wfn.org | Students at Disciples-related

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

colleges recognized
Date: March 24, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-18

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Two students at 
Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ)-related colleges are among 20 
collegians recognized by USA TODAY for 
classroom performance and public 
service. 

	Eureka (Ill.) College senior D. Evan 
Coates, 21, and Texas Christian 
University senior Jason Illian, 23, 
recently were named to USA TODAY's 
All-USA College Academic First Team. 
Coates, Illian and other First Team 
members each received $2,500 cash 
awards.

	A native of Leroy, Ill., Coates is a 
biology and chemistry major with a 3.94 
GPA. An aspiring physician, he helped 
establish a program in which college 
students provide health services to 
residents of Jamkhed, India. "Evan has 
coined the word ‘actionary,' as opposed 
to missionary," said a Eureka College 
professor about the health program. 
Coates also has done research for NASA 
and is a hospital volunteer. 

	On campus he sings with two choral 
groups and is vice president of the 
Student Senate.

	Illian intends to be an international 
financial consultant and carries a 3.95 
GPA in that major. "If I owned a 
business and was looking to hire 
someone, he would be first on my list 
(even with the knowledge that he would 
soon be running my business for me!)" 
said a TCU professor. 

	The Lake Havasu City, Ariz., native 
was president of the college chapter of 
 Fellowship of Christian Athletes and 
broadened its outreach to children. A 
scholar-athlete, he also was a football 
team captain and homecoming king.

	Illian also is a swim coach and 
children's hospital volunteer, and 
participates in the Reading is Fun 
program.  

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