Honoring A Legacy, Empowering The Future

When Terry Iverson created the Jerry R. Iverson Memorial Manufacturing Scholarship, he did so to honor not just a man—but a legacy of mentorship, entrepreneurship and manufacturing excellence. Named for his late father, the scholarship reflects a nearly 100-year tradition of commitment to the manufacturing industry.

Jerry R. Iverson, along with his two brothers, graduated from Taft High School in Chicago. Over the decades, the three men helped launch and lead several companies, each contributing meaningfully to American manufacturing. “My dad financed countless machine tools to help young entrepreneurs start their own shops,” Terry recalled. “What better way to carry that forward than a scholarship to support the next generation of engineers and makers?”

The fund, now seeded with approximately $25,000 in private donations, is administered through Champion NOW!, the nonprofit Terry founded to change perceptions about manufacturing careers. The scholarship targets graduating seniors from Taft High School who plan to pursue careers in engineering or manufacturing.

But the program isn’t just about honoring the past. It’s also about illuminating the future — starting with its first recipient.

Meet Niko Aleksic

Nikola “Niko” Aleksic is the inaugural winner of the Jerry R. Iverson Memorial Scholarship. A recent Taft graduate, Niko is now studying civil engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. He hopes to one day lead large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads and skyscrapers — with a particular focus on sustainability and structural integrity.

“I think the scholarship takes me one step closer to my long-term goal,” Niko said. “It’s helping me get the equipment I need and easing the burden of college expenses, which is a huge relief for my family.”

Niko’s journey is a testament to the power of focus, resilience and a passion for building things. As a child, he dismantled and reassembled his toys and once built a backyard structure from fence pickets at the age of seven. His creative spark was fueled further through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Taft, which challenged him academically and helped develop time management and leadership skills.