Reaching Stellar

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The future is full of possibilities. With your support, we can propel the University and today’s students to new heights and continue to impact the generations to come.

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Center for Lincoln Studies

Dr. Michael Burlingame | World-Renowned Lincoln Scholar

Dr. Michael Burlingame will be a important asset to the new UIS Center for Lincoln Studies. He is the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies and an internationally renowned scholar who has published twelve books on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. His work “Abraham Lincoln: A Life,” a two-volume biography, was honored with Gettysburg College’s 2010 Lincoln Prize, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and the 2009 Russell P. Strange book award from the Illinois State Historical Society for the best book on Illinois history. It was also listed as one of the five best books of the year 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly.

Read more about Dr. Michael Burlingame.

Ann Comerford | The Student Union

Join Chancellor Susan J. Koch & The University of Illinois Springfield community for the Student Union ribbon cutting on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. Open house following until 4:00 p.m. “It’ll truly be a community hub for the campus,” said Ann Comerford, Executive Director of the UIS Student Union. “Students will study here, they’ll eat here, and there will also be a lot of programs and events. We hope this will be a place where people get to know the campus community. It will be great for UIS and also for Springfield.”

Sonia Hernandez | Driven to Succeed

Sonia Hernandez’s parents came to the United States as immigrants, seeking acceptance and respect more than power and wealth. Sonia has seen them return home at the end of the day, worn out physically and emotionally from unfair treatment at work. The image of that weariness is driving Sonia. “My dream is to become an international human rights lawyer and advocate for those who feel like they can’t advocate for themselves,” she says. At UIS, Sonia is majoring in Legal Studies and Political Science, She says every year is a financial struggle, but the Lee Humphrey Dodd Memorial Scholarship has made her journey easier. “The day I cross the stage (at Commencement), I will have many people to thank. The Humphrey family will be among them.”

Learn about how you can create a scholarship.

Katie Brethorst | Dana Thomas House Volunteer

Katie Brethorst, a history major from Carlyle, Illinois, loves telling stories. That love, coupled with her love of history, has led to a deeply satisfying role at the Dana Thomas House in Springfield. Katie first toured the house with her UIS Capital Scholars Honors class. She enjoyed the tour so much that she returned with her mother and boyfriend, which is when she discovered she could serve at the facility as a tour guide. She now volunteers three times a week, perfectly blending her love of storytelling and history: “I fell in love with the history and the house immediately.”

Like so many UIS students and alumni, Katie is servingthe Public Good: Engagement. Collaboration. Impact. Because we are all part of this journey together.

Aubrey McCarthy | Professional Experience as a Student

Aubrey McCarthy’s passion for helping people has led to a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s in Human Development Counseling at UIS, expected in Fall 2018. She plans to work with children with developmental disabilities.

At UIS, Aubrey has done research on child development with Dr. Michele Miller. “I have been able to present at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago and the Society for Research in Child Development Conference in Austin, Texas.” She appreciated collaborating and learning from child development experts and gaining a taste of what her professional life will entail.

Read more about Student Research at UIS. Make a gift in support of student research.

Reaching Stellar University of Illinois Springfield