december 2021
In This Issue: Student Spotlight Page 2 Important Reminders Pages 3-4 Campus Connections Page 5 Event Highlights Pages 6-10 Save the Dates Page 11 Director's Corner Page 12
DDP NEWSLETTER
student spotlight
Name: Denisse Recendiz School: Prairie State College Major: Anthropology and Sociology In what ways has the Dual Degree Program influenced your success? The Dual Degree program has been a huge part of my success, because as a DACA recipient the DDP has given me a scholarship that I would otherwise not be able to receive. What are your future plans at GSU? My future plans for GSU is to complete my degree by Fall 2023. What are you most excited about in regards to transferring to GSU? I am most excited about the opportunities that GSU has to offer. The relationships I will develop while here and furthering my education. What tips would you offer students for success? As a first gen. college student I would recommend you find a mentor, ask all the questions, attend the seminars. Everyone is here to assist in your success you just have to show up and give your best.
click here
Important REminders
The GSU Promise Scholarship is a competitive scholarship for DDP students who receive the Federal Pell Grant and have at least a 2.75 GPA. It covers full tuition and fees at GSU for up to four semesters at GSU (excluding summers). The DDP Honors Scholarship is a competitive scholarship for DDP students who are current members of their community college Honors Program or chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and have at least a 3.5 GPA. It covers full tuition and fees at GSU for up to four semesters (excluding summers). Undocumented students who are residence of Illinois are eligible for the full award for up to four semesters at GSU (as your Transfer Specialist for details!) DDP students at the City Colleges of Chicago may also be eligible for the DDP Chicago STAR Scholars Scholarship. It is open to DDP students who are enrolled in the Chicago STAR Scholars program, are active members of CCC’s Honors Program or chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and have a 3.50 GPA or above. There are two (2) scholarship categories; see the DDP Scholarship Application for more details. Undocumented students who are residence of Illinois are eligible for the full award for up to four semesters at GSU (as your Transfer Specialist for details!) Links to the DDP Scholarship Application and DDP Recommendation Forms can be found on the DDP Scholarships website. Again, application materials are due on Thursday, February 24, 2022!
FAll 2022 Scholarship applications due: Thursday, february 24th Would you like to attend GSU for FREE? If you are transferring to GSU in Fall 2022, make sure to apply for the GSU Promise Scholarship, DDP Honors Scholarship, and/or the DDP Chicago STAR Scholars Scholarships. These scholarships are only available to DDP students. Students who qualify for multiple awards are encouraged to apply for several, although students may only be awarded one out of those eligible.
Kudos and congratulations! Spring 2022 Scholarship Recipients The Governors State University (GSU) Promise, DDP Honors, and DDP Chicago STAR Scholars Scholarships are Compeititive scholarships awarded annually. These scholarships are open to GSU's Dual Degree Program (DDP) students who meet a certain merit or need-based criteria. This year, six students were awarded a scholarship for spring 2022. Let's celebrate our new recipients! Rishonna Kemp (PSC) Kevin Milani (MVCC) Denisse Recendiz (PSC) Jordyn McGrath (PSC) Luis Martinez (CCC-Harold Washington) Nathanael Vanoskey (MVCC) TAU SIGMA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY Tau Sigma is a national honor society designed specifically for transfer students! Membership is based on your first semester GPA at GSU. Congrats to the new DDP student who will be officially inducted in the spring of 2022: Brittany Galbreth (PSC)
Campus Connections
Here we feature one of our fabulous DDP Liaisons from one of our 17 partnering community colleges, so that you know who is a master at DDP when we are not around! It is also a way for DDP students to see the many different paths that can lead to a rewarding career in higher education. Bianca Rodriguez, Director of Transfer Center Richard Daley College What colleges and/or universities did you attend as a student, and for what degrees? I attended Daley College right after high school, a decision I didn’t realize at the time would help me in the way that it did. I was (very) undecided, though I knew my strengths were in writing, so I ended up pursuing English Literature with a minor in Communications when I transferred to UIC. Financial Aid covered all of my expenses at Daley, and some at UIC, saving me thousands in the long run! I also attended Roosevelt University for my Masters in Business Administration, having just completed that in December 2020. What is your most memorable moment of college? My family was very traditional in the sense that I was needed at home to help cover household costs, so I lived with my parents while I balanced school and work. To that end, my most memorable moments were spent in classes like Marketing, Art Appreciation and even Statistics! Professors have a lot to do with making class fun and engaging, but you also have to be open to learning and discussing points of view. And, of course, commencement is a very emotional day, too. I completed my MBA during the pandemic, so we didn’t have a traditional graduation ceremony, but the virtual ceremony was a highlight of my year! What was something you couldn't live without in college? My mom’s cooking! Even though I lived at home, there were times that I needed that extra love that only moms can give. And also, my thesaurus. As an English major, I carried one around and looked up new words daily to add to my vocabulary. If you could do a (college/degree) all over again, what would you do differently? I would have used some of the college and university resources more often – like tutoring or the career center – to help provide some guidance before my transfer. Oftentimes, we get caught up in making decisions on our own, without having enough information to determine the most optimal solutions. As a former college recruiter and now Director of Transfer at Daley, it’s been my purpose to promote resources to our students that will help them make informed decisions. I feel better knowing that the students we service now at Daley are leaving here prepared, better informed and less anxious about their future. Your most valuable "words of wisdom" for transfer students. It's never too early to think about Transfer. In fact, the earlier the better! For many of our students, transfer is their only objective. As soon as you make the decision to attend a community college, arrange to meet with the Transfer Center. Daley College has an incredible team of advisors and staff whose mission is to help students navigate the appropriate path to success. Knowing your strengths and goals, then pairing them with the tools and resources of a rockstar transfer advising team will get you to where you want to be!
fall 2021 DDP induction ceremony! On Friday, November 5th, 2021, we were excited to be able to host our first IN PERSON Induction since fall of 2019. Thirteen DDP students encompassing nine of our partnering community colleges. Safety measures were in place, but students were still able to take advantage of the day! They learned about the many benefits of DDP, as well as steps to successfully complete their associate degree and transfer to GSU. Congrats to all of the students who attended and were officially inducted into the DDP family! Here is the list of those inducted: Orlando Anacleto (MVCC) Yareli Jaimes (CCC-Daley) Bibiana Benitiz (CCC-Daley) Theresa Johnson (CCC- KKing) Brenda Banuelos (SSC) Rodolfo Leal (KCC) Kadi Channell (CCC-OlvHvy) Luis Martinez (CCC-HarWash) Paige Craig (PSC) Deborah Smyles (PSC) Mia Gasperini (KCC) Charity Hasibar (CCC-Truman) Darrell Hipple (KCC)
Event highlights
DDP Scholarship symposium September 14th-16th DDP hosted it's 9th annual Scholarship Symposium! Thirteen students attended throughout the week and learned about various topics such as Scholarships Loans and Grants, Mastering the Application Process, Writing Essays and Personal Statements, and so much more! It was a great week of fun and learning! October community service/national transfer student week During the week of October 17th-23rd, Governors State celebrated National Transfer Student Week & GSU’s Homecoming! DDP participated by hosting and participating in community service events that week. GSU Hosted a "Jaguar 5K Run, Walk, or Roll", where voluteers helped out with numerous things such as providing water to the runners and supervising the track for any emergencies. Also that week, DDP volunteered at Iron Oak Nature Preserve, where they assisted in clearing out the forest of invasive trees and cleaning up pathways. Thank you to all of our volunteers!
event highlights
November Community service On November 23rd DDP supported GSU's Center for Student Engagement and Intercultural Programming this holiday season by volunteering to provide 200 meal baskets to the community for Thanksgiving. Students assisted with four stations that each distributed turkeys, potatoes, and boxes of non-perishable food items for each family.
december Community service For the month of December, DDP was able to participate in two community service opportunities. On December 7th, DDP volunteered at the Sauk Village Food Pantry and then December 15th, we were at Respond Now in Chicago Heights. Both events allowed volunteers to help stock food pantry shelves and distribute groceries to those in need. Check out a few photos below!
GSU/Triton College Mix and Mingle On November 3rd, GSU hosted a networking event at Triton College to introduce staff and faculty from the two institutions. The event gave individuals the opportunity to come together to learn about GSU programs at Triton, and of course that included the DDP! Check out a few photos from the event below!
Be sure to check your email for further details on the events mentioned here!
Save The Dates
DDP Fall 2022 Scholarship Deadline Thursday, February 24, 2022, 11:59 p.m. For those transferring to GSU in the Fall of 2022, see the next page of the Newsletter, or visit the DDP Scholarships website for more details about the three annual awards. DDP Career Symposium February 22-24, 2022 Preparing for your graduation after spring? Looking for internships? Join us for a series of different topics providing lots of tools to ensure your career path is well planned and executed. More details coming soon! DDP Spring Induction Friday, April 8, 2022, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. For DDP students who are still pursuing an associate degree at their local community college and have not yet attended a previous DDP Induction. Participants will receive an orientation to DDP, an opportunity to meet GSU admin and staff, and receive helpful resources in preparation for your transfer. Stay tuned for more details via email in March 2022! DDP Graduation Cording Ceremony Wednesday, May 10, 2022, 6 - 8 p.m. DDP students graduating with their bachelor's degrees from GSU during the 2021-2022 academic year will be honored in a formal cording ceremony, to acknowledge the completion of their DUAL degrees. Formal invitations will be mailed in early April 2022. DDP Monthly Community Service Events TBD - Details coming soon!
spring 2022
Dear DDP Students and Supporters, Another semester is in the books! In addition to welcoming a new cohort of over 40 DDP students to GSU in August, we also welcomed over 55 new students to DDP at 13 of our partnering community college campuses. We have now returned to the majority of our community colleges, so come say hello next time you are around! Thank you to all those who participated in DDP's fall programming and service opportunities. While we are mindful of the ongoing pandemic, we find it important to engage with you and give back to our local communities. The hours contributed make a difference during difficult times. Happy holidays, and enjoy your break. I look forward to seeing you in 2022! Best, Jessica Specht Director of DDP
director's corner
Thank you!
Don’t forget to follow DDP’s Facebook page to view photo albums and be notified of future events!
As we come to the close of another semester, we thank you for all the hard work and support throughout this semester! We hope that you have a great, restful and safe winter break! We will see you in 2022!