College of Applied Health Sciences

Chez Veterans Center

Thanks to the generous support of Ron Chez and the Chez Family Foundation, the Chez Veterans Center is a trailblazing structure. It is acknowledged as one of the only university-affiliated facilities that house residential and service functions for military-connected students. The Chez Veterans Center contains classrooms and computer labs, research space, a well-equipped gym, a fully functional kitchen, study rooms, lounges, residential rooms, staff offices, and even playrooms for children. Additional contributions by donors like Adeline “Jo” Puccini ensure that the CVC remains a university center for transformational research, education, and innovative support services that benefit current and future generations of veterans, active duty members of the military, reservists, National Guard members, and their families. Read more.

Vitoux Scholarship and Awards

Six students (Marlene Robles Granda, Gabrielle Choo-Kang, Asif Huq, Tia King, Amrutha Kumaran and Neva Manalil) comprised the inaugural Master of Science in Health Technology class. All six gained employment within six months of graduation—a testament to the strength of the program and to the importance of the donation from Michael Vitoux, who established the “Michael Vitoux Health Technology Scholarship” and the “Michael Vitoux Capstone Excellence Award” for MS-HT students. Learn more about the MS-HT program.

Schneider and Nielsen

Since the University of Illinois’ designation as a U.S. Paralympic Training Site in 2014, the Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services (DRES), a service unit of AHS, has provided an elite athlete training environment for current and aspiring Paralympic track and field athletes. The generous donations from the John D. & Minnie R. Schneider Charitable Trust and the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation have been vital to making DRES a state-of-the-art training facility for Paralympic medalists such as Tatyana McFadden and Daniel Romanchuk. Learn more about the services these donors support at DRES.

Stenberg Fund and Morse and Morgan Professorship

Faculty in AHS pursue life-changing research on disability and rehabilitation with the support of donors like Hugh Wishart, Saul Morse and Anne Morgan. Hugh’s generous donation to the “Charles G. and Kay E. Stenberg Fund” will support research seeking to reduce causes and effects of disability. A priority of this funding will be to establish a center of multidisciplinary rehabilitation science. Saul and Anne established a professorship in AHS to recognize outstanding faculty who have expertise and academic achievement in disability research, education, outreach, and service. The “Saul J. Morse and Anne B. Morgan Professorship” seeks to foster the inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities throughout the community and across the lifespan. Read here for an additional story.

Nemeth and Gaitros Scholarships

Students receive welcome assistance from donors like Sarah Barnett Nemeth and Ron and Sonita Gaitros, who have established scholarships supporting academic achievement and professional development. Sarah, who completed her master’s degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism in 2003, named her “Triple S Scholarship” in honor of her three favorite professors in RST: Dr. Kim Shinew, Dr. Bill Stewart, and Dr. Monika Stodolska. The scholarship is awarded to juniors and seniors who are pursuing studies in recreation management. “The Gaitros Family Scholarship Fund”, established by Ron and Sonita, will support travel scholarships for students in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science who are attending professional conferences for the purposes of presenting, learning, and networking.