Meet Margie Sanchez, a 2023 Illini Dads scholarship recipient. Margie was another of the 6 other students to be awarded this scholarship out of many qualified applicants. Read on to learn more about Margie and her experience at the University of Illinois with the Illini Dads.

Major/minor: Political Science major with a double minor in History and Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability

Year of Graduation: 2023

Fun Fact: I can play 5 instruments!

Favorite Campus Spot: The Natural History Building because it has great spaces to study in! 

Tell Us About Yourself: I am from the Chicago suburbs and love going on hikes in my free time and exploring different types of cuisine. I enjoy learning about different cultures and hope to travel to every continent soon (so far I’ve been to three!). I also want to have a career in the legal profession to assist communities who aren’t given the proper resources/funding.

What activities are you involved in at the University of Illinois?

I did the Illinois in Washington program during the Spring 2022 semester, I am involved in Phi Alpha Delta, Pre-Law Honors Society, and in the Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.

What are you hoping to gain from an education at the University of Illinois?

The University of Illinois has given me great networking opportunities that has opened up a great deal of opportunities within my field of study. I have been able to meet people from all avenues of life through the extracurriculars that I am in and get to grow my friendship circle. The professors have been a great assistance in my development of my critical and communication skills to implement in my personal and professional life.

What has been your favorite experience so far at the University of Illinois?

I have a lot of great experiences, but I think it would have to be playing volleyball on the quad at night with my friends.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to do research in environmental policy and then apply to law school to become an environmental lawyer.

Why did you decide to apply for the Illini Dads scholarship?

I saw the scholarship posted on the University of Illinois Website and saw that they assisted students to help them succeed in their academics and thought it was a great opportunity. I’m happy that the scholarship committee chose me as one of the recipients and exited for the future recipients to receive it as well!

How did the scholarship benefit you? Were there any specific areas that it helped?

Were there any specific areas that it helped? The scholarship has greatly assisted with tuition and academic book expenses. In addition, the scholarship has also assisted in the repayment of some of my loans to not have such an economical burden after graduation. Receiving this scholarship has also allowed me to also dedicate more of my free time to study for my LSAT that I need for law school.

If you would like to learn more, click here. Applications for 2022-2023 scholarships are accepted between June 1st and November 21st. The Illini Dads is a nonprofit organization that donates lots of its funds towards banquets, grands, and activities that benefit the students, alumni and parents. They have gifted hundreds of thousands of dollars towards scholarships and grants to help students achieve their goals at the University of Illinois.