Established through the generosity of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign alumnus, former US Ambassador Eric Whitaker '78 and ’81, these funds recognize and encourage undergraduates with demonstrated engagement with African Studies to pursue careers in public service.
The 2024-25 Scholarship awardees
Taylor McKinney is a Political Science major pursuing a minor in French, with aspirations of a career in international relations and civic leadership working with immigrant African communities. She envisions a career in politics and urban planning in Chicago, working to prioritize inclusivity, equity, and global understanding.
Angie Chahine’s engagement with African Studies through a study abroad program to South Africa was transformative. It broadened her horizons, deepened her understanding of the world, and solidified her commitment to pursuing a career dedicated to promoting health equity and social justice on a global scale.
Diplomacy became Grace Denton’s career path after studying Arabic language in an intensive summer program in Morocco, where she faced challenging political conversations and learned to navigate them with care.
Whitaker Grants were also awarded to three undergraduate students who attended the Model African Union conference at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in February 2025. Ganiyat Daranijo, Esther Akinyoade and Pharah Green were part of a UIUC contingent which represented Niger under the leadership of Prof. Vieux Toure.