“We had long conversations about the places we knew and loved, and Illinois State was something that connected us. We knew we wanted to give back and encourage other young people to experience the education and opportunities that we did,” said Rob.

Nancy is board chair for Golden Apple, a program that prepares teachers for rural, suburban, and urban schools through their Scholars and Accelerators programs. The organization is committed to mitigating teacher shortages in the state of Illinois.

Illinois State is the premiere destination for teacher preparation and has the largest cohort of Golden Apple scholars. These factors, along with Nancy and Rob’s affinity for their alma mater made the College of Education the perfect place for them to make their impact on future teachers.

The Nancy and Robert Northrip Family Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to a student enrolled in any discipline in the College of Education with preference given to a student previously identified as a Golden Apple Scholar with demonstrated financial need. The scholarship relieved a burden for transfer student Rylee Calzavara, who wasn’t sure how she could afford to continue her education when she transferred to Illinois State.

“When I first visited ISU, it felt like home, and I knew I needed to be here. I went home, punched some numbers, and realized it would be doable with scholarships,” said Calzavara. “The feeling of relief when I was gifted the Northrip’s scholarship was priceless and something I am beyond grateful for.”

Today, Calzavara is a thriving junior elementary education major at Illinois State. In addition to her studies, Calzavara serves as president of Golden Apple ISU, an organization that has connected her with lifelong teacher friends and deepened her connection to the University. The Northrip’s generosity has made an impact on Calzavara’s life and those of her future students.

“Our legacy will be that this scholarship is going to help young people receive their education. If we can give what we can, it will allow the recipients of this scholarship to pay it forward by being outstanding teachers to shape and impact the next generation,” said Nancy.

Scholarships uplift and reward future educators. To learn more about establishing a scholarship within the College of Education, contact Director of Development Joy Hutchcraft at (309) 438-8041 or jdhutch@IllinoisState.edu.