PRIOR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

2011-2012

In May of 2011 the Houston Illini Club was pleased to have awarded its 2011-2012 scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Eric Kuo of Humble, Texas.  Eric began attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2011, and is studying Electrical Engineering. He graduated in the top two-percent of his Atascocita High School class, and amongst numerous other academic and leadership credentials he was a concertmaster for the Greater Houston All-Region Orchestra of the Texas Music Education Association, concertmaster for the Houston Youth Symphony, captain of his high school's robotics team, Outstanding Performer for the Texas State Solo/Ensemble Competition, National Honor Society member, and Math/Science Club competition coordinator. The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Eric and his family.

2010-2011

April 28, 2010 News: The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2010-2011 scholarship to Nikhil Kapur of Sugar Land, Texas (pictured).  Nikhil will attend the University of Illinois at  Urbana-Champaign beginning this Fall, and will study Mechanical Engineering.  He graduated in the top one-percent of his Hightower High School class.  The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Nikhil and his family.

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2009-2010

The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2009 - 2010 scholarship to Ryan Kent, a graduate of The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas. Ryan will pursue a degree in Nuclear Engineering, and will graduate 3rd in his class of almost 900 students. Ryan is an Eagle Scout, National AP Scholar, and the co-president of The Woodlands HS Science Club. He also co-founded and is co-president of his school's ultimate frisbee club, and he is a member of the national honor society. Ryan is a Texas All-state euphonium player, and will continue playing euphonium in the top band at U of I.   The club extends its sincerest honors to Ryan and his family.

The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2008 - 2009 scholarship to Aaron Raiff, a graduate of Brazoswood High School in Clute Texas.  Aaron will  enroll as a freshman at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for the fall of 2008.  He will pursue a degree in Chemistry with the goal of becoming a chemistry professor and researcher at one of the nation's finest research institutions.

Aaron is an Eagle Scout and will graduate in the top 3% of his class. He has earned a number of honors (AP scholar, Region Band, Chemistry and Spanish Merit award), and has been an active volunteer in community activities including Youth Ministry and staffing National Youth Leadership Training.  The club extends its sincerest honors to Aaron and his family.

2007-2008

The University of Illinois Alumni Club of Houston is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2007-2008 scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to Lisa Hasenberg, a graduate of Kingwood High School. Lisa will enroll at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the fall to pursue a Chemical Engineering degree.

Lisa is ranked in the top 1% of her class and is both a National Merit and an AP Scholar. Like Marisa Tomei’s character (Mona Lisa Vito) in the movie My Cousin Vinnie, Lisa comes from a long line of engineers.  Her father is an engineer, her brother is studying to become a mechanical engineer, as are numerous other members of her extended family.

Once Lisa receives her undergraduate degree, she intends to earn a Ph.D. in engineering and enter the workforce in research and development.

We wish her great success and are honored to present her with this year’s scholarship award.

2006-2007

The University of Illinois Alumni Club of Houston is pleased to announce on April 30th, 2006 that it has awarded its 2006-2007 scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Jun Hong, a graduate of Stratford High School in Houston, Texas.  Jun has enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a Freshman in the Fall of  2006, and is in the Bioengineering Curriculum.

Though only having been in our country for five years, Jun will graduate in the top 8% of his class, and has earned a number of honors.  He was a two year president of the Junior Engineering Technology Society and won the violin Concerto Competition at school.  The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Jun and his family.

2005-2006

Carrie is a member of the National Honor Society, and will graduate in the top 25% of her class.  Carrie was the Co-Captain of her school's Varsity tennis team (4 years), where she went on to State, placing third. Additionally she was both a district and regional tennis champion.  The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Carrie and her family.

Photo legend, left to right: Judy Vacanti, Derek Harmon, Carrie Nie, Brad Turner, Mark Ulrich

2004-2005

Bryan is a member and officer (Vice President in charge of Service) of the Kingwood High School Chapter of the National Honor Society, and will graduate in the top 1% of his class.  The club extends its sincerest honors to Bryan and his family.

From left: Mark Ulrich, Dan Adams, Derek Harmon, and Bryan Walker.

Note: On June 25, 2004 UIAA's Paula Havlik announced that Bryan Walker (UIAC of Houston's 2004-5 Scholarship Recipient) was selected as one of the two winners of the 2004 Julie Frichtl Memorial Scholarship Award!!

The Houston Illini Club is proud to announce that it has awarded its 2001 annual scholarship to Jonathan I-Hsin Wang, a graduate of  William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land.  Jonathan has enroled as a Freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 2001.

Mr. Wang graduated High School in May, 2001 with a class rank of 18 out of 664 students.  He was awarded second place in International Business by Future Business Leaders of America, 2001, and received a National Merit Commendation and an AP Scholar Award in 2000.  He also received Clements High School Excellence Awards in 1998, 1999, and 2000.  Mr. Wang has earned over 20 medals and trophies in Track and Field and in intra-school basketball games.  He is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and the National Honor Society, and he has volunteered over 120 hours for Youth Expanding Service.  He has also performed volunteer work for the Houston International Festival, Adopt a Family, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and the March of Dimes.  Mr. Wang has pursued Summer Studies at Stanford University (2000) and Johns Hopkins University (1998, 1999, and 2000).

The Houston Illini Club is proud of Mr. Wang's achievements and wishes him well in his studies at the University of Illinois.