Fanny Ruth Patterson (Upper Left). Image courtesy of the Regional History Center and NIU Archives
African-American students of NIU in their junior or senior year are encouraged to apply for the Fanny Ruth Patterson Scholarship, which honors the first black student to graduate from Northern.
The application and all supporting documents must be submitted no later than Wednesday, Feb. 28.
The NIU Black Alumni Council offers the scholarship and awards a minimum of $500 to a Northern student. To qualify, a student must be in at least their third year of school (minimum 70 hours); maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average; and be active in campus affairs (NIU Student Association, NIU Black Choir, an African-American fraternity, etc.).
Students need to submit an application at NIU’s AcademicWorks; proof of membership in campus activities by acquiring a letter from the organization’s on-campus adviser; a 500-word essay on the importance of obtaining a college degree and a copy of their transcripts (certified official transcripts not required).
The AcademicWorks web page is where students will find the majority of NIU scholarships, and they are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships. The deadline for most of these scholarships is Wednesday, Jan. 31.
For more information, please email scholarships@niu.edu or call 815-753-4829.
