AU Today - Alumni

Alumni stories
Joseph Dadara ’18
March 22, 2024

The sport of soccer has always provided a refuge for Joseph Dadara ’18. When he was in middle school, his family emigrated from Tanzania to the U.S. and settled in Aurora. Soccer was a way to fit in and stay out of trouble. But it was expensive—the uniforms, the dues, the...

Kaitlyn Prentiss
February 23, 2024

Kaitlyn Prentiss ’21 has been dancing almost since she learned to walk. She grew up surrounded by ballet slippers, leotards, and tap shoes. She entered dance competitions. She learned to choreograph. Dancing filled her soul. Today, she spends her off hours dancing at Special Stars in...

The Blancas
January 12, 2024

More than a decade into their careers, the Blancas’ goals remain the same: to make a difference in the communities they serve. David Blancas ’09 and Michelle Zepeda ’11 met as students at AU and shared similar pasts. They both came to the U.S. from Mexico as...

Zachary Ferris
September 5, 2023

The world is losing its tropical coral reefs, imperiling natural fisheries and the ecology of the oceans, and Zachary Ferris ’21 is wading into the middle of the issue. Ferris was recruited to Aurora University to play lacrosse, but it was a science field trip to the Bahamas that...

two alumnae working at Boeing
July 25, 2023

Dreams can take you in unpredictable directions. Hayley Stout ’18 and Katherine Norris ’20 never expected that their penchant for working with athletes would lead them to careers at Boeing Co. alongside the men and women who build and repair airplanes. In a twist of fate,...