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Preserving the Past and Preparing for the Future
Every week, Illinois sophomore Jane Rivas works on something interesting. She’s repaired the delicate fold out maps in a well-used genealogy book. She’s watched the stabilization of a hand drawn picture of Carl Sandburg. She’s created a book cover for an old, unprinted and unbound manuscript that once lived in a manila folder in the Library stacks. And she’s seen an ox yoke that may have come from Abraham Lincoln’s cabin.
Working with items like this and preserving them for future educational use is what encourages Jane, who hopes to one day be an art conservator. Rivas, who works at the Conservation Lab at the University Library, says, “It’s amazing to me that I have this job. Every day I get to interact with art forms: books, paper, etc. I’m very grateful, especially now with the economy, to have this job that allows me to work and gain the skills I need for my career.”
Jane is employed as a student worker because of a generous annual gift from Jon and Jo Ann Laible who want to provide an experience in the Conservation Lab for an undergraduate student. For Jane, their gift is providing the boost she needs to attend Graduate School. Her experience coupled with her degrees in chemistry and art history will give her an edge over the competition when she applies.
Jane met the Laibles on a tour of the Lab. She says, “It was neat to meet them and thank them for what they’ve done. The Laibles have allowed me to get experience and do what I want to do.” TOP
From Table Talk to Internship
A simple table assignment at the College of Business Alumni Association’s annual spring luncheon led to a great summer internship for junior David Olsen. David sat with a group from Grant Thornton LLP, an accounting firm in Chicago, and had a great conversation with one of the partners. The alumnus gave David his card and the two stayed in touch. “At one point I was looking for an internship for the summer. Grant Thornton didn’t have a position, but the alumnus connected me with his friend who owned a company in Naperville,” says David.
The internship was with a small business so David had the chance to experience a variety of roles from accounting to information technology to project management. “I really got to move around and work on different projects throughout the business. It gave me the chance to explore different areas of business and learn about what I could do and what I enjoyed. I found that I enjoyed the mix of management in a very broad sense and the technical skills.”
David is working on double degrees in Finance and International Business and was accepted into the Technology and Management Program (T&M) within the College of Business. He’s already planning to attend the spring luncheon on April 28, 2010‒the 50th anniversary of the annual event that draws hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff and students together to hear a keynote speaker, celebrate and connect. The luncheon is supported in part by annual gifts.
David says he and other students benefit from these events, “I cannot speak highly enough about the spring luncheon or roundtable series that Business offers. Our alums are so receptive to answering our questions and talking about their experiences. Students are able to gain a better perspective on the professional world and where they might want to go after college.” TOP
Looking Back and Giving Back
“I had a great experience at the University of Illinois and would like to support its continued success.” Reshawn Lee, LAS ‘95
When Reshawn Lee came to Illinois in January of 1991 to pursue her degree, she knew that creating her own smaller community within the large University would be key to her success. She found this support network first in her dorm, Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall, where she quickly became involved in the Central Black Student Union. Her circle widened further when she pledged the national sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Reshawn credits her extracurricular experiences with providing more than friendships, “Through my involvement with organizations on campus, I learned important lessons about teamwork, leadership, marketing, and planning. I’ve been able to draw on those skills throughout my professional life.”
And, like most students, she made choosing the right major a top priority. Reshwan identified communication as a major that was a great fit and helped her to capitalize on her strengths and talents. “It was a natural choice for me. Not only did the Department of Communication provide great academic programs, but what I learned in classes was directly applicable to the organizations I was involved in. Definitely a win-win.”
Fast forward to 2009 – Reshawn and her family reside in Carrollton, Texas, but she is still proud to call herself an Illini fan and keeps in touch with many friends from her days on campus. Although she routinely supports a number of charitable organizations, she didn’t really consider making an annual gift until she received a visit from a member of the LAS advancement team, Andra Lee. “Andra and I had a great conversation about how alumni support makes a difference to students,” says Reshawn, “I decided that it was time to give back.”
Reshawn made her gift to the College of LAS Annual Fund. “I chose to make a gift to an unrestricted fund because I knew the College would direct it where it was needed. I felt that this would allow my gift to have the greatest impact possible,” she explains. Microsoft Corporation, where Reshawn serves as an Account Manager, matched her gift which helps her support to go even further. TOP
read stories featured in Past issues
November 2009