WIU Students Raising Funds for Annual Special Education Advocacy Summit
May 16, 2025
MACOMB, IL— The Western Illinois University student chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children is preparing for its second annual trip to Washington, D.C. for the Special Education Leadership Summit (SELS). The 2025 SELS will take place July 13-16 and eight WIU students are fundraising to attend.
The annual summit is sponsored by the international level of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE). The event typically hosts educational professionals from across the U.S. for two days of learning and professional development. In addition to working professionals, attendees include some graduate students and even fewer undergraduate students. Five WIU students attended the 2024 SELS, including senior Special Education major Gabby Hoelzer.
“The experience as a whole taught me very valuable lessons about advocating not only for others, but for myself as well,” Hoelzer said. “The second day of the trip consisted of issue briefs where we were given in-depth information regarding the topics we were planning to discuss with Congress. This process really opened my eyes to the severity of mental health concerns within education, the educator shortage and appropriations.We have discussed many of these topics in class, but hearing stories from current educators added a new perspective and layer to the importance of these issues.”
Following the issue briefs, the group went to Capitol Hill to meet with Congress members from each state to discuss the three key issues. In addition to sharing data and telling their own personal stories connected with each issue, participants also asked their Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor key legislation that pertained to the issues. Specifically, WIU students met with the offices of Representatives Eric Sorensen, Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis and Jonathan Jackson.
“I was extremely impressed by the WIU delegation last year,” Hollie Mason, assistant professor of Special Education, said. “Their boldness, their confidence, their passion and the way they spoke professionally and respectfully about the needs of students with disabilities and their teachers was awe-inspiring. They also respectfully demanded specific changes that need to be made and asked Mr. Sorensen to co-sponsor Senate bills to support special education.”
Through a variety of initiatives, the students raised nearly $8,000 to offset the expenses for the 2024 summit.
Interest in the SELS has grown on campus and eight students are working to attend for 2025. The group has been fundraising throughout the academic year and has established a crowdfunding campaign to meet their goals. Donors can choose to sponsor a specific student or provide general funding support. Full details are available at fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/WIUCEC.
Offline contributions can be mailed to the WIU Foundation, 303 Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455. For questions or additional information, please contact Mason at h-mason@wiu.edu.
Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing