University News
Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship Established
February 1, 2023
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Two longtime educators with longtime ties to Western Illinois University and Macomb have established a memorial scholarship in honor of their daughter, a 1998 Macomb High School graduate and the first director of University Marketing at WIU.
Thomas and Maria Dunstan, who taught in the WIU Department of Biological Sciences and Macomb School District, respectively, established the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship this fall. Their daughter, Kristin, passed away Nov. 17, 2019, at the age of 49. The Dunstan scholarship is designed for an incoming Macomb High School graduate who intends to study biology, teacher education or the performing arts at WIU.
Tom was a biology professor at Western for 37 years and is renown for his birds of prey research; while Maria was a teacher and administrator for Macomb School District No. 185 and also taught at WIU. Their daughter Kristin came to Western in August 2005 from the Atlanta (GA) Shakespeare Company to lead Western's inaugural marketing program. She left the position in 2011 to return to Atlanta as the vice president for marketing and communication for The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. At the time of her passing in 2019, she was serving as the executive director of the Shakespeare Tavern Theatre in Atlanta.
"We're so very grateful to Tom and Maria for establishing the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship in Kristin's memory to provide financial assistance to a Macomb High graduate attending WIU," said Brad Bainter, executive director of the WIU Foundation. "The Dunstans have been tremendous supporters of Western throughout the years, and their contributions to education at both WIU and in the Macomb schools are invaluable."
To donate to the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship, visit wiu.edu/giving and note the designation for the gift, or contact the WIU Foundation at (309) 298-1861.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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