EIU Homecoming Booklet 2022

HOMECOMING SCHEDULE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10

Hoco Senior Activities Kits, Hilltop Nursing Home

Homecoming Kickoff, Library Quad, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Homecoming Coronation, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

Faculty/Staff Blue-B-Que, Doudna Main Concourse, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Spirit Games, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 7 - 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12

Family Fun Night, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 5 - 7 p.m.

Cosmic Bowling Mixer I, EIU Bowling Lanes, MLK Jr. Union, 7 - 9 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13

Homecoming Skating Party, University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 7 - 9 p.m.

Cosmic Bowling Mixer II, EIU Bowling Lanes, MLK Jr. Union, 7 - 9 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

50th Alumni Reunion (Class of 1972), University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Block Party, O’Brien Field Parking Lot, 7 - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

Rotary Pancake Breakfast, Dirty’s Parking Lot, 6:30 - 10 a.m.

24th Annual 2.5KRace/Walk, Starts in front of Old Main, 9 a.m.

Homecoming Parade, 7th and Division Streets, 9:30 a.m.

Tailgate/Tent City, Behind O’Brien Field, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

EIU Football Vs. Lindenwood Lions, O’Brien Field, 2 p.m.

EIU Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner, Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union, 6 p.m.

ALL WEEK

+ Billy in the Schools (Oct. 3 - 6)

+ Selfie Fridays (Sept. 30, Oct. 7 & 14)

+ Big Blue Give! – Food Pantry Drive

+ Golf Cart Trivia

+ Spirit Cup Challenge

+ Paint the Town Blue!

EIU PRESIDENT GLASSMAN’S WELCOME MESSAGE

Greetings, everyone!

I would like to welcome you to Eastern Illinois University, and to our beautiful campus! We are extremely excited to have you, and I hope you, your family, friends, parents, fellow alumni, and students enjoy all of EIU’s Homecoming festivities this fall.

EIU prides itself on creating a fun, entertaining, and inclusive environment where every one can come together to celebrate their connection to our wonderful university. It is my hope that you all have a fantastic experience here at EIU, and that you enjoy all the amazing events and celebrations we have planned for EIU’s Homecoming Weekend.

Please take time to look through the Homecoming information available here. You’ll find details about specific Homecoming events EIU has planned, as well as important informa tion about this year’s Homecoming game against the Lindenwood Lions, which will prove to be another fierce Ohio Valley Conference competition.

Once again, we are delighted to have you join us, and to celebrate the great relationships we have with our beloved university and each other. I am so proud know you are all mem bers of our growing EIU Family, and I encourage you to tell everyone you can about the great experiences EIU has to offer our students, families, and community.

If you happen to see me on campus this weekend, please feel free to introduce yourself and say hello! And as always…

“Fight on for Eastern, come on Panthers let’s win this game!”

Blue through and through, Dr. David Glassman President, Eastern Illinois University

PARADE GRAND MARSHALL LIBBY MURRAY

Murray, a 1970 education graduate, has a passion for EIU and the Charleston community. A former cheerleader, member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and the 1970 EIU Homecoming queen, Murray has remained an active supporter of her alma mater as a member of the EIU Alumni Association and the Panther athletics Sixth Man Club. Murray was a former pre-school and kindergarten teacher and a Sunday School teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Church. A lifelong Charleston resident, Murray has served as a leader for the Charleston CAN Community Organization; a Youth Alive leader at Charles ton High School; an original member of the Charleston Food Pantry board; and a member for the Coalition for People in Need. She is married to Mike Murray, EIU associate athletic director for development. She has three chil dren and six grandchildren.

PRINCE CANDIDATES

LORD & LADY

LIL’ PRINCE

& PRINCESS

FROM THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT

Panthers,

I am overjoyed to officially welcome you all to Homecoming 2022. Home coming is my favorite time of the year because Panthers on campus and in Charleston community are showing their EIU Spirit! This is a special time that brings current students and alumni together to celebrate what makes EIU so special to all of us. Now that Homecoming is here, it is time to paint the town blue with our Panther Pride.

I want to thank the Student Life Office, the Homecoming Committee, and University Board for working tirelessly to make this time as special as it can be. I know you have all put in so much hard work to make sure that Home coming is a success. I applaud you all for everything that you have done!

I am excited to make sure that this homecoming is the best yet. I look for ward to meeting with as many students, faculty, staff, and alumni as pos sible this week. All of your unique EIU experiences help show how special EIU is to all of us even those who will not be with us this week. I cannot wait to see all of you at all the Homecoming events. Let us celebrate, cre ate memories, and make our mark on EIU’s history.

CHARLESTON MAYOR’S LETTER

Friends, Parents, & Alums:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to my hometown, Charleston-home of Eastern Illinois University. We hope you enjoy the many Homecoming festivities available to you this weekend.

Since 1895, EIU has been a part of Charleston, which makes our City a unique blend of rural and cultural activities, sporting events, beautiful and historic architecture and great people. Many of Charleston’s inhabitants came here as students, faculty, or related family and have ended up spend ing a lifetime here.

Having a university with an enrollment totaling nearly one-third of the City’s population provides an air of youthfulness that extends throughout our com munity. Additionally, the employees and staff of EIU play a significant role in our local economy.

If you are here to visit a student, we hope you will find the experience warm, inviting, and full of memories. In addition, those of you returning as Alums, re-living those golden college days gone by, already know that once you become a part of Charleston, Charleston becomes a part of your life forever.

We are proud of our community. Thanks for being here and we hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit. Be sure to return soon.

HOMECOMING COORDINATOR’S WELCOME MESSAGE

Welcome EIU Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni to Eastern Illinois University Homecoming Week 2022! On behalf of the EIU community we are excited to present “Bring the Beat Back! Homecoming 2022” scheduled to take place October 10th - October 15th. This year’s Homecoming celebrations will showcase school pride, competitions, giveaways, and campus traditions. Our goal is to get students back out on campus. As this year’s Homecoming Coordinators, I am honored to witness the EIU school pride that will be displayed throughout campus this year!

Throughout the week of Homecoming, we have 20 scheduled events and activities for students, faculty/staff, community members and alumni to enjoy. We are bringing back some of our Homecoming traditions - the crowning of EIU Royalty, Rush Hour Kick-off, Golf Cart Trivia, Family Fun Night, Bowling Night, F/S Blue-B-Que, Class Reunions, Distinguished Alums Dinner, Pancake Breakfast, 2.5k Race/Walk, Parade, and the Football Tailgate/Game! We also have two brand-new event – skating party and our Homecoming Block Party- we hope everyone enjoys it.

EIU Alumni: I am honored to welcome you back to campus! We hope you have the best time back and that all those great memories you made here come flooding back during EIU’s 2022 Homecoming! To our Faculty and Staff: I want to express our love and appreciation for all that you do for our fellow students in and out of the classroom. To current EIU students: I hope you enjoy everything we have worked so hard to offer you this week. I would also like to thank the Charleston community for the endless support that you show our campus. We thank you for helping us “Paint the Town Blue” and showing the communities pride for EIU! Lastly, I want to give a huge shout-out to the 2022 Steering Committee, without you guys this would not be possible. You have been a pleasure to work with. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication you have put into make EIU Homecoming 2022 possible. Thank you everyone for your support and Happy Homecoming!!!

LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome current students, alumni, friends of Eastern Illinois University, and our Eastern colleagues to Homecoming 2022! As we gather together, we celebrate the theme “Bring the Beat Back.” While, admittedly, I can certainly relate to the boom box depicted in the Homecoming logo, this theme also reminds me how grateful I am to see, hear, and fully experience the vibrancy of our campus again. What a gift it is to gather together to watch the pa rade, share lunch in Tent City, root the Panthers on to victory at athletic events, sing the fight song and alma mater with the Panther Marching Band, and cheer with the EIU Cheer Team and Pink Panthers – all Homecoming traditions that have united Panthers for generations!

As we gather this week, countless stories will be shared, stories about the professors, staff, friends, and experiences that have made, and continue to make, EIU a special place that positively impacts lives. I wish you much joy as you share your own stories and listen to the stories of others. Welcome home!

With Panther pride, Anne Flaherty Vice President for Student Affairs

GOOD LUCK EIU FOOTBALL PANTHERS!

eiu distinguished

2022 congratulations, alumni

award winners

LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIAITON PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow EIU Alumni,

On behalf of the EIU Alumni Association, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to campus! Homecoming is a time to return to EIU and remember the wonderful experiences you have had here throughout the years. Not only is it about the friendships you developed while you were a student, but it is also about remembering the caring and influential faculty and staff members, revisiting your favorite campus places, and reminiscing and sharing your love of EIU with our current students.

The students and staff have been working very hard to provide us with a memorable weekend, and we appreciate all they have done. Saturday morning’s parade will feature floats, bands, candy-throwing students, and the 2022 Alumni Award recipients. After the parade, we extend an invitation to visit the Alumni Tent City tailgate area for a complimentary lunch and to visit with longtime friends and former professors before the 2 p.m. football game against Lindenwood University. This Homecoming, the EIU Alumni Association is also excited to honor a special 50th reunion group – the class of 1972 for their Golden Anniversary of their graduation.

While you’re here, I also encourage you to tour the campus to bring back your fondest memories. Depending on when you last visited, you may see some pleasant surprises that have been added to campus over the past few years.

Once again, thank you so much for joining us this weekend! Best of wishes for an enjoyable Homecoming Weekend and have a safe journey home.

Go Panthers!

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

HENRY DOMERCANT ’03

After a long career of playing professional basketball across the globe, Domercant is now in his second season as the head coach of the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League. He spent 12 years overseas, playing for clubs in Turkey, Greece, Russia and Italy, posting career averages of 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals. Following his final season in Italy, he returned to the US to play with the Idaho Stampede in the Continental Basketball Association. He began his coaching career in 2017 when he joined the staff of the Maine Red Claws. Domercant, a 2009 Panther Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, is the EIU leader in points per game (21.7), total points (2,602), three-pointers made (285) and free throws made (595). The 2002 OVC Player of the Year, he is one of only 11 NCAA Division I players to ever rank in the top five in scoring in the nation in three or more seasons.

J. THOMAS LONG ’72 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Tom was a successful attorney in both public and private practice, concentrating in corporate planning and taxation; business transactions; and business litigation. After graduating from EIU, Tom spent two years in the Army before earning his law degree from Southern Methodist University. In addition to being an attorney, he had many successful business ventures. He was a founder and CEO for Argosy Gaming Company, which had more than $500 million in revenue during his tenure. He also invested in other small businesses with revenues ranging from $2 million to $50 million. Tom had a long history of community involvement and leadership that included serving as the village attorney for Godfrey; serving on the board of directors and was the former president for the Southwestern Illinois Employers’ Association; and serving as chairman of St. Anthony’s Foundation Board and Community Council for OSF St. Anthony’s. Tom proudly served as a volunteer on the advance team for President George W. Bush’s presidential trips to Hungary, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, Poland and Russia. First and foremost was Tom’s love for God and his family. He passed away on January 28, 2022, at the age of 71. Surviving are his wife, three daughters, two sonin-laws, and six grandchildren.

DAWN JOHNSON

Johnson has used her journalism degree to achieve recognition as both a journalist and a lawyer. After being a reporter and editor for the Daily Eastern News, she became an award-winning reporter for her hometown newspaper, the Decatur Herald & Review, until her brother’s death inspired her to attend law school. After graduating from Washington University School of Law, she was a law clerk for a federal judge. She is now a litigation attorney and shareholder with Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. in St. Louis. She leads the Franchising & Distribution group, a team of transactional and litigation attorneys representing clients nationally and internationally. Her practice focuses on helping franchisors and manufacturers resolve disputes in mediation and arbitration forums and in state and federal courts. She has won several awards for her franchise law work. She is on Greensfelder’s Board of Directors, playing a key role in oversight of the firm’s finances, operations and strategic planning, and has served in other firm leadership roles. She has served on several non-profit boards, including The Compassionate Friends for bereaved parents and siblings, Safe Connections for victims of relationship violence, College Summit for underprivileged youth, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation, and Focus St. Louis leadership organization.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

STEVE RICH ’06

Rich retired in June 2022 after a 28-year career at EIU, most recently as assistant vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the EIU Alumni Association. He came to EIU in 1994 as assistant athletic director before becoming director of Alumni Services in 1996. During his tenure the Alumni Association’s assets increased to nearly $3 million and he also assisted with numerous campus projects, including the construction of the Alumni Clock Tower and the Commemorative Courtyard. Facilitating a high level of engagement and outreach, he helped build relationships with alumni and donors across the country while also having responsibility for the annual fund, which consistently exceeded national benchmarks, and the advancement area’s award-winning CRM system. Rich assisted with state and federal government relations for several years, routinely making trips to Springfield and Washington to meet with elected officials on the university’s behalf and was responsible for trademark licensing and brand management initiatives for more than 25 years. He also served a term as president of the International Collegiate Licensing Association, the only individual not from a Power Five or Group of Five conference to serve in that capacity in the organization’s history.

SAL VIVIANO ’82 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Viviano is an award-winning actor and singer with numerous Broadway and off-Broadway credits, as well as appearances in film and television. He made his Broadway debut in 1984 in The Three Musketeers. On tour, he also has starred in City of Angels; The Full Monty; The Pirates of Penzance; Beau Jest; and received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for best actor for his role in Sunday in the Park With George. He won a Broadway World Award for best actor and an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for his work in Closer than Ever. He has performed nearly 600 pops concerts with more than 200 orchestras across the globe, including the National Symphony, San Diego Symphony, The Royal Philharmonic (London) and the Orchestra di Teatro Verdi (Trieste, Italy). The highlight of his television guest appearances is his role as Vincent VanGogh in Disney’s Out of the Box, which won a Parent’s Choice Award. Viviano also has more than 80 recordings, including his solo CD titled The Standards of Love and his most recent title Perfectly Frank – A Century of Sinatra. He has sung the national anthem at New York Mets baseball games for the past 38 years. Viviano has remained an advocate for EIU by contributing his talents to workshops and assisting with the Department of Theatre’s 50th anniversary alumni event.

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR

DEB WILL ’93

Will is the instructional materials center coordinator at Zion-Benton Township High School, where she has been since 2001. She has been a leader in promoting the importance of reading by securing several grants for the school library and arranging author visits to the school. Working with other teachers to adopt more independent reading into the curriculum, the school has seen a dramatic improvement in test scores, which has encouraged school officials to invest further into library resources. Will began her career as an English teacher at Round Lake High School and was then an instructor at Utah State University, teaching undergraduate English courses. She is currently the president for the Association of Illinois School Library Educators and the first president for the Illinois Association of Teachers of English, where she was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award. She also serves as the literacy task force co-chair and substance abuse prevention co-chair for the ZionBenton Coalition for Healthy Communities, where she recruits and trains high school students to be peer educators and drug prevention leaders.

JAMIE ENGE ’11 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Enge is the Regional Director of Postsecondary Success for KIPP Forward: Chicago, where he has been since June 2022. His responsibilities include leading and managing a team of college and career advisors who support high school students in their post-secondary schooling plans. He was previously the director of postsecondary success with OneGoal, a Chicago-based nonprofit. Enge also is the co-founder and chief operating officer for The Collegiate Black Male Network, a group with a mission to increase collegiate black males’ persistence and graduation rates. He also volunteers as the director of college coaching and counseling at PeerForward, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of low-income youth by connecting them to colleges and careers. In 2020, he was named Counselor of the Year by both the Illinois College Counseling Association and the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling in Illinois. In 2021, he was named a Top 100 Visionary in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning. While at EIU, Enge was active with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He is currently working toward a doctoral degree in counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.

RANDY JOHNSON ’74, ’75 LOUIS V. HENCKEN ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

RJ is currently president of Valley Vistas and AZ Home Innovations, a real estate service company located in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company has provided support services to more than 100 manufactured housing communities in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah over the last 25 years and has generated in excess of $750 million in revenue. His company has dedicated efforts in providing affordable housing alternatives and training support for housing professionals in the southwest by serving on the board for the Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona for 16 years and providing housing dealer services for more than 25 years. Johnson gained his passion for housing during an early career at EIU where he served as a resident assistant, graduate assistant, Douglas Hall director and associate director of housing under former EIU president Lou Hencken. His EIU experiences helped foster a lifelong commitment to his alma mater with both his time and financial support. With the support of the 1975 Douglas Hall staff, he developed an endowment to support EIU students who are pursuing a career in housing and student services. He also is a host and financial supporter for the annual alumni gathering in Arizona.

SPECIAL THANKS!

EXPERIENCE DOUDNA

The American Soldier Thursday, November 3

Special Guest Pianist Sean Chen Friday, November 4

Holiday Fest December 1 - 4

Calypsus Brass Friday, January 20

Randy Brecker at the 63rd Jazz Festival Friday, February 10

Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till Thursday, February 16

Xanadu: The Musical Thursday, March 2 - 5

Ensemble Mik Nawooj Thursday, March 30

Empire Wild with the Eastern Symphony Orchestra Sunday, April 16

Spring Fest April 20 - 22

Children’s Author Michelle Nelson-Schmidt Friday, April 21 - 22

THANKS! City of Charleston Tourism & Charleston Business

THANKS TO Bonita Flynn

ON

DJ Fox

Bonita Flynn

Karen Beason

Colleen Peterlich

Gary Light

Bob Martin

SPECIAL THANKS!

SPECIAL THANKS!

SPECIAL THANKS! EIU Faculty Senate SPECIAL THANKS!

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