Each year Housing Services honors a select number of outstanding resident/community assistants (RA/CAs) who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to leadership and academic excellence. Recipients of the award receive up to $500 in financial support. This year, five students were selected for the RA/CA Academic Scholarship.
During her time as a resident assistant (RA) this fall, Kinlee Spranger is noted to have been “nothing but supportive in her role,“ as noted by her supervisor. Spranger is a sophomore sociology and psychology student who leads as an RA in Tri-Towers. Her charisma, positive attitude, and commitment to excellence in both the academic and housing spheres of her life made her an easy selection for the RA/CA Academic Scholarship.
“I am able to attend Illinois State University because I spent the last six years working and saving money for college,” said Spranger. With the help of additional scholarships and loans, it’s been easier for me to go to school without worrying about finances. I independently pay for my college education and with a scholarship like this one, I can focus more on school and less on working to pay for college.”
The scholarship will help open doors to academic experiences that may have been previously closed due to financial strain.
“Next semester, I will be given the opportunity to work on Dr. Sprecher’s research team,” explained Spranger. “With this added to my schedule, I will have less time to work throughout the week. However, since I want to go to graduate school, I cannot pass on this opportunity that will give me the knowledge that I will utilize for years to come. This scholarship will not only help me with tuition and books but also will reduce the amount of loans I need to accept overall.”
Spranger recounts how the encouraging support of her family helped her strive for excellence while at Illinois State.
“My family has always pushed me to be the best that I could be as a person and also in academics,” said Spranger. “While excelling academically is a priority for me, I also understand the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, as it contributes not only to my overall well-being but also to sustained success in the long run.”
The RACA Academic Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of our community. Head to Giving.IllinoisState.edu for information on how you can contribute to student success and give back to our housing family.
