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NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Tom Parisi, NIU Public Affairs
(815) 753-3635

Feb. 28, 2003

Note to editor: Hometown list appears on final page.

33 NIU students win USOAR grants for research

DeKalb, Ill.-Thirty-three Northern Illinois University undergraduates have won grants totaling $50,000 to conduct independent research projects here and abroad.

The USOAR grant program--short for Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research--is funded through NIU's exclusive contract with Pepsi. USOAR allows students to apply for funding of research and artistry projects, often involving trips to other states or overseas. This year's recipients will travel to such places as Spain, England, Ireland, Sicily, Cuba and Russia.

"I think it's an awesome program," said Jenny Hylas, a senior theatre arts major from Naperville. Hylas and four of her peers won USOAR grants to study at the Moscow Art Theatre School during a month-long trip to Russia in June. Northern and Harvard University were the only two American universities invited to participate in professional training at the Moscow theatre this year.

"It's important to learn how different cultures portray the art form," Hylas said, "and this really provides us with an opportunity to grow in our understanding."

NIU President John Peters will recognize USOAR recipients during a March 24 awards ceremony and luncheon. USOAR, now in its fourth year, makes grants of up to $2,500 available to students who propose projects to their individual colleges and find faculty members to serve as supervisors. Administrators and faculty in each of the six undergraduate degree-granting colleges then rank and forward the projects to the university for consideration. (For detailed program information, see http://www.student.niu.edu/usoar/.)

"The level of interest in USOAR has grown substantially, and the quality of the proposals has risen as well," Vice Provost Robert Wheeler said. "NIU is blessed with many bright and hard-working students who are interested in improving themselves and taking advantage of the extraordinary learning opportunities we offer."

Projects funded this year span a great distance, both academically and geographically. For example:

  • Senior English major Ronald Felten Jr. of Wauconda will write about his travels and interviews along historic Route 66.
  • Senior anthropology majors Tarah Rodriguez of Cortland and Marni Weiss of Sugar Grove will investigate the archaeological heritage of Ireland.
  • Junior elementary education major Anna E. Stolz of DeKalb will study the integration of technology into the teacher preparation program.
  • Junior journalism major Stephanie Gandsey of Hampshire and senior media studies major Katie Redline of Rockford will travel to New Mexico to film a documentary.
  • Senior music education major Linda Orlandi of Menomonee Falls, Wis. will research Afro-Cuban music and dance in Havana, Cuba.
  • Junior electrical engineering major Mark Austin of Hampshire will study tuned-intake and electronic fuel-injection motorcycle engines.
  • Sophomore anthropology major Suzanne Alton of Mokena will conduct research on the special interests of people with Asperger's Syndrome, a pervasive developmental disorder along the autistic spectrum.

"These are truly unique opportunities," Wheeler said. "I'm elated NIU can offer these experiences to undergraduate students. We think the USOAR program will increasingly become a recruiting tool for us-because the students receive opportunities that they're not going to find elsewhere. I don't know of another program in the state like this one."

Wheeler believes the research opportunities will have a major impact on the students' educational careers. "For many students, these experiences are transformational, particularly for those who travel abroad," he said. "They're exposed to different cultures, they learn what it's like to conduct independent research-it's all quite remarkable."


Complete listing of
2003 USOAR grant winners

Scott Leslie (Finance) of Oswego
Anna E. Stolz (Elementary Ed.) of DeKalb
Jason Kieronski (Phys. Ed.) of Carol Stream
Suzanne Alton (Anthropology) of Mokena
Shelby Bernard (Kinesiology) of DeKalb
Mark Austin (Electrical Engineering) of Hampshire
Lucas Greenlee (Mechanical Engineering) of Caledonia
Aaron Boehm (Tech-Engineering) of Chicago
Steve Christin (Tech-Engineering) of DeKalb
Y'Kheyo Underwood (Tech-Engineering) of South Holland
Mike Zwolinski (Tech-Engineering) of Orland Park
Trish Kaiser (Biological Sciences) of DeKalb
Stephanie Richter (Mathematics Education) of Bartlett
Jennifer Camp (Mathematics Education) of Schaumburg
Vanessa Doran (Anthropology) of Ottawa
Ronald Felten Jr. (English) of Wauconda
Stephanie Gandsey (Journalism) of Hampshire
Katie Redline (Media Studies) of Rockford
Tarah Rodriguez (Anthropology) of Cortland
Marni Weiss (Anthropology) of Sugar Grove
Danielle Dushek (Media Studies) of LaSalle
Tenesha Smith (Spanish Translation & Business) of Warrenville
Michelle Stocker (Family & Individual Development) of Plainfield
Karen Belcher (Fine Arts) of Big Rock
John Regan (Fine Arts) of Harvard
Kristine Shuey (Art History) of DeKalb
Linda Orlandi (Music Education) of Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Brian Cain (Anthropology) of Elburn
Amanda Bailey (Theatre Arts) of DeKalb
Jenny Hylas (Theatre Arts) of Naperville
Christopher McLinden (Theatre Arts) of DeKalb
David Morrison (Theatre Arts) of Carol Stream
Amy Speckien (Theatre Arts) of Eau Claire, Wis.

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