DECATUR, Ill. – When Quartus Rassi arrived on Millikin University’s campus for the first time, it was a cold February visit driven by practicality more than certainty.
A high school cross-country runner from Darien, Ill., Rassi was looking for a place where he could continue his athletic career and earn a strong business education. What he found was something far more transformative.
“I came to Millikin for athletics and an education,” Rassi told graduates during his Winter Commencement address. “I stayed for the people.”
A Business Management major in Millikin’s Tabor School of Business, Rassi graduated this winter after fully immersing himself in the Millikin experience – both inside and outside the classroom. As a long-distance runner for the Big Blue Cross Country and Track and Field teams, he competed in the 5K, 8K and 10K races and served as a team captain, helping foster a culture of commitment and camaraderie among teammates.
But athletics was only the beginning.
Determined to grow beyond what felt familiar, Rassi challenged himself to say “yes” to opportunities that pushed him socially, academically, and professionally. He became a managing partner with Millikin University Performance Consulting (MUPC), where he worked with fellow students to provide consulting services to local businesses and nonprofits. Some of the most meaningful projects, he said, were those that created direct impact in the Decatur community, including work with organizations like Reasonable Service and Block by Block, now part of Northeast Community Fund.
“That was really special, getting to see a direct impact on the Decatur community,” Rassi said, reflecting on the hands-on nature of Performance Learning at Millikin.
Rassi also served as a Resident Assistant in Dolson Hall, a Welcome Week Student Experience Ambassador (SEA), and Vice President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, experiences that strengthened his leadership skills and broadened his sense of responsibility to others. Through fraternity involvement, he connected with the organization at the national level, attending leadership conferences and serving as a national ambassador.
In his Winter Commencement speech, Rassi spoke about the chaos and challenge that sometimes came with being deeply involved – late-night RA calls, early-morning practices, and the constant balancing act of leadership roles. Yet those moments shaped his core philosophy.
“Commitment multiplies opportunity,” he told his fellow graduates. “Every time I said ‘yes’ to something that scared me, every time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I discovered something new about myself.”
That mindset carried into his professional development as well. Rassi completed internships in both corporate and industrial settings, including a workplace protection internship with State Farm and a human resources internship with Nortrak, a railroad manufacturing company in Decatur. After graduation, he will remain in the area for a seasonal role with Sikich while continuing his search for a long-term career opportunity.
Throughout his Millikin journey, resilience became a defining theme – one he returned to in his commencement address. He spoke openly about failure, self-doubt, and the moments when leaning on others made all the difference.
As he steps beyond Millikin’s campus, Rassi leaves with confidence grounded in experience – leadership skills sharpened through service, friendships forged through shared challenges, and a belief that initiative and community are the keys to lasting success.
“Without a doubt, I gave this campus my all,” he said. “Now, let’s go give the world our all.”
