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In honor of their son, Nick and Susan DiGrino of Macomb have recently established the Nicholas Joseph DiGrino Memorial Scholarship for Western Illinois University students who major in special education. In photo (L to R): Cindy Dooley, chair of the WIU Department of Curriculum and Instruction (which includes the special education program for teacher-education students), Susan DiGrino and Nick DiGrino.
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Nicholas Joseph DiGrino Memorial Scholarship for Special Ed Majors Established at WIU

May 19, 2011

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MACOMB, IL -- In honor of their son, Nick and Susan DiGrino of Macomb have recently established the Nicholas Joseph DiGrino Memorial Scholarship for Western Illinois University students who major in special education.

Nicholas Joseph DiGrino died in 1983. His father, Nick DiGrino, dean of the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) at WIU, recalled that a good friend of his wife, Susie, cross-stitched a sampler for them that read, "His song will be sung, if we do the singing."

"I have remembered and thought about that saying over the years," DiGrino said. "This scholarship represents one more opportunity to sing Nicholas' song."

Susie DiGrino added: "We have always known that we wanted to set up a scholarship in his name. We reminded ourselves that had Nicholas lived, he would have been in a position to benefit from special services, so we wanted to help someone through an academic career designed to work with individuals with special needs," she said.

"With this scholarship, Nicholas' song will go on, Nick DiGrino said. "It is what he would have wanted."

The Nicholas Joseph DiGrino Memorial Scholarship is available to students who have passed the basic skills test and have been admitted to the teacher education program at Western. A minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average is required, and preference will be given to applicants demonstrating community and/or university service and commitment to children with disabilities.

Nick DiGrino will retire on June 30 after 35 years of service to Western Illinois University. Susan DiGrino is director of Environmental Health at the McDonough County Health Department.

Posted By: Julie Murphy, WIU Foundation (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
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