Inaugural Scholarship Recipient Dinner

Liz Franke credits an ultrasound technician with saving her son's life. She was just 20 weeks pregnant with Julien when the technician discovered he had a kidney disorder known as ureterocele. Had it not been for the ultrasound, Julien would have been at home when his oxygen levels dropped to dangerously low levels at 3 days old. Instead, doctors - knowing the diagnosis ahead of time - were prepared to act and kept him in the neonatal ICU. Two years later, Franke was accepted into Harper College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.

"It's very scary to learn the name of your child's disease before you even name your child," Franke says. "I knew I wanted to impact others in the same way."

Helping to ease the transition to Franke's new career are the scholarships she received through the Harper College Educational Foundation, which awarded nearly $300,000 in student scholarships over the past year. To honor the recipients - and the donors who help make stories such as Franke's possible - the Foundation is holding its inaugural Scholarship Recognition Dinner at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Wellness and Sports Center, Building M on the College's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. About 300 people are expected to attend the event, which will include remarks from Harper College President Dr. Ken Ender and Foundation President Tom Wischhusen.

"We want to recognize the many accomplishments of Harper students and the donors who are helping them on their journey," said Angela Vining, Scholarship and Special Projects Coordinator at the Foundation.

For more information about the Foundation, call 847.925.6490 or visit harpercollege.edu/foundation.