Sally Stevens

Class of 1948

Sally is a philanthropist and leader who has spent her life in service to the Sycamore and DeKalb area. After graduating from Sycamore High School in 1948 where she participated in several clubs and activities, she attended Lake Forest College. She served as the Sycamore High School Secretary and Treasurer for the Board of Education for 12 years and served as Secretary to the President at Northern Illinois University for 32 years under 6 different presidents.

She has been a member of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra Board for over 40 years and served as secretary for 20 years as well as chairing several fund-raising committees. She has been a member of the Sycamore Women’s Club for 18 years and serves on the Board of Directors and well as chairing the Memorial Committee Programs. Sally has also been a member of NIU Women’s Club since 1996, the Sycamore-DeKalb Panhellenic since 1952, The DeKalb Drama Club since 1996, The YMCA Board of Directors, fundraising committees for the Egyptian Theater and DeKalb Public Library, and most recently 100+ Women Who Serve.

She has received many notable awards, including the NIU Outstanding Philanthropist Award, Altrusa International Woman of Accomplishment, the NIU Alumni Association F.R. Geigle Service Award, Boy Scouts of America Tribute to Heroes Award, Kishwaukee YMCA Key Leader Award, and many, many others. She has been named an “NIU Huskie Legend” and was honored for being “50 Years a Huskie.” She was inducted into the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Hall of fame and has held many leadership positions at Oak Crest where she has lived for over 31 years.

Sally enjoys musical programs and sporting events, particularly at NIU, and supports many scholarships and programs for the arts at NIU. You can visit the Sally Stevens Players Theater at NIU, affectionately called “The Sally,” to see a production.