The Harper College Educational Foundation’s HOPE Giving Circle recently marked its 10th anniversary, honoring a decade of women-led
philanthropy by awarding 10 scholarships each worth $10,000. At an event at Harper’s
Wojcik Conference Center, HOPE celebrated a decade of empowerment along with the newest – and largest – cohort of scholars.
From its founding in 2016 by a small group of committed women, the HOPE Giving Circle has grown into a vibrant philanthropic community with 46 active members. Through
collective giving, the group has now awarded over a half-million dollars to more than
42 students, pairing each recipient with a dedicated mentor.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only 10 exceptional students, but 10 extraordinary years,”
said past chair and founding member Kathy Gilmer at the reception. She introduced
the new co-chairs, Susan Heitsch and Ella Liberman, who now lead the HOPE Executive
Committee.
“HOPE is more than a scholarship,” Heitsch said. “It’s a community, a legacy and a
movement to uplift students through education and mentorship.”
The 10 for 10 HOPE Giving Circle Scholarship recipients include:
- Sara Abualreesh, a health sciences student from Schaumburg preparing for transfer to the University
of Illinois Chicago’s nursing program. She is inspired by a passion for compassionate
care and has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and her local mosque.
- Murtaza Anjarwala, an engineering student with a 4.0 GPA, who balances rigorous STEM coursework with
leadership in research and coding societies. The Hoffman Estates resident plans to
pursue renewable energy or biomedical innovation.
- Devon Freitag, a full-time nursing student and former EMT from Hoffman Estates who draws from personal
experience in foster care to advocate for mental health awareness and inclusive care.
- Nour Husseini, a computer science scholar from Hoffman Estates, whose academic résumé includes
astrophysics research, AI internships and outreach to promote sustainability through
tech.
- Adepeju Oyefusi, a working mother of three from Rolling Meadows seeking to become a CPA, who is pursuing
a career in accounting to help small businesses and underserved communities thrive.
- Mehak Rizvi, a marketing student and international education advocate from Pakistan, now living
in Hoffman Estates, who combines digital strategy with global awareness in her career
goals.
- Jaskirat Singh, an aspiring aerospace engineer from Wheeling whose academic excellence is matched
by his long-term community service with the Sikh Religious Society.
- Jeremiah Somerville, a liberal arts student from Hoffman Estates, planning to become a constitutional
lawyer, who leads with integrity in athletics, debate and social justice initiatives.
- Maria Tovar, a nursing student and active campus leader from Mount Prospect whose commitment
to care was inspired by a family medical crisis and her journey as an immigrant.
- Natalia Vonderheide, a radiologic technology student and mental health advocate from Lake in the Hills
who leads outreach programs and plans to contribute to diagnostic medicine and education.
Each student is paired with a HOPE mentor – a signature feature of the program that
enhances confidence, career exploration and community engagement. Liberman, who is
also a member of the foundation’s board of directors, emphasized the accessibility
and impact of HOPE membership.
“With a $1,000 pledge or $250 gift, anyone can join this mission,” she said. “Every
dollar goes directly to scholarships – and every member shapes the future.”
To learn more or become a member of the HOPE Giving Circle, visit harpercollege.edu/hope.
