For one such alumnus, Wesley Sampias ’15, a journey that began at Illinois College led him on a path to being awarded a Fulbright research grant in Japan earlier this year. Sampias is currently living in Tokyo where he will spend the next year completing his dissertation on the social and cultural impacts of anti-rabies and anti-plague policies in early 20th-century Japan. The research project is a final step in earning his doctorate from the history department at Johns Hopkins University. 

While Sampias credits his master’s program in East Asian literature and culture at the University of Illinois with developing his current research interests in public health, he believes Illinois College laid the broad foundation for his work. His global experiences as an undergraduate included completing a two-week BreakAway to Japan, participation in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, and a semester studying abroad in Japan. 

“Without my experiences at IC, I would not be where I am right now,” Sampias said. “I think in particular, the feedback I received from my professors as an undergraduate was really valuable in beginning to understand how the craft of being a historian works.” 

Sampias originally didn’t think Illinois College would be a good fit. He saw the transition from high school to college as an opportunity to grow more independent and goal-oriented as a scholar. He worried that it would be difficult to forge his own path if he chose his parents’ alma mater located less than an hour from his hometown of Chatham, Illinois. 

His parents, Sandy Miller Sampias ’83 and the late Bill Sampias ’81, had only one request of him and his siblings as they made their college decisions — visit the Jacksonville campus where they met. Sampias’ opinion of the Hilltop campus changed after taking that tour and connecting with welcoming faculty. He recalls there was a special “charm” to the small, student-centered community that he did not find in other places. 

“I was not a great student in high school. I probably didn’t pay attention as much as I should have,” he said. “The individualized attention I found at IC was critical for my growth and getting to where I am today.” 

Sampias began his journey at Illinois College with an interest in following a pre-med track, but that soon fizzled. As he was able to take a range of classes, his passion for studying East Asian history — always a hobby in high school — became his focus. 

“That interest in history was always there,” he said. “But I didn’t have the opportunity to learn formally about Japan or China to the depth that I hoped in high school. I had to do it by myself. When I went to IC and had the opportunity to explore these cultures more, I jumped on it.” 

Despite his close proximity to home, Sampias maintained his resolve to embrace campus life, traveling home only once during his first year. He also embraced the deep connections that Illinois College has to Japan to begin exploring global travel. 

“IC’s strong international relationships made the process of studying abroad very easy,” Sampias said. “One of the things I appreciate about Illinois College was the effort made to connect students on campus to the Japanese exchange students, especially in the language courses. By the time that I went to Japan, I had already established a network.” 

Through his involvement in the JET Program, Sampias was able to both tutor Japanese students and to practice his own language skills. Reflecting back on those years, he recognizes the value of the BreakAway program for students in any field. The program makes global travel more accessible and affordable — every student at IC is eligible for $1,000 of funding to put toward a trip that lasts about two weeks and focuses on an interdisciplinary topic ranging from environmental science to economics. 

“I’m glad to see the BreakAway program has continued to evolve. It paid dividends for me to have a chance to experience Japan before I went for an entire semester,” he said. “That alleviated some of what otherwise would have been culture shock and potentially a lack of understanding about what it would be like.” 

As he settles in to complete his research through the Fulbright grant, Sampias is focused on exploring complex systems and how things that happened in the past impact groups today. Once he completes the program at Johns Hopkins, he hopes to continue his career working in academia. 

“I would like to have a faculty position where I can teach and continue to research,” he said. 

Sadly, Wesley’s father Bill, who along with his mother encouraged his path at Illinois College, passed away in spring 2024. Bill’s legacy lives on at his alma mater with the establishment of the Bill Sampias ’81 Endowed Scholarship Fund which will allow generations of students like his son to discover transformative experiences at Illinois College. 

“It means so much to me that we now have a scholarship in my dad’s name. He loved his time at IC. He made lifelong friends, had many adventures, and most importantly, met my mom. He would be ecstatic to have a scholarship in his name that helps support students receive an education, make lifelong friends, and experience the best of what college can offer.”