Alumni Award Winners to be Honored During Homecoming

Oct. 3, 2023

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University alumni Dr. Ann Stroink '76, Steve '73 and Deb '74 Wannemacher, and Colleen O’Connor '14 will be honored with the 2023 Alumni Awards during homecoming celebrations at a 6 p.m. ceremony on Friday, Oct. 6 in Young Main Lounge at the Memorial Center.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Ann R. Stroink '76

Dr. Ann Stroink '76 is a graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan University biology department and a 1979 graduate of Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine. 

With postgraduate training including a residency at the Mayo Clinic for neurosurgery and a fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children for pediatric neurosurgery in 1985, Stroink quickly established interest in neuro healthcare. Launching the first neurosurgery practice in the Bloomington-Normal community that same year — Central Illinois Neuro Health Sciences — Stroink cultivated a comprehensive site for an array of neuro healthcare services.

In addition to operating a full neurosurgery practice for Carle Health, she has served as a System Medical Director, Neurosciences Quality and Educational Program Development for Advocate/Aurora Healthcare, and has directed strategic planning for neurosurgery services across the multiple-hospital system. Stroink is co-founder of the Central Illinois Neuroscience Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing neuro healthcare through education and research.

Dr. Stroink is actively involved in organized medicine, serving as the immediate past president for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons; chair of the Neurosurgery Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA); AMA Council on Legislation; and immediate past-chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Washington Committee — neurosurgery’s policy and advocacy Committee.

She is also a former member of the IWU Board of Trustees, recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree from IWU in 2010 and the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1986.

 

Loyalty Award: Steve '73 and Deb '74 Wannemacher

Steven J. Wannemacher '73 is a graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan University business administration program. During his time at Illinois Wesleyan, Steve played football and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. After college, he took a job at State Farm Insurance Companies, and later worked as the executive vice president of corporate services at Champion Federal Saving and Loan. Steve is best known in the Bloomington-Normal community for his work at Heritage Enterprises where he was the president and CEO from 2002-2014, and where he continues his work as the vice chairman of the Heritage Board of Directors. Steve was also the co-chair of the Healthcare Council of Illinois.

Steve remains connected to his alma mater, serving as a member of the IWU Board of Trustees, as a previous member of two presidential search committees and as co-chair of the Transforming Lives Campaign. Steve and his wife Deb have funded a classroom in State Farm Hall and an endowed scholarship in the theater department. In addition to his volunteer work at IWU, Steve’s service to his community includes numerous roles over the years, such as director of The Baby Fold Board, president and director of the McLean County Museum of History Board, commissioner and vice chairman of the Bloomington/Normal Airport Authority, and a member of the Multicultural Leadership Program. Steve and Deb have two daughters, Sarah and Allison. 

Deborah (Newberg) Wannemacher '74 is a graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan University English department. As a student, Deb was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, an organization that she continued to nurture after graduation. She has served as the president of the Sigma Kappa Corporate Counsel, president of the Sigma Kappa Advisory Board, and was instrumental in the building of the present Sigma Kappa house. Deb was the owner and operator of Initial Happenings from 1980-1997 before working at Country Financial until her retirement in 2014.

In the Bloomington-Normal community, Deb has taken various leadership positions at organizations and events, including The Baby Fold, McLean County Arts Center, United Way of McLean County, Head Start Christmas Parties, Christmas at the Mansions, Holiday Treasures, and the IHSA Women’s State Volleyball Tournament. Deb has also hosted and organized countless Illinois Wesleyan gatherings and dinners over the years. 

Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumni: Colleen O'Connor '14 

Colleen O'Connor '14 is an award-winning educator and mental health professional. She graduated magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan in 2014 with a double major in psychology and English writing. At IWU, she was active in Lyrical Graffiti and the Pride Alliance, and completed research with multiple professors. O’Connor also received many awards for her writing, including the President’s Club Award. At night, she answered calls as a volunteer for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

After graduating, she received a scholarship for Re-Centering the Humanities, which led her to design and implement a creative expression curriculum for the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery. In 2016, while providing school-based substance use prevention education through Project Oz, she initiated McLean County’s youth suicide prevention and mental health education program (NAMI Ending the Silence). She coordinates and delivers this program, which now serves all 20 standard, public junior high schools and high schools in the county. She also serves as the executive director of NAMI Mid Central Illinois, provides mental health education for other populations, and consults with neighboring communities. Over the course of her career, O’Connor has educated approximately 25,000 people, and her work has led directly to thousands of community members receiving much-needed support.

She has received the American Red Cross Saluting Our Heroes Award, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the McLean County Public Health Award and recognition from the Illinois State Senate.

A list of previous alumni award winners can be found here . 

By Emily J. Schubert ‘27