Distinguished Student Leaders

Centennial Honors College

Inductees include Western Illinois University recipients or finalists for the most prestigious national and international scholarships. Elite scholarships include the Rhodes, Truman, Goldwater, Fulbright, Udall, Mitchell, Mellon, Boren, Madison, Lagrant and Portz Scholarships. These are the most competitive and widely recognized scholarships in the world. Following is a list of these stellar students:

Grant Reed SGA President (2017-2018)

Wil Gradle Student Trustee (2016-2018); SGA President (2015-2016)

Wil Gradle has a distinguished record of service to the University in the Student Government Association, acting as the director of finance, president, and two terms as the student member on the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees. Wil was recognized in the Greek community as the 2017 Dr. Philip Sommers Pi Kappa Phi Student of the Year, 2017 North American Interfraternity Conference Undergraduate of Distinction, 2017 Pi Kappa Phi Outstanding President, 2015 Greek Man of the Year. Gradle was also selected to be the 2016 Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and the 2017 Dr. William E. Brattain Award recipient. Wil graduated in May of 2017 with a Bachelor of Business in Economics, and pursues a Master of Arts in Economics.

Michael Wade Quigley Student Trustee (2014-2016)

During his undergraduate career, Quigley served actively in the Student Government Association as a Senator at Large and Speaker of the Senate. Michael was then elected to serve two consecutive terms as the Student Member to the Board of Trustees while pursuing his graduate studies. Michael was involved in a number of student organizations, most notably as the founding president of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. For his efforts, Quigley was recognized as a recipient of the Gary Johnson Award for Student Leadership.

He competed in the 2012 Illinois Army National Guard Soldier of the Year competition and placed second in the state of Illinois. The next year, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and competed in the Illinois Army National Guard Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and was the 108th sustainment brigade non-commissioned officer of the year.

Quigley performed duties as a graduate assistant and commissioned through ROTC where he served as the Cadet Battalion Commander. While in graduate school he continued as a member of the Illinois National Guard. Michael completed his Bachelor's in Political Science in 2014, and his Master's in Public Administration in 2016. After graduating and commissioning he went into the active duty Army and served as Cadre for Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox Kentucky, and graduate Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leaders Course. He now works as the Assistant S2 (intelligence officer) and Security Manager for 1-9 Cavalry at Fort Hood Texas. For his tremendous accomplishments during his time at Western and service to the United States Army, Michael was selected as a Pi Kappa Phi 30 Under 30 award winner.

Dovile Svirupskaite SGA President (2016-2017)

David Dunn SGA President (2014-2015)

Caleb Markey SGA President (2012-2014)

Andre B. Ashmore Student Trustee (2013-2014)

D'Angelo S. Taylor Student Trustee (2009-2010, 2012-2013)

D’Angelo Taylor currently serves as the Assistant Director for the Multicultural Center at the University of Southern Indiana. In his current role, he works to build partnerships and relationships with multiple entities within the University of Southern Indiana and within the Evansville, Indiana community. With passion, Mr. Taylor has worked with populations comprised of mainly first-generation and low-income students. Specifically he has worked with community organizations, churches, and educational entities within the cities of Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; East Saint Louis, Illinois; and Rock Island, Illinois to aid families in their pursuit of higher education. Mr. Taylor is a strong believer in mentorship and he continues to mentor college and high school students from all walks of life.

Within higher education, he has served as Chairman of the Inclusion, Access, and Success committee for the Missouri Association of College Admissions Counseling (MOACAC). This committee’s purpose is to deal with programs regarding equal educational access and maintaining a communications network with organizations whose goals and objectives are to promote higher education for populations who are under-represented in the college ranks. In April of 2015, Mr. Taylor’s hard work for the students of both Illinois and Missouri was rewarded when he awarded the MOACAC’s Rising Star Award. In addition, Mr. Taylor, a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has served as the District of Illinois’ Chairman of Go to High School – Go to College. This is a national program for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, which is geared towards ensuring that students of color are exposed to higher education during their high school years. Under Mr. Taylor’s leadership, he District of Illinois held its first District Conference College Fair at North Chicago Community High School. In February of 2016, Mr. Taylor’s service to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. was recognized in when he was awarded the Alumni Brother of the Year Award for the District of Illinois and in April of 2016 when Mr. Taylor was award the Alumni Brother of the Year for the ‘Mighty’ Midwestern Region.

Mr. Taylor graduated from Huguenot High School (Richmond, Virginia) in June of 2007 and traveled over eight-hundred miles to Western Illinois University to pursue his Bachelor of the Arts degree in Broadcasting. However, he would graduate Western Illinois University with both his Bachelors of the Arts degree and Master of the Arts degree in Political Science from Western Illinois University. Currently, Mr. Taylor is pursuing his doctoral degree at the University of New England in Educational Leadership. His area of study focuses on mentoring low-income and first-generation students within higher education.