The Dads Association at the U. of I. named Christopher Thilmany of Schaumburg, Illinois, King Dad 2017 during the annual Dads Weekend on Nov. 11. Thilmany was recognized on the field during the football game with Indiana University. He was nominated by his daughter Gabriella Welch, a sophomore studying public policy and law.
The other finalists were Darren Mitchell of DeKalb, Illinois, and Jeff Zupan of Lansing, Illinois.
A copy of Gabriella’s winning essay can be found at the Parent and Family Programs website.
The Dads Association, established in 1922, is believed to be one of the nation’s oldest parent organizations. The association supports programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of the university community and serves as a parent liaison to the campus.