Marriages
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Dr. Clare Zimmerman ’11
and Brian Atlas May 24, 2020.
Marriages
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Taylor Molandro Koksie ’14
married Eric Koksie in Chicago on September 4, 2021.
In Memoriam
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Jim Reilly ’67,
a top debate team member and student journalist during his time at IC, went on to have a successful decades-long career in public service, leaving his mark on Chicago and on Illinois state government. Reilly was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of both Illinois College and the University of Chicago Law School. On the Hilltop, he became editor of The Rambler as a sophomore and was elected Student Forum President, in addition to being an active member and leader in Phi Alpha, Pi Kappa Delta forensic fraternity, Hilltopper drama group, IC’s Young Republicans chapter and being named in “Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges.” He was also on one of the most successful debate teams in College history. As a first-year, he was on a two-man team with John Betonte ’64 that, at a tournament, defeated debaters from Harvard University twice and won seven out of eight rounds against some of the largest universities in the country.
After graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 1972, Reilly practiced law in Jacksonville and served as city attorney for three years. He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1976 and went on to run three more times, serving in a number of important committee roles and sponsoring the Illinois Human Rights Act and Emergency Medical Services Act, among other legislative accomplishments. Reilly stepped down from his House duties in 1983 to serve as general counsel to Gov. James R. Thompson. Within a year, he became Thompson’s chief of staff and eventually, in 1987, was tapped to be Thompson’s deputy governor. He returned to Springfield in 1993 to serve as Gov. Jim Edgar’s chief of staff.
Outside of his career in state government, Reilly led multiple important Chicago organizations through expansions and challenges in the 1990s and 2000s. He served as chief executive of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which oversees McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and later became a trustee of the organization and a life trustee on Navy Pier’s Board of Directors; led the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau; was chairman of Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority; and served as chairman of the Illinois Capital Development Board.
Reilly was involved in numerous civic and community organizations and had many philanthropic interests throughout his life, including his continued support for Illinois College and organizations serving the Jacksonville community. He was the first recipient of the College’s Young Alumnus Award in 1981 and was awarded a Distinguished Service Citation in 1987, and served as president-elect and president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Reilly is survived by his wife of 30 years, M. Veronica Lynch. He was 77 when he died April 4, 2022.
Updates
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Dr. Rebecca Vortman ’05
was elected to serve on the AORN Board.
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Steven Snyder ’04
had a second book published, "Woke, Banned, Censored & Canceled." It's a compilation of research, news stories, articles and commentary on the "war on everything" in culture.
Updates
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Scott Stewart ’02
had his final day as executive director of the Millennium Park Foundation. He is going to the Dallas, Texas, area to serve as the executive director of Frisco Hall Park Foundation at the Communities Foundation of Texas.
Updates
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Dan Wright ’01
was appointed to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Updates
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Evan Wilson ’01
has been promoted to associate vice president of enrollment management at Illinois College.
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Jennifer Travis Quast ’01
has been promoted to director of brand marketing for kid’s portfolio (Pebbles & Honeycomb) at Post Consumer Brands.
Updates
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Bill Cunningham ’96
retired from the US Army after 24 years of service and now resides in O’Fallon, Illinois. He is employed at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Lara Drummond White ’95
works for realtruck.com as a category merchandiser.
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Carrie McCrary Ward ’91
was named by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission. Ward is the chief executive officer of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, where she works with legislators at the state and federal level to improve the policies and resources available to survivors of sexual assault.
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Kris Williams Houser ’91
received the industry-respected Certification in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) designation through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI University.
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Selena Elledge ’91
was promoted to director at Sikich LLP in Springfield.
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Luiz Guimarães ’91
took on the role of regional director of services and innovation at ERM.
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Chris Skinner ’88
retired from Jersey Unit #100 after 34 years of teaching and 33 years of coaching.
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Jim Spradlin ’82
retired as GROWMARK’s chief executive officer in 2022 .
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Seena Larkins-Friend ’81
retired at the end of January 2022.
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Suzanne Stone Hembrough ’78
retired from 41 years of teaching science kindergarten through graduate school.
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Dan Foth ’77
was promoted to director of the Certified Public Manager Program and local government specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Updates
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Heather Harlan ’76
began a new position as a health educator with Columbia/Boone County Health Department focusing on adult mental health and opioid response.
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Janet Williams Chipman ’75
has received First National Bank of Arenzville’s Blue Diamond Community Service Award for 2021 for her volunteer work in the community and her dedication to education.
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Dan Weinberger ’74,
his deli located in Grapevine, Texas, was named best Deli in Texas by Smart News. This is the third time Weinberger’s Deli has been named best in Texas, once by Eat This Not That and MSN.