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That’s it, folks! Another calendar year is in the books at ��ݮ��Ƶ. We’ve got a look back at Commencement, news of two high-profile grants and more in the year’s final edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.

Around the Commons

‘Great legacy and tradition’

Northeastern alumnus Billy Ocasio told his personal story of perseverance as he encouraged the graduates to dream big during the University’s Commencement ceremony. “I don’t know your personal stories, but I’m sure that you each have had to face challenges, major disappointments or setbacks, but I also know that you are here today because you are overcomers,” he told the graduates. “What you do next is what truly sets you apart. You are part of a great legacy and tradition here at NEIU. It’s important that you don’t become complacent with this degree. You must continue to dream big.” Be sure to also check out .

Two NEH grants

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded two grants involving Northeastern. A $100,000 grant will support the development of a Kurdish language and cultural studies program and will be led by Jeanine Ntihirageza, a TESOL professor and director of Northeastern’s Multilingual Learning Center. Another grant, for $60,000, was awarded to Associate Professor of History and Latino/Latin American Studies Christina Bueno in support of her book project, “Excavating Identity: Archaeology in Revolutionary Mexico, 1910–1940.”

National RA award

Northeastern student Isabel Vargas has been awarded the national Student Staff Member of the Year Award by American Campus Communities. Vargas was one of six RAs at The Nest, Northeastern’s student housing facility, before a recent promotion to assistant resident director. She has been a staff member since 2016, when the building opened. Vargas is a Biology major in her senior year at Northeastern. She plans to graduate in May 2019 and pursue a master’s degree to become a physician’s assistant.

And there’s more!

• Northeastern will be closed from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2 for December break.

In the media

Making Spanish Dance news

invited Ensemble Español Executive Director Jorge Perez to appear on the show to talk about the dance company that has been in residence at Northeastern for more than 40 years. “We are truly Chicago’s very own international jewel,” Perez said. He reported that Ensemble Español is only $68,000 shy of its fundraising goal to complete a matching grant with the Caerus Foundation worth $1.5 million.

To do

Jackie Taylor's Anti-Racism Drama Series

Northeastern and Black Ensemble Theater will present Jackie Taylor’s Anti-Racism Drama Series and a theater residency program from January through March of 2019. As part of this association, Black Ensemble Theater will present three one-act plays at two of Northeastern’s locations:

• “National Anthem,” by Ervin Gardner, will run Jan. 17-19 in the Auditorium on the Main Campus.
• “In the Shadow of Justice,” by L. Maceo Ferris, will run Feb. 7-9 in the Donn F. Bailey Legacy Hall at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies.
• “The Plea,” by Reginald Williams, will run March 14-16 at Stage Center Theater on the Main Campus.

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#NEIU2018

Happy holidays, everyone! We'll be sharing our best stories of the year on and during the winter break. Look for #NEIU2018 and take a look back at another year of excellence at ��ݮ��Ƶ. See you in 2019!

Do you have a story tip? Let the Office of Public Relations know!
Mike Hines, Director of Strategic Communications, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240