At the 2018 UIS Alumni Gala, Pulitzer Prize recipient Kathy Best will be presented with the A

On January 14, UIS Chancellor Susan J.

How I chose my field of study

From a young age, I have always loved being accountable and found great joy in helping others in different areas of money management and putting ideas together. As I grew up, I got to understand the meaning of accounting and how it is not just limited to one aspect or one routine. I came to realize that accounting is a vast and exciting field to study because it is filled with specialized career paths tailored to each individual’s goals and interest.

Dear Chancellor Whitney,

My name is Brandon Smith, and this fall will mark the beginning of my senior year at UIS. The past three years that I have spent at this university have been incredibly beneficial and productive. I have lived in Springfield my whole life and I am very grateful to have such a wonderful university right here in my hometown. At UIS, I have been able to be a part of an exceptional learning community while also being able to remain close to my loved ones in the Springfield area.

How I chose my field of study

My chosen major is elementary education. I chose my field of study when I was in seventh grade. I had always planned to go into the education field but was unsure if that was what was really for me. When I was younger I would use old math and reading books from previous grades and “teach” my younger sister what I was learning. I had a pretend classroom and I would make up assignments and tests and grade her.

Dear Butler Family,

Thank you for the generous scholarship you have provided me for the upcoming school year. My name is Andrew Cunningham, and I am from Decatur. I come from a large family who always championed community involvement and helping others, which, in a way, led me to UIS.

How I chose my field of study

I chose this degree path because I feel that my service to society was not complete. After I retired, I was missing something and after soul searching, I realized I was missing serving something bigger than me. For 20 years I helped mold some of the finest warriors in the U.S Army. As I write this, my oldest biological son is serving under one of the soldiers who I trained. I want to give back to the veterans who may need it. I was fortunate with the way I turned out. I cannot say that about all my brothers and sisters in arms.

How I chose my field of study

My interest in public health is dated back to my undergraduate days. I was involved is several medical outreaches where my colleagues and I provided free preventive and clinical services to inhabitants of rural communities. I could see smiles on their faces and how impactful our interventions were on a larger scale rather than providing clinical services to individuals.

Current Location: Edwardsville, IL

Hometown: Carlinville, IL

UIS Degree: B.S. 2014 (Political Science and Legal Studies)

Other Degree: JD 2017, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Current Position: Associate Attorney at Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt