The Mothers Memorial Scholarship Fund is established to provide scholarships to upper division and graduate students at NIU whose career goals include improving the lives of women and to honor those who are, act as, mothers to member or friends of the NIU community.

Lou Jean Moyer came to NIU in 1962 after receiving her doctoral degree at the University of Iowa. She served on the faculty in Physical Education and the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. During that time, Moyer was the women’s volleyball coach. ...

Established by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brody and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brody to honor and memorialize the Brody family. As active members of the community, the family has worked with NIU to provide support and leadership in the University’s growth and development.

This fund was established in memory of Mrs. Lora Pomerene’s parents, John and Mary Kays of Putman County, IL, whose five children were graduates of NIU. Lora Kays Pomerene was a graduate of the class of 1912 and was the last remaining member of this family. Mr....

This fund has been established by Mr. Andrus Griffith in memory of his wife, Jessie, a 1925 graduate of the Normal School which eventually became NIU. Mrs. Griffith passed away on March 3, 1992. Mrs. Griffith taught for 19 years in Rock Falls, as well as in a small...

Alverda A. Bastian taught at a time when teachers were not required to have a college education. One of her first teaching positions was in a one-room, country schoolhouse, instructing students at all levels through grade 8. Alverda taught at schools throughout...

Clifford Danielson, Chairman of The National Bank and Trust Company of Sycamore, was an outstanding citizen and leader in the DeKalb Community. He was a long-time friend of NIU, its employees and students. His personal generosity, along with that of the bank, has...

Darrell “Doc” Newell came to Northern Illinois University in September 1967 as a temporary, part-time associate professor in the Department of Industry and Technology (as it was called at that time) to teach specifically in the area of electrical engineering...

Alumnus David Layman began teaching high school biology immediately after graduating from NIU in 1957. For 38 years he taught in the Chicago Public School system, 13 years at Richard T. Crane High School and 24 at Carl Schurz High, before retiring in 1995. His...

Dennis Dean is a retired executive vice president for Business Continuity Planning, Harris Bank N.A. He was responsible for coordinating business continuity efforts for all Bank of Montreal Financial Group’s U.S. lines of business. In 2006, Dean assumed additional...

Ed enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating high school in 1957. He served four years and enrolled at NIU upon his return. Not eligible for the GI bill, the State of Illinois paid Ed’s tuition and rest was up to him. He worked 35-49 hours a week as a...

This scholarship is established to honor the life and memory of Gail Master Gallagher, an alumna of the Class of 1934.

Ann Nelson Nahas was a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music and was one of America’s outstanding women. She served as a member of the Joliet Artists’ League, Joliet Junior Women’s Club, Childerguild, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Tri-Ex...

Shirley Anderson Benson was born in Chicago, IL. Her mother wanted to be a nurse and encouraged Shirley to pursue this career path. Shirley worked as an aide at Shriners Hospital in Chicago which gave her a taste of the day-to-day responsibilities of a nursing...

Kenneth C. Chessick, a surgeon and attorney, graduated from the NIU College of Law sixteen years after graduating from the University of Illinois with a medical degree and having practiced medicine. This Chessick Scholarship Program supports the legal education of...

This scholarship fund was established by Richard Gates in cooperation with the DuPage Art League in memory of his wife, Frances, who received her M.A. degree from NIU in 1980. She was an active member of the DuPage Art League. She taught part-time at various...

Chief Richard W. (Dick) Gunther was born in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. A life-long resident of Chicago he attended Lane Tech High School. Upon graduation from Lane, he enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1943 at the age of 17. During WWII, he participated in the D-Day...

Sally Webber received her B.S. and M.A.S. degrees in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University. Her love of teaching and research prompted her to get her Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. She began her career with Coopers and...

Mr. Salman Mohiuddin, a 2000 Operations Management and Information Systems graduate and Mr. Mustafa Yar-Khan, a 2001 Marketing graduate of NIU and were student members of the Muslim Student Association (MSA). Upon graduation, they have continued as active alumni...

Miriam Anderson taught physical education for many years at Northern Illinois University. She was fondly remembered by her students, who wanted to create an enduring legacy for Miriam. Anderson Hall on NIU’s campus is named after Miriam.

This scholarship endowment has been established in the memory of Anna-Maude Nicholson, a DeKalb public school teacher from 1914 through 1932, when she resigned due to poor health. She was the supervisor of music for the local schools during this period of time. This...

After receiving her education at NIU, Mrs. Gladys Brook Beltzer taught in elementary schools in Montana and Nebraska. She was known to her many friends in education as an outstanding teacher and an excellent musician. This scholarship has been made from a bequest by...

This fund was established in memory of Mrs. Ada Grimwood Barnard, a graduate of Northern Illinois Normal School in 1905. This fund is a reminder to future generations of Mrs. Grimwood’s children’s affection towards her and of her interest in higher education,...

Jeannie A. Hainds, the widow of Dr. John Robert Hainds, has established this fund to support academic excellence in the Department of English at NIU. Mrs. Hainds was a long-time friend and advocate of the humanities and through her generosity has also established a...

Dr. Ernest E. Hanson served NIU for over 30 years. He was a 1930 graduate of NIU and had a desire to make a difference in the lives of students throughout his career by providing financial assistance to students in the College of Education. Dr. Hanson taught Junior...

Professor Van Cromphout earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Ghent in Belgium. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with a dissertation titled Emerson’s Eroica: A Study of His Idea of Greatness. After receiving his Ph.D.,...

This fund has been established by Patricia Smith to honor the life and memory of her husband, Dr. Robert M. Smith. During Robert’s impressive career, he was a professor emeritus of adult education at NIU. He also served as adult education consultant to Nigeria,...

Ruth Ashelford Pollock represents the third generation native to Clare, Illinois. Growing up in Clare during the Great Depression, Ruth learned the value of a dollar and a good education. She pursued her dream of becoming a nurse and graduated from the Sisters of...

Steve Irving is a 1973 graduate of Northern Illinois University’s political science program. After graduation, Steve founded Irving Construction Company, one of northern Illinois’ premier general contractors. Steve and his wife Teresa are dedicated to helping people...

This scholarship was created by Stephen Kalber, in honor of his father William E. Kalber, a high school trombonist who loved marching bands and drum corps performances. Stephen graduated in 1970 from NIU and considered it to be a special place with special people...