The Scholarships Team
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David Schug, co-director of the Office of Prestigious Scholarships, has been working with top-notch Illinois students and alumni in preparing and applying for nationally competitive awards since 2002. David was elected as a Board Member of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors for a four-year term beginning July 2009. He greatly enjoys meeting students from all backgrounds and disciplines and encouraging them to reach for their academic and personal goals. In the mornings, you may find him traversing area trails in marathon training, and in the evenings, he is likely attending a church event, playing double bass with a community orchestra, gardening, or volunteering with the local Extension Office. |
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Laura Hastings, co-director of the Office of Prestigious Scholarships, has a PhD in Political Science. She is also coordinator of the forthcoming master’s degree in European Union Studies and is an adjunct faculty member in the department of political science, teaching courses in international relations and international political economy. She loves yoga, dance, and opera, and is currently busier shuttling her kids around than she wishes. |
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Jessica Maring Hollar, Office Support Specialist for the Division of General Studies for the past 9 years, also supports the Office of Prestigious Scholarships. Jessica has many duties within the Campus Center for Advising and Academic Services that range from scheduling appointments to serving as a COAR Banner user for UI Integrate. She enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her two children. |
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Nicole Lopez, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is studying Biology and plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. Along with her daily responsibilities as a student, she also works closely with the directors of The Office of Prestigious Scholarships. Some of her duties include updating the biyearly newsletter, entering students’ data into the main database, and delivering confidential applications to review committee members. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing with her golden retriever. |
Students at Illinois are fortunate to have numerous exceptional faculty and staff devoted to the scholarships process. Committee members spend hours reviewing applications, engaging with candidates in interviews, and providing insightful feedback to assist in the revision process. We greatly appreciate those who served on prestigious scholarship committees for the 2008-09 academic year.