Three MCC Grads Awarded NIU Scholarships

Three McHenry County College students transferring to Northern Illinois University (NIU) for the 2011-2012 school year were awarded scholarships from NIU based on their academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.

Laura Gallagher of Union, Lois Kantner of Hebron and Brooke Piller of Crystal Lake are recipients of the third annual Transfer Center Residential Scholarship award at NIU. They all received the award based on a 3.0 grade point average or better and their involvement in student organizations at MCC.

They are among 20 recipients of the award, which pays for two semesters in a residential hall suite, valued at $9,200 (not including meal plan), according to NIU.

“We look forward to the great contributions that Laura, Lois and Brooke will make to the Northern Illinois University community,” said Sherry Christensen, admissions counselor at NIU.

Gallagher earned an associate in general education studies in May 2010. She has been completing courses toward an engineering degree and she will attend NIU this fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a specialty in mechatronics, which is the combination of  mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, control engineering, and systems design engineering.

She is a 2009 home school graduate and originally joined MCC’s Running Start program while in high school. She participated in many MCC organizations, including playing on the MCC tennis team, serving as a member of Club Concordia Spanish Club, Student Senate and as founder and president of the MCC Future Engineering and Scientist Society (FESS). She also chaired the 2010 leadership conference for high school and college students at MCC. Recently, she and two teammates won first place at the third annual Suburban Chicago Intercollegiate Catapult Contest. This summer she is working as a lab assistant for the biology and chemistry departments at MCC. She is involved in 4-H and volunteers with the McHenry County Youth Tech Team and her church.

Kantner graduated from MCC in May with an associate in arts degree. She is transferring to NIU this fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She plans to pursue a career in environmental business.

While at MCC, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was a Promise scholarship recipient. She also is actively involved in Girl Scouts, 4-H and volunteers for the Environmental Defenders Water Resource Protection Committee. She currently teaches private piano lessons. She is a 2009 home school graduate.

Piller graduated from MCC in May 2011 with an associate in science degree.  She will attend NIU this fall to major in early childhood education. She plans to become a kindergarten teacher. At MCC, she was involved in Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was a Promise Program scholarship recipient. She volunteered at Hannah Beardsley Middle School in Crystal Lake, where she helped children with special needs and Homework Club. She currently works at Health Bridge Fitness Center’s childcare facility. She is a 2009 graduate of Crystal Lake South High School.

According to Laurie Cubit, articulation and transfer coordinator, MCC maintains strong relationships with in-state and many out-of-state baccalaureate granting institutions,” which helps students who are interested in transferring from MCC to a four-year university. “We monitor and maintain over 100 general and program specific transfer guides with approximately 30 different colleges and universities that students may view online through the MCC website,” she said.

Cubit added that MCC’s active participation in two innovative state initiatives, the Illinois Articulation Initiative and u.select, eases the transition for MCC students who continue their education at four-year schools

For more information about the Advising and Transfer Center at MCC or to view a transfer guide, visit www.mchenry.edu/ATC/transferring or call (815) 479-7565.