Greet our Grads, a luncheon held on Saturday, April 30, at the Aaron Letch Stadium Club, is an event that connects graduating seniors with University donors in the 1857 Society and Heritage Society. The event allows students to hear donors’ stories, advice, and well wishes.

This year, Greet our Grads focuses on the theme, “opening doors,” as donor support has opened a variety of doors for graduating Redbirds. Hear from a few students in attendance, who explain their successes and what support means to them.

Gabrielle Goytia

Gabrielle Goytia

Gabrielle Goytia is a senior studying exercise science at Illinois State. In addition to maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Goytia prioritizes forming relationships with her professors and involving herself in student clubs and organizations. She said, “I am proud of how much my hard work has paid off and been validated by ISU through being the recipient of some awards and scholarships!” Goytia said donor support has “given me more opportunities to further my education and potential to build a better life for myself! Being at ISU and networking with peers and my professors has opened a lot of doors for me.”

Joseph Troyer

Joseph Troyer

Joseph Troyer is a senior studying accounting and finance. Reflecting on his time at ISU, Troyer said, “I’ve noticed that I’ve grown into a completely different person than I was four years ago. I’ve traveled outside of the country, found the career path I want to head down in life, and I’ve cultivated a desire to take advantage of every learning opportunity I can.” Upon graduating, Troyer plans to travel to Fairbanks, Alaska, to explore the last frontier before continuing his career as a bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). “I’m proud of the school that I’ve chosen, and I believe the University has granted me more opportunities to grow as an individual than I can count,” said Troyer. “I was expecting a learning experience, not a life-changing experience.”

Tenaya Muhammad

Tenaya Muhammad

Tenaya Muhammad is a senior studying sociology with minors in psychology, Spanish, and Latin American & Latino/a studies. She is proud of her ability to maintain a GPA of 3.9+ in college. Not only has she maintained a high GPA, but she has been resilient in doing so. During her four years of college, Muhammad endured a pandemic, lost five family members, took care of her mom at home for a period of time, battled health issues, and worked two campus jobs. Muhammad has overcome these difficulties to maximize her potential. Muhammad values how scholarships have opened doors for her during her college experience. She said, “I have gotten the chance to foster relationships with professors as mentors. Working closely with professors from my department throughout my Bone scholarship application also helped improve my writing and confidence as a student.”

Annellia Pierce

Annellia Pierce

Annellia Pierce is a senior studying philosophy with minors in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and religious studies. Pierce is accomplished in the department of philosophy and was awarded the Scott Elliot Essay Prize for her article on Buddhism and animal welfare. Pierce said, “I used a scholarship I received last year to attend a service trip to the Galapagos Islands where I helped remove invasive species to the islands and planted native ones. I also worked in the Galapagos National Parks where I helped clear vegetation for the Galapagos tortoises to nest. As someone who loves to serve the community and aid the environment, this experience meant so much to me.” After graduation, Pierce plans to work in a municipal position in the Bloomington-Normal area while continuing to volunteer in her community and non-profit organizations. She plans to someday earn a master’s degree in public administration.

Aidan Krieger

Aidan Krieger

Aidan Krieger is a senior studying geology. Krieger transferred to ISU after his freshman year because he was not happy with where he previously studied. Krieger said, “I was a little lost when I showed up as a sophomore, but I quickly found that ISU was where I needed to be, and it has propelled me through to my next goal.” Scholarship support has been a large factor in Krieger’s success at ISU. He said, “I would have had major setbacks from where I am now if not for the scholarships I earned along the way.” After graduation, Krieger will start a Ph.D. program at Ohio State University to further his academic and research career in structural geology with the goal of pursuing a career in research and/or academia.

Noor Alsaqri

Noor Alsaqri

“The amount of work and experience I have completed throughout my education has been due to the faculty and university support and my strong involvement and passion for what I do and want to achieve,” said Noor Alsaqri. Alsaqri is a senior studying interior design with a minor in business administration. Alsaqri is a student ambassador for the Family and Consumer Science department and the treasurer for the International Interior Design Association. Through these involvements, she has gained leadership experience, connections, and support. Alsaqri said, “Looking back at my start at ISU, I had many goals that I wanted to achieve, and I’m proud to say that I have exceeded my expectations. The amount of involvement and work I have put into my education and through extracurricular activities at ISU and in the community is visible and something I pride myself on and motivates me to strive for a big future.”

Each of these seniors will soon embark on a new journey after crossing the commencement stage. Thanks to the support of University donors who open doors for Illinois State students, these seniors, and many others will graduate poised for success.