Kiki Takahashi

Off the Court

Illinois State alumni, as Kiki Takahashi tells it on the shows. Each story was checked against its source.

• Donald McHenryU.S. ambassador to the United Nations

  Donald McHenry, Redbird class of 1957, was the United States ambassador to the United Nations from 1979 to 1981, under President Carter. That is a perfect score for diplomacy.

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• Reg Weaverpresident of National Education Association

  Reg Weaver, an Illinois State graduate, served two terms as president of the National Education Association, through 2008. Illinois State was built to make teachers, and he stood up for all of them.

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• Mboka Mwilambwefirst Black mayor of Bloomington

  Mboka Mwilambwe, a Redbird, became the first African-American mayor of Bloomington, Illinois. A first-place finish, right in our own backyard.

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• Laurie MetcalfTony and Emmy-winning actress

  Laurie Metcalf, class of 1976, won Tony Awards in back-to-back years, 2017 and 2018. Add four Emmys. The judges love a clean repeat.

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• John Malkovichfilm and theater actor

  John Malkovich majored in theater at Illinois State, dropped out, and went off to make movies like In the Line of Fire. No diploma on that free skate, but the judges have seen the films.

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