Millikin University

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Millikin University

Motto	In His Plenitudo Vis (In These, the Fullness of Strength)
Type	Private
Established	1901; 120 years ago (1901)
Religious affiliation	Presbyterian
Endowment	$94.3 million (2020)[1]
President	Jim Reynolds
Administrative staff	1,393, full and part-time
Undergraduates	2,000
Postgraduates	90
Location	Decatur , Illinois , United States 39°50′33″N 88°58′30″W / 39.8425°N 88.975°W / 39.8425; -88.975Coordinates: 39°50′33″N 88°58′30″W / 39.8425°N 88.975°W / 39.8425; -88.975
Campus	City, 75 acres (30.3 ha)
Colors	Blue & White
Nickname	Big Blue
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – CCIW
Website	www.millikin.edu

Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).^[2]

Media[]

Decaturian[]

The Decaturian, also known as the Dec (official nickname), is the bi-weekly student newspaper. The Decaturian was established in 1903 and its issues are archived online from 1903–1951, made possible by the Digital-Decaturian Project.^[3]

WJMU 89.5 The Quad[]

WJMU is Millikin University's student-operated freeform format radio station. In addition to its musical responsibilities, WJMU also creates its own public service announcements, liners, news, Millikin sports programming and promotional materials.^[4]

Rankings[]

In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Millikin University #12 in Regional Colleges Midwest, #11 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #29 in Best Value Schools, noting that the university had selective admissions and a student-faculty ratio of 10:1.^[5]

Fraternities and sororities[]

Co-ed[]

• Alpha Phi Omega (service)
• Alpha Psi Omega (academic)
• Sigma Delta Pi (academic)
• Sigma Tau Delta (academic)

Athletics[]

Since their first year of athletics in the 1903–04 academic year and prior to joining the NCAA Division III and the CCIW in the 1946–47 season, Millikin primarily competed as an Independent of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Millikin University teams have since participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Big Blue are a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).^[6] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, wrestling, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, triathlon, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Notable alumni[]

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Actors and musicians[]

• Jodi Benson – Actress: voice of Ariel in the 1989 film The Little Mermaid^[7]
• Polly Baker in Crazy for You (original Broadway cast)
• Sierra Boggess – Actress: originated roles of Ariel in 2007 Broadway production of The Little Mermaid and Rosalie Mullins in the 2015 Broadway production of School of Rock. She also portrayed Christine Daae in 2010's Love Never Dies and in the 25th anniversary performances of The Phantom of the Opera on both West End and Broadway.^[8]
• Joel Kim Booster – Actor / Comedian: Jun Ho in NBC's Sunnyside
• Hedy Burress – Actress: Wyleen Pritchett in Boston Common; voice of Yuna in Final Fantasy X
• Annamary Dickey – Actress and soprano of the Metropolitan Opera and Broadway
• Katelyn Epperly – Singer: American Idol season 9 (top 16)
• Tad Hilgenbrink – Actor: Matt Stifler in American Pie: Band Camp^[9]
• Emerson Swinford - Musician: guitarist and composer
• Annie Wersching – Actress: portrays FBI agent Renee Walker on the television show 24
• Matthew West – Musician: contemporary Christian artist
• Monica Witni - Composer and double bassist
• Michael Maize – Actor: portrayed Daniel in National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Artists[]

• Herbert D. Ryman – Disney artists, imagineer, and chief designer of the Cinderella Castle^[10]

Athletes and coaches[]

Millikin University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 to 1937.

• George Corbett – football player: Chicago Bears running back from 1932–1938
• Sid Gepford - NFL player in 1920
• Lori Kerans - basketball coach, gave Millikin first NCAA D3 national championship win; coached from 1985–2018
• Fred T. Long – Negro league baseball player and college football coach: played four seasons in Negro National League and amassed a 227-151-31 coaching record from 1921–1965 at various colleges including three Black college football national championships (1928, 1932, 1945)
• Harry Long – college football coach, won a Black college football national championship in 1924 as coach of Paul Quinn College; assistant coach to his brother Fred for his 1932 and 1945 championships
• Chuck Martin - football head coach at Miami of Ohio; former coach of Division 2 national champion Grand Valley State
• Danny Moeller – Major League Baseball player, 1907–1916, with Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Senators
• Jeff Monken - football head coach at United States Military Academy
• Marcia Morey – swimmer at Montreal Olympic Games in 1976 in women's 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke; former American record holder in 200M Breaststroke^[11]
• George Musso – football player: Chicago Bears lineman from 1933–1944; nine-year team captain, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982
• Jeff Query – football player: former Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver; 141 receptions for 1,865 yards and 11 touchdowns in 84 career games.
• Mike Rowland – pitcher for San Francisco Giants, 1980–1981^[12]
• Don Shroyer – college football coach at Millikin University and Southern Illinois University
• Virgil Wagner – Canadian Football League player, Montreal Alouettes halfback from 1946–54; elected to Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1980
• Art Wilson - Major League Baseball player

Authors and media figures[]

• Alice Ambrose (1906–2001) – philosopher, logician, and author
• Florence Page Jaques (1890–1972) – author
• Lucille Ryman Carroll – Hollywood talent executive during early 20th century
• Gigi Goode - American drag queen and runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 12)

Business figures[]

• Douglas R. Oberhelman – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Inc.^[13]

Politicians[]

• Rodney L. Davis – United States Representative for Illinois' 13th Congressional district.
• Thomas W. Ewing – former United States Congressman (R-Illinois)
• Melvin R. Laird, Sr. – Wisconsin State Senator and clergyman
• James Benton Parsons – Federal judge; in 1961 he was the first African American to serve as a US Federal District Judge, appointed to the Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago, IL
• Thomas D. Westfall, (1927–2005) former mayor of El Paso, Texas

See also[]

• National Bird-Feeding Society#Bird seed preferences (NBFS)

References[]

External links[]

• Official website