Three Waubonsee Community College students have been recognized among Illinois’ top community college students. Waubonsee students Juan Chiu, of Aurora, Travis Johnson, of Sugar Grove, and Whitney Mariani, of Huntley, were each nominated for the Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team and other prestigious scholarships.
“Juan, Travis and Whitney have exemplified the hard work of community college students everywhere, and we are so proud of each one,” said Dr. Melinda Tejada, Vice President of Student Development and Executive Director of the Foundation.
While serving as the 2022-2023 Waubonsee Student Trustee, Chiu has made it his mission to learn the higher education landscape to help as many other students as possible. In addition to being selected to serve on the All-Illinois Academic Team, Chiu will receive the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Silver award, a $1,250 scholarship administered by Phi Theta Kappa.
Chiu gave remarks at Waubonsee’s May commencement ceremony and encouraged his fellow graduates to remember the challenges they have overcome to get this far.
“It’s an honor,” said Chiu. “As community college students, we’ve embarked on a very critical path for our development in our education and our development as individuals.”
Chiu was also nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustee Association’s Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Scholarship. It recognizes the Illinois community college system’s outstanding student board members. The award winners will be announced in June.
Johnson, who came to Waubonsee from a small school district in a rural community downstate, says this recognition affirms a valuable lesson he has learned about patience and perseverance while at Waubonsee.
“I can say without a doubt that through my involvement at Waubonsee Community College, I have gained skills I will be able to carry with me for the rest of my life and have built experiences that will undoubtedly serve me well at my transfer school and in my future career,” said Johnson.
Johnson says he was surprised when he learned he was also nominated for two other scholarships, including the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s Paul Simon Student Essay Contest that provides a $500 scholarship, and the Gandhi/King Peace Scholarship that provides a $1,000 scholarship. Essay winners will be announced in June.
“I’ve learned that when it feels your life has been turned upside-down, one can still succeed if they truly put their mind to it,” said Johnson.
Mariani, originally from Dallas, came to Waubonsee to finish her degree in Interpreter Training with a focus on American Sign Language. Prior to enrolling at Waubonsee, she worked as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. After graduating she plans to begin interpreting in elementary schools.
“It is so encouraging to know that my experience and the leadership skills I have developed at Waubonsee have been recognized at the state level,” said Mariani.
The Illinois Phi Theta Kappa All-Illinois Academic Team is sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents. All three nominees were recognized at a banquet in April by the Illinois Community College System in Springfield.
Pictured above (from left to right): Waubonsee Board of Trustees Vice Chair Rebecca Oliver, Chair; Travis Johnson; Juan Chiu; Dr. Brian Knetl, President of Waubonsee Community College
