DEKALB—For students, final exams can be filled with stress, anxiety, nerves on high alert and sometimes even hunger in the middle of the night.

But those needs can be filled during the week-long “24 Hour Study!” program at Newman Catholic Student Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The program is held twice a year during finals.

From May 8 through afternoon Mass on May 13, students can find many quiet places to study, an adoration chapel to ask for God’s help, and, of course, plenty of snacks of every kind. There is even dinner on three of the nights. About 120 students come to the dinners, organizers said.

Kayla Droessler of Rockford, a first-year grad student, is studying dietetics at NIU.

“I love the ‘24 Hour Study!’ because all of us are studying for finals together and suffering together,” she said. “It kind of encompasses food, studying and Jesus. It just kind of gives you peace of mind going through finals.”

For Stephanie Ganley of Decatur, a junior studying physical therapy at NIU, the opportunities for quiet prayer time and the food are important.

“It’s spiritual support and nutrition 24/7 — like cookies. You can’t go wrong before a big test. And praying definitely puts me at peace,” she said, as she prepared to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the center’s chapel.

Pooja Ballantine of DeKalb, a student missionary team member, said the center provides a place for students to get to know each other.

“It’s a good opportunity, a good place for adoration and Masses, and being connected with God,” said Ballantine.

The center staff and Father Matthew Mc Morrow, pastor of Christ the Teacher University Parish and director of the Newman Center, pull out all the stops to make the week welcoming and fruitful for the students as they push through to the end of the semester.

Funding comes from Christ the Teacher parishioners, the Diocese of Rockford’s Annual Appeal and from the NIU Student Association, as well as individual students donating a dollar here and there.

The parish Knights of Columbus council and other friends of the center provide food for the dinners.

“This started years ago, sometime in the ’90s or maybe in the ’80s,” Father McMorrow said. “It helps support students in this very stressful time when they are working on their finals and trying to get everything done.

“Without us,” he said, “they probably wouldn’t have a home cooked meal and companionship to help each other study and blow off steam.” Denise Sanders, director of Campus Ministry, said the event is held during finals in the fall and the spring. At NIU, the late-night study locations usually close at 2 a.m. But students can come here, she said, and they can be of any religion to enjoy the program.

“They are very thankful that they have that safe place to study and know that we are here as a staff to support and to listen.

“During finals week we have additional Masses. At night we do ‘End of the Hall Movies.’ Students sang along last night to the “Frozen” movie. It’s a stress release,” Sanders said May 11, as students pulled up chairs in the hallway and prepared to take a break with another film.

“It’s a week of long nights, but definitely worth it,” she said. Students take four-hour shifts helping with taking out the garbage, freshening up the fruits and vegetables on the snack tables and replenishing the coffee, water and lemonade.

Having a quiet place to study is important to Meghan Elliott, of Malta, a special education major and a freshman at Kishwaukee College.

“My house is really loud; I have a lot of siblings. I like this community as a pretty nice place to study.”
Isaac Challend, who takes welding classes at Kishwaukee Collage, said this program means a lot.

“I finished two books I was reading and got a lot done studying for my welding class. You can study for hours long and there is almost like a special prayerful presence here that helps you to study. And there is adoration, Mass and confession. We have had such wonderful people to put this on for us,” he said.

“I think this is wonderful,” said Matthew Tucci, of Elgin. He is studying music composition. “It gives me a chance to be close to God and at the same time work on homework and work on things that need to be done for finals.

“I love being here. I love the atmosphere. I love the food. I love the people. It is so important to tell students about this because I think some of them don’t know they have this resource available to them,” he said.