Student Affairs

Eberhard Named Inaugural Leader in Residence

The Donaldson Leader in Residence Program at the Illinois Leadership Center, established thanks to the generosity of Jane (BA Teaching of English & MS Journalism) & Bill Donaldson, is a multi-day on-campus residence featuring notable alumni who engage with students, faculty, university leaders, and the community. Martin Eberhard (BS Electrical and Computer Engineering; MS Electrical Engineering) was the inaugural Leader in Residence. Eberhard is an engineer, a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and inventor on at least 29 granted patents, with more in the works. In 2002, Eberhard co-founded Tesla Motors and was its original Chairman, serving as CEO until late 2007. A highlight of his residency was spending time with students in the Innovation Living Learning Community at Illinois Street Residence Hall. You can view “An Evening with Martin Eberhard” here.

Office of Minority Student Affairs Awards 16 Scholarships

In the fall of 2022, thanks to the collective generosity of almost 100 donors, the Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) was able to award scholarships to 16 recipients. Scholarships included the Greta Hogan Student Persistence Scholarship Fund, named for a caring UIUC staff member who provided generations of OMSA students during her distinguished tenure at Illinois; the Clarence Shelley Scholarship Fund, established in 2010 by fabled educator, administrator, and founding director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs, Clarence Shelley; and the Jaquelyn Hayes Helping Others Prosper Through Education (H.O.P.E.) Scholarship Fund, established in 2001 by alumna Jacquelyn Hayes. OMSA’s mission is to provide exceptional support services that enhance the academic achievement, personal development, and graduation rates of first generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students at Illinois. You can view OMSA’s annual report here.

Illini Dads and Moms Commemorate Centennials Through Philanthropy

During the 2022 – 2023 academic year, the Dads Association and the Moms Association celebrated their centennials. These groups have spent the last 100 years supporting the entire University of Illinois community, and both chose to continue this legacy through philanthropic gifts to commemorate their 100th anniversaries. The Dads marked this milestone through the donation of the Illini Dads Centennial Plaza. The plaza, located on Illinois Street west of Lincoln Avenue, is under construction and will be dedicated during Dads Weekend 2023. The Moms have created the Moms Centennial Scholarship Fund. They are awarding 100 $1000 scholarships to students that fall outside of the preconceived norms of traditional scholarship candidates. The Moms impact is underway—they awarded 38 scholarships during Moms Weekend 2023.