NIU Today

Earning a college degree is a sense of accomplishment for many students and their families. But for one Northern Illinois University student and her family, it was a celebration over adversity. Gabriela Ruszczak’s journey began in 2009, when she enrolled at NIU as a non-traditional, first-generation student after earning her associate’s degree 20 years earlier....

Artistry requires research, and a great deal of research also requires more than a little artistry. To that end, University Honors has developed a unique approach to integrating artistry with research by funding six new entry-level projects for the 2014-15 academic year. Six students will work with several different NIU faculty members to develop their...

For nine hours every Saturday and 11 hours every Sunday, Tertia “Abby” Jeppson works a cash register at the local Menards store in her hometown of LaSalle-Peru. When she sometimes hears her name on the loudspeaker, the NIU senior usually has a good idea why: One of her colleagues is trying to help a customer...

A human resources department knows what to look for in an employee. So what better source is there than an HR representative to give tips on preparing for upcoming career fairs or interviews? “It takes time out of your day, but you have to know how to present yourself,” said Karen Baker, associate vice president...

For NIU senior Octavio Escalante-Aguirre, life is beautiful, as the Italians like to say. His life has been a series of journeys, beginning at age 3 when his family moved from his birth home of Monterrey, Mexico, to Aurora, Ill. During high school, he made the trek on Saturday mornings to nearby Fermilab for lectures...

NIU honors students got a summer taste of French Canada during the “Discovering Montreal” short-term study abroad program. Along the way, they: learned about Montreal’s film, video game and entertainment industries; visited La Cinematheque Quebecoise and the Moment Factory, designers of the Madonna Super Bowl half-time entertainment; explored unique features of Canada’s Medicare system; and...

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...

As final exams week approaches, students often find their stress levels rising. To help students relax as they complete end-of-semester projects and prepare for final exams, NIU Health Enhancement & Victim Advocacy Services will open the “Stress-Free Zone” through Thursday, May 1. Daytime hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday...

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...

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...

Sunday marked the annual University Honors Program Recognition Ceremony for graduating Honors students. The ceremony recognizes NIU honors students who have completed the necessary requirements to graduate from the University Honors Program. Family, friends, faculty and staff were in attendance for the ceremony which took place in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. Students in the University...

Jaclyn Vasquez told honors students on Wednesday to be ready for the “politics of life,” something often discovered on the job and not in the classroom. The students, who came to meet the NIU alum and have lunch as part of Souper Wednesday, learned that Vasquez faced a roadblock from coworkers and administration during her...