Calendar of Events

Monday, Feb. 19
On campus - Campus visit day for prospective students.

Sunday, Feb. 25
On campus - Andy Bayles and Maria McDaniel, both '03, return to their alma mater to give a 4 p.m. guest recital at Kaueper Hall in Perkinson Music Center. Both are doing graduate work in vocal music at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Friday, March 2
Decatur - After 5 Live at Blue Connection gallery, 4:30-7 p.m., free and open to the public.

Saturday, March 3
Decatur - The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra in concert with the Millikin Union of Choirs at 7:30 p.m. at Kikrland Fine Arts Center. MORE

March 7-10
Miami - Quite an honor: The University Choir at Millikin University has been selected to sing at the national conference of the American Choral Director's Association (ACDA) March 7-10, 2007 in Miami. MORE

Sunday, March 11
Elgin, Ill. - The award-winning jazz vocal ensemble OneVoice performs at 2 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. Free tickets will be available to the public by Monday, Feb. 26, and can be picked up at the library, or call Miriam Lytle at 847-608-5027 to have tickets reserved. A reception will immediately follow the performance.

Saturday, March 24
Decatur - Penguin in the Park 5K run and one-mile, non-competitive walk. A 10:30 a.m. awards ceremony will feature running expert and motivational speaker John Bingham '70 of Runner's World magazine. Other highlights include a post-race party in Richards Treat University Center. Alumni, students, faculty and staff receive a discount if they register by March 17. For complete details, click here.

Thursday, March 29
Decatur - Join the Millikin CIA (Central Illinois Alumni) for a wine and cheese party. Owners of The Decanter, a new wine shop in Decatur, will host a wine-tasting party from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Millikin Homestead. Co-owner Kevin Graham '76, Millikin's director of counseling services, will share his expertise on wines. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. Cost is $15 per person; RSVP by March 22. Call the alumni and development office at 217-424-6383 for details.

Saturday, May 5
On campus - Join the Millikin CIA (Central Illinois Alumni) for the Millikin Theatre and Dance production of "A Chorus Line" at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Come early for "One Singular Sensation," the exclusive pre-theatre party for MCIA members, in the Fireplace Room in Richards Treat University Center. Cost is $30 per person and includes pre-party admission and a theatre ticket. Ticket packages will be available through the Kirkland Box Office at 217-424-6318.

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

Saturday, Aug. 11
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 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. 12
Chicago's Grant Park- 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. Join us for a gear check for MU friends and alumni, and goodies after the race in the MU tent. Cost to register for the race is $55 in advance; Millikin alumni and friends receive a $5 discount using the code MU07.

Sunday, Aug. 12 , 2007
St. Louis - Join us for Millikin Day at Busch Stadium as the St. Louis Cardinals (AKA the 2006 World Series Champions) take on the LA Dodgers at 1:15 p.m. The seats are in section 259 with access to the Bank of America Clubhouse. Your tickets include an all-you-can-eat buffet, plus free beverages of the adult and non-adult variety. Cost is $90 per person; limit of 6 tickets per Millikin constituent. Less than 100 tickets are available, so call today to reserve yours! Toll Free: 1-877-JMU-ALUM

Oct. 5-7, 2007
on campus - Save the date for Homecoming 2007. Each year, outstanding alumni are recognized at Homecoming with alumni awards and induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominate a deserving alum for recognition today.

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.

Click here for the complete calendar of upcoming events.

Hot links

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

FREE MU desktop wallpaper
for your computer.

Big Blue wedding album.
New photos just added! 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
First Step Records
Millikin bookstore 

Tell prospective Millikin students to become members of the Big Blue VIP program! They will receive personalized info about admission to Millikin and the programs and activities most important to them. For more info, call 1-800-373-7733, ext.5, or click here to send an e-mail.

Money for school: Did you know the children and grandchildren of MU alumni are eligible to receive a new $1,000 Millikin legacy scholarship, and that children from one family are eligible for a sibling scholarship if more than one is attending MU at the same time? Click here for more details, and clck on the appropriate link for an application form (pdf format). Legacy scholarship
Sibling scholarship

Athletics website. View live play-by-play action and stats during each of the Big Blue's home basketball games. Visit the Millikin's men's or women's basketball website and click on the Live Stats link.

Learn about Millikin history: Staley Library's archives website

All alumni actors, artists, writers, singers, dancers and musicians: You can post or update details of upcoming engagements or releases for the Millikin website. Click here to add your event. Click here to see where your fellow alums are appearing.

A 10-YEAR PROCESS NEARS CONCLUSION.
Millikin enters the final stages of its re-accreditation process with a visit by evaluators from the North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission March 5-7. The university has been accredited by the organization since 1914. MORE

TABOR SENIORS SCORE WELL
ON NATIONWIDE TEST.
Tabor School of Business seniors scored in the 90th percentile on a nationwide test given at more than 500 colleges and universities to assess content knowledge in all the major areas of business. The major field test in business was administered last fall by the nonprofit ETS organization, whose mission is to advance quality and equity in education for all people worldwide. The test questions were designed to measure a student's subject knowledge and the ability to apply facts, concepts, theories and analytical methods. MORE

WE'RE CELEBRATING BIG IDEAS.
Millikin’s Center for Entrepreneurship will be joining in the first national celebration of Entrepreneurship Week USA, Feb. 24-March 3. The week is designed to encourage people to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option and to commemorate this country’s unique culture of resourcefulness. The theme of "What’s Your Big Idea – Take it On" will include events and activities to illustrate how individuals can find success by turning thoughts into actions. MORE

LET'S GIVE THE CANDY MAN A SEAT!
For more than 15 years, Al “The Candy Man” McGlennon has been a fixture at campus theatre and music performances. “Through the years, Al has become a cherished member of the Millikin music and theatre family,” says Jamie Devitt, a member of Alpha Psi Omega honorary dramatic society. APO members, along with those of music fraternities Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, are banding together to raise $1,000 to endow a front-row seat in his name within the newly renovated Albert Taylor Theatre. “We want to show our gratitude by naming a permanent place within the College of Fine Arts department in his honor,” Devitt says. “Alumni donations toward this project, large or small, will help us reach our goal. Thank Al for his years of kindness by giving something back.” Give to this project online or by calling the alumni office toll-free at 1-877-JMU-ALUM. MORE

STUDY IN CHINA THIS MAY ...
EVEN IF YOU'RE NO LONGER A STUDENT.
The Millikin MBA International Study program is offering an opportunity to study in China to current MBA students, MBA alumni and other interested parties from May 6-17. Students will study at Peking University’s Guanghau School of Management, the top-ranked business school in China. MORE

AND SPEAKING OF CHINA ...
Thanks to the combined efforts of co-curators Carolyn Quinlan '62 and Ed Walker '85, chair of Millikin's art department, approximately 200 pieces of Haviland china will be the featured display at Birks Museum beginning March 24.The display, "Haviland Enters the Modern Age" walks viewers through the company's design evolution from 1890 to 1930. Quinlan, a member of the Haviland Collectors International Foundation, has been instrumental in gathering pieces on loan from her fellow collectors for the exhibit. Millikin students are assisting with installation of the display and producing the exhibition catalog.

THE WELCOME MAT'S OUT.
Prospective students and their parents are invited to visit campus during an admission open house on Monday, Feb. 19. MORE

IMMERSE YOURSELF.
Looking for something different to do this summer? There are several summer immersion courses being offered that combine travel with education for a cultural and fulfilling experience. Click here to see the various locations and dates.

THEY WERE READING FOR A REASON.
Last week, Millikin students and faculty joined readers around the world in a reading marathon celebrating African-American literature and literacy. MORE

SAVE THE DATE.
Does your class year end in a 2 or a 7? If so, this is a reunion year for you. Mark your calendar for Homecoming 2007, to be held Oct. 5-7 on campus. Other groups will be celebrating reunions this year, too, so be sure to watch for details in upcoming issues of Out of the Blue and Millikin Quarterly magazine.

PICTURE THIS.
The campus is covered in snow, and another 6-12 inches is predicted for tomorrow. Before we are completely snowed under, we took a few photos of campus exteriors so we'd remember where things were. How's your memory of where things are located at the Big Blue? Test yourself with this month's photo quiz.

Through the years, thousands of students have climbed these steps to enter this campus building. What building is it?

A. Shilling Hall (once known as Liberal Arts Hall)
B. Staley Library
C. Perkinson Music Center (once known as the School of Music building)
D. Gorin Hall

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 --

Tim Irwin '84
Celeste Niehaus '81
Bill Balmer '87
Jeff Stollard '85
Rick Vissering '81

...each won a Millikin luggage tag for correctly guessing that 1983 was the year the university returned to a conventional two-semester calendar, ending the 4-1-4 calendar, including Winter Term.