Giving Impact Stories
Savannah Goodman
- EVS
- Alumna
Grainger Engineer, 2014
My scholarship helped fund my international travel to Uganda, which incited my passion for global energy access and has led me to pursue a career focused on distributed energy resources and microgrids.
Dana Yun
- EVS
- Student
Grainger Engineer, 2022
My parents moved to the United States to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was born and raised here, so the University of Illinois is my home.
Jeremy Quinteros
- EVS
- Student
Grainger Engineer, 2022
I am a first-generation college student in my family, and I greatly appreciate the support I’ve been given to accomplish my goals.
Nick Rivera
- EVS
- Alumnus
Grainger Engineer, 2015
I believe those who experience success have an obligation to help others experience success. I have been fortunate enough to pay my experiences forward to Illinois, because I personally have benefited much from my time there.
David Opperman Study Abroad Scholarship
The David Opperman Study Abroad Scholarship was established by David’s son, Mark, in memory of his father in order to provide students with what is often a life-changing experience living and studying abroad. “A scholarship to support study abroad seemed like the best means to make an ongoing impact on students’ lives in a way that would honor my father’s work”, related Mark.
Julia Brodecki
- EVS
- Alumni
Grainger Engineer, 2020
Being a woman in STEM, I understand some of the barriers present in my field of study. However, I have also seen how the scholarships I received set me up for success and how philanthropy can have a significant impact on increasing diversity and inclusion at The Grainger College of Engineering.
Jose Mancias
- EVS
- Student
Materials Science and Engineering, 2020
Thanks to the David Opperman Study Abroad Scholarship, David was able to take the skills he learned at the University of Illinois and use them around the world.
Samira Tungare
- EVS
- Student
Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2020
“I recognize the impact that donors and scholarships have on current students. I hope in my future I will have the ability to give back.”
Jacob Perakis
- EVS
- Student
Computer Science, 2021
“This scholarship made it possible for my family to send me, my brother, and my sister to college for an affordable price. We are on track to be the first in our family to complete a college degree.”