Millikin cast becomes first to perform musical 

Students from Millikin University's School of Theatre and Dance are the first to present the production of "Chelsea Sunrise" March 22-24 at Albert Taylor Theatre in Shilling Hall on Millikin's campus.

The story follows Dusty, a Toronto kid who loves the music of the 1960s British Invasion – so much so that he models himself and his band after it. But his dreams of stardom are tested by the real world as he is forced to confront his ideas of love, loyalty and authenticity in this exciting new musical.

The music of "Chelsea Sunrise" was written by Mike Ford and Murray Foster, and book by Murray Foster. Foster is a Canadian musician and playwright based out of Toronto. Millikin producers have been in contact with Foster throughout the development of the production to provide updates.

In a recent interview with the Herald & Review, Jordan Luty, a senior musical theatre major from London said, "This is a brand new musical. We only know our script, so there's not much to research since it is a developing project."

Choreographer McKena Silva, a senior musical theatre major from Mills, Wyo., added, "We are doing a bare-bones production of it, which means we are void of technical elements, no microphones, sets or costumes. Everything you see on stage came from us."

Photo courtesy of the Herald & Review

Millikin University is one of a few institutions to present works by new playwrights. "We have really been investing in these writers, because we want their work to be produced," said Luty. "Using our abilities here at Millikin to showcase their material, they can see what they need to work on. We have a mutual benefit."

Silva says the reason for this type of production is to accommodate for the many musical theatre students on Millikin's campus and provide them more performance opportunities. The hope for the Millikin cast as well as the writers is for the play to make it to Broadway.

"There is an amazing fusion between the retro 60s-esque music and the technology and amazing things we can do with music now," Luty said.

Millikin School of Theatre and Dance

The Millikin School of Theatre and Dance produces numerous performances in venues on and off-campus, including musicals, plays, operas, children's theatre and dance concerts, as well as productions through its student-run theatre company, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre.

Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance is a nationally recognized program, offering conservatory-style training rooted in a liberal arts education. The School of Theatre and Dance's approach to education offers students valuable insight and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for professional success. Nationwide, Millikin's respected theatre alumni are routinely hired for projects in television, film and live theatre, including top Broadway shows.

MU business professor receives Amity Global Academic Excellence Award

Dr. J. Mark Munoz, professor of management and international business at Millikin University, was recently named the recipient of the Amity Global Academic Excellence Award for his contributions in the field of academics.

Amity Global Academic Excellence Awards are given to selected academicians and administrators who are driving notable academic institutions to greater heights through their expert guidance, keen involvement and strategic approach. In a recent podcast on NowDecatur.com, Dr. Munoz shared his thoughts on the award and how it's an important recognition for not just him, but for Millikin University.

"The award came as a surprise, but also quite an honor for myself," said Dr. Munoz. "Whatever I achieve as a professor I take Millikin University along with me."

The Amity Education Group is a leading non-profit, research-driven education group of India offering over 250 programs to 175,000 students spread across 10 universities and 15 international campuses. With a strong emphasis on employability, job placements, entrepreneurship promotion and leadership development, Amity Institutions are consistently ranked among the top in their respective areas.

"What set me apart was the previous teaching excellence awards that I won and the international books awards I've received," said Dr. Munoz. "I think this has been my biggest award at this point in my career. It's very meaningful in the sense that as a professor, we try to do our work and our research – not sure if we are making an impact, and this award tells me that it is meaningful, and to me that is inspiring."

A prolific writer, Dr. Munoz's work has been published in numerous business and academic journals. He authored/co-authored and edited over 20 books such as: "Winning Across Borders," "A Salesman in Asia," "International Social Entrepreneurship," "Contemporary Microenterprise,""Handbook on the Geopolitics of Business," "Managerial Forensics," "Advances in Geoeconomics,""Global Business Intelligence" and "Business Strategy in the Artificial Intelligence Economy."

Dr. Munoz has received several prestigious awards including a Literary Award, two International Book Awards, four Best Paper Awards, the 2012 Distinguished Scholar by the Academy of Global Business Advancement, the 2013 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award (one of 10 in the world), and the 2014 Teaching Excellence and Leadership Award at Millikin University.

He holds a Ph.D. in Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. He was a former Visiting Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and he currently serves as an advisor to the AI Initiative at Harvard University.

Dynamic conductor and educator to begin appointment at Millikin August 2019

Millikin University is pleased to announce that Corey Seapy has been named Director of Bands for the Millikin School of Music. Seapy will begin his appointment as Director of Bands in August 2019. Seapy succeeds Dr. Gary Shaw who will retire in July 2019 after 36 years with the Millikin School of Music.

A dynamic conductor and educator who has spent the last decade maximizing the artistic potential of a wide variety of ensembles, Corey Seapy's versatility has allowed him to work with wind ensembles and orchestras of all ages and ability levels. He is committed to sharing meaningful repertoire, and has led works by historically significant composers including Bach, Beethoven, Copland, Grainger, Holst, Mahler, Mozart, Strauss, Stravinsky and Varése. As a champion of new music, Seapy has recently commissioned works by Robert J. Bradshaw and Stefanie Lubkowski, and has premiered over a dozen student compositions.

"Corey Seapy will bring a new energy and excitement to Millikin's band program and contribute to all facets of our School of Music," said Brian Justison, director of the Millikin School of Music. "His enthusiasm for music and advancing music education makes us eager to see him working with our talented students and faculty."

Seapy is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance where he serves as a graduate teaching assistant and studies conducting with Steven D. Davis.

Seapy's recent appearances in Kansas City include performances of works by Grantham, Pann, Poulenc and Stravinsky. Seapy worked closely with composer Robert J. Bradshaw to premiere "The Cost of Compassion," a piece in which music, narration and dance rely on real-time audience input. He also premiered a work by Viet Cuong with the UMKC Saxophone Ensemble at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alongside his conducting and scholarly activity at UMKC, Seapy assists with the Conservatory Wind Symphony, Conservatory Wind Ensemble and all Bands Department activities. In 2017, he helped organize and host the biennial National Conference for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).

"I couldn't be more thrilled about the opportunity to begin working with the wonderful music students at Millikin University this fall," said Seapy. "It's an honor to join the incredible School of Music faculty and succeed Dr. Gary Shaw as Director of Bands. He has made a profoundly positive impact on countless students over the course of nearly 40 years at Millikin, and I look forward to continuing and building upon this legacy."

Prior to living in Kansas City, Seapy conducted and taught in Massachusetts, where he served as music director of the Charles River Wind Ensemble, an auditioned adult group in Metro-Boston, and as director of bands at Ipswich High School. Prior positions include orchestra director at Ipswich High School, conducting fellow with the Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble at New England Conservatory, assistant conductor of the Gordon College Wind Ensemble, conductor of the Northeast Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble and director of bands at Georgetown High School. Seapy has led award-winning student ensembles in venues such as Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall in Boston, Mass., and on tour in England and Florida.

Seapy's recent awards include an Honorable Mention from the American Prize in Conducting (College/University Division) and a Finalist designation from the American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance (Community Division). His guest conducting appearances include the Orchestra on the Hill, Adirondack Mountain Club Music Retreat Orchestra, MMEA Western Junior District Band, and the Lakes Region Junior High Music Festival, along with many rehearsal clinics at universities and public schools.

"The more I learn about the musical and academic environment at Millikin, the more excited I get about being part of such a special community. It is clear that the arts are alive and well both on campus and around Decatur," said Seapy. "The Millikin students, faculty and administrators share my passion for making meaningful music at the highest possible artistic level. This makes for an ideal teaching scenario. The emphasis on Performance Learning and developing the whole musician also provides the perfect framework for the Millikin University Wind Ensemble to engage audiences through creative, thought-provoking, and enjoyable concerts. I can't wait to get into the band room with the group and start rehearsing."

Seapy holds a Master of Music in Conducting from Ithaca College – New York, where he studied with Stephen Peterson, Cynthia Johnston Turner and Jeffery Meyer. As a graduate assistant, he worked with the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble among other groups, gave conducting recitals and assisted with conducting classes. Seapy also holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Gordon College, where he studied conducting with David Rox and clarinet with Bill Kirkley.

Millikin School of Music

The mission of the Millikin University School of Music is to develop the whole musician – artistically, intellectually, technically – through the integration of theory and practice in an environment where students become active learners through their relationships with faculty, who themselves continue to grow as artists, scholars, and teachers.

The School of Music's core learning goals include developing musical skills through listening, analysis, playing an instrument, or voice, and developing an understanding of music in an historical and cultural context.

Acclaimed author highlights Women's History Month Celebration

Women's History Month is a time to commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. It began as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed a resolution which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as "Women's History Week." Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as "Women's History Week." In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress designated the month of March 1987 as "Women's History Month."

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as "Women's History Month."

Millikin University is among several higher education institutions to celebrate Women's History Month each March by hosting a number of events on campus. This year, Millikin welcomed acclaimed author and Champaign, Ill., native Patricia Hruby Powell who wrote the book "Struttin' with Some Barbecue: Lil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz." The book is a true story about Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Armstrong made a career for herself – and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband.

Powell shared Armstrong's inspiring story and showcased the sounds of the era with some help from The Traditional Jazz Orchestra, who performed in the Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance in the University Commons on March 21.

Powell danced throughout the Americas and Europe with her dance company, One Plus One, before becoming a storyteller and a writer of children's books. Her picture book "Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker" (Chronicle 2014) has garnered various honors including the Robert F. Sibert, Coretta Scott King (for Illustration), Boston Globe Horn Book for Nonfiction, Bologna Ragazzi Nonfiction and the Parent's Choice Gold Award for Poetry.

Photo courtesy of the Herald & Review/Clay Jackson

Powell's other picture books are "Blossom Tales," "Zinnia" and "Frog Brings Rain." Her documentary novel "Loving vs. Virginia" (Chronicle 2017) for young adults is a Junior Library Guild Selection for 2017. Powell is developing a picture book about Ella Baker (Simon & Schuster) and a YA about women who championed women's suffrage (Chronicle 2020).

"I don't write for the very young," Powell said in an interview with the Herald & Review. "If you're writing for the very young, you want to address the psychological development of the child with subject you're working with. My books are picture books and middle grade books, and young adult books."

Tonya Hines, assistant director of inclusion and student engagement for Millikin, recently attended a book signing in Champaign and met Powell. She knew she would be a great addition to Millikin's Women's History Month activities.

"I've been trying to get students engaged in learning about music from the 1930s and trying to just make Women's History Month really impactful for the students," said Hines.

Commercial music major Jonathan Williams, a junior from Alton, Ill., noted, "I grew up in the church, and I've heard every kind of music you can think of. It all ties together and we all speak the same language of music. There's a connection. There's a truth that's hidden in music and I strongly believe that growing up and branching out can be another piece of the puzzle."

Careers for Music Business Majors

Millikin University's School of Music offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Business that prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in the music industry. The curriculum mixes a solid core of music and business classes along with critical coursework that blend the two fields.

The degree provides opportunities for introduction to the music and recording industry, publishing and copyright laws, and recording arts electives. Additionally, students receive professional experiences through internships and coursework with student-run ventures such as First Step Records, Millikin's student-run record label and publishing company, and the Blue Connection Art Gallery.

There's no question that music business majors have opportunities to focus on a number of different industry aspects like touring, music supervision and artist management.

In a recent article focusing on careers for music business majors by MajoringinMusic.com, Millikin music business graduates Kevin Findlay '18 and Megan Peterson '17, and Martin Atkins, music industries coordinator, offered their tips on choosing a music business program as well as their expertise on job options.

In reference to job options for music business graduates, Kevin Findlay says he found his passion in merchandising.

"It gives me a chance to help other DIY musicians succeed by creating new revenue streams, while still exercising creativity and individuality," he said. "I'm in the process of starting my own merch business. I'd mostly like to focus my efforts on small-scale DIY musicians, as I want to help provide them with more of a solid platform to have their messages heard."

Music industry professionals who were interviewed for the article also weighed in on qualities that successful music business graduates have in common. The professionals agreed that the ability to creatively problem solve is increasingly useful and valued in the world of music business.

"Most music business activities include a rigid timeline, whether that be a show, a release, interviews, or publicity, with cascading, multi-level and interwoven project timelines and increasingly smaller budgets," said Martin Atkins, producer and drummer. "The application of these skills to make the impossible happen is the central, most valuable part of a music business professional…adaptation to change and triumph in the face of adversity is music business DNA."

Careers for music business majors are changing and expanding rapidly, and it's important to never turn down an opportunity to share your music according to Megan Peterson who is a mastering engineer and studio manager at Georgetown Masters Audio LLC in Nashville, Tenn.

"This is a very competitive industry and starting out it may be difficult to find opportunities to share your music, share your talent, share your work, or to learn something new," said Peterson. "That is why I encourage you to say 'yes.' With every opportunity you say 'yes' to, you have the chance to meet new people and to show them why you're in this industry. You never know, it might lead to a bigger and better opportunity, but you can't know if you say 'no.'"

Millikin School of Music

The mission of the Millikin University School of Music is to develop the whole musician – artistically, intellectually, technically – through the integration of theory and practice in an environment where students become active learners through their relationships with faculty, who themselves continue to grow as artists, scholars, and teachers.

The School of Music's core learning goals include developing musical skills through listening, analysis, playing an instrument, or voice, and developing an understanding of music in an historical and cultural context.

Millikin business students recognized for academic excellence

Millikin University's Tabor School of Business inducted 22 new members into the Xi Sigma chapter of Delta Mu Delta (DMD) International Honor Society on March 21 during a ceremony held in Kaeuper Hall at Perkinson Music Center on Millikin's campus.

Delta Mu Delta is a business honor society that recognizes and encourages academic excellence of students at qualifying colleges and universities to create a DMD community that fosters the well-being of its individual members and the business community through lifetime membership.

Addressing the newest inductees, Dr. Najiba Benabess, dean of the Tabor School of Business and Xi Sigma chapter adviser said, "The students we honor today embody our school's mission which is to prepare students to perform and compete, ready for the market and knowledgeable in research. This lifetime membership in Delta Mu Delta confirms that you have a proven track record of working hard to achieve excellence. This membership will also show that you have the knowledge and drive to succeed in a business career – it's the highest international recognition you can earn."

To be eligible for membership, undergraduate students must be at least a junior and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5. MBA students must have completed at least half of the requirements for their degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

Students who are active members are able to qualify for leadership roles within the local chapter, invitations to the international conference and annual scholarships provided by Delta Mu Delta. Chapters can be installed and members can be initiated only in programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Chapter President Sara Mosely, a senior business management major from Tower Hill, Ill., also spoke at the ceremony and shared the many networking opportunities the society has to offer. "I personally wanted to join Delta Mu Delta because I wanted to take part in an organization that believes in professional growth," she said. "Delta Mu Delta is a flexible organization for those in the professional world, filled with a diverse group of people who offer an extensive amount of networking opportunities when needed."

The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Justin DeBo '18, who was a member of Millikin's first Delta Mu Delta class inducted in Feb. 2017. DeBo currently works as a data analyst for State Farm helping support the company's enterprise claims system.

"As part of the first class of inductees into Delta Mu Delta, my classmates and I were given a great opportunity to shape this group into something truly impactful," said DeBo. "Millikin University is an institution that will prepare you for professional success, but what I learned as a student is that Millikin will give you the opportunities and tools to take initiative and develop creative solutions."

DeBo challenged the new inductees to make their Delta Mu Delta membership more than a line on a résumé. "Delta Mu Delta is a lifelong membership and it doesn't end when you leave Millikin. If you built something truly good at Millikin and you continue to engage after graduation, hopefully you will see the value of being a member."  

Delta Mu Delta was founded in 1913 by five professors from Harvard, Yale and New York University who believed that exceptional students in the field of business should be given recognition similar to that by Phi Beta Kappa in the field of liberal arts. 

Congratulations to the following 2019 Millikin Delta Mu Delta inductees:

Lauren Acton, MBA student from Springfield, Ill.

Maranda Archer, MBA student from Decatur, Ill.

Craig Austin, a senior accounting major from Oreana, Ill.

Brigette Belt, a junior accounting major from Casey, Ill.

Serena Black, a junior accounting major from Latham, Ill.

Matthew Brown, a junior business management major from Champaign, Ill.

David Bruns, a junior business management major from Rosamond, Ill.

Mariangela Couri, a junior digital media marketing major from Decatur

Mitchell Cremer, a junior accounting major from Decatur

David Freeman, MBA student from Springfield

Nicholas Harper, a junior entrepreneurship major from Decatur

Maddie Holland, a junior accounting major from Shelbyville, Ill.

Taylor Isaia, a junior digital media marketing major from Mapleton, Ill.

Anna Logan, a junior business management major from Decatur

Francine Acuña Moyer, a senior accounting major from Macon, Ill.

Adam Peters, MBA student from Decatur

Kailey Pulec, a junior business management major from Frankfort, Ill.

Megan Scott, MBA student from Forsyth, Ill.

Rose Syversen, a junior digital media marketing major from Waukesha, Wis.

Skielyr Trenkle, a junior business management major from Le Roy, Ill.

Jadah Woods, a junior digital media marketing major from Decatur

Jeremy Woods, MBA student from Decatur

Tabor School of Business

Millikin University's Tabor School of Business prepares students to perform and compete. Ready for the market, confident in themselves, and knowledgeable in research, Tabor students engage with faculty who are fiercely committed to teaching. They work with real clients, create real businesses, and leave Millikin prepared to lead. Tabor has an array of undergraduate programs (in traditional and accelerated evening formats) and also offers undergraduate business certificates for students of all majors who would like to customize their education and demonstrate versatility to employers.

Additionally, Tabor features a highly acclaimed evening MBA program geared toward established business professionals, as well as a traditional day MBA program that can be completed in 12 months.

MAIC offers unique opportunity to showcase work and research

Each spring, faculty members from Millikin University come together to discuss ways of advancing Performance Learning by sharing their expertise, research and knowledge with one another at the Millikin Academic Interdisciplinary Conference (MAIC) . This year's conference, the 8th annual, was hosted on March 22.

Dr. Joyce Bezdicek, associate professor in the School of Education and chair of the MAIC Committee, looks forward to the conference each year.

"MAIC is an extremely unique opportunity for faculty around campus to inform others of their work and research," Bezdicek said. "Without this opportunity many faculty's work would be going unnoticed."

Presentations from faculty members were held in ADM-Scovill Hall throughout the morning. The focus of this year's conference was Global Citizenship & Local Voices.

"Democratic citizenship is part of Millikin's mission statement, and we wanted faculty to have the opportunity to discuss and highlight faculty's work within this idea," Bezdicek said. "We need to talk about why it's important for us to be members of a greater community and this was the perfect occasion to do so."

Among the 12 various presentations, Dr. Jo Carter, associate professor of nursing, and Julie Standerfer, instructor of nursing, spoke on a semester-long project that students in the School of Nursing work on during their senior year. With partners like Crossing Healthcare, a nonprofit health care entity that provides services for those underserved, nursing students find the support they need to complete their projects. As part of the project, students work in groups to come up with a marketing plan to inform community members of various health issues in Macon County. Students must analyze health issues in the community, choose an issue to focus on and design different strategies to reach the group by targeting specific issues.

"The goal is to find out what motivates a change and help move the population towards healthier behaviors," said Standerfer.

Another presentation included Dr. Denice Love, assistant professor of education, and Brandy Barter-Storm, a lecturer for the English Language Center (ELC), who spoke on a joint project that their students do each fall. Barter-Storm's international students she works with in the ELC are paired up with Love's education students. Each group is given the task to create a presentation that discusses the differences between America's education system and the respective international student country's education system.

"The goal is to teach one another about their different educational experiences," Love said. "This joint project helps the students gain a deeper cultural understanding and gain a greater global perspective."

One of the last presentations of the morning was a panel of students that touched on how their campus work is a great resource for internationalization and inclusivity. International students Delphine Iragena from Tanzania, Gabriel Gil from Venezuela, and Elysia Han from South Korea were on the panel as well as domestic students Angela Arnold, a first-year music major from Huntingtown, Md., and Athena Pajer, a sophomore English literature major from Lovington, Ill. The students offered insights into their jobs through the Center for International Education, and how their jobs help bridge the gap between international and domestic students.

"Working at the Center for International Education gives myself and other students a look into the cultural differences in education. I love having the chance to help new international students adapt to their new surroundings since I was in their place just a few years ago," said Gabriel Gil.

The keynote speaker at the conference was Dr. Xóchitl Bada, an associate professor in the Latin American and Latino Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is the author of "Mexican Hometown Associations in Chicagoacán: From the Local to Transnational Civic Engagement" and will be a fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin in 2019-2020. Bada's work specializes in immigrant rights and migrant issues.

"We were delighted to have her share her perspectives and give the faculty different ideas to think about in their discipline," Bezdicek said.

A new aspect that was added to the MAIC this year was a "Local Voices" panel that concluded the events of the conference.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Eduardo Cabrera, professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Modern Languages, and featured Millikin's Dr. Julio Enriquez-Ornelas, assistant professor of Spanish, and Luis Peralta, adjunct faculty member, as well as Anh Ha Ho from the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center, Lucia Maldonado, Latino liaison from Urbana School District #116, Timothy Flavin from the Mi Raza Community Center in Arcola, Ill., and Kiara Vega from the Immigration Project. Participants of the panel spoke on the issues of immigration and refugees specifically within Illinois.

"It was so great to hear different stories, experiences, and challenges that arise within these issues," Bezdicek said. "Realizing why these challenges arise and what we can do to combat them is extremely important."

Information systems professor uses passion for the classroom to share real-world experiences

A Millikin student turned graduate, a Millikin graduate turned faculty member - RJ Podeschi's tenure at Millikin University has spanned over two decades, with his current role as associate professor of information systems and chair of the Tabor School of Business Undergraduate Programs.

During those 20-plus years, Podeschi has served the institution in a number of capacities and his teachings are making an impact at the Tabor School of Business and beyond.

To learn more about his teaching mantra, we met up with Podeschi and decided to let some of his students (past and present) ask the big questions. Tom Emola, a 2018 information systems graduate and an MBA student from Frankfort, Ill., and Greg Schwoeppe, a senior information systems major from Fishers, Ind., conducted the interview.

"I like to treat students in the classroom like adults, and I try to make it as much of a workplace environment as you possibly can within a classroom," said Podeschi. "My philosophy has always been that learning is a lot like riding a bicycle – you might read books about a bicycle to begin with and we do the same things in class, we read about it and talk about it. Eventually you have to get on the bike and you get a chance to practice. I do that in my classes with labs and it gives hands-on experience."

Podeschi specializes in relational databases and IT infrastructure. Prior to his full-time faculty appointment, he served his alma mater for 11 years in a variety of information technology roles, primarily building and maintaining enterprise databases and administrative systems.

The majority of his information technology experience revolves around Oracle database administration and enterprise reporting. Previously, he has owned a local IT consulting company with two other partners serving the technology needs of small businesses in the central Illinois area.

Podeschi received his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Millikin in 2002 and his MBA from Millikin in 2004. He served as an adjunct faculty member at Millikin for two years prior to earning his full-time teaching post.

When asked about his favorite part of being a professor, Podeschi says he enjoys the one-on-one interactions with students.

"By working with students one-on-one, that's where I feel I can help support students the most," he said. "Sure, I could be carrying on a conversational type lecture-style in front of a class, but in the end I love it when students are working through a problem and they need someone to coach them through it."

Podeschi is the faculty advisor for Millikin University Performance Consulting, a student-run IT venture when students provide technical services to the campus community as well as the Decatur, Ill., community on a variety of technical projects.

Podeschi says student-run ventures are a great way to build confidence. "There's no textbook in these experiences. You're given a problem and you have to solve it with the tools you've previously learned or the experiences you bring in. These experiences are building the students' resume now instead of after graduation. Students are doing some of the work that they'll be expected to do when they are hired for their first job."

Lidy to raise funds for a world without blood cancers between March 28 and June 8

The Greater Illinois Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has announced that Paul Lidy '04 of Decatur, Ill., and director of residence life at Millikin University, has been nominated as a candidate for LLS's 2019 Man & Woman of the Year.

Candidates across the county will form powerful fundraising teams and compete in honor of two local children, Brock Iverson and Ella Joy Won, who are blood cancer survivors, to raise the most funds for blood cancer research. Paul Lidy is one of an elite group of community and business leaders who will compete for the titles of LLS's Man & Woman of the Year. Competing for these titles is an honor surrounded with a great deal of fanfare, including a full-page ad in USA Today.

Lidy got involved with LLS after learning about the organization firsthand. "Have you ever seen someone you love in pain or badly hurt? I have seen my wife battle Hodgkin's Lymphoma three times in her life throughout the past 18 years, which is simply three times too many," said Lidy.

"I am running for Man & Woman of the Year because my wife, Sarah, means the world to me and has benefitted from the work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society."

As a candidate, Lidy will raise funds for a world without blood cancers between March 28 and June 8, 2019. The man and woman candidate who raises the most funds during the 10-week campaign will be awarded the titles Illinois Man & Woman of the Year at a Grand Finale on June 8 at The Geraghty in Chicago, Ill. The local winners are then entered into the competition for National Man & Woman of the Year titles.

LLS is the world's leading non-profit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers and ensuring that patients have access to lifesaving treatments. Every nine minutes someone in the U.S. dies of a blood cancer. Through programs like Man & Woman of the Year, LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies. The funds raised through LLS's Man & Woman of the Year are used for the following:

• Research to advance targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives.

• Blood cancer information, education and support for patients.

• Policies that ensure patients have access to blood cancer treatments.

"Blood cancers may be a tough opponent, but we are tougher. In the Illinois Chapter alone, we raise more than $8 million annually in order to help support blood cancer patients, advocate for them, and of course fund research for breakthrough therapies. Approximately $1 million of those funds come from our Man & Woman of the Year campaign, and candidates like Mr. Lidy," said Pam Swenk, executive director, Illinois Chapter, LLS. "Our Man & Woman of the Year candidates embody the idea that any individual can make a difference with hard work and dedication. Finding cures takes us all, and we are thrilled Paul is on our side of this fight."

This past year marked a new era in the treatment of blood cancer. In all, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 18 therapies to treat patients with blood cancer. But there is still so much more work to be done.

There are many ways you can support Paul in his quest for a world without blood cancers. Become a member of his campaign team, sponsor the Grand Finale on June 8, or simply pledge to make a donation during his campaign. Personal fundraising pages will be live to accept donations on March 28. 

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, N.Y., LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The Greater Illinois Chapter is located at 954 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 305, in Chicago.

New ESS space personifies Performance Learning

Millikin University's new Exercise Science and Sport Pavilion in the building currently known as West Towne Square has been completely transformed thanks to the generosity of dozens of donors and the efforts of countless faculty members, students and volunteers.

The Department of Exercise Science and Sport at Millikin has grown considerably over the years with over 200 students. With the new renovations and equipment, the students can prepare for their careers in one centralized location rather than in the previous eight individual facilities on campus.

In a recent interview with WAND-TV, Dr. John Storsved, chair of the Department of Exercise Science and Sport and director of Athletic Training, provided details on the updated space and what it provides for students in the program.

"Over the last few years we've seen this grow into a beautiful space and our students are just as excited to use the space to do all the fun things they learn about in class," said Storsved.

The upstairs floor in the building features classrooms and collaborative spaces for learning and training. The floor also includes the BOD POD which is one of the most accurate tests for assessing body fat and lean body mass. The feedback from the BOD POD can be used to measure the client's current health and where the client wants to be in the future.

The overall BOD POD assessment takes approximately 10-15 minutes. The first 2-3 minutes are used for imputing demographic data relating to the client, such as name, height and date of birth. Purchase of the BOD POD was made possible by a generous donation from Millikin Trustee Joseph Schrodt M.D.

"This space is a perfect fit for the Department of Exercise Science and Sport, a program that personifies Millikin's investment in Performance Learning," Storsved said in a recent article from the Millikin Magazine. "All four ESS majors are disciplines of doing. Each course includes lab activities, learning goals and objectives."

The lower level of the pavilion has been remodeled, complete with an athletic training room, treadmills and other exercise and training equipment.

The Department of Exercise Science and Sport at Millikin prepares students to provide leadership within the fields of exercise, fitness, health and management. Programs are designed to follow educational tracks in strategic support of professional goals, each equipping students with Performance Learning opportunities which combine classroom theory with hands-on field experience.

Areas of study include: Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Promotion, Physical Education, Sport & Recreation Management, a Nutrition Minor and a Health & Wellness Coaching Minor.

Storsved added, "It's not enough that we build new doors. We must prepare our students to walk through them with confidence."

MDSO principal cellist honored for "Original Works"

Amy Catron describes the cello as one of the most versatile instruments. She has established herself as one of the leading performers of her generation, currently serving as principal cellist for the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO) as well as an adjunct faculty member for the School of Music at Millikin University.

Catron was recently honored for her incredible musicianship by receiving a silver medal from the Global Music Awards in March 2019 under the category of "Original Works for Cello."

Established in 2011, the Global Music Awards is a well-known international music competition celebrating independent musicians. Past winners include jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding, blues rock band Alabama Shakes and singer Sara Bareilles.

For the Global Music Awards, Catron submitted a compilation of projects she did over the past three to four years. Among those projects was a world premiere of "Particle I" written by Robert Chumbley.

"I did the recording 'Particle I' at Millitrax Studios with Millikin alum Megan Peterson '17 who helped produce the track," said Catron. "Another piece of the compilation was 'Particle II' by Robert Chumbley who wrote the song for me and for the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble after we premiered 'Particle I.' It was a big Millikin project that encompassed the Wind Ensemble and students."

Catron's compilation is currently in production and will be released by First Step Records, a Millikin student-run record label.

Along with being a versatile instrument, Catron says the instrument is most closely related to the human voice. "The sound is beautiful - it can produce a wide range of tones. I can play classical music in orchestra, I can solo with wind ensembles or orchestras, and I can play background for Led Zeppelin when they do their reunion tours…they're all kinds of things you can do with the cello," she said.

As an instructor, Catron learns shoulder to shoulder with her students. "It's a beautiful relationship because we feed off of each other. It's a matter of seeing how far I can take them and give them the tools for the future."

When referring to the School of Music, Catron says, "I think we are agile and able to tailor to the individual student – I think that is really special. We can tailor the program to meet the students' needs and help them succeed in any direction they choose to go in life."

Catron will be the featured soloist at the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra's concert on Saturday, April 13 at Kirkland Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Catron will perform Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov's bold "Azul," for cello, obbligato group and orchestra. She will also perform alongside Millikin's University Choir and Chamber Orchestra at the Concert for Lent on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Central Christian Church, located at 650 W. William St. in Decatur, Ill.

Catron has toured and recorded extensively as a soloist, as well as in chamber and orchestral settings throughout the United States, Europe and China. She has appeared as a soloist with Sinfonia da Camera, Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (BACH), Charlotte Symphony in Florida, Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra.

As a solo and chamber musician, Catron tackles repertoire spreading from the Renaissance Era to contemporaneity. She is also an avid promoter of new music, having performed and premièred many works by living composers, including Robert Chumbley, Michael Schelle, Peter Michalove and Carlos Carillo. She also appears internationally as a chamber musician.

Catron studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and the University of Akron in Ohio. She has also advanced her studies at music festivals and in masterclass sessions with Paul Katz, Yehuda Hanani, Carter Brey and with the Cleveland and Kronos Quartets.

Millikin theatre students use crosswalk musical to promote production

You could say the issues that are portrayed in "Hair, The Musical" are still relevant in today's society. Those issues will be brought to the stage April 11-14 as Millikin University's School of Theatre and Dance will present the production of "Hair, The Musical" at Albert Taylor Theatre inside Shilling Hall on Millikin's campus.

"Hair" follows a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the "Age of Aquarius" living in New York City and in the shadow of the Vietnam War. The group challenges the government's role in drafting their friend into service while exploring their right to live in a world of peace, joy and free love.

Ultimately, the main character must decide whether to resist the draft as his friends have done, or to succumb to the pressures of his parents to serve in Vietnam, compromising his principles and risking his life.

"Hair" book and lyrics were written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, with music produced by Galt MacDermot. After an off-Broadway debut on Oct. 17, 1967, the show opened on Broadway in April 1968 and ran for 1,750 performances. Numerous productions have been staged around the world, spawning dozens of recordings of the musical. A Broadway revival opened in 2009, earning strong reviews and winning the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

Millikin student Cydney Washington, a first-year student from Montgomery, Ill., is among the 18-member cast. "We all have good parts. We are all the focal point," she said in a recent interview with the Herald & Review.

One of the traditional features of the show is the various hair styles. "There is a lot of different hair represented in the show," said Director Sarah Crockarell, assistant professor of theatre at Millikin. "But they are not wearing wigs."

To help with the promotion of the production, the cast held their own version of a "Crosswalk Musical" on April 5. The students took over the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Main Street on Millikin's campus and performed three short songs from "Hair." A large gathering of students, faculty and staff were on hand to support the cast.

In an interview with WAND-TV, Ariya Hawkins, a senior musical theatre major from Chicago said, "It's amazing to have that support and it's great to see familiar faces from Millikin's campus and people we've never seen before driving on through. Everybody has some access to the show which is great."

Following the last performance of "Hair" on Sunday, April 14, cast members, as well as Sarah Crockarell, will partner with headlineSpavilla hair salon to cut ponytails. The ponytails will be donated to Hair We Share, a non-profit organization that creates wigs through hair and money donations that they donate to people across the nation who suffer from medical hair loss. The cast will also be selling flower crowns/barrettes and colorful hair extensions before each show.

Millikin School of Theatre and Dance

The Millikin School of Theatre and Dance produces numerous performances in venues on and off-campus, including musicals, plays, operas, children's theatre and dance concerts, as well as productions through its student-run theatre company, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre.

Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance is a nationally recognized program, offering conservatory-style training rooted in a liberal arts education. The School of Theatre and Dance's approach to education offers students valuable insight and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for professional success. Nationwide, Millikin's respected theatre alumni are routinely hired for projects in television, film and live theatre, including top Broadway shows.

Millikin professor one of 25 participants chosen for national seminar

Dr. Ngozi Onuora, associate professor of education at Millikin University, is one of a select group of faculty members nationwide chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to participate in a special American history seminar on "The Civil War in American Memory."

From a pool of 51 highly competitive nominations, Dr. Onuora is one of 25 faculty members selected to participate in the seminar, which will be held June 23–27, 2019, at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

In announcing the selection of participants, CIC President Richard Ekman said, "Strengthening the teaching of American history at colleges and universities is of critical importance to maintaining informed citizen participation in a democracy. The Civil War has been used—and misused—to bolster contemporary arguments about conflict resolution, race, and the role of America in the world. The seminar will provide participating faculty members with unusual insight into the selective public memory through the years about America's defining event, the Civil War. Participants in the seminar will be better prepared to teach a new generation of students how to understand major social and political issues of today in light of history, the different perspectives in different eras, and recent debates over Civil War monuments and symbols. We believe that Dr. Onuora will play a strong role in the seminar."

"Dr. Onuora's selection for the CIC American History Seminar is a wonderful opportunity for her to connect with a very select group of peers from across the nation, and it is a tribute to the outstanding work she has done and continues to do as a teacher and scholar," said Millikin Provost Dr. Jeff Aper. "Her work in the School of Education transcends traditional Teacher Education curriculum, as she has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to reach across disciplinary lines to lend remarkable depth and breadth to her teaching and scholarship related to literacy and pedagogy, especially in work with underrepresented populations."

Dr. Aper added, "Dr. Onuora draws from fields like Education, History and Literature to find new and very effective ways to advance our understanding of and effectiveness in preparing teachers, engaging communities and advancing the mission of the university as a dynamic, living set of commitments to our students and the larger world. I am very glad and proud about her selection for participation in this experience and know she will make the most it, both professionally for herself, and as a source of information, inspiration and opportunity for the rest of us based on all she'll bring back with her from the seminar." 

The seminar will be led by David W. Blight, Class of 1954 professor of American History and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University. Blight is the author of "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom; Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory," which received numerous awards including the Bancroft Prize, the Frederick Douglass Prize, and the Merle Curti Prize; "American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era," which received the Anisfield-Wolf Award for best nonfiction book on racism and human diversity; and "A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Narratives of Emancipation." Blight was elected a member of the Society of American Historians in 2002. Since 2004, he has served as a member of the board of trustees of the New-York Historical Society. He also has served on the board for African American Programs at Monticello in Charlottesville, Va. Blight was on the board of advisors to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and was involved in planning numerous events to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. He has led or co-led many seminars for CIC faculty members on slave narratives and the scholarship and public history of slavery. 

"I am honored to be selected for this week-long institute where I will have an amazing opportunity to learn from noted historian David Blight at Yale University and meet a cadre of colleagues who are passionate about Civil War history and its continued impact on America today," said Dr. Onuora. "I am particularly excited to engage in extended research about collective memory and the Civil War as well as dialogue around contemporary controversies that are informed by Civil War history and the Reconstruction Era.; and, I can't wait to apply what I learn to new course offerings for Millikin's African American Studies minor."

Seminar participants will assess the historical memory of the most divisive event in American history—the Civil War. Participants will consider works on Civil War memory, discuss theoretical texts on the nature and significance of collective memory across time and cultures, and dive deeply into three anniversary moments in this history: the 50th (1911–1915); the 100th (1961–1965); and the 150th (2011–2015). The seminar also will consider the recent and current crises and debates over Civil War monuments and symbols from the 2015 massacre in Charleston, S.C., to the recent protests and violence in Charlottesville, Va., and beyond. Above all, the seminar aims to provide a forum in which to comprehend and analyze why the slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction epoch has remained an unending dilemma in American historical consciousness.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 770 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education's contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes and institutional visibility. It conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers in the United States.

MU Festival honors National Library Week

The International Edible Book Festival is an annual event normally held on or around April 1. The global event has been celebrated since 2000 in various parts of the world, where "edible books" are created, displayed and small events are held. The creations are photographed and then consumed.

Millikin University's Staley Library is no stranger to hosting its own version of the Edible Book Festival. This year's festival, the 9th annual, was hosted on Tuesday, April 9 in the Doug and Diane Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance in the University Commons.

The festival featured a vast array of food-based creations centered on literary works and characters. Guests were able to vote for their favorite edible creation while awards were given out for entries that were the Most Edible, Most Creative, Best Team, Best Solo Entry and the Punniest.

Even though the festival was hosted after April 1, the Staley Library choose to host it during National Library Week (April 7-13) – a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support.

"This event is for National Library Week, and during this time we encourage our students, faculty and staff as well as community members to participate," said Nancy Weichert, research and instructional librarian at Millikin. "We encourage them to create a rendition of one of their favorite books."

The Staley Library held its first Edible Book Festival in 2009. Over the years, entries have come from Millikin students, faculty and staff, but have also been submitted by teams from Richland Community College, Garfield Montessori, Decatur Christian School and Okaw Valley High School.

This year's event saw 10 entries, including a 3-D version of Captain Underpants created by Millikin student Emily Ratchford, a senior nursing major from Saint Peters, Mo. Ratchford's display was named Favorite Individual Entry.

An entry for "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," by Emily Lopez, a sophomore biology major from Chicago, and Justin Gionet, a sophomore athletic training major from Saint Charles, Mo., was awarded Most Edible. The Favorite Team Entry was awarded to "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" created by Victoria Echevarria, a sophomore human services major from Chicago, and Joselynn Ali, a sophomore political science major from South Holland, Ill. Most Creative was awarded to "Pet Semetary" created by Millikin's Writing Center and the Punniest Entry was given to "Cereal Killers" created by Marsha Leach, circulation specialist at Millikin.

The festival also featured an entry called "Roulette Pizza," a Sloan's Calzones pizza that included sausage on one slice that had been filled with hot sauce. The person who "found" the slice of pizza won a gift card to Sloan's.

"The library has done this for several years, and most of us library workers do participate," Leach said in a recent interview with the Herald & Review. "As soon as we finish one year, we start thinking about our next one."

Competition features performances from Millikin's top three music performing students

Millikin University's Hollis Prize is the highest award that may be received by a student instrumentalist or vocalist within the School of Music. The 17th annual Hollis Prize Competition was held on Saturday, April 6 at Kaeuper Hall in Perkinson Music Center on Millikin's campus. The competition featured performances from Millikin University's top three music performing students.

This year's finalists were Soprano Jorie Clark, a sophomore vocal performance major from Springfield, Ill.; Nicholas Tipsword, a junior instrumental performance major from Bethany, Ill.; and Leah Wier, a junior vocal music education and piano performance double major from Lacon, Ill. Each finalist was given 25 minutes for their performance.

Jorie Clark was named the winner of the 2019 Hollis Prize competition. In recognition of her achievement, Clark will perform a recital on Sunday, April 14, at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Ill., beginning at 2 p.m.

"I was speechless and overjoyed," said Clark. "I was met with so much love and it wasn't until an hour or two later that it really set in that I had won."

For the competition, Clark performed "Da Tempeste il legno in franto" from Handel's "Guilio Cesare," Henri Duparc's "La vie anterieure" and "Chanson Triste," and finished with selections from her German set including "Widmung" by Robert Schumann, "Wie Melodien zieht es mir" by Johannes Brahms, and "Zueignung" by Richard Strauss.

"The Hollis Prize Competition is one of our most cherished events of the year; it encourages our best students to rise to the height of their potential while providing a quintessential Performance Learning opportunity. This year, Jorie Clark distinguished herself among a talented group of finalists," said Brian Justison, director of the Millikin School of Music.

Clark is a student of Dr. Justin John Moniz, chair of vocal studies at Millikin. "Dr. Moniz instills hard work and dedication in his students. He's not only been my voice teacher, but also my diction teacher my freshman year," said Clark. "He has taught me better vocal technique; what music fits well in my voice and range; and helped improve my stage presence. He's shown me how to thoroughly analyze my pieces; knowing the composer or the larger work, the translations and my take on them, and getting me 100 percent comfortable and ready to walk out on stage and tell my story."

When describing the School of Music, Clark says it's the faculty's dedication to their students that makes the School stand out.

"Millikin's School of Music has relatively smaller class sizes giving the students an advantage. We can reach out to the faculty and have one-on-one help with any issue we may face. The faculty is always very willing to help when needed and encourage open communication with their students," said Clark.

Clark added, "My voice teacher as well as many other faculty members I've had the pleasure of working with have presented me with many opportunities to perform and work on my craft hands on. I don't think any of my friends in college outside of Millikin have had such a tight-knit community in their music departments. The Millikin School of Music truly offers a home away from home."

First awarded in spring 2003, Millikin University is one of only a few schools in the country to offer this type of prestigious prize through a music competition. The winner of the Hollis Prize is chosen by outside faculty judges and receives a $2000 award; runners-up each receive $500.

The Hollis Prize Recital is generously funded by Dr. C. Kimm Hollis, a 1972 Millikin graduate, and professor of music and artist in residence at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind.

Hollis Prize Performers

Soprano Jorie Clark is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in the studio of Dr. Justin John Moniz. Clark was recently awarded third place in the 2018 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Central Region Competition—Lower Classical Women's Division, and qualifies to advance to the national finals this June. Last summer, Clark made her debut at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in Mark Adamo's "Little Women," where she covered the role of Beth and sang in the female quartet under the direction of Carleen Graham (Houston Grand Opera). This summer, Clark returns to The Big Island as Jenny in Stephen Sondheim's "Company."

At Millikin, Clark has portrayed both leading and supporting roles in "A Hand of Bridge," "The Magic Flute," "Phantom of the Opera," "Nina: La Storia Nicosta," and will be featured in Millikin Opera Theatre's upcoming production of "From Berlin to Broadway," featuring the works of Kurt Weill. Additionally, Clark has performed with both Millikin Women and the University Choir, and is a dedicated member of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Nicholas Tipsword is currently a junior instrumental performance major, studying horn with Steve Schepper, adjunct horn instructor at Millikin. He performs in many ensembles both on and off campus. During his time at Millikin, Tipsword has performed in the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO), Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Flute Choir, Eidolon Woodwind Quintet, Brass Quintet and Jazz Band I. Off campus he has performed with the Urbana Pops Orchestra, Decatur Municipal Band, Macon County Brass Quintet and as a pit musician at the Little Theatre on the Square. Tipsword has performed in master class settings for several leading horn pedagogues including Froydis Ree Wekre and the Alloy Horn Quartet, and was named "Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore" by the Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society. 

Tipsword also has a passion for teaching and teaches many young horn players through the Millikin University Preparatory Department. His extensive involvement on campus and in the community has led to his nomination for the 2019 Scovill Award at Millikin.

Leah Wier is a junior piano student pursuing a double degree in piano performance and vocal music education from the School of Music under the guidance of Dr. Silvan Negrutiu, assistant professor of piano and coordinator of keyboard studies at Millikin. As a rising music educator and performer, she enjoys teaching private piano lessons through the School of Music's Preparatory Department, serving as president of the Millikin Piano Club, and collaborating with her peers in accompanying and chamber settings. Among her many accomplishments as a pianist, Wier received Millikin's 2018 Alice Herren Ayars Piano Award; was the First Prize winner in the 2017 statewide Illinois State Music Teachers Association Young Artist Piano Competition; and a winner of the 2016 Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, which led to her debut with the MDSO in Beethoven's "First Piano Concerto."

The mission of the Millikin School of Music is to develop the whole musician – artistically, intellectually, technically – through the integration of theory and practice in an environment where students become active learners through their relationships with faculty, who themselves continue to grow as artists, scholars, and teachers.

Millikin graduate's belief in trust, commitment and love has led to a winning culture at Army

Nov. 23, 2013. For college football fans at Georgia Southern University, it's a date that will go down as one of the most memorable in recent time. That year, Georgia Southern was coached by 1989 Millikin University graduate Jeff Monken. The team was wrapping up their season with a match-up against in-state powerhouse Florida in a hostile environment at Gainesville, Fla. But on that particular day, Monken's team shocked the sports world by defeating the University of Florida 26-20.

Why was it shocking? For the first time, Florida, a four-touchdown favorite at the time, lost to a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team, with some considering that loss for Florida to be the worst in program history. As for Monken, this achievement was just a small dose of what was to come in his coaching career.

Flash forward to Dec. 22, 2018. The No. 22 Army Black Knights, led by Monken, finished another impressive season with a convincing 70-14 win over Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Black Knights recorded 11 wins in a season for the first time in program history, including winning nine consecutive games after losing to Oklahoma in overtime earlier in the year. Army also earned its first national ranking in 22 years.

It was a breakthrough season to say the least and the commitment from the players made the difference, says Monken, who was named the George Munger Coach of the Year this past January. Army also received the historic Lambert Trophy for the first time since 1958 which is given to the best college football team on the east coast.

"I am most proud of the daily commitment that our players, and all of our Cadets, make to this great nation," said Monken. "It is incredible to be a part of an institution where our guiding principle is to train leaders of character, to protect and defend the freedoms of the American people and all those around the world who are denied their human right to live free."

Before Monken arrived on the scene in Dec. 2013, Army had only one winning season since 1996. Since then the Black Knights have had three straight winning seasons, including a 2017 campaign where Monken led Army to its first 10-win season since 1996, including a win over Navy and a bowl win over San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Monken says the program's quick turnaround came because of effort and attitude. "I believe that when an organization is comprised of tough-minded, committed people who are determined to give their all for the good of the team, anything can be accomplished," he said. "A positive attitude and great effort will win more battles and accomplish more than any amount of talent."

Monken's teams at Georgia Southern and Army had the good fortune of having visits from legendary coach Lou Holtz. Holtz was influential in helping shape the team's coaching philosophy and core beliefs into powerful messages that Monken and his staff could share with the team daily.

"I have always admired Coach Holtz, not only for the success that he's had on the field but in the way he built teams and developed individuals into groups of people who were committed to the organization more than their personal accolades or accomplishments," said Monken.

Monken says his program is built on three core beliefs: trust, commitment and love.

"We ask each member of our organization to demonstrate a commitment to the team in a way that would compel every other member of the organization to answer 'yes' (about that member of the team) based on the following three questions: Can I trust you? Are you committed to excellence? Do you care about me?" he said.

Monken adds, "To fully have a team, in every sense of the word, the answer should be 'yes' to every one of these questions for every member of the Army football program. And I challenge that we will never gain the trust of our peers in any organization unless those other members can answer yes to those three questions about each one of us."

As a Millikin student, Monken was a wide receiver on the football team and he lettered twice in track and was co-captain of the 1989 track team. Monken was inducted into the Millikin University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

Last spring, Monken returned to his alma mater to deliver the commencement address at Millikin's 114th graduation ceremony. He encouraged students to pursue their passions in a speech properly titled "Back in Blue."

"Whatever you dream, just chase it," said Monken. "The Millikin University community is proud of its academics, athletics and public service, and the accomplishments of our alumni are noteworthy and remarkable. Millikin is a special place, and many people encouraged me to pursue my passion, and I'm certain Millikin has done the same for you."

Army recently signed Monken to a contract extension through the 2024 season – a well-deserved extension for the winning culture he's brought on and off the field.

Center for Theatre and Dance donors honored with signed beams

Millikin University's new Center for Theatre and Dance is quickly coming into focus, making its way to a projected completion date by fall 2020.

Local donors, students, faculty and staff recently took to the construction site of the Center on Wednesday, April 10 to celebrate its progress by signing their names on the final two beams of the building before they were lifted into place.

More than 550 donors are represented on the two beams that were placed at the top of the building, one with a list of names of donors and the other with signatures from those who attended the ceremony.

In an interview with the Herald & Review, Nathan Bonsall, a first-year musical theatre major from Kearney, Neb., said, "We're so excited. We talk about it almost every day, and we get so excited when we see the progress of the construction."

Millikin University officially broke ground on the Center for Theatre and Dance during a ceremony held on May 18, 2018. The new Center will offer a centralized, focused location for creativity to be taught, fostered and displayed, and will also provide a new venue for Millikin performing arts to delight, inform and inspire audiences who will come from throughout the region to see Millikin's nationally recognized excellence.

"One of my favorite parts of walking to class every morning is seeing the progress on it," said Holly Bender, a first-year musical theatre major Algonquin, Ill. "This is the building that we're going to take all of our classes in and watching the progress from the day we got here has been so awesome."

The $29 million project will feature a 260-seat flexible theatre which includes an orchestra pit, balcony and tech gallery with a tension wire grid. The building will also feature lighting and sound labs, a costume studio, a costume classroom, collaboration spaces, and offices and support facilities for current staff and room for growth. It will also incorporate four acting studios, two dance studios, two design classrooms and practice rooms as well as all new modern theatre equipment and LED lights.

The architectural partner for the project is Decatur (Ill.) firm BLDD.

"BLDD was very humbled to be selected to do a very important project on Millikin's campus," said John Whitlock of BLDD Architects. "More importantly, we're excited to be part of a facility that we know is going to bolster an already world-renowned musical theatre program."

Shannon Byrnes, a sophomore theatre major from Lusby, Md., noted "This building is something that everyone will think about when they think about Millikin. It's really cool to see that transition and be a part of it."

Millikin University's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting degree program was named among the Top 25 BFA acting/performance programs in the country for 2018-2019 according to a survey published by the online theatre news and review blog OnStage.

OnStage previously honored Millikin University's BFA Acting degree program for 2017-18 as well as naming Millikin as one of the best institutions in the country to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre in August 2016. In August 2015, OnStage named Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance as one of the 10 Most Underrated Theatre Colleges in the Midwest.

Millikin Theatre and Dance produces numerous performances in venues on and off-campus, including musicals, plays, operas, children's theatre and dance concerts, as well as productions through its student-run theatre company, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre.

Millikin's School of Theatre and Dance is a nationally recognized program, offering conservatory-style training rooted in a liberal arts education. The School of Theatre and Dance's approach to education offers students valuable insight and hands-on experiences that will prepare them for professional success. Millikin's respected theatre alumni are routinely hired for productions in television, film and live theatre, including top Broadway shows and major regional theatres throughout the country.

Updated space provides centralized location for learning and training

Millikin University's new Exercise Science and Sport Pavilion has been completely transformed thanks to the generosity of dozens of donors and the efforts of countless faculty, students and volunteers.

The upstairs floor in the building features classrooms and collaborative spaces for learning and training. The floor also includes the BOD POD which is one of the most accurate tests for assessing body fat and lean body mass. The feedback from the BOD POD can be used to measure the client's current health and where the client wants to be in the future.

The lower level of the pavilion has been remodeled, complete with an athletic training room, treadmills and other exercise and training equipment.