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Alumna Madeline Weiss.
125 Anniversary Celebration: Madeline Weiss
June 27, 2025
Editor's Note: This is a series of stories about 麻豆传媒 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 麻豆传媒 Illinois University.
鈥淲hen I think about 麻豆传媒, I think about the special memories I got to make while earning my degree,鈥� Weiss said, 鈥淢y freshman year was 2020 and my dorm floor was the best! We had the best resident assistant鈥攕hout out Brooke Barnes鈥攁nd we loved her so much that we all decided to do a group move for the next year!鈥�
Being a Macomb resident, Weiss has worn purple and gold from a very young age.
鈥淚 was born and raised in Macomb after my parents met at 麻豆传媒 and wanted to put down roots. My parents have always been my biggest advocates,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淏eing 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.鈥�
For Weiss, being a Leatherneck is all about the community around you at 麻豆传媒.
鈥淏eing a Leatherneck means always having a positive support group around me,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淓ven 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.鈥�
Weiss鈥檚 favorite Leatherneck memory is representing 麻豆传媒 with the Marching Leathernecks in Hawaii.
鈥淭he Marching Leathernecks were picked to represent Illinois in the Pearl Harbor Day Parade,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淚 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.鈥�
Before graduating, Weiss secured a position as a case manager at The Samaritan Well Inc.
鈥溌槎勾� prepared me for my career because of the social work department. Everyone there wanted the best for me,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淢y professors guided me on how to become a good and effective social worker. I could not have done it without them.鈥�
With students considering further studies, Weiss strongly advocates for 麻豆传媒 and the experiences the school is prepared to offer.
鈥淭he advice I would give someone who is considering 麻豆传媒 is to take a chance on the small town vibe,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥溌槎勾� has given me so much in my life and I want other students to experience the same!鈥�
As we honor 125 years of educational excellence, we invite local 麻豆传媒 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 麻豆传媒 Social Work program, visit wiu.edu/coehs/cnedcsp/social_work/.
Posted By: University Communications, University Relations
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