At NIU, we are proud to celebrate the generous hearts and enduring legacy of alumni Audrael and John Chiricotti — two Huskies whose commitment to education and student success has left an indelible mark on our campus community
Audrael Chiricotti earned her B.S. degree in speech pathology and elementary education in 1971. As a student, she was an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi, serving as philanthropic chair — a role that foreshadowed the lasting generosity she and her husband would one day extend to NIU students. After graduation, Audrael dedicated herself to helping young learners as a speech pathologist in the Villa Park School District.
John Chiricotti graduated in 1969 with his B.S. degree in accountancy and passed the Illinois CPA Examination the following year. His impressive professional journey began at Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte Touche) and led him through leadership roles at Esmark, Oak Industries and ultimately to the Boston area, where he served as chief financial officer of Boston Scientific and MediSense Inc.
Despite successful careers and a move away from Illinois, the couple never lost their connection to NIU. Their belief in the transformative power of education — and their deep appreciation for the opportunities NIU provided them — inspired them to give back in a meaningful way. Through their long-standing support of student scholarships, the Chiricottis have helped open doors for countless Huskies to pursue their dreams.
Among those impacted are aspiring speech-language pathologists, whose careers are now thriving thanks to the Chiricottis’ generosity.
“The support the Chiricotti family provides to aspiring speech-language pathologists makes a profound impact,” said scholarship recipient and current speech-language pathologist Megan Luna. “Thank you for your generosity and for helping me pursue a career that brings me so much joy and fulfillment. I am grateful to have a job that I love and I will not take that for granted.”
Stories like Luna’s remind us that behind every scholarship is a student — a dreamer, a doer — who’s been given the chance to succeed. If you’ve ever considered giving back to NIU, now is the time. Your support — no matter the size — can change a life, just as the Chiricottis have changed so many. Help us continue to build a future where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Donate at niuforward.com/chhs.
