohn will speak on the emotions displayed in the music and how the music relates to our society today. Performing in the choir will be students Sierra Condon, Shallon Crossley, Chilo Dore’, Kendale Eads, Maggie Fulton, Katherine Fuhrman, Peyton Spitzner, Georgia Suau, and Jabril Wali-Uddin.

The choir will sing a variety of songs which include “Jabberwocky” by Carolyn Jennings, “Dies Irae” by Ruth Morris Gray, “Danny Boy” by Mark Hayes, “21 Guns” by Green Day, “Down to the River to Pray” by Sheldon Curry, “Shall We Gather at the River” by John Carter, “Do Not Be Afraid” by Gerald Markland, and “Blue Skies” by Roger Emerson.

This is event is free and open to the public. For more information about the concert, contact Smith at 217-479-7603 or at christine.smith@mac.edu. Please request interpreting services 72 hours prior to the event at misty.eisfelder@mac.edu or call 217-479-7176.

The MacMurray College Art Department will showcase student work from April 17 through May 19 in Applebee Gallery in Putnam/Springer Center. An Opening Reception will be held in the gallery on April 17, from 6-7:30 p.m.

The exhibit will display the best student work from the fall and spring semesters. Come celebrate the hard work and talent of MacMurray students.

For more information, contact Khara Koffel, professor of art, at 217-479-7092 or at khara.koffel@mac.edu.

MacMurray College nursing students will be on hand to present information and answer questions at the Jacksonville Area Senior Center Health Fair on Thursday, April 26, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Community Park Center in Community Park. 

The event is free and open to the public.
 
The health fair is specifically tailored for people 50 and older and their caregivers. Nineteen students from the MacMurray College Nursing Program will discuss with seniors, family members and other interested members of the public a variety of health-related issues and will have useful information to help keep older adults safe and healthy.
 
MacMurray students will have information booths for:

• Stroke Awareness
• Immunizations
• Medication Safety
• Exercise Health 
• Intimacy 
• Sleep Health 
• Preventative Foot Care in Diabetes

The senior population is the fastest growing demographic in the country, and there are numerous health strategies to help this group of older Americans stay active and healthy. This fair is designed to give seniors and their caregivers information seniors need to remain vibrant well into old age. 
 

For MacMurray College first-year student Kevin Crottie, a spring break mission trip to help Hurricane Harvey victims in south Texas hit close to home.              

Crottie’s family lost nearly everything when his home in Alvin, Texas, was flooded from the storm, so he understands the humanitarian need in the area.

“It feels good to help someone who has been in the same situation as my family,” Crottie said. “I can relate to them.”

Crottie along with 10 other MacMurray College students traveled to Port Aransas, Texas, in March to help with the Hurricane Harvey rebuilding effort. The alternative spring break was part of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes mission trip.

Todd Sweatman, coordinator of religious life, and Christine Smith, director of performing arts, along with Robb Rockwell, associate pastor at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, led the group of Mac students.

“The experience was encouraging and very eye-opening,” Sweatman said.

It has been eight months since the hurricane made landfall in southern Texas, and in Port Aransas about 50 percent of its residents are still out of their homes. “Many of them have become frustrated and discouraged,” Sweatman said. “We wanted to take the week and serve those people, giving them some encouragement and hope by hanging drywall, painting and doing some general construction on their homes.”

Helping those in need get their lives back to normal was a life-changing experience and Crottie was especially happy to have had the opportunity. “Seeing them filled with hope also brings me hope,” he said. 

The group also spent time at a local church helping them with projects like installing fans, sanding walls and remodeling bathrooms.

Students who went on the trip were Allison Baker, Aubrey Boos, Kevin Crottie, Chilo Dore, Beth Friedrich, Ian Leib, Faythe Newberry, Judah Renfro, Greg Urbanc, Hannah Wetzel and Reagan Witherell.

MacMurray College is proud to announce that Dr. Shahyad Ghoncheh, assistant professor of psychology, received both the United Methodist Board of Higher Education Award for Teaching Excellence and the Dewey Wilkins Excellence in Teaching Award for the 2017-18 academic year.

These two awards are presented annually to full-time members of the faculty, but this is the first time that both awards went to the same faculty member.

"For the first time in known history one faculty member is the recipient of these two awards given annually in recognition of teaching excellence," Beverly Rodgers, provost and vice president of academic affairs and student life, said. "Congratulations and many thanks to Dr. Ghoncheh for his contribution to student success at MacMurray College."

This was Ghoncheh's fourth year at MacMurray and his 15th year overall teaching in higher education, and after winning these two awards, he said he feels "appreciated" and "accomplished." 

"To find out that you're the first professor at MacMurray College who has ever won two different excellence in teaching awards at the same time, and therefore will be part of College history, that is a type of honor that can't be described," Ghoncheh said. "It's beyond words."
 
Ghoncheh considers himself as an educator rather than an instructor and in his classes, in addition to teaching the subject matter, he tries to educate students about life. 

"To me, this means my teaching style is well-received and they appreciate it," Ghoncheh said. "Also, it means that I have been successful in what I have tried to do, which is educate them. That would mean that I have accomplished what I wanted to do. "

Ghoncheh added that he feels like a father who sees that his children have grown up and can live on their own. "Erick Erikson, one of the famous psychologists, would refer to this as a sense of generativity, or contributing to the next generation. Well, I feel that I have contributed to the next generation."

About Shahyad Ghoncheh, Ed.D.: Ghoncheh was born in Iran and lived there until he moved to Sweden when he was 14, where he attended junior high and high school. After graduating from high school, Ghoncheh moved to Chicago, where he lived for nearly 28 years. He moved to Jacksonville, Illinois, when he started teaching at MacMurray College in August 2014. 

Ghoncheh has a bachelor's degree in psychology and philosophy, and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He earned his doctorate degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University in Chicago, as well. In addition to English, which he learned at age 19, he can speak Farsi and Swedish.

About the Dewey Wilkins Teaching Award: This award is given to a full-time member of the faculty who has shown excellence in teaching. The Dewey Wilkins Teaching Award is presented each year to a member of the faculty who has shown extensive knowledge and mastery of his or her subject matter, who is innovative in course and curriculum design, who has the ability to inspire, guide and mentor students, and who has helped enrich the scholarship of teaching and learning.

About United Methodist Board of Higher Education Award for Teaching Excellence: This award is presented to a full-time member of faculty who best fulfills the following criteria:

• Demonstration of excellence in teaching; 
• Civility and concern for students and colleagues; 
• Commitment to value-centered education;
• Service to students beyond the classroom; 
• Service to the institution; 
• Service to the community beyond the campus; 
• And service to a local church

MacMurray College will hold its 167th annual Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m. in Annie Merner Chapel. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Angela McFarlane, trustee of the Education Development Trust in England, a program that works collaboratively with national and local governments, schools and other partners to design and deliver sustainable solutions to improve education.

The Class of 2018 includes 114 undergraduates. MacMurray will confer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in nursing, Bachelor of social work, Associate of Art and Associate of Science. 

An Honorary Doctor of Science degree will be bestowed upon Dr. Dennis Mueller, a 1968 MacMurray graduate, who has worked at the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory for 40 years, concentrating on the development of controlled thermonuclear fusion. The College will also bestow an Honorary Doctor of Educational Leadership to McFarlane.

McFarlane, whose keynote speech is titled "Shaping the Future," began her career as a secondary school science teacher. She went on to join and then lead a curriculum development and research unit within the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge before joining the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency as Director for Evidence and Practice. McFarlane has also held professorial titles in four leading universities - University of Bristol, University of Oslo, King's College at the University of London and the University of Bath. 

Throughout her research career, McFarlane has worked with teachers and learners in a range of schools and is an experienced designer and deliverer of continuing professional development for teachers. More recently, she has worked as the Chief Executive and Registrar at the College of Teachers where she led its transformation into the Chartered College of Teaching. 

The Commencement ceremony is free and open to the public, if tickets are available. To reserve a ticket and to find out if space is available, call 217-479-7024, or email joanne.ford@mac.edu.