During commencement ceremonies this weekend, Cassie Lopez Almanza, who says she has her sights set on becoming a medical doctor, will be among the very first of NIU’s Rockford Promise Scholars to graduate.
In just three years’ time, Almanza earned her undergraduate degree in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry—and she says she is graduating with zero student debt.
The Rockford Promise Program at NIU represents a university partnership with the Rockford Promise organization, Rockford Public Schools and the City of Rockford.
For eligible students who live in the City of Rockford and graduate from one of the Rockford Public Schools with a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0, the NIU program guarantees that tuition and general fee costs will be met by gift aid such as grants and scholarships for up to four years at NIU.
Since the partnership began in the fall of 2021, NIU’s enrollment of freshmen from Rockford Public Schools has grown by more than sixfold, for an average of 112 RPS students enrolled as freshmen in each of the last three years.
Almanza, a first-generation college student, was among the inaugural freshman class of Rockford Promise Scholars.
“At Rockford East, they had promoted (NIU’s Rockford Promise) during the beginning of my senior year,” Almanza said. “I thought it was a great opportunity to continue my education with the tuition paid. I applied and I got accepted, so that was mainly what influenced my choice to go to NIU.”
Not only did she get accepted, but her grades were so good in high school (nearly straight As) that she received a substantial NIU merit scholarship for four years, along with other financial aid that fully covered her tuition and fees. In the event that a Rockford Promise Scholar’s tuition and fees are not fully covered, a Rockford Promise Scholarship or NIU Rockford Promise Grant will be used to make up the difference.
Check out the full story in NIU Today.
