DePaul University Junior Named New ISAC Student Commissioner

Kelvin Wing is first Asian American student voice at higher ed agency

CHICAGO, IL – Kelvin Wing, a DePaul University junior, took office Friday as the new Student Commissioner of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). 

Appointed by Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and confirmed by the Illinois State Senate, Wing made history by becoming the first Asian American Student Commissioner in ISAC’s 50-year history.

Wing will serve a two-year term on the Commission, which oversees the state’s central agency for college scholarships and grants. Commissioners meet six times annually at various campuses around the state and serve without pay. He replaced outgoing-Commissioner Ashley Dearborn.

“We’re delighted to have a Student Commissioner with the experience and energy shown by Kelvin Wing,” said ISAC Chairman Donald McNeil. “Commissioner Wing will be a strong voice for students, and brings a unique perspective of having studied at both a community college and a private four-year school.”

Wing, who resides in Chicago’s Edgewater community, attended Wilbur Wright College for two years prior to his enrollment at DePaul University where he is a psychology major. He is a graduate of Chicago’s Lane Tech College Prep High School.

While at Wright College, Wing was named to the National Dean’s List, elected Vice-President of the Student Government and co-founded the campus coffee shop. His higher education activities included being named Executive Secretary of the City Colleges of Chicago District Student Government and Vice-Chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee. He has volunteered with the Chicago Public Schools and American Red Cross, and worked with the Chicago Board of Elections to troubleshoot the introduction of the new touch screen voting. He interned at the Cook County States’ Attorney’s Office and is a trained locksmith.

“I am honored and excited about being a liaison between this important state agency and college students,” Wing said. “I plan to try innovative means of communicating with students - even high school students - to let them know what ISAC can offer them.”

Wing said he plans to visit college and high school campuses around the state to promote ISAC programs - such as the new College Illinois! Capstone(SM) Loan program - and college planning.  He is exploring the idea of a webcast “electronic town hall meeting” about college financial aid.  Among his goals is to create programs so that students who are the first in their family to consider college receive all the preparation and training they need.

In 2007, ISAC issued $448 million in scholarships and grants to Illinois students through the Monetary Award Program (MAP), MAP Plus, Illinois Veteran Grant and others. The agency also guaranteed $1.2 billion in loans to 208,000 Illinois students and families. Through its Collegezone.com Web site and its engaging IllinoisMentor college planning tool, ISAC offers one-stop shopping for parents, students and counselors. More than 57,000 contracts have been sold to lock in current tuition levels through the tax-free College Illinois!(SM) Prepaid Tuition Program.

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.