By: Lauren Leano
As a business management major and transfer student at NIU, Hannah Neumiller has embraced opportunities to grow both academically and professionally. As the recipient of the Alesandrini Family Scholarship, she has been able to focus more on her studies while becoming actively involved in the College of Business and campus community. She serves as president of the Management and Business Administration Student Advisory Board and the Association for Supply Chain Management NIU Student Chapter, as well as vice president of the College of Business Dean’s Student Advisory Board. Looking ahead, she hopes to attend graduate school and encourages other students to apply for as many scholarships as possible.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself, your major and what led you to pursue your field of study at NIU?
A: I came to NIU as a transfer sophomore excited to explore a new school and see what was in store. While here, I have become highly involved in student organizations in the College of Business and on campus. I am majoring in business management; I picked this major for a very simple reason — it resonated with me the most when I learned more about it. I love working with people, learning about the business world and how to best bring the two together. This is what drove me to my chosen path of study.
Q: What scholarship did you receive and what did receiving this scholarship mean to you?
A: I received the Alesandrini Family Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship has meant the world to me; it is a vote of confidence that I am on the right path. This award has allowed me to truly take advantage of all the College of Business and NIU has to offer me.
Q: How has receiving this scholarship impacted your college experience academically?
A: Receiving my scholarship has allowed me academic freedom and the additional time to truly focus on my studies. It has allowed me to not only commit additional time to my studies, but it has allowed me to devote more time to my student organizations and the NIU community.
Q: What clubs and organizations are you a part of?
A: In the College of Business, I am the president of Management and Business Administration Student Advisory Board, president of the Association for Supply Chain Management NIU Student Chapter, vice president of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board and an active member of Women in Business Professions. On campus, I am an ambassador for the Northern Illinois University Foundation and an Honors student.
Q: What is one lesson, skill or experience you have gained at NIU that you believe will stay with you long after graduation?
A: One lesson I have learned while at NIU is how to always be curious, to ask questions about everything and to never stop learning.
Q: What are some personal or professional goals you hope to accomplish after graduating from NIU, and how has the scholarship helped you move toward those goals?
A: After my time at NIU, I hope to attend graduate school. The scholarships I have been awarded have helped me to realize and take steps to achieve this goal. They have truly been contributing factor.
Q: What would you say to the donors who made your scholarships possible? What would you want them to know about the difference their support has made in your life?
A: To the donors and anyone who made my scholarships possible, I wish to say thank you. The awards have made a difference in my life and are helping to ensure the success of my final semester before I graduate.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to students about applying for scholarships?
A: My advice is to take the extra time to apply to as many as possible. I encourage all students to apply for as many scholarships as they can, to take an extra day or two and apply to as many as they can find.
Learn more about experiences at the NIU College of Business.
