Nicholas Saracco graduated from Gillespie High School in 1998, earning a $500 Partnership for Educational Excellence tuition scholarship.
Nick attended the University of Notre Dame in Indiana from 1998 to 2002. He majored in finance and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in 2002, simultaneously earning a supplemental degree in computer applications. He then added to his skills by becoming a certified internal auditor in 2011.
Currently Nick works in Chicago for Grant Thornton LLP, an international independent audit, tax, and advisory firm. As a principal in advisory services, he provides internal audit and a variety of risk and control advisory services to public and private companies.
“I work with a mix of global and domestic organization across a number of industries, including manufacturing/consumer and industrial products, higher education, healthcare, retail, technology, not-for-profit, financial services, and pharmaceuticals,” he says.
Nick’s primary leisure activities include watching or attending Notre Dame football or basketball games as well as spending time with his friends and family. “I also enjoy traveling the world to experience new cultures, people, and cuisines. My job has given met the ability to visit a number of countries for work, while also giving me the flexibility to explore these locations with family and friends outside of work,” he says.
Regarding the role of post-secondary education in his life, Nick notes: “Without a post- secondary education, I would be nowhere near where I am today. My education has been a cornerstone for not only my career, but also my personal life. While college is generally focused on classroom work, there is so much to be learned from the social aspect as well. In my opinion this piece is just as important.”
He adds, “I loved growing up in Benld and attending CUSD7 schools, and I would never trade those experiences for anything. However, my college education exposed me to so many more cultures, people, and beliefs, and these were the pieces that shaped who I am today,” says Nick. “My degree opened doors for my career, provided avenues to lifelong friendships, and gave me the means to continue to explore the world and learn.”
As to his scholarship from The Partnership, Nick reflects that “I am blessed to have parents that sacrificed so much time, energy, and tuition money to help make my dream of graduating from Notre Dame a reality. However, my family and I were never going to be able to fully cover the costs of my education. Therefore, scholarships such as the one received from The Partnership were a necessity. I will forever be grateful for the generosity that so many have shown to endow The Partnership and provide the means for my college degree.”
Nick is the son of Ed and Cindy Saracco of Benld.