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300 East College Avenue, Eureka, IL 61530, US

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Eureka College was founded by abolitionists from Kentucky who were members of a religious movement known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and were committed to providing young people a broad, liberal education. These pioneers believed in an education infused with values as a basis for leadership. Chartered by the Illinois Legislature in 1855, Eureka was the first college in the state and third in the nation to admit men and women on an equal basis. Eureka College was designated by the National Park Service as a Campus Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places in June 2010.

What is Unique about your business?

We're recognized as a top college in Illinois for vocations like teacher education, nursing, communications, and criminal justice, and we're adding new courses for emerging careers like early childhood and sports management. A Eureka College education prepares you for more than just your first job: it equips you to become a leader in your field and community.

Maroon & Gold: December 2025

December 22, 2025

Greetings

“Why don't you give love on Christmas day?
Oh, the man on the street and the couple upstairs,
All need to know that there's someone who cares,
Give love on Christmas Day.
No greater gift is there than love.”
The Temptations

What makes this time of year special? For some, our faith commands that we see this season and Christmas through the prism of the birth of Jesus Christ. Others, while not explicitly focused on the story of Christ, focus on love, community, and family.

What makes this time of year special is love.  Loving those who are close to us, those who are strangers, and those who are in need. How can we show love during this time? One of the common ways is giving gifts. We give money to help those who are less fortunate or struggling. 

The College experienced love in this way in this season of giving when many of you gave to help us reach a record $44,000 to launch the season of Giving Back. You gave because of your love for students, your college and to help others. Thank you! If you have not participated, you can up to December 31.

The beauty of sharing your love during this time is striking. The Temptations’ song quoted above noted that everyone needs love. Even in Dr. Seuss’s Grinch that Stole Christmas, the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes when he realized the real meaning of the season. 

This is the time when everyone needs to know that someone cares. It does not have to be purely monetary. It can be sharing a kind word, a smile, showing a little extra patience, or forgiving an offense. Some people are grieving or struggling, and your love can make a world of difference. 

My challenge for you and us all is that we try our best to give all the love that we can. John Wesley, famous theologian said it best, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”

If you wrestle with how to make this concept concrete, let me end this encouragement with practical steps. Incorporate these habits into your life online and in your personal interactions, and I assure you that your life will be transformed. Also, you will improve the lives of those who you meet.

Ten ways to love (unattributed) 

Listen without interrupting.
Speak without accusing.
Give without sparing.
Pray without ceasing.
Answer without arguing.
Share without pretending.
Enjoy without complaint.
Trust without wavering.
Prove without punishing.
Promise without forgetting.

Merry Christmas and have a Joyous Holiday Season, 

ARTO

Dr. Arto Woodley

Maroon & Gold Events

Eureka College Founder's Day

Date: February 5, 2026

Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location: Becker Auditorium

2026 Humbert Lecture Featuring Rev. Terri Hord Owens

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Becker Auditorium · Eureka College

Join us for the annual Humbert Lecture, a signature event celebrating Eureka College’s rich Disciples of Christ heritage and its commitment to leadership, service, and ministry. This year, we are honored to welcome Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

As a special addition to the event, we will host a dessert reception following the lecture in the Terrill Room, made possible through the generous support of Rev. Beau Underwood ’06 and Ms. Casey Osterkamp.

This event is free and open to the public. This evening brings together alumni, ministers, regional church leaders, students, and community members for meaningful conversation, learning, and fellowship.

Event Schedule

7:00 PM – Humbert Lecture
Becker Auditorium

8:00 PM – Dessert Reception
Terrill Room

Hosted with generous support from Rev. Beau Underwood ’06 and Ms. Casey Osterkamp.

Space is limited so we ask that you register by February 10.

Purchase Tickets & Register

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Cheer on the Red Devils!

Checkout the full schedule and mark your calendars for upcoming Basketball games and Wrestling matches.

Red Devil Spotlight

Dr. James McCain ’68 an Accomplished Alum
Encourages Giving Before Year End

Dr James McCain '68

Dr. James McCain ’68 is a veteran, world traveler, professor, consultant, and scholar that worked at the London School of Economics. At Eureka College he was a first-generation student who leveraged his learning to teach in the U.S., Africa and around the world.

His journey at Eureka College started as a first-generation student and he finished with a doctorate. He credits Eureka College for giving him a strong start. The professors at Eureka had a profound impact in preparing him.

In this inaugural season of Giving Back, Dr. McCain made one of the most significant gifts this year to Eureka College, $64,000 and his largest gift to date to support faculty. His goal is to support faculty in their development of curricula and for professional development. A portion of these gifts will be used in the online giving appeals. His $10K matching gift already secured an additional $10K for faculty support and enabled Giving Back Eureka to secure a record $44,000 a 34% increase over the previous year.

Before making his current gift to support students, Dr. McCain made significant gifts to endow a scholarship, support faculty programs, and general support for the College. He is a major supporter of student success at Eureka College.

The impact of his gift will be to provide professors the additional resources to enhance courses and for professional development opportunities among their peers. Dr. McCain’s generosity is leaving and indelible legacy and demonstrates that every person can positively elevate the lives of students at Eureka College through giving.

As he has noted on many occasions, “I am a simple person, and I want to support Eureka College faculty.” As he and I agree they (the faculty) are the foundation of all the College’s effort to prepare this generation of students. Thank you, Dr. James McCain for your insight, intellect, selflessness and example. You exemplify Eureka College excellence.

During this giving season, he will add an additional dollar-for-dollar match up to $10,000 for all gifts given by December 31, 2025, to the Fund for Excellence to support faculty and academic departments. A gift of any size makes a collective difference. Make your gift here. If you have already made your gift, thank you for your generosity.

Make a Gift

Matthew Cahill ’09
Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Chief Counsel
Appointed November 9, 2025

Matthew Cahill '09

Matthew recently joined FTA from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of General Counsel, where he has served as a Senior Associate General Counsel. Prior to entering federal service, Matthew was in private practice, where he advised clients on surface transportation and energy issues. Throughout his career, he has worked on issues spanning the public transportation sector, from urban and rural bus operations to the light and heavy rail sectors. He is a past APTA Foundation scholarship recipient and has been involved in transportation professional groups in the Capital Region. Matthew began his transportation career as an FTA summer intern as a college undergraduate.

He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Eureka College and both a J.D. and M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Matthew recently told Marc Molinaro, FTA Administrator, “I use transit every day to get to work and see firsthand the benefits effective transit provides to our communities. I am honored by the opportunity to work alongside the FTA’s dedicated staff and our industry partners to advance our collective mission to make transit safer, convenient, efficient, and more accessible to all.”

Matthew resides with his wife and infant daughter in Dickerson, MD. He enjoys tending and improving his five-acre homestead in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve.

His breadth of experience will be a tremendous asset advancing FTA’s mission improving America’s communities through public transportation.

- Write up by Marc Molinaro, FTA Administrator

Grace Nieukirk ’23 Research Published in Journal of Cannabis Research

Grace Nieukirk completed research in collaboration with NCAUR Labs which focused on the effects of hemp on cancer cells. She did this research while completing her honors project as a senior at Eureka College. The research study and findings were published August 2025 in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Maria Dust former student ’18-’21

Commissioned into the Army

Maria Dust - Commissioning

Maria was a Biology student at Eureka College and attended Michigan State Veterinarian School. She was recently awarded the Army HPSP (Health Professional Scholarship Program) scholarship. She was commissioned into the Army with the goal of being a veterinarian for military families.

The picture is of Maria Dust at her Commissioning Ceremony.

Stephen Jones ’21 and Jessica Woyak ’21 Engaged

Stephen Jones and Jessica Woyak engagement

Stephen and Jessica were recently engaged on November 2, 2025 in the Art Gallery Room at Eureka College. Professor Wille, Jessica’s professor all four years, was there to help them celebrate.

News 'Neath the Elms

Eureka College Pegasus

The student-journalists of the Eureka College Pegasus, your student voice since 1889, have been hard at work reporting the news around campus. Go to Pegasus online to read up on the latest news.

NEWS

Editor-in-Chief Leah Smolen and Associate Editor Ronnie Valverde talk with students about the current political climate and its effects on campus.
Editor-in-Chief Leah Smolen reports on mandatory attendance, graduation badges to help with retention and persistence.
AJ Wells takes us behind the scenes of the Black Student Union.

ARTS & CULTURE

Hope Walter talks to students who experienced a live Shakespeare performance.
Hope Walter looks at field trip opportunities at the college.

ATHLETICS

Madison Farris looks behind the scenes of Athletic Training at Eureka College.
Morgan Oginsky reports on Athletes and mental health.

Read Pegasus

Make a Golden Impact

Don't have a Will or Trust?

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Through a will, many choose to create a lasting impact by leaving part of their estate to support the causes they love. In as little as 20 minutes, you could establish your will and leave a legacy that impacts future generations at Eureka College.

Start Your Will

Join the 1855 Society today.

It's easy to join! Simply make an online recurring monthly gift of $18.55 or more to the Fund for Excellence, General Scholarships, or the Reagan Scholarship Fund.

Give Today

Thank you to all who gave during Giving Back Eureka to help today's students. Thanks to you we reached a record breaking $44,000 in donations.

If you missed the Giving Back Eureka dates, there's still time to make an impact as we approach the end of the year. Simply make a gift online.

We have a correction. A student featured in our communications has transferred to another institution. We wish the best for this former student and hope the Eureka College experience will be a cherished part of their journey.