Being a legacy at Illinois State University means following in the footsteps of family, both personally and academically. For Ashlyn Kelly, it’s about feeling challenged to be her best self and make her parents proud. Katelyn Steiling found a home at ISU through her family ties, while Emily Knobbe enjoys sharing experiences with her mom. Tai Tepede sees it as a chance to create her unique mark. We asked several of our Redbird legacy scholarship recipients to share their thoughts on continuing their family legacy at Illinois State.
What does being a legacy mean to you, personally and academically?
Ashlyn Kelly, sophomore, early childhood education: Being a legacy means continuing in the footsteps of those before me. I personally feel challenged and motivated to become the best version of myself to not only succeed in my future but to make my parents proud. I have taken it upon myself to strive for exceptional grades and achieve great accomplishments during my time at Illinois State University.
Katelyn Steiling, senior, nursing: I can confidently say that my legacy connection is the reason why I am a student at Illinois State University today. Coming from parents who both attended the University, and both of my siblings choosing ISU, becoming a Redbird was the most confident decision I could have made. ISU has always felt like home to me as a lifelong resident of Bloomington-Normal, and being able to walk around campus and see my brothers heading to class makes being a student here feel even more like home. Beyond the familial support I have received since choosing Illinois State, the generous support offered by the University and its donors has been transformative in my personal and academic success as an ISU student. Being graciously chosen as a Legacy Scholarship recipient has greatly influenced my ability to pursue a degree in nursing; A challenging major that no other members of my family have ever pursued. Additionally, being a scholarship recipient has allowed me to strictly pursue my academic endeavors without the additional burden of working to support myself financially through school. The mental load that has been reduced through the support of my legacy family, University staff, and donors is something I am incredibly grateful for and has undoubtedly contributed to my success as a student.
Emily Knobbe, senior, psychology: To me, being a legacy means I get to share some experiences with my mom and learn more about her life as well. As a legacy, I can learn about cool and different spots on campus from back in the day through my mom, such as good places to eat or secret study spots. Academically, I feel like I can prove myself and show my mom how well I am doing in some of the same classes she took!
Tai Tepede, senior, film and digital media: What being a legacy means to me personally is making my unique mark in my family tree, not repeating what my legacy has done. What it means to me academically is creating endless memories and accessing resources wisely. It was important to me to pursue internships and get involved on campus because I genuinely wanted to expand my social and professional skills.
How has being a legacy influenced your college experience so far?
Kelly: Being a legacy has influenced my college experience so far because I get to share my experiences with my parents who went to graduate school here and hear their stories as well.
Steiling: Being a legacy has greatly changed my college experience. To summarize, being a legacy has provided a special appreciation for the community of Illinois State University and has encouraged me to remain connected to ISU even through some of the hardest challenges of my academic career. I have had the fortunate opportunity to represent the University as a dancer for Redline Express and the Big Red Marching Machine. I have long idolized the dancers at ISU at the football and basketball games I attended as a child, so it has been especially impactful to be in that role myself. Being able to participate in this organization while also in nursing school was only made possible by the support I received from my legacy family, as well as the generous donor support that I have received.
Knobbe: Being a legacy has influenced my college experience so far by adding more excitement! When my mom comes down to visit, she gets so excited to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. It makes visits a lot of fun because we get to show each other around! By being a legacy, I also get to describe more specifics within my stories to my mom because she knows what I am talking about!
Tepede: Being a legacy has influenced my college experience so far by allowing me to network with others. For example, when I needed help finding an internship, my brother’s internship supervisor knew people who were in the film and digital media field. His supervisor helped me navigate that solely because of the connection. It has also allowed me to get access to resources such as scholarships, exclusive events, and family-funded opportunities specific to Illinois State. These experiences tremendously benefited my college experience.
Share a memorable moment or experience related to your legacy connection.
Kelly: My Opa (great grandpa) went to Illinois State University, and over the summer I shared with him that I am an admissions tour guide. I had a long conversation with him about the academic buildings, the cool opportunities I have experienced, and just how much the University has grown and changed over the years. I loved being able to share why I love ISU with one of the most important role models in my life.
Steiling: A memorable experience that I have had related to my legacy connection is my involvement in the Big Red Marching Machine. My younger brother, a current freshman at Illinois State, has always been involved in band since middle school. At the same time, I grew up involved in dance. At ISU, the dance team and the marching band are grouped, and once my brother came to ISU, he joined the marching band’s drumline. Therefore, we had the opportunity to perform at halftime at every home football game this past fall together. My parents, both alumni, also attended every game to support us. This was very special for all of us and is something I will never forget.
Knobbe: A memorable experience I have is ISU’s Family Weekend. My mom always comes down and we tailgate and then go to either a show ISU is putting on or the football game. My mom knows how to navigate and do everything due to her being a legacy. It makes Family Weekend extra special because she is excited to explore and relive some of her glory days. It has also been super cool to experience some events with my mom that she learned about because she is an alumna. For instance, we went to a White Sox game and a Willy Wonka play together, thanks to the ISU Alumni Association.
What advice do you have for incoming legacy students?
Kelly: As for advice for incoming legacy students, I advise others to look up to their legacy but carve their path for their future and make their college journey/story unique.
Steiling: The advice I would share with other legacy students would be to get involved in the ISU community from the beginning. The number of opportunities for students that are offered by the University is vast and provides a chance to deeply embrace your legacy connection as you work through college-level academics. Integrating myself into the ISU community allowed me to feel a part of something much bigger than myself, and I would encourage all legacy students to embrace ISU and its community as much as possible.
Knobbe: Some advice for incoming legacy students is to venture out and find your unique things at school. While your parents may know a lot, new things are constantly developing, and those new things help to make the experience more your own. If you want to impress your parents, find a new restaurant that wasn’t here when they went to school!
Tepede: Some advice I would have for upcoming legacy students is to make your own memories. Recognize that your presence alone makes an impact, and your unique contributions to the college community matter. Embrace your individuality, and make choices that align with your values and aspirations. While family connections can be beneficial, don’t solely rely on them. Take the initiative to build your own network within the college community. Seek out opportunities to connect with professors, peers, and professionals in your field of interest. You create a mark already just being there so make it your own unique experience!
In the diverse stories of Illinois State legacies, each student adds their personal touch to the University’s history. Ashlyn, Katelyn, Emily, and Tai show that being a legacy is about more than tradition—it’s about making your memories and leaving your mark. As they navigate college life, they encourage new legacies to embrace the community, make their unique experiences, and recognize the impact they can have. Learn more about Redbird legacies and several scholarships at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Legacy.
