I would like to open with Millikin University's Mission and Values, which I see being lived through the students, coaches, faculty and alumni at Millikin. Please keep these in mind as you read this article and recent articles about Millikin in the media.
Mission: To deliver on the promise of education.
At Millikin, we prepare students for:
- Professional success
- Democratic citizenship in a global environment
- A personal life of meaning and value
At Millikin University, we value:
- Commitment to the discovery of knowledge
- Civil debate
- Passion and enthusiasm
- Dignity and respect for individuals
- A diverse and inclusive community
- Integrity and responsibility
- Advancement of the greater good
The experiences and people that are here at Millikin are one-of-a-kind and everlasting. Even though this is my fourth year at Millikin, I talk about it every chance I get to. I am just as excited now about being a student here as I was when I came in as a freshman. Here's why:
10. Millikin has A TON of student organizations. For a small campus having over 80 student organizations is quite an accomplishment. I have been able to become involved in organizations related to my professional success, my passion, and my personal interest. I am currently the president of the campus's chapter of the National Education Academic Honor Society Pi Lambda Theta, an active member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (where I previously held the Vice President of Philanthropy position) and am heavily involved in Intramural sports. It is possible to get involved in as much as you want at Millikin, and if there isn't something for you, you can create an organization. How cool is that?!
9. Millikin's campus is beautiful. I actually visited Millikin as a prospective student during the winter months; even then it took my breath away. The architecture of the buildings is eye-catching and gorgeous. The layout of campus is inviting and well-accessible to students. In the spring you can pass by the Quad in the center of campus and find people doing homework, playing frisbee or sand volleyball, or simply listening to music and enjoying the weather. Fall is my particular favorite time of the year because the trees brighten up the entire campus.
8. Millikin athletics are recognizably important on Millikin's campus and in our conference. We are a member of NCAA Division III and CCIW Conference. I used to be on Millikin Women's Swimming team as a freshman, and I loved it. My team was not just a team, it was a family, as all of the athletic teams are at Millikin. It is hard to be a collegiate student-athlete, but it is worth it. Spending day in and day out with your teammates you develop a bond you can't find anywhere else. Our volleyball and men and women's soccer teams are well-respected and at a high standing in our conference. Additionally, Millikin's coaches recognize, respect, and support students' academics and personal beliefs. I truly miss being a part of Millikin's athletic community, but am thankful to have many good friends on the golf, football, soccer, and swimming teams here.
7. Millikin has a strong sense of community. I have never been in a place with such a high level of togetherness. While being a part of the BIg Blue has been wonderful, there are some things that happen in college that are difficult to go through. I have been blessed to be a part of this community because of the genuinely caring people that are here to help you. I have met some of my best friends at Millikin, and I have also become closer to people I never thought I would have. Most importantly, during times of sadness or oppression, Millikin pulls together. We are one community, no matter our differences.
6. Millikin is home to a variety of people. Millikin is home to over 2,000 students from Southern, Central, and Northern Illinois and various other states including California, Texas, and Hawaii, to name a few. Millikin is also home to international students from over 15 countries including Ireland, France, Spain, Austria, and Australia. As you can imagine, this opens up students' minds to experience and learn from many different cultures and types of people. At bigger schools, students tend to associate with the same crowd. Here, it is common to be friends with a variety of people, no matter their skin color, culture, or nationality. I am so thankful for that, as I have met many amazing people and learned so much about others and myself.
5. Millikin has astonishingly successful and caring faculty. Here, I am not a number. I am a person with the potential to do great things. The faculty here are required to continue research and learning themselves, which in turn allows the students to continue to learn. Many faculty co-research with Millikin students, which is an amazing opportunity you would not likely receive at a large school. At Millikin, every professor I have had has been well invested in the content I learned in their course and even went above and beyond to get to know me personally. My professors can tell when I am stressed or have had a bad day, AND THEY ASK ABOUT IT. That's something special.
4. Millikin gives back. Millikin has a strong relationship with the community of Decatur. As a senior Elementary Education major, I have been in many schools and have been highly involved in the community throughout my four years here. Millikin has an important place in the hearts of many members of Decatur. The symbiotic relationship Millikin students and community members have is something special. From the beginning of our time here at Millikin, Millikin sends students out into the community. We partner with Dennis Elementary in many events throughout the year. Again, as an Elementary Education major I have spent an abundance of time with children in the community. When you say that you are from Millikin, their eyes light up, immediately wanting to know what you do there. We are not just students, we are leaders, role models, and members of a community bigger than the campus itself.
3. Millikin has provided my with opportunities to become a part of something bigger. As I mentioned earlier, I am a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. I hadn't even considered joining a sorority before I came to Millikin. Once I had arrived on campus I immediately saw the strong influence the Greek community had on Millikin's campus. I am now glad that I joined and can be a part of the impact on Millikin's and Decatur's communities. I look back on my experiences as a student at Millikin, and my absolute favorite memory is Special Olympics. As a freshman swimmer for Millikin, I volunteered to coach for Dream Catcher's Special Olympics Swimming. This has been my most treasured experience at Millikin as these swimmers have taught me so much. They have taught me to enjoy the little things in life, to always look on the bright side of life, and to say what you think. I have been lucky enough to coach these wonderful individuals and get to know their families for three years. I have been accepted into a community of people that I now hold so close to my heart. I could not be more thankful!
2. Millikin progressively prepares you for success in your career field. Millikin has placed me in various internships in schools since my freshman year. The performance learning program allows you to learn crucial skills for your field of study, put them into practice, and develop them. You find your strengths and weaknesses and build on them over a period of four years. This also allows for a fantastic networking experience. This sets us apart from our competitors when applying for jobs.
1. Millikin changes you. Throughout my time here at Millikin I have grown so much. Through my interactions with Millikin and Decatur individuals, my view on the world has changed. Every person has their own personality, values, and beliefs. Why do we try to change that? Instead, Millikin has taught me to respect the differences between myself and others. Here, we don't want to be the same. We respect each other's differences and beliefs in a way that doesn't compromise our own beliefs and values. Additionally, being exposed to different values, ways of life, and cultures has inspired me to travel. I'm searching to know more about places around the world. I am not content because I will never be finished growing. While that's scary to realize, Millikin has taught me that this is one of the greatest gifts in life.
Thank you, Millikin University for these things and many more. Once a Big Blue, always a Big Blue.
