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Town and Gown 2026 will take place Tuesday, Oct. 20.
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2026 Town and Gown Scheduled for Oct. 20

September 24, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - Registration is now open for the 19th annual Town and Gown celebration. Town and Gown 2026 will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. This signature event brings together the WIU and Macomb communities to celebrate the partnerships and will be held at Park Place, 127 E. Carroll St. in Macomb.

A brief program will begin at 6:15 p.m., featuring remarks by WIU President Kristi Mindrup and Macomb Mayor Mike Inman. Following their remarks, the 2026 Town & Gown and Honorary Alumni awards will be presented.

The Honorary Alumni Award is presented annually to an individual who is not a WIU graduate but has provided exceptional service to the WIU community. The Town & Gown Award is presented annually to an individual who has provided exceptional service in bringing WIU and the Macomb communities together.

Past Honorary Alumni and Town & Gown Award recipients can be reviewed at wiu.edu/alumni/recognition/honorary_and_town_and_gown.php.

"Our annual Town and Gown event is always a community highlight and I'm excited for it to be embedded into Homecoming Week this year," Director of Alumni Engagement Marnie Steach said. "I look forward to seeing everyone at Park Place to hear from President Mindrup and Mayor Inman and to celebrate the extremely deserving recipients of our 2026 awards."

Tickets for Town and Gown are $15 and can be purchased at wiu.edu/alumni.

Town & Gown is presented by the WIU Alumni Association. For questions, please contact alumni@wiu.edu or call 309-298-1914.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing