Student experience & education
It all starts with our students.
At Illinois we believe that talent, ambition, and drive—not financial circumstance—should define a student’s opportunity to thrive. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors, thousands of students each year are empowered to pursue a world-class education and to shape a better future for themselves and their communities.
Impact spotlight
Fighting Illini Wheelchair Basketball Legacy Scholarship
Recipient plans future in professional sports
Scholarship recipient Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 2025–26 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Men’s Collegiate Player of the Year, is a member of the Illinois wheelchair basketball team and has competed internationally as part of the U23 USA Wheelchair Basketball Team.
Beyond athletics, Fitzpatrick is committed to mentorship and community service. For many years, Fitzpatrick has volunteered as an amputee mentor at Camp No Limits, a camp that supports children with limb loss. Fitzpatrick is a student in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism and is passionate about athletics, leadership and giving back. He hopes to pursue a career in professional sports, with the goal of working for a team in the NBA or WNBA.
This scholarship was established by wheelchair basketball alums including Makara Nong (AHS’ 17), to support undergraduate student athletes playing wheelchair basketball Illinois. Recipients exemplify academic merit and demonstrate a passion for wheelchair basketball.
Balz Endowment Fund
Scholarship alleviates the financial burden for a returning student
Anna Hartman’s years as an active-duty Naval Officer helped her discover a passion for service, community, and helping others. Paired with her lifelong love of reading, that calling led her to the MSLIS program at the University of Illinois’ iSchool.
Hartman (iSCHOOL, ’25) was supported by the Balz Endowment Fund, established by Nancy and Dan Balz to make education more affordable for returning students. The impact on Hartman has been immediate.
“This scholarship made a huge difference,” she said. “The Balz Endowment Fund helped alleviate some of that financial burden and is allowing me to finish my degree in May 2025.”
Hartman plans to work as a digital humanities librarian or in a non-traditional library role involving oral histories or archives. She said donor generosity reaches beyond one student, strengthening families, futures, and communities.
The Balz Endowment Fund supports non-traditional or returning students, particularly those enrolled in the iSchool or those balancing their education with work and life commitments.
Giving stories
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