University News
Alumna Madeline Weiss.
125 Anniversary Celebration: Madeline Weiss
June 27, 2025
Editor's Note: This is a series of stories about Â鶹´«Ã½ Illinois University students, alumni and community members, highlighting their experiences during our 125th anniversary celebration. We will feature 125 individuals from August 2024 to August 2025.
MACOMB, IL - - Alumna Madeline Weiss fondly recalls the meaningful moments that accompanied her academic journey at Â鶹´«Ã½ Illinois University.
"When I think about Â鶹´«Ã½, I think about the special memories I got to make while earning my degree," Weiss said, "My freshman year was 2020 and my dorm floor was the best! We had the best resident assistant—shout out Brooke Barnes—and we loved her so much that we all decided to do a group move for the next year!"
Being a Macomb resident, Weiss has worn purple and gold from a very young age.
"I was born and raised in Macomb after my parents met at Â鶹´«Ã½ and wanted to put down roots. My parents have always been my biggest advocates," Weiss said. "Being from Macomb, I grew up going to the parades, football games and Thompson Hall Trick or Treat events. I loved getting to go on campus when I was younger because I felt like I was in a different place."
For Weiss, being a Leatherneck is all about the community around you at Â鶹´«Ã½.
"Being a Leatherneck means always having a positive support group around me," Weiss said. "Even though I visited campus as a child, I was able to experience it from a whole new perspective as a student. Everyone was beyond supportive and I could not have asked for a better circle."
Weiss's favorite Leatherneck memory is representing Â鶹´«Ã½ with the Marching Leathernecks in Hawaii.
"The Marching Leathernecks were picked to represent Illinois in the Pearl Harbor Day Parade," Weiss said. "I will never forget marching in downtown Honolulu in our purple and gold Hawaiian shirts and hearing people cheer for us. I got to meet several Pearl Harbor Day and World War II veterans on this trip. Their kindness and bravery are inspiring."
Before graduating, Weiss secured a position as a case manager at The Samaritan Well Inc.
"Â鶹´«Ã½ prepared me for my career because of the social work department. Everyone there wanted the best for me," Weiss said. "My professors guided me on how to become a good and effective social worker. I could not have done it without them."
With students considering further studies, Weiss strongly advocates for Â鶹´«Ã½ and the experiences the school is prepared to offer.
"The advice I would give someone who is considering Â鶹´«Ã½ is to take a chance on the small town vibe," Weiss said. "Â鶹´«Ã½ has given me so much in my life and I want other students to experience the same!"
As we honor 125 years of educational excellence, we invite local Â鶹´«Ã½ students, alumni, faculty and staff to share their stories and be featured in our series. Contact University Communications at U-Communications@wiu.edu to participate.
To learn more about the Â鶹´«Ã½ Social Work program, visit wiu.edu/coehs/cnedcsp/social_work/.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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