“Illinois College has provided me with so many opportunities, pre-college, during college and post-college as an alum. My time at IC really gave me the knowledge and the resources to be successful,” Daniel says. “When you get that opportunity to give back to something that’s given you so much, it really is a no-brainer. It’s something you have to do.” 

Daniel’s way of giving back is generous and practical: he shows up with his time and his financial support. As an active member of the Illinois College Varsity Club, a director on the Alumni Association Board, and a leader in the Jacksonville community, Daniel invests his time where it matters most: in students and the young people around him. 

“At the end of the day, Jacksonville is Illinois College and Illinois College is Jacksonville. They are so intertwined,” he explains. “It’s hard not to want to get involved. Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of something bigger?”

This love of community is illustrated in Daniel’s work to co-chair the Prairieland United Way campaign this year, where he is raising funds in support of almost two dozen agencies whose programs serve people in Morgan, Cass, Scott and northern Greene counties. 

His passion for youth athletics is another example. As president of the Jacksonville Soccer Association and Jacksonville Soccer Club, Daniel brings teams of local kids to IC games so they can see collegiate athletics up close. “It’s also really neat to see those student-athletes and how they interact with the kids that come to games. I get goosebumps talking about it, because it is a meaningful sight to see.” 

For Daniel and others who believe in the power of sport, supporting the Varsity Club is another way of showing up. Every gift, no matter the size, helps student-athletes thrive, whether that means a new uniform, updated training gear or simply the confidence that comes from knowing the community is behind them.