Deborah Brucker

Deborah Brucker

Nick and Olga Rakuc, parents of alumna Deborah Brucker, are honored and remembered by way of this scholarship for the love, inspiration, and encouragement they provided to their children in their academic pursuits and throughout their lives. Nick and Olga were both born and raised in Eastern Europe and immigrated to the United States as young children post-World War II, and eventually settled in Rockford, Il. Just as their own parents had wanted for their children when they moved to the United States, Nick and Olga hoped for a better life for their children. While Nick and Olga did not have the opportunity to attend college, not graduating from college was never an option for their children. Nick and Olga often reinforced the value of an education, through academic, work, and life experiences. They instilled the values of commitment, responsibility, and financial security everyday with their children and others. Unfortunately, Olga passed away too early as the age of 50, after a bout with breast cancer and a second reoccurrence with a malignant brain tumor. Nick passed away, also too early at the age of 75 from an aggressive form of prostate cancer. They are remembered everyday with love and respect by those who knew them. They would be very proud to know that this scholarship is helping a NIU student in their own pursuit of accomplishment and financial security, all the things they wanted and provided for their own children.