In 1972, Karen Hasara BA '72 LAS '92 PAA was in the first graduating class at UIS (then Sangamon State University). She went on to work as a teacher, then served on the Sangamon County Board—at that time the only woman among 29 county board members. Her life as an elected official continued as Sangamon County Circuit Clerk, then as state representative and state senator. During those years, she returned to UIS for a master's degree in Legal Studies. In 1995, she became Springfield's first woman mayor, serving until 2003. Since then, she has pursued a passionate commitment to citizen diplomacy, through which everyday Americans interact with people from other countries, playing an important role in shaping global opinion of the United States and building international cooperation and good will. Hasara believes UIS has dramatically changed the Springfield community, and while in the legislature, she “proudly voted” for Sangamon State to become the University of Illinois Springfield. Since 2003, she has been giving to UIS to help students achieve their own dreams of public service like her own. Her named scholarship is available to qualified students with financial need campus wide.