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A scholarship to benefit transfer students from Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler counties has been established at Western Illinois University by William "Dr. B" and Jacquie Brattain.
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Brattain Transfer Scholarship Established at WIU

December 9, 2011

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MACOMB, IL -- A scholarship to benefit transfer students from Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler counties has been established at Western Illinois University by William "Dr. B" and Jacquie Brattain.

"We have known for some time we wanted to establish a scholarship," said Dr. B. "We explored a lot of ideas and kept coming back to transfer students. It seems more and more students are spending time at a community college before coming to Western, and many could use the financial assistance. We are hoping to help address that need."

Dr. B, associate WIU vice president emeritus for student services and recreation, park and tourism administration professor emeritus, was the recipient of WIU's Community Service Award and Outstanding Administrator Award and was named Honorary Alumni in 2007. The William E. Brattain Award for Student Leadership is given each year in his honor to an academically outstanding student activities leader. Brattain has served and chaired the boards of the McDonough County YMCA, United Way and Carl Sandburg College. He currently serves on the Illinois Arts Council.

Jacquie re-started the elementary art program and developed a program for gifted students during her more than 15 years teaching at the Northwestern Elementary School.

In addition to Dr. B's many years at Western, daughters Cindy Ramsey and Dr. Nancy Rogers both graduated from WIU and daughter Jennifer currently works in the University Union bookstore. Granddaughter Stacey Fry is also a WIU alumna, and two more grandchildren are current students, senior Rickey Ramsey and freshman Allison Ramsey.

"Our ties to WIU are deep and our family has many connections. Jacquie and I are so pleased to be able to help out in this way," said Dr. B.

During Dr. B.'s many years of teaching and administration, he referred to the University Union as the "House of Serendipity."

"He'd speak of serendipity and had us thinking outside the box before there was jargon that defined the practice," remembered Sandra Keiser Edwards, deputy director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and former student leader at Western.

Brad Bainter, vice president for advancement and public services, added that the Brattains are somewhat serendipitous themselves, and meeting them involves the discovery of something fortunate, mainly their positive energy and influence of goodness.

"The William 'Dr. B.' and Jacquie Brattain Transfer Scholarship is yet another manifestation of their goodwill and support of students," Bainter said. "We are grateful for the Brattain's generosity and for their long-time support of, and association with, Western Illinois University."

Scholarship applications are available at the WIU Scholarship Office, wiu.edu/scholarships.

Posted By: Julie Murphy, WIU Foundation (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing