Alumni

Victoria Kappel 2016, 2018


Degree:
BS in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2016, BA in Spanish in 2016 and MS in Communications Sciences & Disorders in 2018 from WIUVictoria

Business Information: Medical Speech Language Pathologist for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago, Illinois

Advice for Freshmen: 
WIU is a catalyst for success. If you: have a passion, see a need for a call to action, need advice from a professor, do it. Some of the most influential people I have in my life (mentors, best friends, colleagues,etc.) are from WIU and the Macomb Community. Use your resources!

Favorite WIU Memory: Most favorite: The day I found out I advanced to the interview rounds for the Rhodes Scholarship...but golly I can’t pick just one! Overall LOVED being able to represent WIU on the soccer pitch for 4 years, giving the Honors Convocation Graduation Speaker in 2016, being a teaching assistant in the Department of Communication for Public Speaking, the WIU football tailgates, WIU football conference victories, CONNECKS (organization for individuals with special needs) events.

Family Information/Special Interests and Hobbies: I currently live in the Chicagoland suburbs with my mini Goldendoodle, Oliver. When not working at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Hospital or in the private practice setting, I stay very involved with my passions: sports, outdoor activities (running, hiking, kayaking, skiing,etc) music (piano & cello), traveling (everywhere!), reading, healthy cooking, and watching ‘The Housewives’ on Bravo, to name a few. I am a coach for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for soccer players who have dreams to play at the national level. In addition, I volunteer and look for every opportunity to help individuals with special needs by volunteering for Special Olympics. I thrive on living life to the fullest and embrace life’s most simple but amazing moments with the people I love and cherish. GO NECKS