Students launch Western Unedited: Our Voice, Our Story, Our Time
The McDonough County Voice
MACOMB, IL – Because of some experiences that Western Illinois University graduate student Aleezah Washington had during her undergrad years at WIU – some very good and some not-so-good at all – she was thinking of ways to reach out to other marginalized students, both current WIU students and prospective students. She reached out to WIU Student Legal Advocate Torrey Smith to talk and brainstorm. And with that, Washington s vision to give students a voice, became Western Unedited: Our Voice, Our Story, Our Time.
Washington, an MBA graduate student from Naperville and a graduate assistant in the WIU Women s Center, and Smith found a few more student leaders willing to participate, and arranged to tape five episodes, each featuring a different topic, with University Television. The group also came up with a mission statement: As Leathernecks we recognize the opportunities and possi
April 21, 2021 MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - Six students graduating from Western Illinois University at the end of the Spring 2021 semester have received the highest recognition from their colleges for their overall academic excellence by being named a College Scholar.
Faculty in each of the University s four academic colleges; Global Education and Outreach and the Centennial Honors College each select a graduating senior as the college s outstanding student. Students graduating as College Scholars have satisfied the criteria of excellence established by their individual academic college s faculty members. A Departmental Scholar is an outstanding degree candidate in an academic major as determined by the faculty in the major department. An Honors Scholar is a student in the Centennial Honors College who has completed a set of honors requirements and has achieved a grade point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
The day I decided to quit drinking, in October 2017, coincided with my first day of volunteering at the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. And that was no coincidence: I believe it is the path that was set out for me by the Creator. The shelter is a caring place that provides temporary housing. Most of the clients come from Northern communities, for medical services, to visit family, or simply for a break. Some bring their children. There is some sadness there but also joy. I’ve learned much from the folks residing there, and being of service keeps me grounded and grateful. Among other things related to education, community building, and advocacy, I cooked for the clients on Saturday evenings and tried to provide some warmth and love through food.