Big Ten Excellence in Global Engagement: Penn State and Illinois Recognized with 2025 Simon Awards

The Big Ten Academic Alliance congratulates the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and the University of Illinois (Illinois) at Urbana-Champaign College of Education on receiving the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Awards for Campus Internationalization, presented by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. These prestigious awards underscore the universities’ remarkable dedication to global learning and the transformative ways they are shaping higher education.

Penn State is one of five institutions to earn the Comprehensive Internationalization award, highlighting its commitment to embedding global perspectives across research, curriculum, and student life. From hosting nearly 10,000 international students to ranking among the top U.S. universities sending students abroad, Penn State’s leadership in producing Fulbright scholars and fostering worldwide collaborations reflects its mission to create meaningful global impact.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education received the Spotlight Award for its iGlobal Program. iGlobal links preservice teachers with partner classrooms around the world, promoting a dynamic exchange of ideas and real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This unique approach empowers students, local educators, and international participants to collaborate on solutions that bridge cultural and geographic divides.

Named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the award recognizes colleges and universities that build sustained, creative pathways for campus internationalization. Penn State and Illinois will be featured in NAFSA’s annual report, Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, and honored during NAFSA’s 2025 Annual Conference & Expo.

For more details on the Paul Simon Awards, visit NAFSA’s website.