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WIU aids in Sandbagging efforts | Former WIU Women's Basketball Standout is Olympic Bound | WIU Hits the Links | Chicago Summer Signature Events

WIU aids in Sandbagging Efforts Along the Mississippi

A number of Western Illinois University faces could be seen among the sandbaggers along the Mississippi River in June. When the river levels grew to record numbers, WIU alumni, students, faculty and staff members grabbed their gloves and shovels and headed to the river.

The WIU Alumni Association invited all alumni and friends to join them in the sandbagging efforts on June 18. They spent the morning in Niota, Ill., a town of 650 approximately 40 miles northwest of Macomb, filling sandbags, along with a number of WIU alumni who are National Guardsmen.

Members of the Western Illinois University football team also took part in emergency sandbagging efforts in Niota. After spending a morning in class and in the weight room, they spent the afternoon filling sandbags alongside residents and members of Macomb's Illinois National Guard unit there. The sandbags were then loaded onto vehicles for delivery to the nearby levee.

Click here for more on the sandbagging efforts of the WIU football team or watch video from the day.

The volunteering did not stop there. More than 20 volunteers, 18 of them from Dave Zanolla's Communication 241 "Introduction to Public Speaking" class, also helped with sandbagging in Niota.

Click here for more on the sandbagging efforts of the Communication students.

Former WIU Women's Basketball Standout to Compete in Beijing Olympics

Former Western Illinois women's basketball player Zane (Teilane) Tamane will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing after the Latvian Women's National Basketball team locked up a bid by advancing to the semifinals in the FIBA qualifying tournament in Madrid, Spain.

“It's a great feeling to be an Olympian,” stated Tamane. “To have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic games is every athlete's dream. It's been a lot of hard work and I feel very blessed.”

"We knew the future was bright for Zane when she left Western Illinois University to play in the WNBA," said WIU Head Women's Basketball coach Leslie Crane. "She did great things for us when she played here and I could not be more proud of all that she has accomplished. She has brought national recognition to our program and this University. We look forward to watching her play in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing."

As a Westerwind from 2002-06, Tamane finished her career as the all-time school leader in points (1,547), field goal percentage (.529), blocked shots (406), and rebounds (982), in addition to holding the record for consecutive free throws made (53).

Click here to read more on Tamane.

Photo: Former Westerwind Zane (Teilane) Tamane scored 13 points and added eight rebounds in Latvia's win over Angola.
Courtesy: FIBA

WIU Hits the Links

The PGA Tour's John Deere Classic this July wraps up Western Illinois University's summer of golf. WIU will host an exhibition tent at this year's Classic held in Silvis, IL just outside of the Quad Cities on July 9-13. Alumni and friends are invited to stop by to visit with faculty and staff members from all areas of campus including the WIU Alumni Association; Athletics; Student Services; Quad Cities campus; Marketing; University Relations; College of Business and Technology; College of Education and Human Services; Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree Program; the Centennial Honors College; University Libraries and International Programs. Be sure to pick up your WIU rally fan and lip balm to show your Western pride at the Classic.

On June 9, the WIU Alumni Association hosted the second annual "Western Open" Golf Outing at Seven Bridges in Woodridge, IL. More than 144 alumni and friends came out to play. Then on June 16, it was onto Piper Glen in Springfield, and finally to the Quad Cities for an outing at Short Hills Country Club in Moline, Ill. Click here to see photos, details and all our great sponsors from the WIU summer golf outings.

WIU Invites You to Our Chicago Summer Signature Events

Join your WIU Alumni Association for our Downtown Chicago Signature Summer Events. First, unwind after the workweek with a cocktail cruise on Lake Michigan on Friday, August 8. Then, join us on Saturday to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals from the best seat in the house-a Wrigleyville Rooftop! Tickets are limited and going fast. Here is your opportunity to watch this great rivalry and have an exciting day at the ballpark with your alma mater. Get your tickets today! Click here to register for one or both events.

**Congratulations to the July winner--Paige Durkee MS '97. She found Rocky on the University Libraries webpage. Watch for your chance to win in August!

Can you find this exact Rocky (in black and white) some where else in the eNewsletter? If you find him, email us at A-Association@wiu.edu and let us know where he was placed. If you're the first one to email us, you'll win a WIU Prize Pack! Good luck.

Congratulations to the June winner--Angela Altevogt '06. She found Rocky in the WIU-QC at the Movies full article.

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