Tip Your Cap

Millikin University has unveiled this new website to provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and the community to thank President Patrick White, and his wife, Chris, for their years of dedication and leadership at Millikin, and wish them well in retirement.

Please tag social media posts with #tipyourcap and #thankspwhite.

Please join us as we give the Big Blue community a chance to say farewell and thank you to President White and his wife, Chris, for their leadership of our University over the past seven years.

As we all know, President White doesn’t go anywhere without his Big Blue ball cap. Now, you can sport his iconic cap and “Tip Your Cap” in thanks and celebration of President White’s upcoming retirement.

This spring, we will be collecting memories and messages for Dr. and Mrs. White to thank them for their years of dedicated service to Millikin University. We will also be selling commemorative blue ballcaps featuring the phrase "tip your cap" on the back in honor of President White. For each hat purchased, $15 of the purchase price will be donated to Annual Scholarships in honor of our 15th university President, Dr. Patrick E. White.

Join us and "Tip Your Cap" to Dr. and Mrs. White!

Get the Cap

Big Blue Hat You can now sport the iconic blue ball-cap worn by our very own President White! This limited edition cap features an inscripted "Tip Your Cap" on the back. Purchase your $25 commemorative cap today. $15 of your purchase will be donated to Annual Scholarships in honor of our 15th President. Hats will be mailed directly to you.

Don't forget to post a photo in your hat using the hashtags #tipyourcap and #thankspwhite!

Want to tip your cap to Pat before your order arrives? Download a paper version here! Simply print and cut out!

Submit a Memory

Do you have a great memory about or involving President White? How about a picture to share? Would you like to send a well-wish to the Whites for their retirement? Click the link below! We will be compiling submissions in a lovely gift for the Whites in June. Remember to share your content on your own social media too, tagging #tipyourcap and #thankspwhite!

Submit a memory with President White

Cindy Lauwardy

I remembered meeting you and Mrs. White for the first time during the Ice Cream Social in the Freshman orientation. I introduced myself as an exchange student from Indonesia, and I actually couldn't believe that you remembered it by calling my name the next time we came across each other in Shilling Hall!

Also, I'm very glad that I got the chance to take pictures with you during my very last week in Millikin. I'm glad that I choose Millikin in my exchange program; I met many awesome people and amazing events. I attended mamy wonderful performances at KFAC, and I loved all my professors in Millikin because they were all very caring and full of attention.

Last but not least, I'll definitely visit Millikin University again if I come back to the United States next time, and also to visit you and Mrs. White if I have chance to!

Happy retirement, Mr. White. All these years you have done a very great job. Ah, there you are Millikin! Cheers!

Cindy Lauwardy

Jeff Aper

I'm very grateful to Pat for giving me the opportunity to join the Millikin community and serve this wonderful university. My wife Sandy and I have enjoyed the chance to work with Pat and Chris and look forward to our friendship with them extending far into the future. A memory I will share goes back to my first semester at Millikin in August, 2014. Pat and I were greeting new students and doing all kinds of things associated with the start of school. We decided to go get some lunch in the old cafeteria in RTUC. Of course, the route there was slow because Pat knew everyone and wanted to talk with every person we encountered. When we finally walked down the hallway to the serving area he was suddenly overcome with excitement and exclaimed, "corn dogs!!" He said this because right in front of us there was a huge pile of corn dogs fresh from the fryer. I never in my life saw anyone that excited about corn dogs and admit that I did not share his elation, not being a corn dog aficionado myself. We had an enjoyable lunch (I don't even recall what I ate, other than it wasn't a corn dog) and of course, talked with everyone - students, parents, faculty, staff. Because Pat always wants to engage people, hear from them, rejoice in their excitement, and share time with them. What I learned from the corn dog episode is that my new partner and boss was a joyful, unpretentious, and earnestly engaged professional. He's a man who takes the greatest joy in the goodness of the moment and the commitments and aspirations of the people around him. Whether the moment is large or small, he will embrace it with passion and compassion. It's a gift, and a gift I have been glad to learn from and fold into the work we have tried to do together as partners in fostering all that is best, most noble, and most beautiful about Millikin University and the people who give it life and make it real in the larger world. Thanks, Pat. God bless you and Chris as you open this next chapter in your lives.

Cindy Lauwardy

Caitlyn Garrity

Chauffeuring President White and First Lady White in Millikin 1 to the annual Millikin Cookie Party (the BEST day of the year), will forever be one of my favorite Millikin memories. President White and Mrs. White showed up for students in ways far beyond what they had to, and their care for the university and the students in it is evident. Their presence on campus will certainly be missed.

Gail Neustifter

I remember The 1st time I heard President White speak, it was during an open house I attended while supporting my son during his school visits and tours. After listening to President White I truly felt the spirit of Millikin and I knew my son would be at home and supported at Millikin.

Since that day I have often heard my son say "Ahhhh there you are Millikin" and I am reminded of all that is Millikin.

Thank-you!

Hannah Markun

My favorite memory of P White: Walking back to PMC after a particularly rough wind ensemble rehearsal, P White walks out of the UC seeing us and shouts, “OH! A musicians’ brigade! I LOVE millikin! There’s musicians EVERYWHERE! Go Big Blue!”

Thank you for always appreciating the School of Music and all we do! Millikin won’t be the same without you cheering us on!

Marianne Robertson

One of my favorite memories of President Pat is when Casey Watson and I took my ferret (Mr. Nelson Mandela) to Pat's office. Both President and ferret were wearing their Big Blue Millikin ball caps, and they made a cool video together. I also remember Pat reaching out his hand and holding a tarantula when he was interviewing at Millikin. I am proud to say that, unless they are playing Notre Dame, I have turned Pat into a Clemson Tigers football fan!!!! My favorite memories are all the cheerful hallway talks and the wonderful hugs!!!! I will miss you and I value your friendship, Pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rebecca Coutcher

P. White, everytime I ran into you on campus, I remember screaming and always being so happy to see you! Thank you for changing all of our lives. I will never ever forget "ahh there you are, Millikin!" You made my years at Millikin such great ones. Always overjoyed to celebrate you! Happy retirement.

Stephen Frech, Chung-Ha Kim & Ethan

Thank you for all your work and the many wonderful holiday gatherings at your home. We wish you and Chris much happiness and good health as you embark on the next chapter of your lives. We will miss you!

Heather Taxon

We had the fortunate opportunity to have President and Mrs. White join us at our table during a James Millikin Scholars Dinner where our son Grey, and his now fiancée, Lexy Bieber were being recognized. Grey had always spoken very highly of President White and of how supportive he had been to the University Choir and Music Department, especially evident by how President and Mrs. White attended many performances. We enjoyed great conversation and learned how "real and down to earth" the two of them were during that dinner and completely understood, and concurred with, the admiration our son has for the two of them. Their support of 'all things Millikin' will be missed! We wish them a long, happy, healthy and relaxing retirement!

Michael Jurgens

President White has has "awakened a sleeping giant". His leadership is invigorating and inspires a pride in students, faculty, alumni, and community that translates to action. As Dr. White exclaims, "...There you are Millikin."... Thank you and God bless you.
Mike Jurgens, class of '62

Barbara Burgis Zuegel ('53) & Herbert H. Zuegel 9'52)

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Walt & Ruth Dechant '62 Gale

We remember well the great visit we had with Pat & Chris at Kuntry Katfish in Conroe, TX not long after he became Millikin's President. They had Dave Brandon with them which was an added bonus. They were kind enough to visit our home & made some very nice comments about my (Ruthy's) attempt
at oil painting. Thank you for your great guidance of Millikin, & really sorry you have to depart with the virus mess hanging over all of the Millikin family. We wish you & your family the best in the many fun times ahead for you both. You will be greatly missed! Walt & Ruth Dechant Gale

Rick & Babs Hazelrigg

We feel blessed for your time in Decatur and our privilege to have known you. Your many contributions to Millikin and the community will never be forgotten, as well as your constant smiles and laughs. May you enjoy your new home and a well-earned retirement.

President White Memory

About President White

Dr. Patrick White was elected the 15th president of Millikin University in October 2013, having joined the University as interim president in July of that same year. Under his leadership, Millikin has been revitalized and reimagined through a commitment to Millikin’s signature Performance Learning and a new energy for growth in academic and athletic programs, student body, and campus facilities.

Among President White's many accomplishments:

In 2015, Millikin completed its “Transform MU” capital campaign 14 months early, exceeding its $85 million goal by over $10 million. This successful initiative led to the design and construction of innovative, transformative facilities on the University’s campus.
In 2017, the $31 million University Commons, which serves as the “front door" to campus, officially opened. The University Commons houses the Staley Library, the Doug and Diane Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance, the University dining hall and additional spaces designed for collaborative use by faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community.
The Workman Family Softball Field, one of the best in the nation, was unveiled for the spring 2017 softball season
Under President White’s guidance, Millikin University officially opened the new on-campus home of the Big Blue Baseball program, with the dedication of the new Workman Family Baseball Field on Sept. 27, 2019. Millikin is the only school in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with an on-campus baseball-only facility with a full turf field and clubhouse.
The University’s Center for Theatre & Dance will be completed in fall 2020. For the first time, Millikin’s School of Theatre and Dance will have a facility whose quality and potential match its national reputation. This $29 million state-of-the-art facility will feature a 260-seat flexible theatre with orchestra pit and balcony, lighting and sound labs, a costume studio, collaboration spaces, costume and design classrooms and office space for current staff with room for growth.

Read President White's full biography here.