The Illinois State University Alumni Association is a volunteer organization that serves more than 240,000 alumni, the University, and its students. The members of the association strengthen the University's traditions, future growth, and networks of influence.

If you are a graduate of Illinois State University, you are automatically a member of the Illinois State University Alumni Association. Individuals who have attended the University may be granted membership upon their request. Active members are those who have made a gift to the Illinois State University Foundation during the current or preceding fiscal year.

Andrew Purnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship The Andrew Purnell Jr. Scholarship was established in March 2021as the premier scholarship under the Black Colleagues Association (BCA). The scholarship is awarded annually to an Illinois State University student who demonstrates the qualities that Mr. Purnell embodied during his life. Andrew Purnell Jr. '57 passed away on March 20, 2020. As a student at Illinois State, Purnell became one of the founders of the student chapter of the NAACP serving as the organization's chapter president. Purnell later worked to establish the ISUBCA in 1984, an alumni affinity group dedicated to keeping Illinois State affordable and accessible to Black students.

Latinx Alumni Network Scholarships The Latinx Alumni Network (LAN) was established and recognized as an affinity network by the Alumni Association in the fall of 2014. The mission of LAN is to establish, maintain and promote a network for the empowerment and advancement of Latinx alumni, students, faculty and staff at Illinois State University. As a part of LAN’s mission, the organization desires to assist students in securing financial aid through annual scholarships.

Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship The Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship started with Student Alumni Council funds in 1989 and has since grown through annual Student Alumni Council contributions and private donations. A gift from the estate of Marian H. Dean made a meaningful impact on the funding of this scholarship. The Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship fund is used for the recruitment of students who are sons or daughters of at least one Illinois State University alumnus.

Alumni Association Scholarship In 2009, the Alumni Association launched an initiative to create the Illinois State University Alumni Association Scholarship. This scholarship addresses the accessibility of undergraduate education to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and leadership, and who demonstrate a financial need. Additional consideration is given to students whose immediate family members have attended or graduated from Illinois State University.

Andrew Purnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship Latinx Alumni Network Scholarship Alumni Association Scholarship
Leaderboard
Participation by area
Which participating group will receive the most gifts during Birds Give Back? Support your passion and help your area climb the leaderboard!
Rank Area of Support Gifts
1 Communication 328
2 Athletics 192
3 Multicultural Center 158
4 Geography, Geology and the Environment 151
5 LGBTQ+ Student Support 121
6 School of Theatre and Dance 90
7 Support MCN Priorities 89
8 Center for Civic Engagement 88
9 University Housing Services 84
10 Family and Consumer Sciences 80
11 Accounting 77
12 Red and White Student Scholarship 74
13 Andrew Purnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship 71
14 Horticulture Center 69
15 WGLT 61
16 Finance, Insurance, and Law 54
17 College of Business Excellence Fund 50
18 ISUPD Community Engagement Unit 50
19 Student Engagement 49
20 Redbird Esports 45
21 Gamma Phi Circus 40
22 Special Education 36
23 School of Teaching and Learning 35
24 Health Sciences 34
25 Chemistry 33
26 Textbook Affordability 33
27 School of Music 33
28 Illinois Shakespeare Festival 32
29 Ewing Cultural Center 31
30 Red and White Scholarship Fund 29
31 History 28
32 CAST Student Persistence Fund 27
33 Office of Sustainability 27
34 Student Affairs Scholarships 23
35 U-High 23
36 More Ways to Support Milner 22
37 Biological Sciences 21
38 Agriculture 21
39 Politics and Government 21
40 Career Services 21
41 College of Arts and Sciences Funds 20
42 Wonsook Kim CFA General Fund 20
43 College of Education Persistence Awards 20
44 Economics 19
45 Alumni Association Scholarship 19
46 Office of Student Research 18
47 Technology 18
48 Wonsook Kim School of Art 18
49 Educational Administration & Foundations 17
50 Kinesiology and Recreation 17
51 Social Work 16
52 Information Technology 16
53 CAST Connections 16
54 Black Colleagues Association Scholarship 16
55 International House 15
56 Marketing 14
57 Latinx Alumni Network Scholarship 14
58 Mathematics 14
59 Metcalf 14
60 English 14
61 Psychology 14
62 Honors Program 13
63 The Graduate School 13
64 Criminal Justice Sciences 11
65 Communication Sciences and Disorders 11
66 Creative Technologies Program 11
67 Pay it Forward Business Scholarship 10
68 Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 10
69 Management Majors 10
70 Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 9
71 Military Science - ROTC 7
72 Physics 7
73 Sociology and Anthropology 7
74 Business Education 7
75 International Business 7
76 University Galleries 6
77 Friends of the Arts 5
78 Latin American and Latino/a Studies 4
79 Philosophy 3
80 Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship 2
Ended
$100,000
Mission Launch Challenge
Thank you to the first 1,000 donors who unlocked $100,000 to kick off Birds Give Back 2022! Don’t forget to check with your employer to see if they match your gift!
1,000 / 1,000 Gifts
Completed
$100,000
Momentum Challenge
Thank you to the 1,000 donors who unlocked $100,000 to keep momentum strong during Birds Give Back!
2,000 / 2,000 Gifts
Completed
$1,000
Purnell Challenge
To honor and celebrate his father Andrew Purnell Jr., Tony Purnell will contribute $1,000 to the Andrew Purnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship once we receive 57 gifts, a number chosen in honor of the year Andrew graduated from Illinois State University.
57 / 57 Gifts
Completed
$30,000
Hesterberg CAST Mission Complete Challenge
We are issuing our final challenge of the night. Keith ’93 and Beth Hesterberg challenge us to complete our Birds Give Back mission. They will add $30,000 to support the CAST student persistence when we receive another 250 gifts before midnight. Make your gift and spread the word to all your Redbird friends!
2,750 / 2,750 Gifts
Completed
$25,000
Employee/Retiree Challenge
Thanks to 500 faculty, staff, retiree donors for unlocking $25,000 during Birds Give Back!
500 / 500 Gifts
Completed
$25,000
Reaching for 2,500 gifts!
Thank you to the 2,500 donors who unlocked $25,000 to keep momentum strong during Birds Give Back!
2,500 / 2,500 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Social Sharing Challenge
Pawfficer Sage and her friend want you to spread the word about #BirdsGiveBack! Susan Cameron ’79, a retired staff member, will contribute $10 to support Pawfficer Sage’s Community Engagement Team for every share, up to $1,000!
Completed
Participating Groups
College of Applied Science and Technology College of Arts and Sciences College of Business College of Education Mennonite College of Nursing Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Alumni Association Athletics Center for Civic Engagement Ewing Cultural Center Honors Program International House Lab Schools Milner Library Multicultural Center Office of Student Research Office of Sustainability Red and White Student Scholarship Student Affairs The Graduate School WGLT
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