Redbirds Around the World

Whether through unique opportunities studying abroad, spreading Redbird Pride through their travels, or landing amazing international jobs, Illinois State sends its students and alums to all corners of the globe. We take the alma mater literally: "So shalt thou in years increasing send they grads of honest worth, forth to bear with zeal unceasing wisdom's torch throughout the earth."
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Our #RoaminRedbirds are loose across the planet! Thanks to Ashtyn-Hope Lasley on Instagram for this shot from Costa Rica.
Decades of adventure
Mary (Korte) Frost Bondioli, Linda (Goodrich) Henkel, and Rebecca (Page) Beckmann are 1970 graduates. Beckmann and Bondioli were childhood friends and roommates in Barton Hall in the fall of 1966. Henkel’s room was across from them. The three have remained close for more than 50 years, and still connect at least once annually. They traveled to Ireland to celebrate their 70th birthdays in 2018. They are, from left, Bondioli of Herrin, Henkel of Warrensburg, and Beckmann of Germantown.
Roaming Redbirds
A friendship that formed on the 12th floor of Hewitt Hall in 1970 has remained strong for three 1974 graduates. The ladies have shared their experiences through love and loss, babies, adult children, and grandchildren. Now retired, the trio enjoys adventures around the world, including a trip to Paris in 2018. They are, from left, Peggy (Johnson) Romba ’74, M.S. ’89, of Bloomington; Elaine (Moats) Curran ’74, of San Jose, California; and Claudia (Connery) Krueger ’74, of Darien.
Redbirds Abroad: Alice Lin
Redbirds Abroad: Alice Lin
Bucket List Trek Two adventurous friends and long-time ISU employees who connected through the Division of Student Affairs took on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro last fall. Rick Lewis, left, and Floyd Hoelting climbed the dormant volcano in Tanzania. It is the tallest peak in Africa. Lewis, M.S. ’87, worked 30 years on campus. He retired last year as an associate dean in the Dean of Students Office. Hoelting served as the University’s director of Housing and Food Services from 1977
A love of literature is shared by alumnae who keep a close friendship despite the distance between Normal and England. Kate Charles, left, is a popular mystery author who writes under the pen name of Carol Chase. Her 12th novel, False Tongues, was published in 2015 in England and America. JoAnna Mink ’72, M.S. ’75, D.A. ’85, is a retired English and literature professor who writes the Reggie Reads column for Illinois State. A recent visit by Mink gave the two a chance to show their ISU spirit. T
Jeff Fritzen ’74 of Normal has organized six outreach ministry trips to Medellin, Colombia, since 2005. The most recent trek earlier this year involved a work team constructing a soccer sports center. The 8 men covered their own costs and donated their time to help complete a regulation soccer field. Mitchell Butraigo, a local member of the ministry, reconnected with FHe shared his ISU pride, which runs deep as a past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Although far from campus, a group of Redbirds still find time to gather in Florida. All residents of The Villages, they gathered in the spring to enjoy a sunset and show off the school colors. Group members include, from left, Joan (Lebensorger) Nammari, M.S. ’70; Bruce and Della Davey ’95; Carole (Robert) ’72 and Greg Mroczowski ’71; Cathie (Ozog) ’71 and Jim Conrad ’71, M.S. ’72; and Jerry Heller ’69.
Four students (Kevin Neylon, Caitlin Fortier, Kayleigh Price and Travis Howe) and a faculty member (Instructional Assistant Professor Karen Dennis) from Illinois State University’s School of Kinesiology and Recreation traveled to Vladimir, Russia for a 17-day, short-term study abroad experience in May 2016. #RoaminRedbirds
Nearly 250 students are spending their summer in 24 different countries through Study Abroad. Illinois State encourages students to expand their horizons to classrooms beyond our borders through Study Abroad experiences. #RoaminRedbirds
Join us at @navypierchicago June 22, 2016, for "A Normal Tradition in Chicago" when we will bring the sights and traditions of #IllinoisState to you, #ChicagoRedbirds! Register online at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Chicago
Our Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Network volunteered with Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas to work on a home for a veteran in the area. #RedbirdProud
Even though the Redbird men's basketball team lost to St. Joseph's on Dec. 19, 2015, Philadelphia's ISU alumni attended the game to cheer on the Redbirds. From left to right: Susan ‘70 and Tim ’70 Brennan, Maggie ’74, M.S. ‘76 and Phil ‘ 75, M.S. ‘77 Tripp, Andre Cherry ’09 , Janet ‘75 and Frank ‘75 Plantan.
For Illinois State alum Courtney Johnson, it wasn't a choice between the Peace Corps and graduate school; it was both (via Peace Corps Midwest/Twitter): http://midwestpcvs.com/2015/09/15/ohio-native-takes-advantage-of-the-peace-corps-masters-international-program/
Thanks to ISU alum Nicholas Stefan (US Air Force) for spreading the red on the ground in Afghanistan! #RedbirdProud