Student Commissioner Open Letter

An Open Letter to Illinois Students
by Kelvin Wing, Student Commissioner,
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)

Dear Fellow Illinois College Student,

I recently had the honor of being appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich and confirmed by the State Senate as Student Commissioner on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).  For the next two years, I will serve as the voice of Illinois’ 800,000 college students on the state agency that works to make college affordable for Illinois students.

Created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1957, the idea of ISAC is to enable every Illinois student to attend college. You may not recognize ISAC’s name, but you know our most powerful tool: the Monetary Award Program (or MAP) grant.  Last year, ISAC awarded $383 million in MAP grants to 146,635 students from every community in Illinois, making it the nation’s 4th-largest need-based college grant program.  Thousands of students benefit from other ISAC programs such as the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant.

What exactly does an ISAC Student Commissioner do?  The ISAC Commissioners meet six times yearly to discuss how to allocate money appropriated for various grant programs and for college preparation and counseling, such as our IllinoisMentor program at collegezone.com.  This is where I come in.  As Student Commissioner, I vote on your behalf at these meetings.  The ISAC staff often makes recommendations and we commissioners hear from experts and advocacy groups before voting. 

How am I qualified for this?  I’m a DePaul University junior with a Psychology major and Law minor, and hope to be a lawyer.  I graduated from Chicago’s Lane Tech and then Wilbur Wright Community College, where I was SGA Vice-President, as well as a Phi Theta Kappa officer.  I have the unique perspective from having attended both a community college and a private 4-year.  I’m a licensed locksmith and work part-time at a video store.  I was nominated for this position by the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Student Advisory Committee.  I’m proud to be the first Asian-American student commissioner in ISAC’s 50-year history. 

Why did I become an unpaid ISAC Student Commissioner?  I believe students need input into decisions that directly affect us, decisions that determine whether or not we’ll graduate with huge student loan debts.  I’m excited about being able to help thousands of students achieve their dreams.  In upcoming months, I’ll develop ways to better discuss ISAC policies with you, and enable you to express your ideas and questions about college affordability to ISAC staff, other commissioners and me.

How can I not mention the tragedy at NIU.  I’m still kind of in shock that it actually happened. I was honored to attend the memorial service at NIU for our five fellow students.  I was proud at how the Illinois college community pulled together to overcome this tragedy.  The NIU motto fittingly describes the ability to face difficulties as well as the spirit of achieving dreams through education.  It is because of this and in remembrance of those students that I will dedicate and end my messages with their motto:  “Forward, Together Forward…”

Sincerely,
Kelvin Wing
ISAC Student Commissioner

Confirmation Contact: Deb Calcara, 217.782.2020

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.