Parents of NIU alumna endow scholarship to honor daughter Victoria J. Izzo endured a rough time in high school, unaware she had what is now called attention deficit disorder, but soldiered through to earn her diploma. Afterward, she completed an associate's degree in child care at the College of DuPage. "She got jobs at child-care centers, but they didn't last long," said Charmaine Izzo-Inge, Victoria's mother, who lives in Glen Ellyn. "She was getting pretty discouraged." When she was diagnosed with ADD as a young adult and given medication, Victoria decided to finish a four-year degree. Her mother and step-father, David Inge, promised to help her with the expenses. She enrolled at NIU and, three years later, graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's of science in education concentrating in special education. That made all the difference, and her parents are thanking NIU with a gift of $250,000 to create The Izzo-Inge Family Endowment for Students with Disabilities. The money will come over five years, with the first $50,000 already received. The purpose of this endowed student scholarship is to provide financial assistance to full-time, undergraduate degree-seeking students at NIU who are incoming juniors or seniors in any academic discipline. reference, however, is given to candidates who demonstrate a desire to teach in the field of special education. Candidates must have a demonstrated learning disability, including traumatic brain injury, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Also included are significant deafness, significant visual impairment or other disabilities affecting the cognitive process. Student scholarship awards from this endowment can be for an amount up to full tuition, including required textbooks and fees. The Izzo-Inge family hope their gift will offer encouragement to students like Victoria. "We spent many a night on the phone where Vicki was crying and said she didn't feel she could do it. We just said that she could," Charmaine said. "Our goal is to help other students. Our first preference is that they would want to go into special education and help other children. It seems there is more and more need for special education." Victoria, 36, now works at the Lake County Special Education School in Gages Lake and is working on a master's degree at North Park University in Chicago. "She loves it. She thinks it's the most fantastic thing," Charmaine said. "She has a great empathy for these people." Of the annual $50,000 contributions that will come to NIU over the next five years, $10,000 will pay for immediate scholarships while the remaining $40,000 will go into an account to build interest and grow into an endowment account capable of funding scholarships forever. NIU cannot draw money from the endowment account until Fiscal Year 2005-06. "We hope to be able to offer a full scholarship for two students each year," David said. "Our objective is that this is something that is going to be ongoing as long as Northern is there."   More news...