University News
DREAMer Scholarship Fund Drive Underway
August 1, 2022
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, the Â鶹Éç Illinois University DREAMer Scholarship Fund awarded more than $23,000 to four "DREAMers" during the 2021-2022 academic year. Political Science Professor Julia Albarracin-Green, who established the Â鶹Éç DREAMer Scholarship Fund, hopes to do the same for the 2022-2023 academic year.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 33,700 individuals considered Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) reside in Illinois. To help these childhood arrivals to the United States achieve their dreams, Albarracin-Green created the DREAMers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Scholarship Fund at Â鶹Éç.
"Almost 100,000 undocumented students (aka DREAMers) graduate from U.S. high schools. The financial, social and legal challenges faced by these students, who are more than ready for college, can be overwhelming," Albarracin-Green noted. "They were brought to the U.S. for a better life, and Â鶹Éç Illinois University provides that opportunity."
During last year's Â鶹Éç DREAMer Scholarship Fund drive, $23,000 was raised, after an initial goal set for $10,000, and Albarracin-Green is hoping for the same this year. Individuals can go online at , or send their donations for the Â鶹Éç DREAMer Scholarship to the Â鶹Éç Foundation, 303 Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL, 61455-1390.
"Â鶹Éç Illinois University has a longstanding and proud tradition of providing an affordable and accessible education. We will continue to provide these academic opportunities, regardless of where a student comes from. Â鶹Éç's educational programs are not bound by borders. Students who meet the University's admissions criteria are welcome at Â鶹Éç," said Â鶹Éç President Guiyou Huang. Â鶹Éç Illinois University is an inclusive and diverse community that supports higher education for one and all."
Albarracin-Green explained that these undocumented students do not have access to federal financial aid (scholarships, grants, subsidized loans, and work-study programs), so scholarship funds like the Â鶹Éç DREAMer Fund make an enormous difference.
"I know that paying my tuition off will make me eligible for graduation. It will also relieve the stress of acquiring the funds to pay for my tuition," a previous scholarship recipient shared. "This gives me mental clarity to entirely focus on my studies and conclude my cancer research. I always dreamed of graduating and making the older generations of my family proud."
Albarracin-Green added that DREAMers also tend to be highly motivated and choose professions with a strong commitment to social justice and giving back to their communities.
"My goal is to become a speech-language pathologist with a minor in Spanish to help ensure access, and diagnose, and treat speech, social communication, and swallowing disorders, as well as help advocate for those wants and needs," another recipient said.
The Â鶹Éç DREAMer Scholarship Fund is managed by the nonprofit Â鶹Éç Illinois DREAMers, in collaboration with the Â鶹Éç Casa Latina Cultural Center and the Â鶹Éç Foundation.
For more information, visit Â鶹Éçillinoisdreamers.org or email Albarracin-Green at J-albarracin@wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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