DeKALB – This year’s Forward, Together Forward scholars include a biomedical engineer who did service work in Tanzania, a harpist who has written award-winning plays and a Spanish major active in Spring Break volunteer trips.

The five scholars, who were recognized at Northern Illinois University on Sunday, exemplify the commitment to service and academics that characterize the five students who died in the Feb. 14, 2008, campus shooting, NIU Provost Ray Alden said. Each of the five will receive a $4,000 scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year.

“The quality of the students, the fact that many of them are still maintaining 4.0 GPAs and are involved in many activities is really commendable,” said Alden, who added he also was impressed with their variety of academic specialties.