Suburban Illini Club Scholarship Recipients Through the Years

Words from the Recipients

Kaitlyn Wong, Supply Chain Management and Information Systems, Class of 2028

"I am very grateful for my opportunity to be able to attend the University of Illinois and meet so many amazing people. What really inspired me to first attend the university was the sense of community on campus and the academic rigor. Additionally, as my first semester of college comes to an end, I can thankfully say that these past few months have been full of some of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I cannot wait to be able to explore more on campus and meet so many more people. As a business student, it was nerve-wracking being told that Public Speaking was a required course. I was nervous and afraid, and at the beginning of the semester lacked a lot of confidence in myself. Thanks to the supportive nature of the professor and class, however, I felt that I really grew in the space and gained a lot more confidence in myself and the words I shared with my audiences. Additionally, I was really grateful and surprised to find a wonderful community in our Beta Alpha Psi Professional Business Fraternity and the Supply Chain Management Association. I was proud of being able to get into the Beta Alpha Psi Professional Fraternity and was grateful for the opportunity to be able to connect with so many people from all sorts of backgrounds. It was thanks to this scholarship support that I was ultimately able to come to the University of Illinois, and I am so grateful for all those who believed in me and gave me this opportunity to thrive. After graduation, I am currently considering either working towards a supply chain or sales role. With my efforts right now of trying to involve myself with the Supply Chain Management Association and taking advantage of all the opportunities Gies provides to learn more about both fields, I find myself appreciating this school so much more than I initially realized. The willingness of everyone to help and give support is something that I really enjoy about the University of Illinois, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me. I want to give my sincere thanks and appreciation for your club's support and belief in my journey here at the University of Illinois. In all honesty, my family and I were concerned over being able to pay for tuition at this school and sending me here, but with the trust you have shown in me to help fund my education, I cannot thank you enough for all of the support you have given me. I have learned so much in one semester and am excited to see what the future holds for me. Thank you once again for your generosity with this scholarship.”

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Maggie Falkenberg, Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2028

"As an engineer, the great reputation of The Grainger College of Engineering is what inspired me to come to Illinois. As I take courses that help me learn more about my major, I know that it is where I belong. I've gotten involved in so many new and interesting opportunities and I know there is only more awaiting me in my next three years here at the University of Illinois. I'm involved in quite a few more things than I thought I'd be. I joined the Legend Dance Company, Student Aircraft Builders, Cheese Club, and the American Red Cross Club. This semester, I will be an Adult Learner Tutor through the local program ProjectREAD as well as an ESTAR Tour Guide. I'm most proud of my ability to find new people and things that reflect what I enjoy and want to spend time doing. Between joining things that I love and meeting new friends, both in and outside my major, I feel I have made the best experience for my first semester. As I learn more important topics in aerospace, I hope to become involved in Sustainable Aviation research here, on and off campus, along with procuring an internship for next summer. By the time I graduate, besides my degree in aerospace, I hope to have successfully minor studied in media and sustainability to aid my engineering degree. I am hopeful that all of this will help me secure a full-time job in the industry after I graduate. As a beneficiary of the Suburban Illini Club Scholarship, I have been able to fully enjoy my first semester and freshman year. I am so grateful to the Suburban Illini Club for inviting me into their community and offering me their support."

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Megan Noel, Sociology, Class of 2026

"My time at Illinois has allowed me to grow so much, both in my education and as a person. I have learned so much about accountability and responsibility as I have navigated school, work, and a social life all on my own for the first time. Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies. I have declared a social work minor because of an introductory course that showed me I really want to be a social worker. I am really grateful for the opportunity to study and learn from the professors at Illinois and continue my academic journey at UIUC."

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Gillian Krughoff, Chemistry, Class of 2026

"I am a freshman at Illinois studying chemistry and am from Downers Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago. I chose to study chemistry because I have always loved the sciences, even in middle school. Once I got to high school, I took biology, chemistry, and physics. While I enjoyed biology and physics, I fell in love with chemistry. The topics just clicked in my brain, and I always looked forward to the labs. So much so that I went on to take AP chemistry and fell even more in love with the subject. Thanks in part to this scholarship, I am now studying chemistry here at Illinois."

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Salman Rizvi, Biology, Class of 2026

"I'm Salman Rizvi, a freshman here at Illinois. I come from Lombard, Illinois, a suburb in DuPage County. I was drawn to this university for various reasons; primarily, its international prestige, the active student body, and the historic environment. So far, I've had a great time pursuing my hobbies of whittling, reading, and graphic design. To that end, this scholarship has been thoroughly impactful in helping financially enable me to reach my potential here, rather than having to compromise. In addition, it serves as motivation, encouraging me to succeed to not waste this fortunate opportunity."

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Siddhant Panse, Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

"The primary reason I chose to come to UIUC for aerospace engineering was because in the summer of 2019 I did a one-week AE camp at UIUC and this generated an interest in the field for me. I am thankful for the scholarship I received because it makes me feel better about paying for college expenses; I have a younger brother who will be going to college soon so any amount of scholarship money helps. With my degree I hope to work in an aerospace firm upon graduation, and then go to graduate school to get an MBA."

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Evan Frank, Bioengineering, Class of 2025

"Suburban Illini Club, Thank you so much for your support and generosity! This school year has gone very well as I received high letter grades in all of my first semester classes and I hope to do the same this semester as my classes become much more difficult. I have decided to begin taking pre-med classes, and your support will go a long way towards helping me achieve my goal of going to medical school. Outside of school, I have enjoyed running at the arboretum and hammocking around the quad. Thanks again! I-L-L!"

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Riley Kelch, Civil Engineering, Class of 2024

"I'm Riley, a freshman from Aurora, Illinois studying civil engineering. During my time at the University of Illinois thus far, I have involved myself in multiple extracurriculars, including Engineers Without borders, ASCE, and Honors Student Council. As I progress, I hope to explore research opportunities, internships, and even a potential study abroad program. I have had a blast taking advantage of the opportunities provided to me at the University of Illinois, and I am extremely thankful for the financial assistance provided by my scholarship. This scholarship represents a catalyst towards success as I grow as a civil engineer, and I will continue to pursue my ambitions as I progress through my college experience. Thank you for your support!"

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Rachel Huang, Computer Science, Class of 2024

"Hello! My name is Rachel, and I am a current freshman studying computer science in The Grainger College of Engineering! It has always been my dream to attend the University of Illinois, and my first semester here did not disappoint. I have made so many new friends from different majors and from all across the world, which has been such a rewarding experience. Additionally, I have enjoyed being a part of the mentoring committee for Women in Computer Science and the corporate committee in the Engineering Freshman Council. My involvement in these organizations was largely made possible because of this scholarship, which allowed me to spend more time on registered student organizations instead of needing to find a job to reduce my financial burden, and I will be forever grateful for your support. Thank you so much for your generosity, it is such an honor to have been chosen as a scholarship recipient!"

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Emily Julien, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2023

"My name is Emily Julien and I’m from South Elgin, Illinois. I enjoy yoga, soccer, and playing the piano. I thought I wanted to study chemical engineering because I enjoyed math and science. Once I took AP Chemistry and Honors Dynamic Earth my senior year of high school, I realized I wanted to go into energy. I did a job shadow at BP and I was fascinated with how these companies are implementing renewable energy at a large and small scale. After learning more about sustainable energy, I want to work to make energy cleaner while being cost-effective. I decided to go to Illinois because of its prestigious engineering school, its proximity to home, and this scholarship from the Suburban Illini Club. This scholarship made my education more affordable and is very important to me. Thank you for allowing me to get a great education close to home with a more affordable tuition."

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Zan Hitchens, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Class of 2022

"Hello, my name is Zan Hitchens and I’m from Oak Brook, Illinois, where I attended Hinsdale Central High School. In high school, I was a member of the soccer team, as well as our Science Olympiad team. Deciding to attend the University of Illinois was really a no-brainer for me: it was the perfect combination of location, prestige (as a chemical engineering major), and cost (as an in-state school with help from donors like you!). With my degree, I hope to attend graduate school and complete my doctorate, with the end goal of a career in academia. I became interested in chemical engineering through my love for both chemistry and physics, which was encouraged by my parents and teachers throughout my childhood. This scholarship is very important to me because, as the eldest of ten siblings ranging from ages 17 to 1, I feel it is partially my responsibility to ensure my siblings have the same opportunities I did in pursuing their goals. Thus I need to minimize my financial impact on my family. So, for that, I thank all donors involved for your support, and I hope that I can repay the faith that was given to me!"

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Adrianna Glisan, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Class of 2021

I am a freshman from Darien, Illinois, where I attended Hinsdale South High School. I chose Illinois due to its rigorous curriculum, ample research opportunities, beautiful campus, and proximity to home. Here, I am heavily involved in StarCourse Student Concert Committee and my sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. I plan to earn a degree in the subject I find most fascinating of them all, Biology, and then attend medical school to become a neurologist. I first became interested in neurology when my younger sister fell ill and was left with developmental disabilities and epilepsy after recovering. After spending countless hours at the hospital and talking to neurologists from across the country, I myself became mesmerized by the complexity of the brain and now wish to study it. Thanks to this scholarship, I am able to do just that. Knowing that those who have graduated before me support my academic endeavors encourages me to work hard so that one day I too may pave the way for future University of Illinois students.