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By Ava Steffens<\/p>\nBy Ava Steffens<\/p>\n
Scholarship recipient Agnieszka Sawrasewicz discovered her passion for cybersecurity and computer systems at SIU, which prompted her to change her career direction. She is now pursuing a master\u2019s degree in computer science.<\/p>\n
After searching for scholarships, a peer recommended her for the Jim and Martha Greenwood Scholarship. Sawrasewicz opened the email announcing her scholarship award and felt an immense sense of relief knowing she no longer had to worry about the financial burden of her education. The scholarship allows her to fully focus on classes like Java\u2013programming language and ethical hacking, which helped her further explore the digital forensics field.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore, I had to study and work over the weekend. Sometimes, I would have to do long hours of overtime,\u201d she said. \u201cThe scholarship allows me to focus on my studies and believe in myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
This scholarship supports students in STEM fields who have a physical disability. Martha and Jim Greenwood met while students at SIU. They later married and faced new challenges when Jim\u2019s illness required him to use a wheelchair. Their experience inspired them to create a fund supporting other students with physical difficulties.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s shown me that it\u2019s worthwhile to develop my ideas and projects,\u201d she said. \u201cIt means so much to see that somebody values them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Five years ago, Sawrasewicz began her studies at SIU in the forestry program as a nontraditional student. She took courses such as tree identification and traveled with classmates to Utah and Colorado for credit. When she discovered that foresters benefit from technological skills, especially data tracking and analysis, she shifted her focus to computer science. This transition from her bachelor\u2019s degree led her to pursue a master\u2019s degree in cybersecurity.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything connects,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery field needs someone to manage an operating system and who understands computers, technology and security.\u201d<\/p>\n
From near Warsaw, Poland, she relocated to Chicago in 2002 and built a career as both a pharmacy technician and a massage therapist. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to pursue a new professional direction.<\/p>\n
Sawrasewicz defines cybersecurity as the process of monitoring an organization\u2019s digital weaknesses and creating solutions to defend sensitive data from cyberattacks and<\/p>\n
hackers. Her interest in this field was sparked after her own experience of being hacked and having personal information stolen, which motivated her to help protect others from similar risks.<\/p>\n
She is currently creating a 3D game based on virtual reality. This initiative is designed as an alternative educational platform for students, helping maintain engagement by introducing variety within the course material.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that applying and engaging students with technology will be very beneficial,\u201d she said. \u201cThe program will make you feel like you\u2019re right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the future, she intends to pursue a PhD and a teaching career, emphasizing her passion for improving how cybersecurity is taught to students.<\/p>\n
Southern Illinois University is one of only 21 institutions nationwide, out of 4,000, to earn the prestigious Carnegie Classification for both R1 Research and Opportunity University status. The university is dedicated to fostering innovation and broadening access to higher education. Scholarships such as the one awarded to Sawrasewicz are essential to this mission, enabling students from diverse fields to overcome financial challenges and pursue their aspirations.<\/p>\n
If you find Sawrasewicz\u2019s journey motivating and you are committed to accessible, excellent education, consider supporting or creating a scholarship through the SIU Foundation. In the most recent fiscal year, the foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of SIU\u2019s student body.<\/p>\n
Your contribution can make a meaningful difference for future students, empowering them to pursue their passions. To donate online, visit siuf.org\/give<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Ava Steffens Scholarship recipient Agnieszka Sawrasewicz discovered her passion for cybersecurity and computer systems at SIU, which prompted her to change her career direction. She is now pursuing a master\u2019s degree in computer science. After searching for scholarships, a peer recommended her for the Jim and Martha Greenwood Scholarship. Sawrasewicz opened the email announcing … Continue reading Scholarship opens new doors for Sawrasewicz<\/span>