The Forward, Together Forward scholarship recognizes some of the top students at NIU, rewarding them not only for excellence in the classroom but also for their contributions to campus and their communities.

The scholarships are given to students who exude the best qualities of Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Dan Parmenter – the five Huskies lost on Feb. 14, 2008.

This year’s recipients, each of whom will receive a $5,000 scholarship, have all traveled different paths to the award, encountering unexpected twists and turns, overcoming obstacles and embracing opportunities along the way.

Read on to learn more about the 2022 Forward, Together Forward Scholars.

Changing his tune

Henry Tomiser’s life was strongly influenced by his high school band teacher who always instilled in him “You can do hard things.”

Henry arrived at NIU convinced that he would follow in that teacher’s footsteps. However, he soon discovered that the hardest thing he had to do was to give up on his dream of teaching music. Not for lack of skill or dedication, but because of experiences that convinced him he can serve others better by pursuing a different path.

It started when he discovered a passion for studying psychology. After long hours of practicing his instrument, he would rush back to his residence hall to dive into his psychology text. He quickly realized that as much as he loved music, he wanted to pursue his new passion.

But music still remained an important part of his life. For instance, while studying neuropsychology his professor invited him to help out with a program at a local nursing home where he played piano for a choir of individuals dealing with dementia. The participants found great comfort in getting to sing again and particularly loved Henry’s playing.

He found another opportunity to squeeze music back into his life through the Penguin Players, a program on campus that allows adults with disabilities to experience the thrill of live music theater by pairing them with an NIU student who acts as their mentor. Over the course of two shows, Henry put in more than 100 hours of work alongside his artists. Together, they learned every line of dialogue, every step of every dance and every note of every song. When show days arrived, Henry appeared on stage alongside of his artists providing guidance and support, beaming as his artists enjoyed the spotlight.

When not involved in those activities, Henry has been active on campus in a variety of ways, including working Week of Welcome Events,  staffing the Honors Welcome tent at Homecoming and helping children with crafts at the Autism Caregivers booth during STEM Fest. Along the way he has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average

“Henry is easily in the top 10% of undergraduate students with whom I have worked over the last 15 years at NIU,” said Jamie Mayer, an associate professor in communicative disorders. “He is academically talented and reliable; more importantly, he has made it his priority to use what he is learning to give back to the community. I think NIU should be proud to have a student like Henry represent our mission.”

Henry, a junior, has set his sights on a career as a speech-language pathologist, with plans of earning a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science so that he can research new language interventions, with the goal of giving all children the support required to achieve their full potential.

Finding her light

Chloe Steffel has been through dark and difficult times, but becoming a Huskie has helped put the light back into her life.

“Getting my acceptance letter gave me a purpose. It gave me a reason to seek out the light that there was in my tunnel. I could never be more grateful than I am right now to have been given this opportunity by NIU,” Chloe said.

Her goal, she says, is to use her time at NIU to prepare herself for a career as a social worker in a school or hospital setting where she can help others overcome the obstacles in their own lives.

“I believe that the ultimate way I can give back to my community is to help those who need someone to talk to when they feel they have no one to trust,” said Chloe, who is majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. “My classes at NIU have given me so many resources that I could not attain anywhere else. I will be able to give back to those in need and positively affect my community faster and better because of the education I am receiving at NIU.”

Giving back to her community is an essential aspect of displaying good character, Chloe says. Having just completed her first year on campus, she is still finding ways to contribute. However, if her high school career is any indication, she will soon be making campus a better place. While attending high school in Frankfort, Ill., she was the leader of her school’s Air Force Junior ROTC program, participating in the drill team, color guard and cadet staff. She also played in the high school band, performed more than 100 hours of community service, held several jobs and volunteered as a camp counselor at a children’s farm teaching children how to care for animals.

She did all of that while earning a 4.0-grade point average, a mark that she has been able to maintain while at NIU. More importantly, she has found a purpose and a home at NIU.

“As of today, I am surrounded by warm, welcoming light and colors. I know my purpose. I know that I am here to provide those around me with love and kindness. I know that I am here to be the torch to get someone out of the darkness and, most importantly, I am here to show people the color that is hidden in the black and white of life.”

Preparing for a career of service

Ian Rabanal admits to feeling a great deal of responsibility when he became the first person in his family to go to college. Those who have gotten to know him during his first year at NIU can attest that he is managing things just fine.

“The Department of Management is so lucky to have him as a student,” said Steph Horgan, his academic advisor in the NIU College of Business. “He is extremely bright, goes above and beyond with everything that he is given, and is enjoyable to be around.”

He is also extremely busy. Ian currently sits on the executive board for the Management and Business Administration Student Advisory Board, the Business Administration Student Association, the Dean’s Student Advisory Board and the board of the Society of Human Resource Management.

That level of participation reflects Ian’s commitment to working toward the common good, which he believes is something every NIU student should do. “We should strive to leave the world a better place than we found it. We should create change and help others,” he said.

Ian, who is from Carol Stream, transferred to NIU from Elgin Community College. He is pursuing a degree in management, with a focus on human resources and a minor in marketing. After graduation he hopes to work for a company that cares for and supports its employees. “I want to help others fulfill their potential and help them thrive and reach their personal and professional goals,” he said, adding that he has found good role models for that work at NIU. “I am learning from professionals who every day encourage us to strive for change, to meet others with empathy, and to overall make a positive impact on this world.”

Honoring his ancestors

For Sergio Dondiego, earning a college degree is not only about creating a better future for himself, but also honoring the dreams of his ancestors by becoming one of the first in his family to graduate from college, and hopefully the first to earn a doctorate degree.

“I choose to become the person that my grandfather, my mother, my ancestors are proud of. I choose to make them proud by being successful, which means to be happy, to be a leader, to willingly choose to excel beyond expectations and, above all, to carry forward my mother’s legacy of giving to others,” Sergio said.

One way that he carries that legacy forward is through his work as the community chair of the Northern Prairie Alliance, an organization within the NIU School of Nursing that works to create social opportunities beyond the classroom for nursing students. As community chair, Sergio finds volunteer opportunities where members can serve the public.

Sergio also helps his fellow students through his work with METAS, a mentoring program that assists first-year Latinx students with their transition to college by creating a sense of belonging and community at NIU and encouraging academic success and social well-being for those students. He also volunteered at STEM Fest and works at the circulation desk at Founders Memorial Library.

Despite that busy schedule, Sergio, who is from Romeoville, is also enrolled in the NIU Honors program. “I chose to be a part of the University Honors program because I wanted the challenge of it. I take pride in taking the hard path because I was raised by my mother who had no choice but to take the difficult route.”

After graduation, Sergio has his sights set upon becoming a nurse practitioner collaborating with orthopedic surgeons. Beyond that, he also wants to return to nursing school as an instructor to prepare the next generation of caregivers. Professors who wrote in support of his application for the Forward, Together Forward scholarship seem to believe he could excel in that role, lauding not only his thirst for knowledge but also his willingness to assist his peers. They also note that his commitment to caring for others will serve him well in his chosen profession.

“One way I evaluate individuals is to ask myself is if the individual was a health care worker such as a nurse or physician, how would I feel if they were caring for me or a loved one,” said Virgil Stoia who taught Sergio in a biology class. “I would have no hesitation to have Sergio care for me or family.”

Telling stories with numbers

Vanessa Olandese transferred to NIU unsure what career path she wanted to pursue, but that indecision didn’t last long.

An advisor invited her to attend the junior year kickoff for students studying accountancy, and by the time the meeting ended, she knew what her major would be. “I have always loved numbers and how you can use them to tell a story, but I did not know what I could do as a career. At Northern Illinois University, I found my passion through accounting.”

Immediately after the meeting, she reached out to a recruiter she had met and soon she landed an internship at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the top accounting firms in the nation. It was an exciting start to a whirlwind first year at NIU.

Olandese, a Woodstock native, who served as student body president during her time at McHenry County College, held down three jobs this past school year while carrying 19 hours each semester. Despite those demands, she also found time to tutor her fellow students and served as vice president of fundraising for the NIU chapter of Women in Business Professionals. She is also active in LEAD, an organization that supports the college’s unique business ethics program, is enrolled in the NIU Honors Program and was elected to be on the Honors Committee where she serves as a representative of the student body.

Despite those demands on her time, Vanessa excelled in the classroom and impressed her instructors. “Her positive attitude and good energy will help her be successful as she pursues her career in accountancy,” said Anissa Kuhar, who taught a Business in Action class where Vanessa stood out for her ability to take charge of a team project and develop the business solutions the project required.

With a full year of classes at NIU under her belt, and with a top-tier internship in hand, Vanessa is excited for what the future holds. “NIU is continuously setting me up for success,” she said. “I am ecstatic to see what my future holds as a Huskie.”

Media Contact: Joe King

About NIU

Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.