December, 2020
In This Issue: - Directors Corner Pg. 2 - Student Spotlight Pg. 3 - Important Updates Pg. 4-6 - Campus Connection Pg. 7 - Event Highlights Pg. 8-11 - Save the Dates Pg. 12 - Thank you! Pg. 13
NEWSLETTER
Dear DDP Students and Supports, What can be said about 2020 besides, “Can you believe we made it?!†It has been a challenging year that has touched each and every one of our lives. We at DDP and GSU, are so proud of all you have accomplished despite our altered environment. While juggling personal and professional life changes due to the global pandemic, 74 DDP students still persisted and transferred to Governors State this fall – that is tied for our third largest cohort to date! You continue to excel in your studies, and remain engaged with your campuses and your peers. Please continue to reach out if there is anything you need assistance with. The Dual Degree Program is a family, while we may be socially distanced and without our usual festivities, we are most certainly here for you. I hope you and your families have a safe and restful winter break. Happy holidays, and cheers to the new year! Best, Jessica Specht, Director of DDP
director's corner
student spotlight
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Name: Kara Delaleurs School: Moraine Valley Community College Major: Information Technology In what ways has the Dual Degree Program influenced your success? For me, the DDP has opened up new opportunities for me and my college career/experiences. The program also got me to meet new people and strive for a greater excellence with the scholarship opportunities as well as ways to help my community with the events that are always going on such as the community service events. What are your future plans at GSU? My future plans at GSU are to continue my studies into the ever growing world of Information Technology and Cyber Security. What are you most excited about in regards to transferring to GSU? I'm most excited to meet new people at GSU and continue my college career experience. I'm also excited to meet people who also find an interest in the major I'm studying. What tips would you offer students for success? From the people I've met so far at GSU, everyone, especially Juan Gonzalez, is very open and incredibly friendly to talk to about college and really anything. Also I think the DDP program is a very interesting way to meet new people and future peers in your classes or on campus that you may see when you finally get to GSU.
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 and a book stipend for up to four semesters at GSU (excluding summers). Illinois Dreamers and DACA students are also encouraged to apply for the GSU Promise Scholarship for the chance to earn a $600 book stipend for up to four semesters at GSU! 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). Illinois Dreamers and DACA students are eligible for the full award for up to four semesters at GSU! 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 3.25 GPA or above.There are two (2) scholarship categories; see the DDP Chicago STAR Scholar app for more details! Illinois Dreamers and DACA students are eligible for the full award for up to four semesters at GSU! Applications and recommendation forms can be found on the DDP Scholarships website. Again, application materials are due on Friday, Feb 26, 2021!
Fall 2021 Scholarship applications due: Friday, February 26th Would you like to attend GSU for FREE? If you are transferring to GSU in fall 2021, 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.
important updates
Kudos and congratulations!! Spring 2021 dual degree program scholarship recipients The Governors State University (GSU) Promise, DDP Honors, and DDP Chicago STAR Scholars Scholarships are competitive scholarships awarded annually. These scholarships are open to Governors State University Dual Degree Program (DDP) students who meet a certain merit or need-based criteria. This year six students were awarded a scholarship for Spring 2021. Let’s celebrate our new recipients! Spring 2021 DDP Scholarship Awardees: Alondra Barajas (KCC) Faith Keller (KCC) Samantha Patti (PSC) 
 Brittany Galbreth (PSC) Ashley Kohlman (SSC) Maya Sheriff (CCC-KKing) Tau Sigma National Honors Society Inductees Tau Sigma is a national honor society designed specifically for transfer students! Congrats to our DDP students who were the newest members to be inducted on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Destinee N. Grey (CCC-HWash) Rachel Kamp (KCC) Abrea Ramadan (MVCC)
 Tamiki L. Harris (CCC-KKing) Jeanine Latrice Koger (PSC) James Zumhagen (PSC) 
 Derron Jackson (CCC-KKing) Dorolyn Peters-Lee (MVCC)
Kudos and congratulations!! (CONT.) GSU Honors Program Annual Pinning Ceremony The GSU Honors Program students participate in a curriculum designed to enrich their academic experience. It is designed to make a difference in each student's life and provide motivation to go a step further as well as maintain higher expectations in reaching your fullest potential. Congrats to our current DDP students who were recently pinned and welcomed into the Honors Program: Brenda Alvarado (JJC) Iliana Manrique (CCC-Daley) Ralph Sansone (KCC)
Mya Beauford (CCC-HWash) Shannon Ryan (PSC) Deijianie Santana (MVCC)
Eunice Gomez (MVCC) 2020 Lincoln Laureate - DDP Student, Jeanine Latrice koger Jeanine Latrice joins seniors from across the state who have been honored by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois for their contributions to the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Jeanine Latrice Koger is a Psychology Major, U.S. Army veteran, community advocate, and a newly elected member of the Governors State University Board of Trustees. Congrats, Latrice!
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. Ana Reyez, Interim Transfer Director 
Richard J. Daley College, City Colleges of Chicago What colleges and/or universities did you attend as a student, and for what degrees? Richard J. Daley College: A.A. in Psychology
Univ. of Illinois at Chicago: B.A. in Applied Psychology
DePaul University: M.Ed. in College Student Development What is your most memorable moment of college? My transfer experience was horrible, but as they say make lemonade when given lemons. That experience solidified my career choice to support students in their transfer experience and now I am serving as the interim transfer director at Richard J. Daley College. As a first-generation student, education was stressed by my parents as they knew it was the key to our future. What was something you couldn't live without in college? I leaned on my family for support and positive encouragement, find a support system. If you could do a (college/degree) all over again, what would you do differently? I would have worked less and become involved on campus. I would have found a mentor. I would have searched for more internships. Your most valuable "words of wisdom" for transfer students. The college experience is more than just taking classes. Create an experience that will prepare you for your future career or at least expose you to as many choices or paths as possible. Do as many internships as possible that they lead you to your future career. Build your network with peers, instructors, and staff on campus.
Campus Connection
fall 2020 virtual induction On Nov. 5, 2020, 19 DDP students encompassing six of our partnering community colleges participated in this fall’s DDP Induction event. Students learned about the many benefits of DDP, as well as steps to successfully complete their associate degree and transfer to GSU or another university for their bachelor’s degree completion. They also had the opportunity to meet GSU’s Provost, GSU Dean of Students, as well as other GSU staff. DDP students pledged to “continuously encourage high standards of scholarship, excellence, leadership, and character†while completing their DUAL degrees. Here is a list of those inducted: Tamika Bentley - PSC Brenda Herrejon - MVCC Brenda Reyes - SSC Tiffany Bisping - KCC Rishonna Kemp - PSC Maya Sheriff - CCC-KKing Anita Butler - KCC Andrew Malone - PSC Janice Taylor - PSC Kayla Cardinal - MVCC Ryan McCarthy - CCC-HTrum Briana Thompson - PSC Jacob Fisher - JJC Natalie Nelson - KCC Lisa Wilcox - JJC Brittany Galberth - PSC Ariana Ramirez - KCC Jolene Wilkins - KCC Ashley Harding - JJC
Event highlights
event highlights
September Community Service Generally each month the DDP coordinates a community service event. Due to COVID-19, we have not been able to safely conduct our usual monthly services. However, right before things took a turn for the worse again, we were able to have an event in September! The DDP kicked of the semester by working with Center of Hope in Kankakee, IL. Students maintained safe working conditions while helping those in need during this COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that we will soon be able to pick back up where we left off with in person service events, but until then, be on the look out for more ways to connect and interact virtually!
Danielle Terry
Manuel Reza
Isabelle Parise
National Transfer Student Week - Oct 19-23, 2020 Pathways to the University: 
Transfer Student Spotlight On October 20th, 2020, the Dual Degree Program hosted a panel discussion that included three DDP alumni (Isabella Parise, Stefany Sigler, and Danielle Terry), and two current DDP students at GSU (Derron Jackson and Jeanine Latrice Koger), and was facilitated by DDP Graduate Assistant, Manuel Reza. The panel discussed how being a transfer student impacted their experience at Governors State, how it shaped their career decision-making, and what words of wisdom they want current and future transfer students to know! CLICK HERE TO VIEW RECORDED EVENT
Password: gC.Ls74P
Jeanine Latrice Koger
Derron Jackson
Stefany Sigler
STA Support Socials Surviving Midterms On October 21st, the Dual Degree Program hosted a mid-semester social to visit and celebrate GSU's Homecoming and National Transfer Student Week. Our DDP Student Transition Assistants, Bennett Talaber and Rudy Garcia, discussed resources available to all DDP students to support them during midterms, and Jessica Specht provided a mini-Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment. Students' MBTI "types" were then shared, and participants discussed how their specific types affects their student and remote learning habits. Self care timeout On November 19th, the Dual Degree Program came together to hold a self-care timeout for students. During the self-care timeout, students engaged in a 3-minute meditation, learned about the different forms of self-care, and took a brief quiz to see where they are at on the self-care scale. Students were also given the opportunity to socialize, and discuss upcoming finals. This wonderful event was organized by DDP Student Transition Assistant, Morgan Langer, and she was joined by six DDP students, the DDP Director, and DDP Graduate Assistant, Manuel Reza. The self-care event became a fun-filled experience for everyone to socialize and develop techniques to achieve bettering self-care!
Spring 2021
Be sure to check your email for further details on the events mentioned here!
DDP Virtual Welcome Back Social Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 5 - 6 p.m. More details to follow! DDP Career Symposium February 22-26, 2021 Preparing for your graduation after spring? Looking for internships? Well join us virtually for a week of different topics providing lots of tools to ensure your career path is well planned and executed. More details coming soon! DDP Fall 2021 Scholarship Deadline 
Friday, February 26, 2021 For those transferring to GSU in the Fall of 2021 See the next page of the Newsletter, or visit the DDP Scholarships website for more details about the: GSU Promise Scholarship, DDP Honors Scholarship, and DDP Chicago STAR Scholarship DDP Virtual Induction Thursday, April 8, 2021, 4 - 6 p.m. DDP students are required to attend a DDP Induction before transferring to GSU. Stay tuned for more details via email in March 2021. DDP Cording Ceremony Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 7 - 7:45 p.m. DDP students graduating from GSU will be honored in a virtual cording ceremony, to acknowledge the completion of their DUAL degrees. Formal invitations will be mailed in early April 2021.
Save The Dates
As we continue to experience some of the most unusual times ever, 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 2021!
Thank you!
Don’t forget to follow DDP’s Facebook page to view photo albums and be notified of future events!