Kevin Dancing With Friend. Kevin, Senior

Western Illinois University's historic mission is to serve students who exhibit academic promise; so each year, approximately 300 new freshmen who do not qualify under traditional admissions standards – but are recommended by advisers and teachers – are provided an opportunity to succeed.

Kevin Caples, a senior family and consumer sciences major, is a student who entered Western through the alternative admission process … and he has succeeded every step of the way.

Kevin's 5-Star Rating:

"I recommend Western because of the great things it has given me, like a chance to come into myself and to grow. I consider Western my home and feel comfortable here. It is true what they say: College is what you make of it."

Why Western?

Kevin said Western was one of the few universities available to him after graduating from high school.

"I didn’t excel in high school, and it seemed as if my options were Western and one other Illinois school. Western seemed like a decent school and it offered the hospitality program I wanted," Kevin said. "Through the special admissions program, WIU gave me the chance to succeed. I give thanks because of the chance I was given. I especially give much credit to my first adviser, Mrs. [Dianne] Bracey, because she believed in me, encouraged me and kept it real. It helped that I came to Western with the willingness to succeed – and that was partly due to my mother – but it was that chance and the encouragement that made me realize the importance of striving to do well."

The Western Way of Life

One thing Kevin particularly loves about Western Illinois is its community environment and close-knit feeling.

"I’ve grown accustomed to the 'Western-way-of-life.' I love the fact that there is so much to do at Western. I have been provided with so many opportunities to get to know people, stay active, have fun and get a beneficial education," he said.

Outside the Classroom

When not attending classes for his major area of study – and of course, doing homework – Kevin finds plenty of other things to do to make the most of his time at WIU. He is the choreographer for Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe, is a member of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc., volunteers as an Orientation Team (O-Team) leader and works as an undergraduate assistant for Casa Latina.

"I enjoy being part of Tradicion because I love to dance Salsa, Merengue and other modern Latin dances. I also love the Greek community and Lambda Theta Phi," Kevin said. "I was part of O-Team in Summer 2006 and jumped at the opportunity to do it again because I enjoyed it so much."

Kevin and Western's Core Values

One of Western's four core values is social responsibility, a value that Kevin takes seriously. In every organization in which he belongs, volunteerism plays a major role.

"I have found it almost impossible to be active on campus without having a spirit of volunteerism. It seems that many people who do very little volunteering fail to realize how fun and rewarding it can be," he said.

In addition to social responsibility, academic excellence, educational opportunity and personal growth round out the University's four core values, which Kevin notes exemplify his entire Western experience.

"I have grown to accept these values as my own without even realizing that I have done so," he added. "As a result, I have been able to demonstrate these values and influence others. They have also given me the sight to see where my success lies so that I may continue to strive toward it."

Beyond WIU

Kevin always had a passion for food and cooking; yet his first inspiration for pursuing hospitality management as a major was his cousin, Marnell.

"Hearing about his success and accomplishments encouraged me to follow in his footsteps and pursue hospitality. I thought that I wanted to pursue a hotel career at first, but in the past year, I realized that what I really want is to pursue a career in culinary arts and restaurants," he explained. "After college, I plan to go to a culinary school. I eventually want to open a restaurant featuring flavorful Creole and Caribbean foods."