By Grace Bolton, Staff Writer
For many students, Prez Ball offered the opportunity to escape the winter blues and looming deadlines with a night at the Art Institute of Chicago during this year’s Presidents Day celebration. Hosted by Wheaton College’s College Union (CU), Prez Ball brought 1,400 students, faculty and staff together for an evening of dancing and art tours led by Matthew Milliner, a Wheaton College professor of art history.
The President’s Ball, or “Prez Ball,” is Wheaton College’s annual celebration honoring both the college president and Presidents Day. Dating back to 1909, the event has evolved over more than a century but remains a central tradition of bringing students, faculty and staff together.
Weeks later, this year’s Prez Ball remains memorable as a celebration that uniquely blended art and dancing in an iconic setting, offering something for the entire student body.
The CU team began planning Prez Ball in early September 2025, brainstorming potential locations, reviewing budgets and considering capacity. This year, for the first time, CU chose the Art Institute to host Prez Ball, which took place on Feb. 16, 2026, from 7 to 11 p.m.
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1893, is the second-largest art museum in the United States. Prez Ball took place in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing, one of the world’s great collections of 20th- and 21st-century modern art. The Modern Wing houses collections of modern European painting and sculpture, as well as contemporary art, architecture, design and photography.
Looking back, Milliner’s guided tours stood out to many students as a highlight of the evening. Throughout Prez Ball, Milliner led two art tours through the Modern Wing. The first tour was through the Byzantine gallery and another, more comprehensive tour of the open modern galleries.
Chris McGoldrick, a junior anthropology major, reflected on Milliner’s ability to draw out Christian meaning from works of art that may not have an explicit Christian influence.
“Having taken a class with Dr. Milliner, seeing him in action again at the Art Institute, drawing out personal and applicable insights from the artwork, was a really unique and valuable experience,” he said.
Milliner specializes in Byzantine and medieval art and its influence on contemporary visual culture. At Wheaton, he teaches a broad range of art history classes, from the history of art and architecture to seminars on visual theology and the meaning of images. On the night of Prez Ball, Milliner’s expertise brought classroom concepts to life and provided an opportunity to “luxuriously linger” with the artwork at hand.
“PowerPoint slides are wonderful, but nothing can replace an actual Georgia O’Keeffe or Claude Monet painting that bears visible traces of brushwork,” Milliner said.
In the opening gallery, Milliner contrasted the bronze statue of Dionysius, the Greek god of wine, which portrays excess, with purity and glad self-restraint. “Insofar as we recreate in chastity and joyful sobriety, we allow Jesus to be Lord of those galleries again,” Milliner said.
Milliner cited John 15 from the New Testament, encouraging students to look for deeper theological meaning within the artwork. “The early Christians understood that Christ, the true vine, is the real God of wine, which means we can actually have more ‘fun’ as believers,” he said.
A notable insight that Milliner hoped students would remember from the night is the difference between worldly celebration and Christian joy, grounded in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“We party not to escape the reality of death, but because we know that death has been overcome,” he said.
For those seeking a break from the dance floor, Milliner’s tours offered a meaningful and engaging alternative. The variety of activities aligned with CU’s vision to appeal to the whole student body. The balance between dancing and art reflected the careful planning of the CU events team.
Karissa Stahl, a junior public health and biology major, is one of CU’s event coordinators this year. Stahl said the Art Institute allowed for a wide range of activities that would appeal to the whole student body and connected students to Chicago’s history and art culture.
“To joyfully experience community through dancing and, in the same place, admire famous works of art felt like a beautiful blend of what Prez Ball should be,” Stahl said. “We loved that the location was in the heart of downtown Chicago and would surround students with the beauty of the city and its art.”
The CU team worked behind the scenes to finalize the contract, reach out to vendors for catering, secure a DJ and tour the Art Institute to plan the event layout. They also promoted the event through posters, graphics and social media to build excitement for the event.
“It was the best feeling when I went up to the balcony overlooking Griffin Court and saw so much of the student body come together and make new memories,” said Anabel LeVan, a senior nursing and Spanish major and fellow CU event coordinator.
In addition to Prez Ball, the CU team also organizes events such as the Talent Show, GLO Dance and Trivia Night, and is currently planning AirJam for the end of March. AirJam, Wheaton’s annual lip-sync and dance competition, brings student groups together for choreographed performances later in the spring semester. Each CU event is designed to gather the student body in creative ways, fostering fun and community across campus.
Valeria Marquez, a sophomore communications major, was part of the Student Media Team capturing Prez Ball on camera. She serves as a photographer and videographer, helping document student life across campus.
Marquez reflected on the event’s ability to engage students with a wide range of interests. “Sometimes people don’t go to Prez Ball because they don’t think they’ll enjoy it,” she said. “However, this year I saw something for everyone, which felt very inclusive.”
Reflecting on her experience behind the camera, Marquez added, “It felt like a movie, seeing everyone dressed up and getting to film it!”
