Maroon and Gold: May 2026
Greetings
Shaping the Future of Alumni Engagement Together
I am thankful for all the input during the focus groups last year. Between June 2024 and June 2025, alumni from across the country participated in focus groups, gatherings, and conversations designed to help shape the future of alumni engagement and support at Eureka College. I am grateful for the time, candor, and care that alumni brought to this important work.
Your feedback was clear and consistent.
- Alumni want stronger, more transparent communication
- Deeper connection to Eureka through visible leadership and revitalized traditions
- Meaningful opportunities to connect with one another professionally and personally; and clear, impactful ways to support current students—both financially and through mentorship, internships, and advocacy.
Across every conversation, alumni emphasized their enduring pride in Eureka and their desire to stay engaged in ways that matter. I am pleased to share that the results of these conversations are already guiding action. The Alumni Board will continue to host focus groups annually. We just had one in Springfield, Illinois in April. The information from the focus groups has led to activities being bolstered through expanding communications, investigating doing additional regional and virtual alumni events, creating new pathways for mentoring and networking, and providing more information about student support and giving impact.
These steps reflect what alumni told us they value most—and what will help strengthen the Eureka community for generations to come. This report is not the end of the conversation; it is the beginning of a partnership between alumni and the College. Newly elected Alumni Board President Vincent Vega ‘19 has incorporated these themes into his vision for his term as leader. His foci are increasing alumni engagement, strengthening connections between alumni and current students, and launching board-led projects. The board will pilot an alumni-student engagement program soon.
He and the board are solidly behind the Student Success Initiative and the completion of Phases 2 and 3. Completing this program will elevate student support, increase enrollment and boost retention. Personal tours will be provided online and in person by calling the Advancement Office at 309-467-6317.
Does any of this work mean we have reached perfection, of course not. It does mean we are in the fight.
As President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
We invite you to stay connected, participate in upcoming opportunities, and continue sharing your ideas with members of the Alumni Board as we move forward together.
With sincere gratitude,
ARTO
Maroon & Gold Events
Stay connected, get involved and join us at upcoming alumni events. Find details below.
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A Transformational Initiative for Eureka College Students
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A key focus for Eureka College is the Student Success Initiative which is a comprehensive, multi-phase effort designed to strengthen student support, improve retention and graduation outcomes, and modernize campus infrastructure in alignment with the evolving demands of higher education.
From scholarships that opens doors for a Eureka College education to intentional programs that support students through graduation and into their careers, student success is embedded in every stage of the experience.
At the center of this effort is a new, centralized Student Success Center, to be housed in a transformed Melick Library, bringing essential services together in one accessible, student-focused space.
The vision is becoming reality with the completion of Phase one of the new Student Success Center. On May 7, we celebrated with a ribbon cutting and open house.
We welcome your engagement and support to help Eureka College complete the next two phases of this transformative initiative for our students.
For more information about the Student Success Initiative, how to get involved, and to view videos and pictures of the Student Success Center, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for news coverage about the Student Success Center.
News from 'neath the Elms
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Head Football Coach - Dion JordanCongratulations to Dion Jordan on being appointment as head football coach at Eureka College. Players, alumni, and the campus community are looking forward to the next football season under Jordan’s leadership. Drawing on his experiences at the University of Oregon and in the National Football League, Jordan understands both the discipline required to compete at the highest level and the challenges that can come with that pressure. He is passionate about developing a strong football program while mentoring student-athletes to succeed both on and off the field. A recent article in The New York Times - The Athletic highlights Jordan’s journey from college football and the NFL to leading the Red Devils at Eureka College. |
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Eureka College Pegasus
Catch up on the latest news from the student-journalists of the Eureka College Pegasus, your campus source of news since 1889.
- Madison Farris and Jake Adamson send off the seniors of the graduating class of 2026
- Dyson Wutzke follows up on the historic first season of the Red Devils men's volleyball team
- Trinity Wimbley and Mallory Kohnen explore the new Student Success Center on campus
- Ronnie Valverde looks at the work of the career services office at Eureka
Red Devil Spotlight
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Anna Palmer '07 - Champions Innovation and Women-Led VenturesAnna Palmer ’07, Reagan Fellow, and Eureka College Trustee has been recognized on Business Insider’s “Seed 40” list of top early-stage investors. The following is a summarization of the Business Insider article The Seed 40: The best women early-stage investors of 2026. Palmer is cofounder and general partner of XFactor Ventures and a venture partner at Flybridge Capital. She is known for investing in women-led companies and innovative startups at the seed stage. In addition to her success in venture capital, Palmer is a founder and managing partner of Boston Legacy FC, a National Women’s Soccer League team that launched its season before crowds of 30,000 fans in March of this year. Before entering venture capital, she cofounded Dough Collective, a marketplace supporting women and diverse makers, which was later acquired in 2021. Palmer also serves as a Trustee of Eureka College, continuing to champion leadership and opportunity for future generations. |
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A Tribute to Dr. Richard W. "Dick" Sanders, Hon '12 and Professor Emeritus of HistoryIt is with deep sadness that the College announces that Dr. Richard W. “Dick” Sanders, Hon ‘12 and Professor Emeritus of History at Eureka College died May 11, 2026. A native of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region and graduate of Ursinus College, Indiana University and Duke University, he invested his life in the lives of Eureka College students. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. For 25 years Dick taught generations of students and prepared them for their life’s work and careers. It was during his time as a professor and mentor that he determined another opportunity to support them. Over 33 years Dr. Sanders became the largest donor in Eureka College’s 171-year history. Thirteen years ago, he announced he would provide the lead gift of $1.5 million to build Sanders Hall, the first academic building built in 95 years. It was the largest single gift in college history. He also showed he was committed to student success by being a member of the Reagan Society and by creating the Richard W. Sanders Endowed Scholarship which is awarded yearly to a student pursuing a degree in History & Political Science. Due to his outstanding foresight and philanthropy, he was named the 2013 Central Illinois AFP Philanthropist of the Year. We salute Dick for a life well lived. His generous intellectual and philanthropic commitments will continue to impact future generations. May his legacy continue to encourage others to follow his example to support students at Eureka College. Eureka College will announce when it will hold an on-campus celebration of the life and contributions of Dr. Sanders. |
