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Jenna Abuhamdan
Chemical Engineering, 2030
Jenna Abuhamdan
Hometown: Frankfort, IL (Lioncoln-Way East)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has opened many opportunities for me to pursue both my academic and personal passions. As an aspiring Chemical Engineer, I am passionate about pharmaceutical manufacturing, specifically in the fabrication of polymers. With the funding I have received from the Stamps Scholarship, I am able to join professors on their ongoing research as well as pitch my own ideas along with providing the materials necessary. Gaining wet lab experience during my time at the UIUC will not only make me prepared for work in the industry but also teach me to collaborate with a variety of individuals who share like-minded interests and unique ideas.”
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Sophie Walker
Secondary Math Education, 2030
Sophie Walker
Hometown: Johnston City , IL (Johnston City High School)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has opened up a numerous amount of possibilities for me. The main opportunity I now have is the opportunity to experience diversity and learn about different cultures first hand. I can now study or teach abroad to further understand specific cultures and backgrounds. I am very passionate about becoming an amazing educator. I want to create a safe and healthy environment to house new ideas and concepts. This possibility, that I no have as a Stamps Scholar, will unlock a new understanding I can have with my future students about different cultures and backgrounds.”
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Firdaus Nuriddin
Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2030
Firdaus Nuriddin
Hometown: Bolingbrook , IL (Bolingbrook High School)
“Being a Stamp Scholar means more than great financial support that allows me to consider incorporating more new and exciting experiences, such as studying abroad, into my undergraduate journey. It also means a community to learn from and people to gain new experiences with. As an Agricultural and Biological Engineering student, I’m interested in pursuing synthetic biology to advance Plant Biotechnology. At a prestigious university like UIUC, there are so many resources, from research and internship opportunities to RSOs that build real world skills. The magnitude of resources available can be overwhelming, so I find the mentorship program that Stamp Scholars offers help nagivate all these opportunities.”
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Stefan Ilic
Computer Science, 2030
Stefan Ilic
Hometown: Naperville, IL (Naperville Central High School)
“As an Illinois Stamps Scholar, I will build strong connections with fellow motivated peers who want to leave a positive impact on the world around them in all walks of life. I will also have the resources and support around me to gain experiences in research and technical organizations that will guide me towards a career as a Software Engineer, applying my skills in robotics or in the financial field. ”
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Grayson Adelstein
Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship, 2027
Grayson Adelstein
Hometown: Oak Park, IL (Oak Park and River Forest High School)
“To me, being a Stamps Scholar means turning ambition into reality. The program’s support, enrichment resources, and vast network have opened doors to opportunities that extend far beyond the traditional college experience, allowing me to engage in rigorous academics, impactful internships, and global experiences that have shaped how I view the world.”
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Graciela Best
History and Latina/o Studies (Minor in Spanish), 2027
Graciela Best
Hometown: Morris, IL (Morris Community High School)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has greatly impacted my college experience! Through Stamps, I gained the opportunity to travel and learn in Norway and on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile). The scholars program has also allowed me to share my passion for history with others through informal conversations and formal conference presentations.”
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Aditya Dave
Neural Engineering, 2027
Aditya Dave
Hometown: Aurora, IL (Metea Valley High School)
“My time as a Stamps Scholar has made it possible for me to pursue the questions, experiences, and communities that continue to shape my purpose. I’ve learned that a night spent under a blanket of frost can turn service into something deeply personal, that peers can transform a shared passion into a beautiful orchestra, and that curiosity can grow into work with real meaning. The Stamps Scholarship at Illinois has given me the freedom to explore these passions fully, from building community on campus to pursuing my interest in engineering and medicine, while deepening my commitment to creating positive change in the world around me. ”
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Sofia Marin
Finance, 2027
Sofia Marin
Hometown: Vernon Hills, IL (Vernon Hills High School)
“I came into college with one dream. Make an impact in healthcare. Now I’m 8 months out from my graduation – and from getting my Finance and Public Health diploma – and as I look back, I think about everything in the past 3 years. The time I went to Kenya to help one of the regions worst hospitals. The time I went to SF to learn from one of the world’s best app developers. The time I worked at a health tech startup to learn about Client Success and Account Management. The time I built my own startup through iVenture – one of the biggest entrepreneurship incubators in the country. I don’t have the fanciest resume. Or coolest companies on paper. What I do have is a track record of ambition, success and…lots…and lots of failure. What I also have – and what STAMPS has given me – is curiosity. Exactly one month ago, I decided “you know what? I I also want to…be a PA!” So now, in between my accounting and finance classes…I’m going to Chemistry, Anatomy and Biology learning about moles and electrons. Long-story short, STAMPS has given me the ability to have a life of duality. To explore the world. To add on new career paths…without feeling the pressure of time or money. The world is now at my oyster and if your reading this – know that it’s yours too :)”
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Noah Meyerhoff
Mathematics & Philosophy, 2027
Noah Meyerhoff
Hometown: Riverwoods, IL (Deerfield High School)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has enabled me to explore my passions for language and theater. I used enrichment funds to study abroad in Taiwan the summer after my Freshman year—one of the most amazing experiences of my life. In addition, the financial independence the scholarship provides gave me the freedom to spend my time traveling for performances with my Improv Troupe Spicy Clamato, or write and direct plays with the Penny Dreadful Players.”
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Julia Olson
Music Performance, 2027
Julia Olson
Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL (Rolling Meadows High School)
“The Stamps community at Illinois has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration. From starting an 80-person film score orchestra with members of my cohort to using my enrichment funds to travel the world and learn from some of the country’s leading wind band conductors, I am incredibly grateful to Stamps for giving me the opportunity to pursue my passions and expand my horizons.As a Music Education and Oboe Performance major, I am passionate about becoming a better teacher, performer, and conductor. My experiences through Stamps have allowed me to explore these interests in meaningful ways and challenge myself to grow both as a musician and as an educator. ”
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Eryn Van Wijk
Astrophysics, 2027
Eryn Van Wijk
Hometown: Hanover Park, IL (Hoffman Estates High School)
“Being a Stamps scholar for the past three years has given me, above all, a network of support. From connecting me with a faculty mentor whom I do research with to allowing me to play in an orchestra led by my fellow Stamps scholars, I have been enriched and challenged by this program. More than that, though, seeing the ambition and enthusiasm of my fellow scholars has driven me to seek more for myself and engage fully with my community. I have become an integral part of the university’s astronomical society, facilitating operations, and connecting with the Champaign Urbana community to teach the wonders of the night sky, all the while working on philosophy research on our causal perceptions, which the Stamps scholarship will allow me to travel to conferences and present on. After graduating, I plan to pursue a private pilot’s license and continue doing work in science communication, a path I only have the means to pursue because of the financial freedom Stamps has offered me during my time at the university.”
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Akshaya Ayyah
Computer Science + Chemistry, 2028
Akshaya Ayyah
Hometown: Aurora, IL (Metea Valley High School)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has given me an incredible opportunity to explore my interests in research, travel, health, and movement without financial constraints. More importantly, the program has connected me with valuable mentorship and empowered me to give back to my community. Through opportunities to attend diverse symposiums and conduct research across various industries, I have gained greater clarity about my career aspirations and the impact I hope to make. The Stamps community encourages scholars to embrace interdisciplinary interests rather than limit themselves to a single field, and I have been fortunate to embody that spirit through my projects. These experiences have allowed me to explore the intersections between my passions while growing both personally and professionally.”
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Nicholas Delgado
Chemistry, 2028
Nicholas Delgado
Hometown: Morton, IL (Morton High School)
“In the Prasanth Lab at UIUC, I serve as a lead researcher investigating how hypoxia, a low-oxygen environment critical to breast cancer progression, alters protein organization and expression within nuclear speckles. Utilizing CRISPR gene editing, I engineer stable cell lines to track these dynamic changes in MCF10A breast cells. To maximize the impact of this independent project, I plan to use my Stamps enrichment funds to present our current findings at a major national scientific conference, exposing the work to peer review and allowing me opportunities to network with pioneers in the field.”
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Alex Kim
Chemistry & Molecular/Cellular Biology, 2028
Alex Kim
Hometown: Palatine, IL (William Fremd High School)
“I’m passionate about researching drug delivery at the intersection of bioengineering and materials engineering and obtaining an MD/PhD with a career goal of becoming a physician-scientist . To this end, I have worked in a protein therapeutics lab and an applied mathematics lab to model and develop drugs that can deliver into cells and destroy disease-related targets. Without Stamps, these opportunities would not have been nearly as impactful. Using my enrichment funds, I was able to present my mathematics research at an international conference, meeting several collaborators that have helped me turn my work from a final class project into a journal-ready manuscript. Additionally, meeting the diverse class of people through Stamps has inspired me to pursue new community service opportunities. One of my cohort members who has worked with children told me about her meaningful experience, and her words convinced me to begin volunteering at Crisis Nursery, which has now become one of the most fulfilling activities I have done throughout college. I am confident that in my last few semesters as a Stamps Scholar, I will be able to unlock plenty more opportunities and motivations that will guide me on my academic and personal goals. ”
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Allie McLevige
Division of General Studies, 2028
Allie McLevige
Hometown: Winnebago, IL (Pecatonica High School)
“Stamps has given me the incredible opportunity to travel around the world, from Costa Rica to South Korea! I have met the most interesting people who continue to inspire and support me, and I have learned so much about myself along the way.”
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Karissa Zimmerman
Speech & Hearing Science, 2028
Karissa Zimmerman
Hometown: Normal, IL (Normal Community West High School)
“Being a Stamps Scholar has allowed me to get the most out of my undergraduate experience at UIUC by removing the pressure to quickly complete school just to save money. This has given me the flexibility to take courses for my major and minor while also exploring the field of speech-language pathology firsthand through observing clinicians, working at the campus daycare, participating in research, and getting involved in student organizations. As I prepare for graduate school and beyond, I have reflected on the diverse experiences Stamps provides, as well as the friendships it’s given me along the way. Weekly meetings with my cohort taught me the value of a multidisciplinary approach and reminded me to never settle.”