Students awarded STEM, accounting scholarships to NIU

Recent Illinois Valley Community College graduates Odin Klotz of Peru and Garret Zinke of Mendota will attend Northern Illinois University next fall on full-tuition scholarships from William and Dian Taylor of Winnetka.

Klotz was awarded the Taylors’ STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) award and Zinke received the Taylors’ accountancy scholarship.

Klotz has been a leader in IVCC’s Chem & STEM Club, where he organized SciFest 2024 and 2025, and recently presented during the American Chemical Society Spring 2025 conference. He also works as an IVCC peer tutor and a family caregiver. He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in biochemistry and hopes to pursue a research career.

Zinke works part-time at a local bank and serves on a church council, both providing him with insight into money management, and is a youth sports coach in his community. He hopes to someday own his own accounting firm.

The Taylors are alumni of both IVCC and NIU.