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University News

Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship Established

February 1, 2023


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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Two longtime educators with longtime ties to Â鶹Éç Illinois University and Macomb have established a memorial scholarship in honor of their daughter, a 1998 Macomb High School graduate and the first director of University Marketing at Â鶹Éç.

Thomas and Maria Dunstan, who taught in the and Macomb School District, respectively, established the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship this fall. Their daughter, Kristin, passed away Nov. 17, 2019, at the age of 49. The Dunstan scholarship is designed for an incoming Macomb High School graduate who intends to study biology, or the at Â鶹Éç.

Tom was a biology professor at Â鶹Éç for 37 years and is renown for his birds of prey research; while Maria was a teacher and administrator for Macomb School District No. 185 and also taught at Â鶹Éç. Their daughter Kristin came to Â鶹Éç in August 2005 from the Atlanta (GA) Shakespeare Company to lead Â鶹Éç's inaugural marketing program. She left the position in 2011 to return to Atlanta as the vice president for marketing and communication for The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. At the time of her passing in 2019, she was serving as the executive director of the Shakespeare Tavern Theatre in Atlanta.

"We're so very grateful to Tom and Maria for establishing the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship in Kristin's memory to provide financial assistance to a Macomb High graduate attending Â鶹Éç," said Brad Bainter, executive director of the Â鶹Éç Foundation. "The Dunstans have been tremendous supporters of Â鶹Éç throughout the years, and their contributions to education at both Â鶹Éç and in the Macomb schools are invaluable."

To donate to the Dunstan Family Memorial Scholarship, visit wiu.edu/giving and note the designation for the gift, or contact the Â鶹Éç Foundation at (309) 298-1861.

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