BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� On a May evening, community leaders, alumni and friends of 蓝莓视频 gathered for the IWU Associates' Bourbon & Champagne event. The celebration reflected the renewed momentum of an organization that is helping strengthen connections between the University and the McLean County community.
Founded in 1953, the IWU Associates have long supported local students through scholarship funding. Today, membership is open to anyone who contributes $1,000 or more annually to the McLean County Scholarship, which helps make an Illinois Wesleyan education more accessible for local students. As the organization approaches 100 members, its mission is expanding beyond philanthropy.
"Our goal is to primarily raise money for the McLean County Scholarships," said Associates President Andy Shirk, "but with the intent of also providing connections between local businesses and community leadership to the University."
That connection is increasingly important as community leaders work to address the shared challenge of retaining local talent. The McLean County Scholarship helps remove financial barriers for students who may assume a private university is out of the realm of possibility. In doing so, it encourages exceptional students to pursue their education close to home.
For some Associates members, that investment is personal because they are alumni of Illinois Wesleyan, but others simply believe in the value of higher education and the University's role in the local community鈥檚 future.
The Associates are not an alumni organization. Shirk himself is not a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan. Instead, the group brings together people who care about students, community development and the future of McLean County. Local employers recognize that students who study and intern in Bloomington-Normal are more likely to build careers here after graduation.
One example is Jacob Bickett 鈥�25, a Central Catholic High School graduate who received a McLean County Scholarship before attending Illinois Wesleyan. After becoming deeply involved in student leadership and completing an internship with State Farm, Bickett accepted a full-time position with the company following graduation. Today, he serves as the youngest member on the IWU Associates board. For Shirk, Bickett's story represents the scholarship's broader impact of helping local students pursue their education close to home and ultimately contribute to the community's future.
Another board member, Nancy Steele Brokaw 鈥�71, spent decades supporting Illinois Wesleyan through alumni leadership, arts programming and community engagement. She sees the Associates as a way to invite more people into the University's story.
"It's a story I'm proud to be part of,鈥� Brokaw said. 鈥淚llinois Wesleyan is a vital part of this community that I love, and I want to help all that come together in any way I can."
The organization also offers members the opportunity to be part of an impactful community of people. Associates gather throughout the year for exclusive campus events, professional networking and meaningful connections that enable them to directly influence the local workforce pipeline. Brokaw describes the Associates as "a super fun group" where members of different generations and backgrounds bring their ideas, talents and perspectives together.
"I think it helps our community in some significant ways because we keep our talent local," Brokaw said.
Ultimately, the IWU Associates are creating a dialogue between the campus and neighboring community. Through scholarships, relationships and shared investment, Associates members are helping ensure local students have access to a transformative education while strengthening the region they call home.