Dependent Scholarship
The Supportive Professional Staff Scholarship Fund offers two scholarships annually.
Students can apply for a scholarship if they meet the following qualifications.
- The student is a child or grandchild of an SPS employee
- The student is a mentee, neighbor, or an extended family member of an SPS employee
- The student is attending NIU full-time with a minimum 2.5 GPA (3.0 minimum GPA for transfer students)
- The student must be pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree
Interested students must complete the SPS Dependent Scholarship Application by January 31, 2026, to be considered for the following academic year. The application asks about your relationship with an SPS employee, the impact of an SPS employee on your life, and what it means to be a Huskie.
There are two scholarships currently available:
- $1,250 for a child or grandchild of an SPS employee
- $750 for students who identify as a mentee, neighbor or extended family member
Two deserving qualified applicants will be awarded a scholarship later this spring and will be applicable to the 2026-2027 academic year.
Scholarship Recipients
- 2025-26: Kylie Kuba
- 2024-25: Isabella Montoya
- 2024-25: Mya King
- 2023-24: Jorge Ruiz
- 2023-24: Maddie Voorhis
- 2022-23: Haley Snow
- 2022-23: Prakriti Pannachan
- 2021-22: Samuel Hancock
- 2020-21: Adam Walter
- 2019-20: Karissa Olsen
- 2018-19: Allie Schneider
- 2017-18: Katharine "Katie" Denius
- 2016-17: Daphne Voorhis
- 2015-16: Leyla Puskar
- 2014-15: Lydia Moore
- 2013-14: Mason Bross
Testimonials
Mya King
Scholarship Recipient, 2024-2025
"I’m incredibly grateful to have been awarded the SPS Dependent Scholarship. Like many other students, I fund my education myself, so this lessened my financial burden and allowed me to focus on my studies. It’s exceptionally meaningful that my parent’s dedication to NIU has come full circle to support my own education."
Dana King
SPS Employee, Director of Foundation Events, Alumni Relations
"The SPS Staff Scholarship Award plays a vital role in helping NIU families support their children’s educational journey. Receiving this scholarship helped ease some of the financial pressure my daughter was experiencing, allowing her to focus more fully on her studies.
This award is more than just financial assistance—it’s a powerful symbol of our continued commitment to our students. It reflects the values of giving back and reinforces our belief in them not only as our dependents, but as scholars within the very institution we proudly serve. Supporting them in this way strengthens the bond between our roles as staff and as family, and highlights the shared investment we all have in their success."
