History Department Alumni Rock!

The History Department students, staff and faculty again got involved in Homecoming this year.  The office was decorated to represent the campus-wide theme, “Get your Groove On”, two alumni received special honors and students came together to learn about career opportunities as teachers and archivists.

Michael Bullington, History Department Chair Anthony Crubaugh, Jason Klokkenga

Michael Bullington was honored by the department as our 2012 Distinguished Alumni.  Bullington (B.S. ’83, M.S. ’89) is a certified Archivist and the Senior Manager for McDonald’s Golden Archives.  In his role he preserves the legacy of the McDonald’s brand in the corporate archives.  He also works with media relations as an expert spokesperson on McDonald’s history.  Bullington is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists, the Society of American Archivists, the Midwest Archive Conference, and the Chicago Area Archivists.

Jason Klokkenga received the 2012 Fred Drake Alumni Teacher Award.  This award recognizes a graduate of the ISU History Department for service as an outstanding history-social science teacher.  Klokkenga (B.S. ’99) has a Master’s in Educational Administration.  He teaches Social Studies at Normal Community West High School and works with the history department on the Capitol Forum project which brings high school students from across Illinois to ISU to deliberate and discuss controversial international issues.

While on campus during Homecoming, Michael and Jason met with students to share insight and answer questions about their careers.

The office walls covered in old records and posters representing the history of music and ISU from different decades set the tone for a groovin’ office complete with Reggie wearing a peace symbol shirt.

Dr. Fred Drake (’70, ’75, ’84) and Jacob Gourley (’98) were honored at Homecoming 2011 as the Department of History Distinguished Alumni.  Learn more about these two very special History department alumni.

Jacob Gourley was a Presidential Scholar and Robert G. Bone Scholar as an undergraduate.  He has taught history for fourteen years and serves as a division leader at Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Illinois.  In 2010 he was chosen as one of the top ten high school teachers in the Chicago area and honored with a Golden Apple Award that included a paid spring sabbatical at Northwestern University.  he is the Frederick Drake Award recipient this year.  This award recognizes a graduate of the ISU History Department for service as an outstanding history-social science teacher.

In June 2008, Jacob accompanied Dr. Patrice Olsen and six other students and alumni on a trip to the amazon jungle in Peru where they explored the linkages between human rights and environmental rights.  The trip, part of the Maria Elena Moyano Human Rights Seminar, included visiting two schools, learning about local myths and customs and scientific information about the flora and fauna.

Fred Drake is Professor Emeritus of History.  Beyond teaching and authoring several books, Fred promoted history education and civis literacy during his years at Illinois State University.  From 1997 to 2007, Fred represented the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to promote history and civic education in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

With the late Lawrence W. McBride, his colleague and friend, Fred started and served as Director of the History Education Program for the department.  He and McBride worked as consultants for the Illinois State Board of Education in Alternative Assessment and, with McBride, Fred established the department’s Partnership Schools in Chicago and Central Illinois.  He was named an Outstanding University Teacher in 2004.  Fred currently serves as consultant for the College Board AP in U.S. History and as a lecturer and history educator for the National Council for History Education.