University News

Celebrating Town & Gown 2023 Oct. 5

October 4, 2023


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MACOMB, IL -- The 16th annual Celebrating Town & Gown event will be held Thursday, Oct. 5. The signature event brings together the Western Illinois University and Macomb communities, features the latest Rocky on Parade Unveiling and kicks off the 2023 WIU Homecoming activities. The event is hosted by WIU and the city of Macomb.

The event, hosted by WIU President Guiyou Huang and Macomb Mayor Mike Inman, will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Park Place (formerly The Macomb Dining Company) in Macomb and will include a short program at 6:15 p.m. Everyone from the Macomb and WIU communities is welcome to attend.

During the event, the 2023 Honorary Alumni Award and Town & Gown Awards will be presented by Huang and Inman. The Honorary Alumni Award is presented annually to an individual who has provided exceptional service to the WIU community, even if they are not a WIU graduate. The Town & Gown Award is presented annually to an individual who has provided exceptional service in bringing WIU and the Macomb communities together. Additionally, 22 newly completed Rocky on Parade bulldogs will be unveiled during the event.

Rocky on Parade is a public art project that celebrates the University's traditions, strengthens the unity of campus and community, contributes to the economic vitality and quality of life in Macomb and supports the Rocky on Parade Department of Art student scholarships through the WIU Foundation. The statues will be a part of the 2023 WIU Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 14, and will be installed at their final locations throughout the community and on the University campus following Homecoming weekend.

To register for Town & Gown and other alumni events, visit wiu.com/alumni, call (309) 298-1914, or stop by the Alumni House, which is located at 1009 W. Adams St. For more information visit wiu.edu/alumni, call (309) 298-1914 or email A-Association@wiu.edu. For more information on Rocky on Parade, visit wiu.edu/vpaps/rocky_on_parade/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing