CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Moms Association honored recipients of its Humanitarian, Illini Spirit and merit scholarships, and elected its board of directors during Moms Weekend festivities April 13-14.
Jenny Na, of Wilmette, Ill., is the recipient of the 2013 Humanitarian Award.
The annual award is given to people who have developed innovative approaches to community service work and have translated their ideas into practical results. Na received $250, and a matching donation will be made to a charity or organization of her choice on her behalf.
A junior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Na is using her skills and passion to address food shortage issues in Champaign-Urbana. She serves as an office volunteer, a manager of fellow volunteers and the head volunteer coordinator who conducts orientation for new volunteers at the Wesley Evening Food Pantry. Additionally, she uses her role as the president of the registered student organization affiliated with the food pantry and as a writer for Buzz magazine to publicize the pantry and educate the community about the issue.
The 2013 Illini Spirit Award was given to La Casa Cultural Latina. The award, now in its sixth year, was created to provide financial support to programs and projects that contribute to the safety, health, development and achievement of students at Illinois.
Funding from the award will contribute to La Casa’s Latina/o Family Initiative, Integrating Latina/o Parents Into Latina/o Life. The initiative is a series of programs that brings Latina/o families into the university setting to better support Latina/o students in their academic success, including existing programs such as Latina/o Family Visit Day and the Dia de las Madres reception, as well as new endeavors such as the Family Support Network. The award will allow the Latina/o Family Inititative to grow and in turn increase La Casa’s ability to expand outreach to Latina/o families in order to increase Latina/o student retention.
Four students received merit scholarships. The one-time scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to full-time Illinois students who have successfully completed at least 24 college credit hours.
The winners:
CHICAGO 60646 – Maria Jolly, a sophomore majoring in earth, society and environmental sustainability
LEMONT – Clare Rogers, a sophomore majoring in speech and hearing science
NAPERVILLE – Rhea Matar, a senior majoring in special education
PLAINFIELD – William Bruce, a junior majoring in molecular and cellular biology
During the business meeting of the Moms Association, officers and directors were elected for 2013-2014:
BURR RIDGE – Patty Boland, vice president of fundraising
CHAMPAIGN – Shelley Heneghan, director
GALESBURG – Gloria Osborn, director
NAPERVILLE – Susan Lewis, director; Caroline Senetar, director
O’FALLON – Elizabeth McKeown, vice president of scholarships/awards
SAVOY – Elaine Wrinkle, treasurer
SPRINGFIELD – Sherrie Gary, immediate past president; Kathryn Mahaffey, vice president of parent outreach
WILMINGTON – Brenda Craig-Cherveny, vice president of communications/secretary
WINNETKA – Pamela Russell, president
OUT OF STATE
IOWA, DesMoines – Brooke Benschoter, director
The Moms Association, established in 1923, is believed to be one of the nation’s oldest parent organizations. The association supports programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of the university community and serves as the parent liaison to the campus.
