Friday, June 23
Omaha, Neb. - Alumni and friends in the Omaha area are invited to Grillin' and Chillin', a backyard cookout with hosts Mark Kubica '87 and his wife, Marsha, in their home from 6-8 p.m. Your co-host is President Doug Zemke '66. For more info or to rsvp, call Jackie McFadden toll free at 1-877-568-2586, or e-mail her at jmcfadden@millikin.edu by June 19.

Friday, June 23
Campus - Join the Millikin CIA (Central Illinois Alumni) for bridge at the alumni and development center beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $1; rsvp by calling 217-424-6383. Bring a snack to share.

Saturday, June 24
Campus - Calling all area young alumni: join your fellow alums for a free Bags and BBQ tournament at 4:30 p.m. at the alumni and development center. E-mail Mandi Landacre Podeschi '02 or call 217-424-6383 to rsvp for this complimentary event by June 21. The event will conclude with a trip to Lock, Stock & Barrel near campus.

Monday, June 26
Taylorville, Ill. - Join MU alumni, parents and and friends for a dessert reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Dan and Ann Fisher Austin, both '71, in their home. Your co-host is President Doug Zemke '66. For more info or to rsvp, call Jackie McFadden toll free at 1-877-568-2586, or send her an e-mail by June 20.

Friday, July 14
Campus - Join the Millikin CIA (Central Illinois Alumni) for bridge at the alumni and development center beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $1; rsvp by calling 217-424-6383. Bring a snack to share.

Friday, June 28
Campus - Join the Millikin CIA (Central Illinois Alumni) for bridge at the alumni and development center beginning at 1 p.m. Cost is $1; rsvp by calling 217-424-6383. Bring a snack to share.

Sunday, July 30
Chicago - Join Millikin alumni, friends and incoming students for the annual Chicago-area Summer Send-Off Picnic at North Shelter of Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve from 1-3 p.m. Bring a dish to pass for this potluck picnic lunch; tableware, meat and drinks will be provided. For more info or to rsvp, call toll-free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586).

Saturday, Aug. 12
Chicago - Join our alumni and friends’ pre-race gathering before Sunday’s Chicago Distance Classic at Buca di Beppo restaurant at 6:30 p.m.. We’ll meet at 6 p.m. in the Hilton Chicago hotel lobby — or you can meet us at the restaurant — to go to dinner, dutch treat. RSVP by July 10 to Mandi Landacre Podeschi ’02 at apodeschi@millikin.edu or call her toll free at 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586). Locally, dial 217-424-3506.

Sunday, Aug. 13
Chicago - Millikin will hold an alumni and friends event in a tent at the Chicago Distance Classic, a half-marathon and 5K race organized by running expert John "The Penguin" Bingham '70.

Through July 22 in
Bloomington at McLean County Arts Center, and
Aug. 4-30 in Decatur at the Decatur Area Arts Council
The art exhibit "Painter As Mentor: Lyle Salmi" will highlight the art and teachings of art professor Lyle Salmi and several alumni who are his former students. Alumni and friends are invited to a closing reception for the Decatur exhibit on Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. MORE

Friday-Sunday,
Oct. 13-15
On campus - Homecoming! Join us for some special surprises this year, including group reunions for engineering alumni, members of the undefeated '61 football team, Midcentury music majors (1945-55), SAEs of the '60s and all classes ending in 1 and 6. You won't want to miss it!

May 22-30, 2007
Beijing, China- Millikin does China! Join alumni and friends for a nine-day trip to the Far East. To view a pdf with details, click here.

Nov. 1-11 , 2007
Tuscany, Italy - Join alumni and friends for a trip to this golden land. To view a pdf with more details, click here.

Hot links
Milli-Link XP is your connection to your fellow alumni. Check out our new online directory today!

FREE MU desktop wallpaper
for your computer. A few new ones have just been added.

Big Blue wedding album.
New additions! Submit wedding photos and info for our online album by e-mail, or call toll-free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM for details. 

Business owners: Add your company's information to Big Blue Biz, our online directory of  alumni-owned businesses. Click here to add your info.

Shop online: 
Blue Connection art gallery.
The gallery is accepting art donations. Painting, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, fibers or textiles, mixed media, literary pieces and recordings are welcome.
New! Purchase art from the gallery online beginning June 18.

First Step Records
Millikin bookstore 
First Step Publishing

Athletics website

Learn about Millikin history through Staley Library's archives website. The archivists also need your help! They have thousands of unmarked photo in their files they need to have identified. As photos are identfied and verified they will be replaced with new ones, so be sure to check back often. Click here to view the latest photos.

All alumni actors, artists, writers, singers, dancers and musicians: Send us details of upcoming engagements or releases for the Millikin website. Drop us an e-mail, or fax your performance schedule to 217-424-3755. Click here to see where your fellow alums are appearing. (Be sure to let us know when things change!)

MILLIKIN TOPS GOAL,
SAYS "THANKS $125 MILLION!"
The university has successfully concluded its $120 million capital campaign, on time and on target, exceeding the goal by more than $5 million for a total raised of $125.1 million. MORE

VACANT CAMPUS BUILDING TO COME DOWN.
Beginning this week, Mueller Hall will be razed to create a quad area in the heart of campus, part of the university's long-range plan for the area. The building was closed in August 2004 due to potential safety issues and has been vacant since that time. Built in 1902 to be the campus coal-burning power plant and machine shop, Mueller Hall was first known as Machinery Hall. It was never intended to be used as classroom space but had undergone many transformations through the years, and before its closing, it housed the theatre and dance department and the ceramic kiln.

GET ART.
SUPPORT STUDENTS.
EVERYONE WINS.
Beginning June 18, the original artwork for sale in the Blue Connection gallery will be available for purchase online. The student-run retail art gallery is located at 117 N. Water Street in downtown Decatur and the artwork is created by students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. "We are a retail gallery, dependent on sales in order to stay open, so please think of us when you are looking for that special gift, acquiring new art, redecorating, looking for young artists to provide you a new look or trying to connect with that classmate who was a talented artist while you were in school," says Manager Jamie Niess Kotewa '01. Have questions or comments? Contact Jamie by e-mail or by phone at 217-420-6766.

HAWK SOARS AT FINALS.
May grad Angie Hawk of Decatur finished second in the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Also achieving All-American status at the championships were Kapricia Poulos of Glenview and Lance Brooks of New Berlin, Ill. MORE

THINKING GLOBALLY AND LOCALLY.
A Millikin professor's second book provides business management strategies for success in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing global business environment. MORE
In other book news, a professor emeritius has published his fifth book; it is his second on the topic of Decatur's history. MORE

ALUMNI THEATRE COMPANY SHINES.
The Infamous Commonwealth Theatre Company, headed by alumna Genevieve Hurst Thompson '99 and comprised of an ensemble mainly of Millikin theatre alums, received three Jeff Awards (Chicago's Tony Award) for their work on "The Kentucky Cycle." Specifically, the company received best director awards for Genevieve and Jason Kae '98, best ensemble and best production of a play. Another member of the production, Stephen Dunn '96, was also nominated for an award. "These awards put Infamous Commonwealth in the prestigious company of Steppenwolf, Bailiwick, The Goodman, and other well-established Chicago Theatre companies," says Thetare & Dance Department Chair Barry Pearson, who was recently named interim dean of the College of Fine Arts, effective July 1. MORE

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE THEY COME!
About 500 undergraduates and 25 graduate students received their degrees during commencement ceremonies held May 20 and 21. The class of 2006 is expected to continue the university ’s tradition of a successful transition into careers and graduate school. Ninety-nine percent of last year’s graduating class found employment or went on to continue their education within six months of graduation. (At left, several graduates are led on a farewell evening tour of the rooftop of Shilling Hall shortly before commencement.) MORE
Retiring Professor Carolyn Likins also was recognized during the commencement ceremony. MORE

TRIVIAL MATTERS.
Are you ready for this month's trivia contest? Put on your thinking caps, as Grandma would say, and give us your best guess.

Years ago, students would go to the rooftop of Shilling Hall in the evenings. What were they doing there?
A. Observation. Student monitors would stay on the roof all night in shifts, watching campus for signs of vandals and mischief makers.
B. Dancing. Student dances were held on the roof and in the clock tower room just below it.
C. Astronomy. Faculty would teach about the stars using telescopes mounted on the roof.
D. Sparking. That's what Grandma called it, anyway. Before your imagination runs wild, you should probably know that they also called it courting back in those innocent days.

Send your guess to alumnews@millikin.edu, and be sure to include your name and address. Five winners will be selected from a random drawing of all who respond correctly, and each will receive a prize! 

Last month's winners --

Kate Langmeyer '04
Kathy Beer Alan '89
Lisa Watkins Gangloff '81
Amy Richardson '05
Lindsay Lientz '91

Each won an MU write-on, wipe-off board for correctly guessing last month that communication is not a major offered through Millikin's PACE program.