
Praise Daniels – Fred S. Findling Immigrant Scholarship awardee
The Probate Pro congratulates Praise Daniels as a 2026 awardee of the Fred S. Findling Memorial Immigrant Scholarship.
The Probate Pro established the Fred S. Findling Memorial Immigrant Scholarship to assist students with their college tuition. We embrace the uniqueness of every human and respect the experience, identity, and beliefs of all people. The Probate Pro believes that all immigrants should have the opportunity to achieve their full educational potential.
The Probate Pro’s founder, Darren Findling, is a first-generation American. Darren’s father, Fred S. Findling, was a survivor of the Holocaust. Fred’s mother was murdered at Auschwitz, and his father was shot into a mass grave by the Nazis. Fred and his siblings survived by hiding in the forest in the Vichy region of France, along with a hundred other Jewish children. These orphaned children banded together, subsisting on radishes and potatoes that they dug from the ground for nearly two years. Finally, they were rescued and brought to America.
Fred was just ten years old at the time. His survival was dependent on many miracles and, most importantly, on the unconditional help of others. As a hardworking, committed immigrant student, Fred studied during the day and worked the night shift to pay for his college and graduate studies. Fred achieved the American Dream—becoming a well-respected attorney for over 50 years.
This scholarship was established in his memory to help others achieve the American Dream.
Praise Daniels is an incoming Master of Engineering student in Autonomy and Robotics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he also completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Praise came to the United States from Nigeria with a deep appreciation for the opportunities ahead and the determination to earn them. He commuted six hours each day to attend college, demonstrating extraordinary perseverance and an unwavering commitment to his education and future.
He is passionate about machine learning, computer vision, and autonomous systems. He has conducted advanced research as an Open Quantum Initiative Fellow and an ALT-REU Research Intern. He carries a deep sense of responsibility and is dedicated to leveraging technology to build a safer, more automated future.
When informed that he had been selected for the scholarship, Praise shared:
“Fred understood that immigrants bring gratitude, grit, and a commitment to build something that lasts. That is exactly what I carry with me every day. I am honored to receive this scholarship, not just for the support, but to continue to prove that where you come from does not determine where you’re going.”
The Probate Pro congratulates Praise Daniels and proudly welcomes him as part of the legacy of the Fred S. Findling Memorial Immigrant Scholarship.