The Northern Illinois Scholarship Program (N.I.S.P) was founded in 1996 by Penny Knox. What started out as a preliminary Miss Northern Illinois Pageant for the Miss Illinois/America Organization (MIAO) had become an outstanding Community Service Program for our youth.

After hosting the pageant for MIA0, Ms. Penny saw the need to bring in younger competitors so they could participate in the rewards of helping others. The youth pageant quickly became a busy group with many events. In 1998, N.I.S.P. became it's own program on it's own path without the MIAO involvement.

Ms. Penny relocated to Florida in 1999 to pursue other opportunities and to follow her husbands desire to retire in a warm state. Kelli Lichtenberger, Ms. Penny's daughter became the new director to keep the dream of NISP alive. NISP continued to give our Ambassadors the opportunity for personal growth and spirit. Ms. Kelli ran the program with the same high values and kept the purpose of why her Mother started the program. They never wanted a "beauty pageant" but rather a Volunteer program that has a annual pageant.

In 2006 Ms. Kelli felt that NISP had grown larger and now needed more time than she could give. She had just had her 3rd child and her life became very busy. Diane Calabrese assumed the directorship of NISP. Ms. Kelli felt that Ms. Diane would continue the program with the same high quality of standards as the directors before her. Stevie, Diane's daughter had already been appointed not only the Queen of Queen's but also the Lifetime Queen under Ms. Kelli so continues her reign as Lifetime Queen today. Stevie has been dedicated to service since 2003. Diane's heart has been with NISP and it's fine Ambassadors since 2003.

(the above was written by Ms. Kelli in a program book from her last pageant)

We are a Program with a Pageant and a Purpose and the purpose is helping others. Our pageant system was opened up in 2006 to over the border states and the NISP was put on the sash replacing the Miss Northern name. Illinois had become the Mother state and NISP is a name that can be represented in many back yards in many towns in Illinois and Wisconsin and contines to expand. Our Ambassadors which is what all our titles are called wear the NISP Black and White with pride and honor. We pride ourselves also in holding any NISP title as important. We always

Northern Illinois Scholarship Program has grown over the years and we feel that it is an outstanding opportunity for young ladies and women of all ages. We believe that we are an organization that helps promote personal growth through education, helping others, kindness, responsibility and commitment through embracing the concept of Making a Difference.

A note from Ms. Diane

I am very proud to be able to continue the fine tradition that was started by Ms Penny and Ms Kelli. I saw as a Mother the difference it made in my own daughters life.

We have grown in the organization and before Ms. Kelli left we started the process of having a program that let our Ambassadors continue service and commitment from year to year. We have become a sisterhood of caring and wonderful young ladies and women. I am proud of each and every one of our Queen's, Princesses, Ambassadors and family and friends that make up Northern Illinois Scholarship Program and I thank all of them for taking NISP to their hearts and letting the vision of NISP grown.

I am very fortunate to have a lovely daughter Stevie, that embraces the concept of helping others. She is now an adult and still is very active with the program that helped her become who she is today. I also would like to thank my wonderful husband, Frank who often has to put up with all the events, planning, organizing, packing and transporting that goes into being a community service volunteer. I thank him for trying to understand all of this and his quiet support is always appreciated.

Welcome to NISP

Ms. Diane Calabrese

Note: Ms. Penny Knox has since returned to the area and is the Owner of Elite Dance Studio in Mundelein Illinois.
For those interested in contacting Elite, here is there website: http://www.elitedanceltd.com

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