Jada Cerniglia

Jada Cerniglia is a communication studies major from Cross Plains, WI

Hometown: Cross Plains, WI

High School: Middleton High School

Year: Expected graduation: 2025

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I have received two scholarships, one academic and one athletic. When I was a senior in high school and getting ready to attend NIU in a year, I got a letter in the mail telling me that I had been given the NIU merit scholarship due to my high GPA and work ethic in school. This was amazing news, because at the time, this was my only financial aid for my college career. Well, that was until about a week ago when I was rewarded with a full athletic scholarship for the upcoming year! I started out my volleyball career here at NIU as a walk-on who got little to no playing time. I worked and worked to finally get noticed by my coaches and everything changed. I can proudly say I am now a starter and the captain of my team. I have come a long way since my freshman year, and the coaching staff noticed that. Saying I am thankful would be an understatement!

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a college volleyball player, and I can confidently say that dream has come true. As I grew up and matured more, I realized that volleyball was not going to be my end-all be-all. And this is when I fell in love with the media business. I love being able to tell stories and connect with people on a personal and emotional level. I created my own photography and videography business during my junior year of high school, and I have done so many things since then. I have filmed a wedding, taken graduation pictures, created a YouTube channel and helped with my team’s and the MAC's social media pages. I will continue pursuing a career in media after I graduate, and I am so excited to see what the future holds.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is communication studies with an emphasis in media studies, and my minor is sport management. I decided on both of these due to my love for both media and sports. When the two collide, my whole world is complete. My dream job would be working as a social media manager for a college or pro sports team. I have loved both my major and minor and am so glad I chose this path!

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The people here are second to none. The family feeling and connectedness everyone has here is so unlike any other college I have ever been around or seen. As an athlete, I have become close with athletes on other teams, such as softball and football. DeKalb feels like my home away from home now!

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have met so many people through my sport, but in the last year, I have really branched out and started meeting a lot more people outside of athletics. I have become friends with people in my media classes because we are all starting to go down the same path and share the same experiences. It is so fun seeing things from other perspectives and creating friendships I never thought I would have.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am a part of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), AIA (Athletes in Action) and the volleyball team. Having the opportunity to use my voice in SAAC has been an unforgettable experience. I have grown so much as a person since first joining, and I have seen my personality flourish! AIA is an amazing place I can share my faith in the Lord with other athletes and connect with them on a personal level outside of our sports. And lastly, the volleyball team has taught me more life lessons than I can count. I am proud to wear NIU on my jersey and represent the school through the sport I have loved since I was 5 years old. All of these things are just a small glimpse into my life as a Huskie but so important to me.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The SAASS (Student-Athlete Academic Support Services) staff here is truly unmatched. They are like my second family, and I lean on them for support every single day. They do not just help me choose my classes, they help me when I have anxiety about how I am playing, they help me when I am struggling in a relationship, and they help me when I feel like I am not good enough. The list can go on and on. They are amazing!

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Dr. Laura Vazquez has been one of my favorite professors to learn from. She understands my crazy athletic schedule. She helps me if I ever need anything and makes learning so fun. She is just so awesome! I have loved being able to work with her this semester in COMS 475 to put on the Reality Bytes Film Festival. This is not the first class I have had with her: I took one of her classes a year ago and loved that one, too. She just keeps things so real, and I can tell she truly loves her job.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending class is very important to me. It helps me stay on top of my homework, prepare for tests, learn material and create friendships with my classmates. With my volleyball travel schedule, it is sometimes not possible for me to attend all my classes in the fall, but I always communicate this early to my professors and create a plan to make sure I still succeed.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I really love the Holmes Student Center. There are so many things to do with friends there or by yourself. I have studied, worked on homework, ate, bowled, played pool and hung out with my friends there many times during my time here so far. It is a place of community, and it is always so fun!

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Find the place that feels like home. Go on visits, research to make sure what you want academically is offered and create a list of pros and cons to help you organize your thoughts. At the end of the day, wherever feels like a place where you can grow as a person is the place you should be!

Why is a college education important to you?
Getting a college education is not something that everyone in this world has the opportunity to do, and that is why I never take it for granted. It helps you grow as a person, prepares you for the working world and connects you with people who will be in your life for the long run.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I have always been a very organized person, but becoming a college athlete taught me that I needed to be even more on top of things than I ever had been before. I have learned that making a weekly and daily to-do list has helped me complete assignments on time and stay on track in the classroom. I also utilize Google calendar to make sure I have all my volleyball practices, lifts and meetings in order for each month. I usually add my classes and times in there as well, so I am able to see what my day will look like at a glance. Time management is a skill that I lean heavily on!

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I always make sure to check my email and social media pages to stay in the know when events are going on.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Self-care is so important to me, especially as an athlete. I can very easily get so wrapped up in my sport and school that I forget to take time for myself, as well. This is why I always make sure to do one thing a day that helps me relax. Recently, I created my own spa night with a face mask, tea, a favorite movie and so much more. It was awesome to be able to sit and take a breath after a long week. Now, that is great if I have time to do it, but when life gets busy, I lean on my close friends to get me through tough days. Whether that is sitting with them to rant about my day or simply getting a quick hug, I know they are always there for me when I need it. Mental health is and always will be a priority of mine.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
As I mentioned in a question above, I work in social media. I have recently put a lot of time into my YouTube channel and reached over 8,000 subscribers! A lot of people know me by Jada Rae Media because that is the name of my channel and my media business. It is so fun being able to connect with others online and help them through things I once struggled with or even inspire people to live a fun life.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
I am a Huskie through and through! I hope to share my love for NIU with the next generation of students to see them enjoy it as much as I have. Go Huskies!