Growing up in the town of Rochelle, Illinois, art education student Marlen Hueramo attended NIU events and programs, and participated in high school art competitions on campus with the encouragement of her high school art teacher. 
 

So she knew that when it came to her college education, she wanted to be a Huskie. 

“NIU fosters ideas of inclusion, creativity, academic success and so much more that happened to align with my own personal values and outlook,” she said. “This university has always felt like home. The faculty and students uplift one another, and through this sense of community, I knew I would be able to grow not only as a student, but as a person.”

Hueramo plans to graduate from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in art education in May 2026, but she won’t be the first in her family to be an NIU graduate. Her older brother, Fabian, graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. And her younger brother, Omar, has been accepted at NIU and starts his Huskie career this fall.

Hueramo’s parents immigrated from a rural town in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, and did not have educational opportunities.
 

“Both of my parents have worked hard to provide me with a life full of opportunities they never had,” she said. “My upbringing and life have been surrounded by community service, the art world, and academic pursuits.”

Hueramo’s hard work paid off in the form of scholarships that have helped her continue her education.

“Receiving a scholarship was one of the greatest blessings I have received these past years,” she said. “The funds have allowed me and my family not only peace of mind, but also a feeling of pride for our hard work and dedication it took to work towards any scholarship consideration. I am grateful for the donation because it provides me with the proper supplies for classes which is the root from where my creative thinking and unique artwork blossom from. Without this scholarship many of my award-winning artwork would not even exist.” 

Hueramo said she was ecstatic when she learned she would be receiving her scholarships.

“The first thing I could think of was celebrating that moment with those who have supported me most: my parents,” she said. “Being able to tell my parents that all of their struggles had led to that moment is a memory I cherish and will never forget.”
 

Along with an NIU Merit Scholarship, Hueramo received an Art Tuition Scholarship for Incoming Students, the Virginia "Gingie" Noe Memorial Scholarship in Art, the Jack and Eleanor Olson Memorial Painting Scholarship and the O'Malley-Pugh Endowment Fund Scholarship.

Hueramo loves being a student at NIU and is taking it all in, especially the variety of cultural activities available to students and the community.

“Some of my favorite things about NIU is the constant buzz of activities and celebrations that cater to all walks of life,” she said. “Being able to see my Hispanic culture through dance teams and gatherings fills my heart with a sense of pride and joy.”

When it’s nice outside, she enjoys studying and hanging out outside of Jack Arends Hall. When the weather turns chilly, she likes the lounge in the Peters Campus Life Building. 

“The lounge feels like a cozy little home away from home,” she said. “With a kitchen set up, board games, couches, and TV, it feels like a perfect escape from the craziness of exam season and Illinois weather.”

She encourages NIU alumni and friends of NIU to donate to student scholarships, as they help students like her realize their dreams.

“I would say that even the smallest donation can profoundly change and impact a student's life for the better,” she said. “These donations make people's dreams of a future come true. Knowing that you were able to help someone achieve their passion and goals is one of the most rewarding feelings someone can have.”