Every year on April 24th, Western Illinois University celebrates their Purple and Gold Day — a day meant to commemorate the university’s creation back in 1899. Instead of the usual celebratory events, this year’s festivities were celebrated a little differently.

Here in Illinois, we mean business—and engineering, and law.

U.S. News & World Report released its latest graduate school rankings, which rated Illinois business, law and engineering programs among the best in the country.

In the magazine’s ranking of business schools, two Illinois institutions share the #3 spot: Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Both schools have consistently ranked among the top five business programs in the U.S.

Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. Today, March 2^nd Read Across America Day which promotes reading, particularly for children and young adults. This nationwide observance also coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss (Geisel), an American writer best known for writing children’s books, Texas Independence day and Casimir Pulaski Day.

Many schools, libraries and community centers across the United States participate by bringing people together to read books. Various reading activities and events are held across the country on this day. Some students take part in a Read Across America channel designed to showcase student and educator videos around the country. Others make reading pledges, organize book fairs or read aloud to groups of people.

Golden Apple is a leading Illinois’ based nonprofit committed to recognizing outstanding educators across the state. Last year, Peoria local and principal of Charles A. Lindbergh Middle School, Susan Malahy was awarded the 2019 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership.

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership recognizes a performance in school leadership that creates a consistent and positive impact in the school where the award winner is based. Malahy was given the award for promoting a culture of acceptance and inclusion of all students and educators in the school.

Susan Malahy has been the principal of Charles A. Lindbergh Middle School for nearly six years now. She worked to increase professional development for teachers, which helped further connect with their students.

Every year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the best online programs in the country. More than 1,600 programs were ranked in total, which encompass Bachelor’s programs as well as seven different fields of graduate programs, including nursing, computer information technology, criminal justice, education, business (non-MBA), MBA and engineering.

Today Illinois programs made impressive rankings in more ways than one. Out of 353 colleges, the University of Illinois-Chicago came in third for the best Bachelor’s program, moving up from fifth place last year.

In addition, Illinois was ranked number 1 in the graduate nursing category. Rush University, also located in Chicago, had the best ranking out of 183 colleges.