Alumni and friends share memories at "Back to School for 40 Years Party"

The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society hosted a “Back to School for 40 Years Party” for alumni, community members, students, faculty and staff on August 27, 2010.

“We wanted to have a special celebration to mark the 40th start of classes at UIS and it’s been a great experience,” said Mary Caroline Mitchell, associate director of the UIS Office of Alumni Relations.

Approximately 175 people showed up for the party at the Island Bay Yacht Club on Lake Springfield, which featured music, food and memories.

“You can’t help but be proud of (the university), but you also can’t help but say 40 years really. I can’t believe it,” said Phil Bradley, an early graduate of Sangamon State University.

Bradley was one of the student speakers at the first SSU commencement ceremony in 1972. He can’t believe how the universities academic stature has grown over the years.

“If you look at state government, if you look at Washington there are people in very important positions with degrees from this place,” he said.

Other guests included Wally Henderson, the architect of the Public Affairs Center and community supporter, who helped get SSU off the ground.

“I feel very responsible for this thing. I’m very proud of it, very, very proud of it,” said Henderson.

The 40-year celebration included a variety of historic displays and pictures, video and a trivia quiz with prizes.

“It was a nice opportunity to see some of the faculty. People that I know in the community, who have been tied to the university for many years,” said Crystal VanDeventer, a 1985 graduate of the Public Administration master’s program.

For a list of additional anniversary events visit the 40 Year website

UIS 40th Anniversary Lunch and Learn Series

Join us for thought-provoking, three-session educational series on the University of Illinois Springfield campus as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. These lunch-time programs, Timely Talk About Timeless Topics, held in the lobby of Sangamon Auditorium from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. will build upon our SSU heritage of open dialogue and intelligent debate. Designed to inform as well as stimulate creative thinking, a panel of faculty emeriti, current faculty and other experts will make brief presentations and engage in discussion among themselves and with the audience.

On September 22 the topic will “Education and Tools of Technology”. Rich Bradley, retired news director of public radio station, WUIS, will moderate a panel that will include Rob Gordon, President and General Manager, WPLN Public Radio, Nashville, TN, a current member of the National Public Radio Board and former General Manager of WSSU; Steve Rohrer, a 1979 graduate of SSU in Computer Science and who served for 30 years as Director of UIS Campus Technology Services; and Dr. Karen Swan, UIS James J. Stukel Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership, a widely published and well-respected scholar in the online education community. Join us for a discussion of the ways education is impacted by advances in technology and what is being lost or gained in the digital age.

October 20 the topic is the printed word as Dr. Larry Shiner, emeritus professor of Philosophy, History and Visual Arts at UIS moderates a panel on “Our Digital Age: The Future of Books, Newspapers and Libraries”. The series will conclude on November 17 with the topic of the economy as UIS College of Business and Management Dean Ron McNeil moderates a panel on “Financial Institutions and the Public Trust”.

Reservations are available for a delicious hot buffet lunch that begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost for lunch is $20 per session. The presentations that begin at 12 and end at 1:30 p.m. are free and open to the public. To sit near the front and enjoy the camaraderie at the tables we hope you will join us for lunch.

Why not register for the entire series for $50 and save! Pre-paid luncheon reservations are required a week prior to each session. Reservations are required by September 15 to receive the series discount.

Pre-registration is also requested from those not purchasing the lunch, but who wish to attend the presentations. For more information and to register, visit www.uiaa.org/uis/ or contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu.

Sponsors are the UIS Alumni SAGE Society, the Illinois State Historical Society and the Office of UIS Chancellor.

Welcome Week 2010 gets students involved on campus

The University of Illinois Springfield kicked off the fall 2010 semester with a variety of activities during Welcome Week 2010 designed to get students involved on campus.

Student Life hosted an Ice Cream Social on Monday, August 23 to get students talking and teach them about opportunities on campus. Student volunteers from WUIS HD2 Xponential Radio manned the booth in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby. They were trying to get more students involved in the newly launched radio station. Volunteers also handed out free ice cream in the University Hall lobby.

Welcome Week also gave programs like the UIS Women’s Center a chance to show off what they have to offer. The center hosted an open house on Tuesday, August 24 where they talked about their upcoming Rape Aggression Defense System course and other programs. They also showed off their new art wall, which will feature local artists.

The Diversity Center also held an open house on Tuesday, bringing students from all over the world together. The center serves as a welcoming environment for students of all races and backgrounds. Students gathered to talk about what they have in common and what makes them unique.

The Center for First Year Students showed off their student lounge and computer lab during an open house on Wednesday, August 25. The center helps students adjust to their first year at UIS and serves as a friendly environment. Students are invited to come to the center and “hang out” in the lounge or work on homework.

Also on Wednesday, the Involvement Expo once again packed the UIS quad with almost 100 student organizations, university offices, non-profit agencies and merchants in attendance. The Expo gave groups an opportunity to recruit new members or introduce themselves to the campus community.

The annual “Foot in the Door” Fair, which is sponsored by The Career Development Center at UIS broke a record this year. More than 70 local employers and organizations showed up on Thursday, August 26 for the event designed to connect students. The fair was for UIS students interested in part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities – both on- and off-campus.

The Office of Disability Services welcomed students during its open house on Thursday as they talked about the services they offer students with disabilities in the classroom. The office works with professors to make sure needs are met for all students.

The week also included a Foam Party at the Student Life Plaza, Bowling for Special Olympics, a first ever Welcome Week concert on the quad by the group Safety Suit, a comedy hypnotist, movie on the quad and a ribbon cutting at the LGBTQ Resource Center.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery presents 'Chimeras, Ideals, and Errors'

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery opens a new season with ‘Chimeras, Ideals, and Errors’ featuring artwork by Craig Newsom, Carl Andersen and Bryan Van Donslear. The exhibit opens August 25 and runs through September 22. A reception will be held on September 2 from 5:30-8 p.m.

‘Chimeras, Ideals, and Errors’ explore the relationships between format and content. Each drawing in the exhibit is a single page from one of the artist’s Moleskine Pocket Sketchbook. In addition, each drawing is created with a technical pen. The motives/motifs may differ between each artist, but the substrate is the same and the means are parallel.



Carl Andersen studied painting and drawing at the University of Northern Iowa, graduating in 1992. His work hybridizes his interest in the human figure and design, synthesizing close studies of observable form, human and otherwise, with patterns suggestive of abstract floral fields, mythic landscapes and biomorphic structures, rooted in his interest and work with literature. He works primarily in pen and ink, graphite, or charcoal. Andersen currently works and resides in Minneapolis where he teaches literature and composition in the public school system.



Craig Newsom received an MFA in sculpture from the University of Chicago and is currently an assistant professor in the art department at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. In his work, he explores a personal mythology through the syncretization of traditional and digital methods. The drawings present in this exhibition represent the beginnings of characters and/or significant moments in the narrative arcs of those characters in his personal mythology. Recently he has begun a large body of work composed entirely on an iPod Touch and is a member of the newly formed International Association of Mobile Digital Artists.



Bryan Van Donslear received his MFA degree from the University of Iowa and is currently Visual Resources Curator and Instructor at the University of Northern Iowa. Bryan has explored a diversity of media and subject matter and has exhibited his work in more than 50 solo, group, and juried exhibitions.

The Visual Arts Gallery is located in the Health and Science Building (HSB 201). Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information contact Ken Pease in the UIS Visual Arts Gallery at 217/206-6506 or email gallery@uis.edu.

UIS starts semester with community Service-A-Thon

The University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center is hosting a Welcome Week Service-A-Thon to give students a chance to meet new friends and give back to the community.

Students can choose from three different service projects occurring simultaneously around Springfield. The Service-A-Thon will take place on Friday, August 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. This year the projects are at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, Southwind Park and Ball Charter School.

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach (4849 Laverna Rd., Springfield) is a not-for-profit organization focused on the recovery and responsible redistribution of healthcare equipment and supplies to developing countries. Students will be sorting medical supplies to prepare them for shipment.

Southwind Park (4965 S 2nd St., Springfield) is a community supported effort of the Springfield Park District that intends to “provide a recreational and open space venue unlike any in the Midwest.” The Park provides year round indoor and outdoor activities, education, and recreation programs. Students will assist the park service with mulching several hundred trees.

Ball Charter School (2530 East Ash St., Springfield) is an elementary charter school open to students across the Springfield School District 186. Students will be helping the school build a new walking trail for the community.

For more information contact Kelly Thompson, director of the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at 217/206-7716 or email volunteer@uis.edu.

Freshmen move into UIS residence halls to start fall semester

Hundreds of freshmen students are starting a new chapter in their lives at the University of Illinois Springfield this fall. The campus opened its doors on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 as freshmen moved into Lincoln Residence Hall and Founders Hall.

“We’re trying to give people a good productive start to their collegiate career and help their families feel good about dropping off their son or daughter,” said John Ringle, UIS director of housing and residential life.

Move-in day is always full of mixed emotions for both parents and students. For many freshmen they’re moving away from home for the first time and for some parents it can be hard to let go.

“I was pretty nervous this morning when I woke up. These last few days I’ve been kind of jittery about everything, but when I got here everything is going great,” said Dyllan Tiburzi, an incoming freshman student.

Parents praised the UIS move-in process where each student has a scheduled arrival time in an effort to avoid congestion.

“It was awesome. As a mater of fact, within an hour he’s ready to go,” said Susan Tiburzi, Dyllan’s mother.

UIS relies on the help of dozens of student, staff, faculty and community volunteers, who help unload cars, carry in furniture and direct students to their rooms.

Leadership Retreat helps students gain experience and network

The Division of Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield hosted its annual 3-day leadership retreat before the start of the Fall 2010 semester.

The retreat was designed to train student leaders and provide them with a greater understanding of campus resources, encourage collaboration, recognize work and achievement and instill a sense of pride.

"The most important thing I think I’ve learned is communication. I’ve been involved in several organizations throughout last year and the year before," said Rashonda Williams, a UIS student leader.

Students who serve as resident assistants, club presidents or supervisors are encouraged to sign up for the event. Student Affairs welcomed a record 92 students during the 2010 retreat, which was held August 14-16.

"I really learned there are a lot of different types of leadership styles. There's a lot of different types of personalities that can be good leaders that can really add to a group or organization," said John Tienken, a sophomore at UIS.

Students participated in a variety of team building activities, learned about their personalities and had fun with events such as cosmic bowling.

“I thought this was a very good retreat. I learned a lot,” said Williams.

Student leaders finished the week by helping assist with move in/welcome week activities.

UIS holds Foot in the Door Fair for students and local employers

The Career Development Center at the University of Illinois Springfield will sponsor the 2010 “Foot in the Door” Fair for UIS students interested in part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities – both on- and off-campus – from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, in the lower level concourse area of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The event is free to all UIS students.

The “Foot in the Door” Fair is intended to bring students and local employers or organizations together to discuss career opportunities in a broad range of available positions.

A partial list of off-campus employers attending includes State Farm Insurance, Illinois State Police, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, American Red Cross, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield Art Association, Springfield YMCA, Best Buy, Capitol Radio Group and Town & Country Bank.

On-campus employers attending include UIS Recreational Sports, Brookens Library, Cox Children’s Center, UIS Student Life, UIS’ Office of Graduate Intern Programs and WUIS radio. The complete listing of employers and other event details can be found online at www.uis.edu/careerservices

The Career Development Center will also have a table at the event where students can come to ask any questions they may have. Students are encouraged to bring their resumes and networking cards to the event and should be prepared to briefly outline their education, experience, goals and what types of positions they are interested in. A business casual dress code will be observed.

Additionally, the UIS Career Development Center will be holding walk-in hours on Monday, August 23, Tuesday, August 24, and Wednesday, August 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Student Affairs Building (SAB) 50, during which students can receive resume help and other suggestions to prepare for the event.

Students who cannot attend the event can go to the Career Development Center’s Web site and use UIS CareerConnect, a job and internship posting system, to find on- and off-campus jobs and internships, upload their resumes, as well as schedule an appointment with the Career Development Center.

For more information about the “Foot in the Door” Fair, go online to www.uis.edu/careerservices/foot_fair/ or call the Career Development Center at 217/206-6508. Individuals requesting disability related accommodations should also contact the UIS Career Development Center.

Auditions set for UIS Theatre's production of Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will hold open auditions for the first production of its 2010-2011 season – Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles - on Sunday, August 29, and Monday, August 30, beginning at 7 p.m. both nights in the Studio Theatre, located on level one of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. Call-backs will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31.

Auditions are open to anyone, with or without experience. Auditions will consist of “cold readings” from the script, and prepared monologues and resumes are appreciated but are not required. Scripts are available for check-out in the Visual and Performing Arts Building (VPA 62) for a refundable $10 deposit and at Brookens Library.

The Heidi Chronicles humorously, poignantly, and historically traces Heidi Holland’s coming of age from the late 60s to the late 80s—mirroring a generation’s coming of age trek through various political and social movements. Mel Gussow of the New York Times wrote: “We see Heidi on her own rock-strewn path to liberation. As she moves from high school intellectual to awakening feminist, in the background we hear about political and cultural events. Heidi and her group are emblematic of their time, but the historical references never become intrusive. They form a time line on which Heidi teeters like a tightrope walker. Following the chronicles of Heidi, theatergoers are left with tantalizing questions about women today and tomorrow.”

UIS Assistant Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct this Pulitzer-prize & Tony-award winning play. Production dates are October 22-24 and 28-30. The curtain time for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows is 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance starting at 2 p.m.

Those interested in working on a crew (running crew, costumes, props, stage management) will be asked to fill out a crew application form, and meet briefly with Thibodeaux-Thompson beginning at 6 p.m. on August 29 or August 30 in the Studio Theatre.

For more information about auditions, the play, or helping behind the scenes, contact Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-8307 or mthom1@uis.edu. You may also visit the Theatre Program’s website at www.uis.edu/theatre

UIS Alumni SAGE Society to host a "Back to School for 40 Years Party"

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Alumni SAGE Society is celebrating the start of the university’s 40th year with a “Back to School for 40 Years Party” for alumni, community members, students, faculty and staff.

WHEN: Friday, August 27, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Island Bay Yacht Club on Lake Springfield

DETAILS: The celebration will include a slide show of photos through the decades, historic displays from various campus units and a trivia quiz with prizes. Anyone who has had any association with the university over the past 40 years is urged to attend. The cost is $18 per person for substantial hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks. A cash bar will be available. Reservations are requested by August 20 and can be made online at www.uiaa.org/uis or by calling 217/206-7395.

The UIS Alumni SAGE (Service, Action, Growth and Enrichment) Society, affiliated with the University of Illinois Alumni Association provides service opportunities, advocacy action on behalf of UIS, and growth and enrichment activities targeted toward alumni age 50 and better as well as retired UIS faculty/staff, but anyone is welcome to attend their events.

The coordinating committee for the year 2010/11 is chaired by Barbara Lestikow. Janet Spears is vice-chair and Cindy Terry, secretary. Other members of the coordinating committee are: Mary Beaumont, Rich and Carolyn Berning, Phil Bradley, Linda Brookhart, Cullom Davis, Bill Furry, Karen Hasara, Shelley Hoffman, Leroy Jordan, Esther Lam Robert Moore, Drinda OConnor, Cheryl Peck, Carolyn Ringeisen, Bruce Strom, Roberta Volkmann, and Grace Wenz. Mary Caroline Mitchell, associate director of alumni relations serves at staff.

For more information contact Mary Caroline Mitchell at 217/206-7395 or mmitc1@uis.edu.

Cox Children's Center collects school supplies

It’s no secret the cost of school supplies can quickly add up. That’s why kids of all ages at the University of Illinois Springfield Cox Children’s Center are pitching in to help families in need.

Everyone from toddlers to school aged children camped out on the UIS quad Thursday, August 5, collecting supplies from UIS staff and friends who stopped by.

“Crayons, markers, glue and tape,” are just some of the items 6-year-old Zakarriah said were needed for the drive.

The goal of the collection is to assist families living on the UIS campus. The remaining supplies will be donated to the Ball-Chatham School District, in which the UIS campus resides.

“Here on the UIS campus we have many students who are also parents,” said Alison Williams, a teacher at Cox. “These are hard economic times. We have a lot of single parents and married parents as well and we’re here to assist them.”

The students also learned a lesson about advertising. They spent time making signs and posters, which they carried asking for donations.

“They’re saying donate school supplies and thank you for donating school supplies,” said 5-year old Kylee, who will be entering kindergarten this year.

The supply drive started on Monday, August 2 and will conclude on Tuesday, August 10. In addition to supplies the center is also accepting cash to buy items.

“We truly hope that the entire UIS community will reach out because these are future UIS students, so they need to invest in these children right now,” said Williams.

For a complete list of needed school supplies visit the Cox Children’s Center website

Sunday night Star Parties to be held for people with disabilities at UIS observatory

The University of Illinois Springfield is holding several Star Parties for people with disabilities throughout the fall in the UIS observatory, located at the top of Brookens Library on the UIS campus. Sunday Night Star Parties for people with disabilities are free, but reservations are required.

The dates of the Star Parties, weather permitting this fall are on Sundays, August 15, September 19 and October 17. The events begin at 8 p.m. and will include a short presentation before the viewing. The featured objects for viewing will be the first-quarter moon and the planet Venus.

Sunday Star Parties are conducted by John Martin, UIS professor of astronomy and physics. The sessions use a unique telescope specially designed to give people with disabilities access to the sky.

The modified eight-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope at UIS uses a fixed eyepiece that brings the image to the viewer. This eyepiece can be moved backward and forward in its tube to be able to accommodate anyone from a large person in a high wheelchair to a child in the lowest, smallest wheelchair. The telescope is the first one of its kind in the world.

For more information or to make a reservation for a Sunday Star Party event, contact Professor John Martin at 217/206-8342 or jmart5@uis.edu.