Student Spotlight: Lanetta Cole
By Tony Scott
Lanetta Cole aims to graduate in December 2025 thanks to the generosity of NIU donors.
(Photo by Lanetta Cole)
One of Lanetta Cole’s favorite things about NIU is its sense of community.
“As a deaf student, I've felt supported by the resources and the people here, from interpreters who have become close friends, to professors and peers who are inclusive and encouraging,” she said. “NIU's commitment to accessibility has made my experience so much more rewarding, and I've made friendships of a lifetime.”
Cole, an elementary education major with a counseling minor who plans to graduate in December 2025, grew up in Springfield, Illinois, with five siblings. Her mother worked as a child support specialist until an injury left her unable to work for the past few years, and her father works in a warehouse producing boots for the military. Her mother, Dynetta Cole, is the only person in her family who graduated from college and she is proud to be continuing that legacy of a college education at NIU.
Cole was born with Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disease that can cause dizzy spells, also called vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss, and can be caused by ear infections.
“It’s shaped much of my childhood and how I navigate through the world,” Cole said of the disease.
Cole transferred to NIU in 2021 from Southern New Hampshire University.
“What caught my eye about NIU was affordability and all the different things I could get involved in here,” she said. “At the time, I was a psychology major, and NIU was rated high for psych majors. I also loved the diversity and the support that NIU provided to students with disabilities.”
She continued, “When switching my major, NIU's resources and support didn't stop. In my clinicals, I'm able to get interpreters and accessibility services, which has helped me succeed academically. NIU is also close to my hometown, so I am still able to stay connected with my family while still feeling independent here in college.”
Cole received 15 scholarships that have helped her navigate her NIU experience, including the Forward Together Forward Scholarship.
“Receiving scholarships was a huge turning point for me,” she said. “They eased so much of the financial burden that college brings; they allowed me to focus more on school and clinicals rather than constantly worrying about how to manage everything. At one point, I was working three jobs, taking six classes, in my clinicals and trying to move into an apartment.”
Cole said she considers the scholarships "a blessing from God.”
“Receiving the scholarships, I was overwhelmed with so much gratitude and relief,” she said. “They motivated me in a way that kept me going and pushing towards finishing my education and making the most of it.”
Cole said donors who give have a profound impact on students.
“It's so much more than money and relieving financial burden, it's giving students a chance to pursue a degree when all other odds are stacked against them,” she said. “It gives students the confidence to believe in themselves and every contribution, no matter the size, matters. It's a ripple effect, helping students like me achieve our dreams and give back to our community in a meaningful way. It changes lives.”
To help students like Cole realize their dreams and goals, please visit the NIU Foundation website.