First-generation college student wins numerous awards

Heidi Nelson made the most of her experience as a first-generation student at North Central College in Naperville, earning a Fulbright honor and numerous other academic awards.

Nelson, a Glenbard West High School graduate who lives in an unincorporated area between Glen Ellyn and Carol Stream, says her passion for education is inspired by her self-employed parents, who both left college after just one semester.

"They decided college wasn't for them," she says. "They started their own business and are the most hardworking, determined people I know. Their goal has always been for me and my two younger siblings to finish college."

Nelson isn't just finishing college, she's wrapping up a four-year undergraduate experience in which she squeezed the most out of every opportunity. A broad range of academic, athletic and co-curricular opportunities await students at North Central, where 40 percent of the undergraduate population are first-generation students with neither parent having completed a four-year degree.

Nelson is earning a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in Spanish and elementary education and a minor in English language learning. She participated in the college's June 13 commencement, but will complete her student teaching in the fall.

At the college's annual Honors Convocation in May, she was named the 2015 Outstanding Senior Woman, an annual award that recognizes a female senior for her successes in the classroom, her involvement and contributions to the campus community outside the classroom, and her future potential.

Also at Honors Convocation, Nelson was recognized as the Outstanding Major in Elementary Education, the Outstanding Major in Spanish, the Outstanding Student in the Arts & Letters Division and recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Argentina.

Nelson begins that assignment in spring 2016 and will continue her studies in Spanish, teach future English teachers and engage in cultural exchange programs with the local community.

"Heidi came to college with a great attitude," says Nancy Keiser, professor of education. "She had clear goals, but she was also flexible and left herself open to additional experiences that came along. Those opportunities included teaching children in a summer school program in Addison, conducting research with education faculty members, and serving in the leadership roles as president of the education honor society."

Nelson's high academic achievements placed her in the Spanish honor society Sigma Delta Pi, the leadership honor society Blue Key and the education honor society Kappa Delta Pi, for which she served as president.

Nelson studied abroad in Costa Rica and in Peru during separate academic terms and became proficient in Spanish. Back on campus, she was deeply involved in international programs, serving as a student representative for the International Programs Committee and as a study abroad ambassador encouraging other students to study abroad.

"As a first-generation college student double-majoring in education and Spanish, Heidi has supported herself financially through her undergraduate career while consistently remaining on the dean's list and holding a variety of leadership roles on campus," says Kimberly Larsson, North Central College director of study abroad.

"She is exceptional in every way, successfully taking advantage of so many opportunities North Central has to offer."

Nelson pursued her goal of becoming a bilingual teacher even during her two study abroad experiences.

"Both experiences were intensive Spanish language immersion programs. In Costa Rica, Heidi also was able to intern at an orphanage, where she created lesson plans for teaching kindergarten in Spanish," Larsson says.

Nelson also was a resident assistant and member of the college's Women's Chorale. She served as a program assistant in North Central's Junior/Senior Scholars, a college readiness program that partners with high-need elementary and secondary schools.

She worked with Premier Scholars, a program that serves North Central students who otherwise might face a disadvantage in college because of economic, cultural or educational circumstances.

She also was a member of North Central's Teach First program, which helps first-generation college students like her become teachers.

"Teach First showed how part of being a first-generation student is exploring and discovering by yourself," Nelson says. "The faculty and staff at North Central College provided mentorship and support."

The college's Teach First program was initiated in 2008 and celebrated its largest graduating class this year with 20 first-generation graduates pursuing careers in education. The college more recently launched Cardinal First, a program designed to help first-generation transfer and first-year students adjust to the college experience by providing on-campus experiences, workshops, networking opportunities and social events.

Though Nelson has completed her coursework and met requirements to participate in commencement, she'll actually graduate in December after completing the fall term student-teaching second-graders at Mill Street Elementary School in Naperville Unit District 203.