Hometown: Pawnee, Illinois
Major: Elementary Education
Future Plans: Become an elementary school teacher
Madison Fugnitti works as a childcare aide at 天美传媒 Springfield鈥檚 Cox Children鈥檚 Center. In her hometown of Pawnee, she earned the title of Miss Pawnee Prairie Days in 2019. She also started a Facebook group to allow parents to connect with reliable, trustworthy and qualified babysitters in and around Pawnee.
鈥淚 chose UIS because it has truly always been my home,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen my mother, Briana Fulton, graduated high school I was just a baby. She was accepted into the Capital Scholars Program at UIS in the fall of 2003. My mother and I lived in Sunflower Court (family housing) throughout her college years.鈥�
Fugnitti鈥檚 mother currently works as a business administrative specialist for the UIS Performing Arts Center.
鈥淢y favorite parts of UIS are the beautiful campus, the childcare center, and having my mom nearby (calls for many lunch dates),鈥� she said. 鈥淲orking at Cox is what led to my change of major from legal studies to elementary education. I don鈥檛 regret it one bit! I am passionate about shaping little minds, it is truly the most rewarding job.鈥�
Outside of UIS, she has also volunteered as a Salvation Army bell ringer. In 2020, she helped bring a kettle to Pawnee that raised more than $1,400.
Following graduation from UIS, Fugnitti plans to finish course work in order to become a licensed elementary school teacher.
Leadership is lived at UIS. Every day.