Illinois Springfield graduates make significant contributions in the world.
- Graduates were featured in an advertising campaign on Springfield area radio stations. Listen to recent radio ads ยป
Shana Stine
Liberal Studies B.A.
Advocate for the Homeless
Springfield, IL
non-profit social service organization
Going through the honors program at UIS, you’re asked hard questions about other people and other groups. You’re asked what your responsibility is for others and what your obligation is for correcting injustice. A lot of my answers pointed to loving and serving others. Instead of getting a degree for me, my goal was to get a degree for others.
L
ance Ennen
Legal Studies B.A.; Psychology B.A.
Penn State University Law School
I had an awesome internship my last semester in which I had a lot of different experiences in the courtroom. I shadowed the Public Defender, shadowed the State’s Attorney, worked on family law, some bankruptcy work, so I saw a lot of different things. The criminal side is a lot more interesting than I thought it would be, so that’s a pretty strong option for me at this point.
Jennette Hansen
Chemistry B.S.
University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School
I believe the closest hospital to my hometown of South Wilmington (pop. 800) is about 20 minutes away and the closest doctor is probably about 10 minutes away. I’d love to go back and be able to serve these people. Maybe go back to how it used to be a long time ago when you could do occasional house visits. I’d like to be there for the very oldest residents so, I’m thinking about geriatric medicine.
Howard Purdue
Criminal Justice B.A.
Illinois State Police Academy
I’ve always wanted to help people and do the right thing, so this career allows me to do my part to better the community that I live in. I’d start out as a trooper but eventually, I’d like to go on and move up in the ranks and make sergeant or master sergeant. Maybe someday I can return to the Academy and help train the next generation of troopers.
Danny Weber
Communication B.A.
News Assignment Editor WJAX-TV Jacksonville, FL
I am a Navy veteran who was the first in my family to graduate high school and the only member to attend college. I owe the UIS faculty everything! I started with a UIS internship at WAND-TV, got the full-time job in Jacksonville, and finished my last semester online so I could start my career. I will never forget the kindness and support I received while at UIS.
Todd Dang
Biology B.S.; Chemistry B.S.
Graduate Student in Bio Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
In general, with my education at UIS, I was more than prepared for the challenges that awaited me in graduate school. More specifically, with multiple laboratory experiences I received from my professors, I had the background to compete with other graduate students for the lab research position I wanted. I hope to earn a Ph.D. and conduct research in the field of oncology.
Catalina Hernandez
Criminal Justice B.A.;
Communication B.A.
Counselor, Illinois College Advising Corps
Based at Southeast High School Springfield, IL
I assist seniors with the college application and financial aid processes. Additionally, I offer emotional support during the sometimes confusing college admissions procedure. My students in return offer me their friendship and trust. The role of an adviser comes with a delayed reward system. I don’t know if I’m being effective until I see a direct outcome or a student says, “Thanks Ms. H, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Nick Davis
Chemistry B.S.
Laboratory Technician, Corn Processing
Archer Daniels Midland, Inc.
Decatur, IL
I transferred to UIS as a junior and was immediately able to do research with my Chemistry professor Dr. Harshavardhan Bapat. That led to an internship doing environmental testing and that led to a job offer. My job now is breaking down corn into products including high fructose corn syrup and ethanol. UIS helped me become comfortable in a lab setting and gave me enough real experience so that I could hit the ground running when I graduated.
