Identify Illinois Spotlight
2015-16 Archive | 2014-15 Archive
Identify Illinois is the DIA-branch of Inclusive Illinois, an organization dedicated to the University's commitment to cultivating a community at Illinois where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and respected. Through education, engagement, and excellence, each voice creates the Inclusive Illinois Experience.
Mo Maat - Men's Track and Field
Q: You are originally from Memphis, Tennessee. What was the transition like when you moved to Champaign?
It was a tough transition for me coming from a big city where people look and talk different, but like any new place it takes time to adapt, and I've come to like it.
Q: What does being a Fighting Illini mean to you? Not many people have the opportunity that I have to go to a school like Illinois, so it means a lot to me, and I'm glad I chose to come here.
Q: Who would you say has played the most significant role in your life and why?
My mom, dad, and two brothers. They have always supported me throughout my life. I can talk to them about anything. It's nothing like family, I love them like nothing else.
Q: Your teammates say you are quite the barber. Where did you acquire your barbering skills?
To me hair makes the person and gives confidence whether short or long. I started cutting my own at 13, then when I felt like I was good enough I started cutting other people hair at 15. So I taught myself and I only charge $5 because it's just something I like to do, I don't need the money.
Lizzy LeDuc - Women's Gymnastics
Q: You were a highly recruited student-athlete, what made the University of Illinois the right choice for you?
When I first visited the school I feel in love with the campus, the coaches, and the team right away and now that a year has passed and I've gone through that transition of being away from home and going through all the hard parts of it, I would say that all of the good memories that I've had outweigh the bad and that is why the University of Illinois was the right choice for me.
Q: You qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman. What did this experience mean to you?
I was sad at first because I wanted to qualify as a team, but I also felt blessed to have had the opportunity to represent not just me but my team at the biggest competition of the year.
Q: Describe your experience earning a spot on the Philippine National Team last summer and how did competing internationally impact your life?
It was a little intimidating at first being out of the country, especially since my parents weren't with me but it was also one of the best times of my life. Just learning more about the Filipino culture was amazing to me, and competing internally made me feel blessed because it was one in a lifetime opportunity and I was able to do it.
Q: What advice would you give to incoming student-athletes?
Time management is key, you get so distracted by everything that is going on around you but you just have to focus on what you have to do and you will be fine.
Q: What is one fun fact that people may not know about you? One fun fact about me is that I have 5 siblings.
Michael Thorne - Men's Basketball
Q: You transferred to Illinois for grad school during the summer of 2015. What made the University of Illinois the right choice for you?
I just fell in love with the environment and I felt the people around the program were really genuine. I felt like it was a place I could succeed and better my future.
Q: You will finish your first master's degree this spring and start on your second this summer. What motivates you to succeed academically?
Receiving a master's degree from a prestigious university like Illinois motivates me to give it my all and accomplish my goals academically.
Q: What does being a Fighting Illini mean to you? Being a Fighting Illini is an incredible privilege and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It really has impacted my life in a positive way.
Q: Who has had the greatest impact on your life and why? God, because he has blessed me in so many ways. And my parents, because they have always been there for me.
Q: What are the goals you want to accomplish during your final year at Illinois?
The goals I want to accomplish in my final year is to get my second masters in RST, help my team win the national championship, and continue to grow and become a better man.
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Jamal Milan - Football
Q: You are about to start your sophomore year at the University of Illinois. What is the biggest impact Illinois has had on you thus far?
The biggest impact Illinois has had on me is the support I receive for any class. I loved the fact that you have people, like professors and teaching assistants and tutors, that are willing to spend countless hours with you at any part of the day. The time they invest in me encourages me to do my part, too.
Q: You have earned above a 3.00 gpa each semester you have been here. What motivates you to excel academically?
We have awards at our academic support center, Irwin, to recognize those students who have done well academically by putting their picture on the wall. The fact that your face can be hung up in Irwin because of the hard work you have put in motivates me to do well because I want my face to be up there, too. Also I do not want to be just recognized as an athlete. I want people to know I'm doing more with my life.
Q: Who would you say is your biggest role model and why?
I would say my academic counselor and learning specialist, because they are in constant contact with me asking me how I am doing.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Honestly, 5 years from now I'll be a Power Ranger.
Q: What is your favorite place to eat on campus?
Panda, panda, panda, panda.
Janile Rogers - Women's Track and Field
Q: You are originally from Joliet, Illinois. What made the University of Illinois the right collegiate choice for you? The university of Illinois has always been a school I have dreamt of going to academically. After visiting the school and meeting the team, U of I felt like home.
Q: You have had a really successful sophomore year. Not only did you PR at B1G Tens, but you also qualified for the NCAA Championships as a member of the 4x100m relay team. Describe your experience travelling to the NCAA Championships and what did you learn from that experience?
Being able to have the opportunity to travel to the NCAA Championships was a really fun and great experience. It was great to be able to see and compete with all the top collegiate athletes. We went and saw a lot of nice places in Oregon during our free time. I learned that while being at the championships I have the potential to continue to compete and place as a top athlete with more hard work and dedication.
Q: What are some of the academic and/or athletic goals you want to accomplish during your time at Illinois?
Some goals of mine is to jump 21 feet in the long jump. I hope to place in the top 3 at B1G tens. My overall goal is to become a better student in track and academically.
Q: Who or what has been a motivating factor for you and why? My mom and dad have been my motivation. They have always been supportive for everything I want to accomplish and also push me to continue to strive for more.
Q: What does being a Fighting Illini mean to you? Being a Fighting Illini means representing my state, hometown, and school.
Megan Vuong - Swimming & Diving
Q: What made the University of Illinois the right choice for you?
From the beginning I knew I wanted to attend a school in the US, even though the university is quite far from home. I knew the University of Illinois was the right choice because of the balance between academics and athletics here. I found that they offered great resources and opportunities academically and athletically. I also really enjoyed the team atmosphere that made me feel welcomed and at home.
Q: You are a native of Ontario, Canada and are preparing to compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials. How has your experience at Illinois and swimming in the Big Ten Conference prepared you for this event?
I find the resources available to me before, after and during my training has helped keep me at my best. I feel like I am being challenged daily in training and being pushed to the best of my abilities has helped prepare me for the worst of competing situations. I also have a great support team, meaning my teammates, coaches and trainers here have helped me work towards my goal. As well as competing against some of the fastest swimmers in the Big Ten conference has been motivation to me to become better as a swimmer.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge for you attending college internationally?
I find the biggest challenge is being so far away from my family and friends back home.
Q: What does being a Fighting Illini mean to you?
Being a Fighting Illini means being smart, reliable, and strong because we have great academics that allows us to reach our full potential. The athletics give us great skills that transfer into our everyday lives that make us better individuals.
Q: What is one fun fact that people may not know about you?
I love to bake.
Mousa Jodeh - Wrestling
Q: You are a native of Chicago, Illinois. What made the University of Illinois your collegiate choice?
The University of Illinois became my collegiate choice when I came on my first and only visit to the university. I had always the University of Illinois was a great school especially at chemical engineering, my chosen major. Before my visit, this university was not part of my top 3 schools to attend, but when I walked onto campus my whole mindset completed twisted. I fell in love with the atmosphere, the campus, and just everyone was so friendly. After that day, I knew that I was an Illini.
Q: You've had the opportunity to travel to a few different countries. What are some memorable places you've traveled to?
The most memorable places I have visited in my life are Palestine, where my family originates from, Jordan, and Egypt. These places are very important to me because they are all located in the Middle East, which is where Arabs come from and I myself and Arab. Palestine was my favorite place I visited because I got to meet family I have never known and just the atmosphere was very different from Western Civilization.
Q: What made those places memorable?
What made these places so memorable is the fact that I got to be part of my culture in a non-Western civilized area of the world. I was enjoying life as my family has always lived. I had a lot of fun because I also visited a lot of famous places including: Dead Sea, Petra, famous Mosques, Roman Coliseums, etc. There is so much history in Palestine and Jordan and it was amazing to be part of it all.
Q: Who do you look up to as your role model and why?
The role model I look up to is my grandpa, my mother’s father. He is a man a stranger should look up to. My grandpa is an immigrant from Palestine, who immigrated to the United States when he 21 years old with about $24 is his pocket, as he always tells me. Now my grandpa is retired from the railroad living an amazingly happy life with 6 children and 11 grandchildren. He has always supported his family by going to everyone’s sporting events and parties, while working hard at working, overtime almost every day. He is a real role model and will always be the man I hope to become one day.
Q: What does being a first generation student at the University of Illinois mean to you and your family?
Being a first generation student at the University of Illinois means more to my family and me than anything. I am the first person to go to college in my family, but not just as a student but as an athlete also. This was a great accomplishment to me because I worked very hard in the past in my life and my family all looked up to me for that. Now being the first person going to college in my family only makes my family even more proud. My family loves the University of Illinois and believe there is no other University fit for me as University of Illinois is.
Jan Prapassarangkul - Women's Golf
Q: You are a native of Bangkok, Thailand. What made the University of Illinois your collegiate choice?
I knew pretty early on that I was going to attend college in the US but I chose University of Illinois after I came for my visit here. The academics and athletics opportunities here are just one of a kind. On top of that the resources and support you get in sports, academics or well-being is immense.
Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that most people do not know?
When I was younger, my parents actually had me try out ice-skating, which is very uncommon in a hot country like Thailand. It turns out I didn't have talent in it though so I never really got anywhere with it.
Q: What has been your favorite moment as an Illini?
There are so many and it's very hard to pick one but if I have to choose it would be competing as an Illini, especially when you travel and hearing I-L-L here and there.
Q: What are your plans for life after Illinois?
I don't really have anything set in stone as of now. I wanted to keep my options open and I want to be able to try out different things. Whether it's pursuing a career in golf or in my academic interest or staying in the US or going back to Thailand, everything is still an option.
Q: What does being a University of Illinois student mean to you?
It means a lot to me in many different ways and I take a lot of pride in being an Illini. I am always so thankful of the opportunities I get as a student here, be it athletics, academics or life. It is a one of a kind experience to be a student here and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Tito Odenigbo - Football
