Welcome to Honors Student Council!
The purpose of the Honors Student Council (HSC) is to provide a community where honors students can develop friendships and participate in activities that are critical to the mission of the program. The HSC is supported financially and overseen by the Campus Honors Program staff. During the spring semester, students have an opportunity to apply for leadership positions on the HSC Executive Board. Each of the Vice Presidents is responsible for chairing a committee focused on each of their respective areas of responsibility, and all students in the Campus Honors Program are encouraged to actively participate on one or more of these committees. Those selected for the 2026-27. academic year include:
- Serena Naji, President
- Paige Siegmund, Secretary and Social Media Chair
- Nicholas Delgado, Co-Vice President of Academic Engagement
- Katie Ly, Co-Vice President of Academic Engagement
- Stella Chen, Co-Vice President of Art Committee
- Orion Nowland, Co-Vice President of Art Committee
- Kelsey Bentrem, Co-Vice President of Community Engagement
- Ellen Cockman, Co-Vice President of Community Engagement
- Aidan Lau, Co-Vice President of Cultural Engagement
- Kaitlyn DeVries, Vice President of Publications
Honors Student Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings on alternating weeks throughout the semester. All students are encouraged to attend. On the alternating week when the HSC does not formally meet, it sponsors an “Honors After Dark” program that is thematically determined by students. Watch for announcements about events in Newsbytes and sign up to follow us on Social Media!
We encourage all students to become involved in the HSC this year!
Meet Your 2026-27 HSC Executive Board!
Serena Naji – President
Serena is a senior in LAS majoring in English, with minors in Political Science and Legal Studies. Outside of HSC, she is a Student Alumni Ambassador and a member of the Muslim Student Association. In her free time, she enjoys reading all kinds of books, listening to music, as well as hanging out with friends and family.
The Honors Student Council has provided Serena with a supportive environment throughout her time in the Campus Honors Program and at Illinois. Bringing past executive board experience with the Publications committee and CHP Connections, she plans to continue working hard as president of the Honors Student Council. Serena can’t wait to foster an inclusive, welcoming CHP community through engaging HSC events and initiatives!
Paige Siegmund- Secretary and Social Media Chair
Paige is a senior studying biochemistry with minors in Spanish and chemistry. Outside of HSC on campus, she is a member of 4-H House Cooperative Sorority, Volunteering Chair of the American Medical Women’s Association, and Secretary of Remote Area Medical UIUC. She also enjoys volunteering with Crisis Nursery and Carle Hospital, and conducting undergraduate research with the Mera Lab.
After graduation, Paige plans to attend medical school. She has loved working with children at 4-H Memorial Camp in summers past, and has a particular interest in pediatrics. Due to a desire to serve those in small towns like the one where she grew up (St. Joseph, IL), she is also interested in rural medicine. In her free time, Paige finds joy in baking, singing, knitting, and reading. Paige is proud to be a member of the Campus Honors Program and excited to serve the Honors Student Council in her role as Secretary and Social Media Chair.
Nicholas Delgado – Co-Vice President, Academic Engagement
Nicholas Delgado is a junior from Morton, Illinois, majoring in Chemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology with a minor in IB. He serves as Vice President of the American Medical Student Association, conducts research in the Kannanganattu V. Prasanth Lab, and is a Stamps Scholar on campus. Nicholas also volunteers as a phlebotomist at Avicenna Community Health Center and Champaign County Christian Health Center and founded the Going the Distance 5K, which benefits Salvation Army ministries in Champaign and Peoria.
Outside of academics, Nicholas enjoys distance running and is working toward completing a race in all 50 states. He is also an avid Illini basketball fan. Through the Campus Honors Program, Nicholas has found a welcoming and supportive community and enjoys mentoring incoming students, helping them feel connected, supported, and engaged from the very beginning.
Katie Ly – Co-Vice President, Academic Engagement
Katie Ly is a junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. Outside of HSC, she conducts cancer research in Mechanical and Biological Engineering lab, works as a peer tutor at the Jeffries Center, volunteers, and works as an EMT and CNA. She also serves as Vice President of Finance for Phi Chi, a pre-health fraternity, and President of Heart of Kindness, a nonprofit supporting future healthcare professionals through service and education.
In her free time, Katie enjoys playing volleyball, walking, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family. Through CHP and HSC, she has found a welcoming community and is excited to help create opportunities that continue to foster connection among Chancellor’s Scholars. She also looks forward to making more friends this upcoming year!
Stella Chen – Co-Vice President, Art
Stella is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Outside of HSC, she is a parallel co-op on research park with Caterpillar and a member of SAE Baja. In her free time, she enjoys pottery, stamp making, playing guitar, ice skating, and hanging out with her family and friends!
HSC has given Stella a place to explore her interests and purse her passions despite a hectic schedule. It was a place where she was able to meet many new people and create friendships. She is excited to see how HSC grows this year and to work with Orion to create a welcoming environment for art committee!
Orion Nowland – Co-Vice President, Art
Orion is a sophomore majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a minor in Art & Design. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in wildlife biology and conservation. Outside of HSC she enjoys reading, playing soccer, climbing, and cuddling with her cat. She also likes to spend her time drawing, painting, crafting, and doing photography.
HSC has provided Orion with the chance to make new friends, feel welcomed within the CHP community, and tap into her passions. She is excited to work with Stella this year to make Art Committee a fun and supportive place where people can explore their creativity.
Kelsey Bentrem – Co-Vice President, Community Engagement
Kelsey is a junior studying Animal Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary concentration and a minor in Chemistry. Outside of HSC, she is President of Climbing Club and Co-Fundraising Chair for Pre-Vet Club. She also plays the flute in the University Concert Band, works as an Organic Chemistry Student Instructor, and works as a veterinary assistant over the summer. In her free time, she loves baking, climbing, and backpacking.
HSC has given Kelsey the chance to combine her many passions, meet new people, and connect with the CHP community. She is excited to branch out with new HSC volunteering opportunities so CHP students can step outside their major and comfort zone while helping the community.
Ellen Cockman – Co-Vice President, Community Engagement
Ellen is a junior studying Statistics and Business. In addition to being a Chancellor’s Scholar and James Scholar, she works at the Illinois Leadership Center within the Leadership Certificate program. She also works at the Campus Honors House as a student worker. In her free time, she likes to go play tennis and the piano, experience the great outdoors, and spend time with family and friends!
Ellen has found the Honors Student Council to be a “home” within the university as HSC offers a small community at a large institution. She has found the faculty and students to be a supporting, uplifting, and welcoming group of people. Ellen wants all students to feel as welcome as she has and encourages all Chancellor’s Scholars to check out the exciting events planned by HSC!
Aidan Lau – Vice President, Cultural Engagement
Aidan is a junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with a concentration in Health and Diversity. He is hoping to attend medical school and pursue a career as an anesthesiologist. Outside of HSC, he is a member of HKSA (Hong Kong Student Association) and UIUC’s chapter of AMSA (American Medical Student Association), and an undergraduate research assistant in the Aging, Caregiving, and Technology lab. In his free time, Aidan enjoys baking, listening to music, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Through the Campus Honors Program and Honors Student Council, Aidan has found an amazing group of like-minded individuals. In such a large university, having this small, close-knit community helps him feel more supported and welcomed. He hopes to use his position in the Cultural Engagement Committee to connect with RSOs and strengthen community bonds across the University of Illinois so that he can help CHP students and everyone else in the U of I community feel a little more at home, just as HSC has done for him.
Kaitlyn DeVries – Vice President, Publications
Kaitlyn is a third-year student majoring in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Political Science. Outside of HSC, she is the competitive team captain of the Illinois Pickleball club, which travels out of state for frequent tournaments during the year. Graduating early at the end of this year, Kaitlyn is planning on attending law school in the future. In her free time, she likes to write short stories, exercise, run, and hang out with her friends!
Having been involved with HSC for the past two years, and VP of Publications during her second year at UIUC, Kaitlyn has found this group to be a community that brings together students from all disciplines in a place where they can all engage together in different passions! HSC is a great place to meet other Chancellor’s Scholars and future friends, and Kaitlyn hopes to encourage more people to come experience the fun and creative events the Publications has to offer. With opportunities to have work published or contribute to things like Murder Mystery night, Kaitlyn is looking forward to working with the committee again this year!