Mason and Lori Bross
Mason Bross, an incoming freshman and computer science major, is the first recipient of the new Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) Dependent Scholarship.
The son of Lori Bross, who works for the NIU Department of Biological Sciences as the core microscopy facility manager, will receive $1,000 for the 2013-14 academic year.
A 2013 graduate of Sycamore High School, Bross was a four-year Honor Roll student who played soccer and ran track, participated in the Sci-Fi Club, drummed with the marching and symphonic bands and sang with the madrigals.
Bross credits his biologist mother for leading him to “value and respect NIU as an excellent institution of higher learning.”
“Mom has always been proud of being a part of NIU, whether as an employee, an alumna or a parent – my sister was also a Huskie – and this couldn’t help but rub off on me,” he says.
“She has always had a joy of learning that she has most definitely passed on to the children,” he adds.
“Camping trips, museum visits, nature walks and even watching TV always took on added dimension with supplemental information provided by Mom. Our dinner conversations were always abounding in ‘Why?’ and ‘What if?’ and ‘How come?’ discussions.”
NIU’s more than 800 SPS employees provide expertise and support for offices and colleges at the university and its regional locations. The SPS Dependent Scholarship has been funded through donations made by staff, annuitants and friends of the university.
For more information, email spscouncil@niu.edu.
