Tag: alumni
NIU School of Art alumna Michelle Pairitz, a principal of the Chicago office of smartdept. inc., considers herself an “aspiring Picasso.” Residents of Geneva are likely to dispute the “aspiring” part of that description, however, now that Pairitz and her husband, Eric, made a very public return to their painterly roots. Michelle Pairitz, who earned...
Northern Illinois University alumni are invited to take advantage of great deals on summer events, from major league games to cruises. See the White Sox or Cardinals at a special price, enjoy discounts at Six Flags Great America, explore nature at The Morton Arboretum or take a cruise on the Chicago River. Visit the NIU...
Every generation has its bold ideas, ideas so powerful that they can change the destiny of an entire town Long before Northern Illinois University was a glimmer in the region’s eye, DeKalb and Sycamore were locked in a heated race over which town would bring railroad service to the county. When DeKalb secured the railroad...
In the summer issue of Northern Now, you’ll meet Dan McCullough, an alumnus who has attended 57 straight Huskie homecomings. Since his freshman year, the 75-year-old bachelor hasn’t let anything get in his way to attend homecoming. Traveling about 70 miles from his hometown of Durand, he has seen games in the rain and snow...
An alumnus of NIU’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is being recognized nationally for his leadership in public works projects. Joseph Fennell, executive director of the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency, was named to the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) list of 2014 Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year. APWA annually...
NIU School of Music alum Roosevelt Griffin, band director at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Harvey, Ill., is the recipient of a 2014 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The 2014 honorees, selected from a pool of 620 nominations and 272 applicants, represent fourth- through eighth-grade teachers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. According to...
NIU will confer an honorary doctoral degree this spring to John Sall, executive vice president of the SAS Institute and head of its JMP business division. Sall will receive his honorary doctorate during the Graduate School commencement ceremony, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, in the NIU Convocation Center. A native of Rockford who...
Alumnus Dale Spencer told students from the University Honors Program on Wednesday that they shouldn’t let anything restrict their goals and that restrictions are self-imposed. Spencer shared with students how he turned his life around after ending up in a wheelchair. He visited with them during Souper Wednesday, which is an opportunity for students to...
NIU alum and former Chicago Bears player Garrett Wolfe is ready to show his athletic ability on the dance floor. Wolfe will be featured Saturday, May 10, as one of the celebrity dancers in Dancing with the Starz – A Blockbuster Gala, a fundraiser to be held 6 to 11 p.m. at Drury Lane Theatre...
Alumnus Leo Kurylo has found himself in sticky situations, from oil spills to mercury contamination. The Lombard resident shared his work as a hydrogeologist with students from the University Honors Program during Souper Wednesday and told them that now is the time to explore the world. “If you guys have any courses that offer you...
Alumna Pamela Nichols, principal of White Swan Elementary School in Rockford, has been named the 2014 Puri Family Outstanding Principal by the Golden Apple Foundation. In addition to the award, Nichols will receive $1,500 for her school and $500 in Volcano Falls gift certificates to reward excellent students, compliments of Sunil Puri of First Rockford...
NIU honors students were captivated Wednesday as they listened to alum Yao Lin play the piano and share her love of music, which she described as the universal language. Lin, known as Lina on campus, came to NIU in 2009 from Beijing to study piano performance with William Goldenberg, a distinguished professor in the NIU...