Our Proud Past. Their Strong Future.
Since 1967, Harper College has been making a difference in the community and transforming lives. In 2017 Harper Distinguished Alumni launched the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Fund to support future students.
Many of our Distinguished Alumni benefitted from scholarships while they attended Harper. Because others believed in them, they strived for excellence. Now, this group is joining forces to help others have the same opportunity for success.
The 2023-24 Distinguished Alumni Scholarship has been awarded to Mikiko Nakata. Mikiko immigrated to the U.S. from Japan with her husband and two small children just over five years ago. Mikiko is an adult student working toward her associate in arts degree in accounting. She hopes to transfer to a 4-year institution after her completion at Harper College. She plans to pursue an online accounting degree through either Penn State or Southern Illinois University and has already been accepted to both programs. Her career goal is to be an accounting manager. She maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the Accounting Club, the Honors Society, and has volunteered in her community.
“I believe completing my degree will best help me grow, provide for my kids, and have a stable life. My career goal is to be an Accounting Manager and hope to do so after earning my four year degree. Receiving this scholarship will help me register full time, and earn a degree sooner. Thank you.” - Mikiko Nakata, 2023 Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Recipient
The award selection was made by a committee of Distinguished Alumni including Larry Moats, John O'Halloran, Shannon Plate, Peter Soby, Mike Terson and Laurie Turpin-Soderholm.
For more information on the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship, please contact Shannon Hynes at 847-925-6701 or shynes@harpercollege.edu.
Investing in a Strong Future
Scholarships show students that their dreams and goals matter and that others want to invest in their future. After graduation, the students you help support will become our society’s next generation of entrepreneurs, scholars, change makers and global citizens.
Your contribution to the Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Fund serves a dual purpose — by bettering an individual life, you better the world.
Learn more about our Distinguished Alumni and about investing in students at Harper College.
