Ashley Weizeorick Remegi

Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL

Major: Bachelor of Science Biological Science Education (Minor in Chemistry)

Honors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Illinois State Honor Role, 2013, 2014

Associations: ISU Student Education Association

Volunteer: College Mentors for Kids; Jacksonville Illinois School for Visually Impaired (curriculum development and teaching biology).

Fondest memory in college: “My fondest college memory was my involvement in College Mentors for Kids. I was Vice President of a non-profit organization that brought “at-risk” youth to Illinois State’s campus every week to work with a college mentor and learn about higher education, diversity and community service. We mentored over 300 students during my time with the program and this was an amazing experience allowing me to show young students that college is possible for them.”

Career: Downers Grove North High School, Science Teacher – Biology and Physical Science. (My Physical Science class is a co-taught science class and I am currently co-teaching with Megan Hurley (2005 Rob Koranda Scholar recipient).  Such a small world!)

Community volunteer effort: Raising funds for Pancreatic Cancer Research through various walks and events in Chicago area, and our family’s annual golf outing held in the name of my grandmother, who we lost to pancreatic cancer in 2013. Downers Grove North HS Snowball Weekend event.  An event that brings together approximately 200 students and allows them to see that they are not alone in personalpressures and that they have peers with similar challenges as their own.

Personal Statement: “I received the Rob Koranda Scholarship award in 2010.  Being nominated for such an amazing scholarship came as a big shock to me.  I never felt that what I did at North meant so much to others and it was a great feeling to know how much of an impact I had on my peers.  I was captain of both the diving team and the basketball team my senior year and I enjoyed being apart of both teams for four years.  In college I continued to stay involved in both leadership and athletic roles through various clubs and intramurals.  In both high school and college the relationships I made with both faculty and friends are what I will remember the most.  I am still in touch with many of my high school and college friends and teachers.  When you look back it is the relationships you make that you will remember most.Although I never personally met Rob I knew he was such a fun loving and genuine person from the stories I have heard from his family and friends.  I try to live each day with a positive outlook and take each challenge as an adventure.  In my classroom one thing I am always doing with my students is setting goals and reminding them that if you put your mind to something you will succeed.  We also talk about how little acts of kindness throughout the school can turn someone’s day around.  I know Rob was a student who would go out of his way to help others no matter what grade or group of friends they were apart of.  Now that I am teaching in a high school it is one of my goals to teach my students that a little act of kindness can go a long way.Knowing the scholarship committee saw something in me that reminded them of Rob is an amazing honor.  The family and friends have become like a second family to me and it is so amazing to be part of a family who is so dedicated to keeping Rob’s spirit alive in all of us.”

“Each year I look forward to meeting the new recipients and each year it is such an amazing group of young adults who are so dedicated to helping not only themselves but others around them succeed as well.”