Maroon & Gold
August 30, 2019




A Note From Home.....
 
What a joy it is to be back starting my 31st year working "neath the Elms!" I love this time of year when students have returned and the campus is bustling with activity. The official launch of the academic year began with Opening Convocation where 189 new students dropped their ivy into the Eureka College basket, becoming official members of our college community. These new students have come to us from Illinois, Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington as well as China and Japan. Although it's been decades since I was a freshman here, I can still feel all the emotions that come with this first week of classes:  the panic of transition turning to excitement and later relief as friendships are made and the routine of class settles in. 
 
Here in the Alumni Office we are busy preparing for Football Season which is right around the corner.  We are excited to be hosting two evening games starting with the 8th Annual Lincoln Bowl squaring off against Knox College at McKinzie Field on Saturday, September 7. The following weekend we celebrate the 100th birthday of Legendary Coach Leo Traister and honor our football alumni as the Red Devils host MacMurray. We hope you will join us for one of these exciting events this Fall. It will be great to have you back on campus! 

Shellie Schwanke '87
Director of Alumni Relations
Dr. Logsdon's "Stories Beneath the Elms" Continue...
Dr. Loren Logsdon '58

Dr. Loren Logsdon, Professor Emeritus of English, AKA Gort Rumson, Maroon and Gold's roving reporter, has captured the spirit of Eureka College history in a special project he fondly calls the "Studs Terkel Project."  If you have a story that speaks to the  "Spirit of Eureka," contact Dr. Logsdon at fldhand@mtco.com

This month's edition features another installment of  
Locked in the Furnace Room
Join us for the 8th annual Lincoln Bowl! 
Eureka College Red Devils
                vs
Knox College Prairie Fire
 
Pete FioRito Stadium at McKinzie Field
September 7, 2019  │  Kickoff at 6 p.m.

Attention President Circle Members!
You are invited to join the Alumni/Development Office for a pre-game tailgate party starting at 4:30 p.m. on Reagan Complex South Lawn.  

RSVP by September 5 to  alumni@eureka.edu  or call 877-892-7823. 

Not a President's Circle member? Contact the Development Office and find out how you can join and receive invitations to exclusive events throughout the year. 
Eureka College Women's Board to Host Quarter Auction Fundraiser

  EUREKA - The Eureka College Women's Board is hosting a quarter auction fundraiser at the Eureka Christian Church on Monday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.  More than 40 raffle items valued at $10-$100 will be raffled off for quarters to raise money for the Eureka College Women's Board. 

The doors open at 5 p.m. and the bidding will begin at 6.  Admission is $3 and will include one paddle. Additional paddles are available for $2. There will also be door prizes handed out and food and drinks available for purchase.
 
Participants  can come early to see which items will be available for bidding, are encouraged to bring a bunch of quarters, and invite anyone they would like to join them.

For more information, contact Susan Bressner at 309-360-4555 or  susan@bressner.net.
 
EC's Women's Board has contributed over $250,000 in support of projects at Eureka College. Since 1977, the focus of the Eureka College Women's Board has remained steady, "to promote goodwill for Eureka College and to enrich and enhance the life of the College."
Doc Traister's 100th Birthday and  Football Alumni Appreciation Day is September 14!

Calling All Footb all Alumni! We appreciate you!
Coach Leo "Doc" Traister will celebrate his 100th birthday on September 9.  You are invited to come and celebrate with your fellow f ootball alumni Doc's 100th birthday at the Se ptember 14th football game.  
 
Date:  September 14  
Place:  McKinzie Field
Time: Game 6 p.m.
Tailgate Party on Reagan Lawn from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
We will sing "Happy Birthday and serve Doc's favorite cupcakes at 5:30 p.m. 
RSVP by September 6 at alumni@eureka.edu  or by calling 877-892-7823.
 
The Traister Family would like to invite alumni and friends to a reception celebrating Doc on September 8 from 2-4 p.m. at the Eureka Apostolic Christian Home, 610 W Cruger Ave, Eureka, IL 61530.  RSVP to Carol Cooper by text at 815.953.1336. 
 
Eureka College Partnerships Announced
This month, the College announced two more partnerships with regional institutions of Higher Education. Click the links below for details on the ways Eureka is serving students in our community.  
Eureka College and ICC Partner to Help Students Achieve Degrees                 
Distinguished Mentors Among Us
Do you have a faculty or staff member who made a difference in your life? Make a gift in their honor and support the Distinguished Mentor Award.  
The Eureka College Distinguished Mentor Award was created to recognize and reward the efforts that our faculty and staff make every day. It does this by formally acknowledging the efforts of these individuals and by providing them with $1,000 award. 
With only $6000 left to fully fund the award, generous alum Reggie Sey '13 has offered to match the first $2,000 donated. 
Make your gift online today and honor your mentors!  HERE 
Fall 2019 Sporting Events at Home and Away

 School is back in session and our student athletes are back on the playing field. Why not take in a game either at home or away and cheer on the team! Send us a photo of you there and we will post it on our Alumni/Development Facebook page. Just email the photo to alumni@eureka.edu and show your Red Devil Pride!
Schedules are below: 
          Football    Volleyball    Soccer (W)    Soccer (M) 
Burgess Hall Art Gallery Presents
September 2- October 19, 2019
Meet the artist: October 18, 2019 3-5pm
National Park Project  
" The National Park Project" exhibit will feature several pieces including some of Shadur's smaller works and some of her art from Iceland.  Shadur shares,  "It'll primarily be the four very large works that I've completed. They're very detailed so they take a long time. Right now the large paintings are based on Bryce Canyon, Glacier, Zion and Theodore Roosevelt national parks.  "Each painting looks like a map of the park. Within the confines of the map as sort of a background there are paintings that include historical photographs, text from well-known conservationists and often depictions of industry or something that is threatening the park."
Eureka College Announced 2019 Hall of Fame Class
 Four former Red Devil greats and the 1997 volleyball team have been selected for induction into the Eureka College Athletics Hall of Fame.

They are Caitlynn Eeten Bane '14, Deb Kessinger Coffman '93, Mark Lessen '13 and Nicole Smith Tennison '98, and they'll soon officially join the ranks of EC's most accomplished student-athletes.

In addition, the 1993-94 men's basketball team will be recognized at the ceremony and football game to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the squad's national championship.

For the full story click HERE.
That wonderful time of year is in our sights! Eureka College's Homecoming Weekend is scheduled for October 18-19, 2019. Homecoming has become a tradition that is NOT to be missed! Our traditions continue to evolve and the atmosphere just keeps getting more festive with open houses, the bonfire, tailgating, a new fall festival, royalty, the big GAME, and the 5th Quarter after party! Don't miss this opportunity to come home and join the fun!
 
Friday, October 18
8 a.m.- 7 p.m.     
Melick Library Book Sale
11:30 a.m.          
Homecoming Convocation, Becker Auditorium
Special guest comments will be made by 2019 Outstanding Young Alumnus, Travis Wilcoxen '05.
12:30- 3 p.m.
Carnivale Student Festival, Burrus Dickinson Lawn.
All alumni are welcome to join in the fun on Friday afternoon as students enjoy homecoming festival activities.
3-5 p.m.
Burgess Hall Art Gallery Presents "The National Park Project"  Meet and Greet with artist, Beth Shadur 
5:30-7 p.m.
VIP Reception for President Circle Members, Burgess Art Gallery, 3rd Floor of Burgess Hall.
(To inquire about becoming a President's Circle member, contact the Development Office at 877-892-7823.)
5 - 7 p.m.                     
Black Alumni Association Open House, Gammon Room of Melick Library.  (All Alumni Welcome)
6:30-8 p.m .                     
Reagan Alumni Open House, Jacob House, 207 Campus Street.
8-9 p.m.                 
Bonfire and Homecoming Happening Pep Rally, Burgess Gravel Parking Lot

Saturday, October 19
9-4 p.m.          
Cerf Center Burgoo, Bookstore Open
9:30-2:30 p.m.          
Melick Library Book Sale Continues
10-11:30 a.m.         
Alumni Board Open House, Ben Major Lounge
11 a.m.           
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Reagan Arena
12 noon
Tailgate Area Opens Along Reagan Southwest Lawn with Food Truck fare by Trailin' Smoke BBQ, Papa Murphy's Pizza by the slice, Deep Fried Delights, Wayne's Kettlecorn and Lemonade Shake Ups, Gramma Nana's Kitchen Sweets, Sodexo Gumbo and Jambalaya. Music provided by ZA Funk! 
NEW! 12-2 p.m.     
Homecoming Family Festival
Bring the family out for this our first Homecoming Festival taking place on the Football Practice Field adjacent the Softball Field and Tailgating in the East Reagan parking lot. There will be  Student & Community Booths, a photo booth and novelty attractions for the whole family.
2 p.m.
Reagan Alumni Tailgate Gathering adjacent to Alumni Tailgate
2 p.m. - 3rd Quarter                     
Children's Area Open with attractions by Fun on the Run and the Unique Twist, Tennis Courts, weather permitting. Rain site: Reagan Arena     
3:30 p.m.
Pre-game festivities begin
4 p.m.
Kick Off
7-8:30 p.m.         
5th Quarter Party at Chanticleer (All Alumni Welcome) 

Drop us an email at alumni@eureka.edu and let us know if you will be joining us for this great weekend! 
Join Eureka College Alumni at  The Barn III in Goodfield, IL for  
 
Drawing from their ten years of holiday revues, The Best of the Barn Christmas features their most popular musical and comedy performances to get you in the holiday spirit. It will be the ideal seasonal outing to celebrate with family and friends in our brand new Barn. The music will range from secular to sacred, including their own wonderful renditions of some holiday classics. Hilarious sketches will have you laughing till you cry, and the audience participation opportunities will put you in the center of the action!

Details are below:
Date: December 5, 2019; Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from 6:30-7:30p.m.  Show begins at 8 p.m. 
Tickets: $45.00 per person 
Call the Alumni Office to reserve your tickets at 877-892-7823 or email us at alumni@eureka.edu. Payment must be made at the time of the reservation.
 


Share Your News
We are always looking for news from you about what you are up to!  New job? Recently married? New baby? Retiring? Send it to us!
Here is our monthly collection of photos of alumni we have interacted with on campus and on the road.

  
Visit the site at   shopecgear.com  and show your EC Pride!  
 
Introducing the Eureka College Connect App
Experience Eureka! The Eureka College app is designed for students, alumni and friends of Eureka College to stay engaged with the campus community! Keep up to date on the latest campus news, or find an alumni event to attend near you. You can subscribe to the alumni calendar, academic calendar and student engagement calendars, use Geo Awareness to "check-in" at locations upon arrival and utilize push notifications for campus- and community-wide communications.   Go to the App store and download  Eureka College Connect today!     


Shop at  smile.amazon.com  and AmazonSmile 
donates to Eureka College. 
 
You shop. Amazon donates.
 
The Ties that Bind
As alumni we remain connected to Eureka College and committed to its mission learning, service and leadership. What better way to demonstrate our commitment to our alma mater than to support current students through our time, talent and treasure? One way to do this can be to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students in the form of mentorships, internships and job shadowing. If this is a way that you would like to give back, click HERE and let us know. Your gift of opportunity for professional experience may launch a student future.  Questions? Contact our career services director, Kelly Bay at kbay@eureka.edu.  
Bell
Check out the Eureka College Blog
There are thousands of stories that center on this incredible place. Technology has now brought storytelling to a new medium, "The Blog." Eureka's Blog has inspiring stories about students, alumni, donors and the many virtues of life here 'Neath the Elms. These stories can be found on our web page at   HERE . 

What is your story? I encourage you to share it with us, and perhaps it will be a feature on our Blog or as an entry in Dr. Logsdon's 'Neath the Elms series that appears here in the Maroon and Gold. Send us your stories to  alumni@eureka.edu and don't forget to include a photo. We are eager to hear from you! 
Recommend Eureka to a Student You Know!
Do you know a recent high school graduate who hasn't yet decided where to go to school this fall?  
How about that student who just earned her associates degree and wants to pursue a bachelors program? 
Or maybe you know a current high school student who would make a great Red Devil? 
Now is the time to encourage these students to check out Eureka College. Share your memories with them. Encourage them to see campus for themselves. 

If you have a student who would be a great addition to the student body, click HERE to make your recommendation or email   admissions@eureka.edu if you have a student who would be a great addition to the student body! 

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