Cristina Bravo: There’s nothing a determined Huskie can’t do
Cristina Bravo is Huskie determination personified. Cristina, ’22, has tackled the challenges of being a first-generation college student head-on. Born in the U.S. to Mexican parents, Cristina moved to Mexico with her family when she was very young. After spending...
Di’Quan Ishmon: Pushing beyond the limit
For Di’Quan Ishmon, the sky is not the limit. It’s where he’s just getting started. Di’Quan, ’22, dreams of working with NASA or SpaceX one day. For now, the senior mechatronics student is leading student organizations, excelling in academics, and applying for NASA...
Alison Kramer: Making the most of every minute
Alison Kramer is a master at making the most of her time. Throughout her NIU career, Alison, ’22, has worked around thirty-five hours a week while carrying a course load of sixteen hours or more. Between work and studying, Alison still finds time to belong to...
Music to Her Ears: Scholarship helps Vieyra share the joy of music
Elizabeth Vieyra was little when she first noticed some of her peers did not have the same opportunities she did. Vieyra was always musically inclined, playing flute and violin. But she realized not everyone in her hometown of Aurora who wanted to take up an...
Hard Work Rewarded: Well-timed scholarship pushes aspiring scientist closer to the finish line
Jamie Forbeck always had a passion for science. But it took a near-tragedy her first semester of college to make her realize her career path. Forbeck, a senior from Princeton, Illinois, is studying medical laboratory sciences. She hopes to work in a hospital and help...
The Gift of Time: Scholarship allows future entrepreneur to focus on her studies
Scholarships are more than just financial aid for Caitlyn Nardi. They are the gift of more time and a greater ability to focus on working toward her business administration degree. “Miracles do exist for first generation college students,” said Nardi, a sophomore....
Energy for the Future: Scholarship prepares engineering major for career promoting renewable energy
An insider scoop helped Carson Wallace find the hidden gem that is NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. “My aunt is a writer for an engineering magazine, and she told me the engineering program at NIU is up and coming,” said Wallace, a senior...
My Huskie Family is Pulling for Me: Nursing major thanks the Huskies who’ve helped her succeed
LaMya Webster didn’t have to look far when deciding where to go to school. The junior nursing student found everything she needed at NIU - close enough to her hometown of South Holland that she can go home twice a month. “NIU has everything you could ask for in a...
The Future Looks Bright: Scholarship donors open a world of opportunity for hardworking business major
Maria Olivares says that to her, being a Huskies means, “looking forward to a bright future and plenty of opportunity.” The Rockford native says that being a Huskie also means working hard to achieve her goals so she can demonstrate gratitude to those who’ve helped...
Making her Parents Proud: Scholarship helps prepare psychology major to set example for others
The Impact Scholarship came at the perfect time for senior psychology major Cindy Duran. Her employer had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was worried about making ends meet. Duran describes her family as hardworking and blue collar, and explains that her...
A Family Tradition: Scholarship makes early education major third generation at NIU
When she transferred to NIU from Rock Valley College, Morgan Cunningham worried it would be hard to make friends. Three years later, she realizes making friends was the easy part. It is leaving them that will be hard. “I’ve met a lot of really fun people and I’ve made...
The Art of Generosity: Donors help aspiring animator pursue her dreams
Like millions of children, Krystyanna Joseph grew up watching SpongeBob Squarepants. Thanks to NIU scholarship donors, the next generation of children may grow up watching characters Joseph creates. Joseph is a sophomore studying both visual communications and time...