Jenny Halpern

Senior Woman's Award for Volunteer Service Recipient, 2017

Jenny, from Highland Park, Ill., a senior graduating this spring, is majoring in Human Development and Psychological Services, School of Education and Social Policy, with honors, Dean’s List, with a minor in Dance, School of Communication.

She became involved with Dance Marathon as a freshman, realizing then the power of the Northwestern community. She quotes a phrase, which has inspired her to stay so deeply involved in Dance Marathon: “What we do with our lives echoes in eternity.” The impact of those words is the reason she remained deeply involved in Dance Marathon throughout her years on campus, first as a dancer, then a committee member, and finally as Executive Director.  With this theme as her mantra, Jenny led the 20-person board in its two main duties: evaluating the 60 nonprofit applications requesting funding from Dance Marathon, selecting Gigi’s Playhouse as their primary beneficiary; and planning the committee work leading up to and during this year’s Dance Marathon, held March 3-5, which raised more funds than any former event of its kind.

Gigi’s Playhouse is a nationwide network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers that promotes free programming to individuals of all ages, their families and communities, impacting two million people across the country. The network provides families a place to understand the diagnosis of Down Syndrome while celebrating their children’s achievements. Northwestern is the first college campus to promote Gigi’s Playhouse. As a leader of the NUDM community, Jenny worked to unite the campus in changing the way the world views Down Syndrome.

In addition to Dance Marathon, Jenny was a company member of Graffiti Dancers, which performs in various campus events. Her advisor, Adrian Bitton, Assistant Director for Leadership and Community Engagement notes, “With her love of Northwestern, ability to connect with others, and her strong sense of responsibility and leadership abilities, Jenny is very much deserving of this award.”

“Jenny, an excellent student, made time to devote herself to raising awareness for those with Down Syndrome, raising funds to help many children. She is a model for volunteer service on the Northwestern campus,” note Margo Brown and Julie McDowell, chairs of The Alumnae’s Senior Woman’s Service Award committee.

Ailey Adorjan

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2016

Ailey Adorjan, WCAS, from Highland Park, Ill., is a physics/linguistics major who aspires to pursue a career in forensic science. She has been honored for her problem-solving skills. She has always loved science, solving puzzles and
helping people, making forensic science a natural choice for her.

Taran Lichtenberger

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2016

Taran Lichenberger, WCAS, from Wheeling, Ill., is a second-time Alumnae STEM scholarship winner. She is currently involved in research at the Chicago Botanic Garden, has a goal of getting her research published, and hopes to be accepted into the combined BA/MA degree in plant biology and conservation. Taran has the distinction of being a NU Bioscientist, and was a NU Bioscientist mentor last year.

Taylor Shelton

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2016

Taylor Shelton, WCAS, from St. Peters, Mo., has worked as a Posner Fellow in a lab at the Feinberg School of Medicine, and has a strong interest in attending medical school and finding therapies or a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, a passion she has had for years due to experiencing the ravages of the disease within her own family. Taylor is described as “exceptionally mature and professional.”

Alexander Ortiz

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2016

Alexander Ortiz, WCAS, from Santa Fe, N.M., is majoring in mathematics, physics, and integrated science. His goal is to pursue a doctorate in physics, and then to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he has already worked as a researcher and from which he received a top scholarship. He has many honors and will be first in his family to achieve college and graduate degrees.

2017 NOTE: Alexander received one of The Alumnae's STEM Scholarships for 2017-18 also.

Nneoma Oradiegwy

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2016

Nneoma Oradiegwu, McC, from Pearland, Texas, is pursuing a BS in computer engineering, with concentrations in systems and cognition and artificial intelligence. She is a gifted problem solver and aspires to solve complex world problems through her knowledge of robotics and computer science. Nneoma is described as “thoughtful beyond her years, driven, intellectual curious, and overall just an ideal student.”