ECC Stories 2025 - Meet Izzy Vidallo

Beneath the bold, tattooed exterior of Elgin Community College (ECC) student-athlete Izzy Vidallo is a driven entrepreneur who has known since she was 16 that she didn’t want to work a standard 9-to-5 job. She is ready to be her own boss.

Vidallo’s first business was creating and selling self-defense keychains. After losing passion for the project, she looked around the Elgin area and thought about what it didn’t have and what it could use for her next business endeavor.

“I thought about being a nail technician, but since the area already had so many, I wanted to do something more in demand,” Vidallo said. “I found out there weren’t many lash technicians, so I looked into how to get certified and how much money it would cost me to start a business.”

Vidallo put her head down and saved up what she made from her part-time job to purchase the necessary tools and supplies and take a course to become certified in the trade.

“At that time, I didn’t really know if it was going to be something I loved, so I was scared,” Vidallo said. “It took me a while to get the hang of it. I went through many bumps and had times where I wanted to quit and give up, but I knew that if I kept pushing myself and practicing, I could do it.”

Vidallo’s friends became her first clients, letting her work on their lashes to perfect the craft, whom she says are “real ones for that.”

Vidallo currently takes clients out of her basement at home, where she has set up her business and studio. Although doing well, she strives to be better. “I’ve learned a lot. It takes time, and you must build trust with your clients. I’ve built a steady clientele, but I want to have three clients a day, five days a week by next year.”

On top of running her business, Vidallo must balance the life of a college student and athlete. Vidallo is working to finish her Associate of Arts degree by fall 2025 and transfer to a university to further her education in business and entrepreneurship. 

Beginning at ECC in the fall of 2023, Vidallo continued her lifelong passion for basketball and has been a member of the women’s team since then.

“What I love most about basketball is it takes away from what I have going on in the real world,” Vidallo said. “It’s something that will never turn its back on me and that I have a good skillset in.”

As team captain this year, Vidallo is a key player in leading the group of women on and off the court. “What I enjoy most is building new connections with people not from around here – all of my teammates are from out of state, so they feel comfortable with me and know that no matter what, I’m only a call away. At the end of the day, it’s a sisterhood.”

Cheer on this passionate Spartan at her upcoming home game on Thursday, January 16, and learn more about her below.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? When I was a kid, I wanted to be a NASCAR driver, but my mom was like, absolutely not! I think it’s found my way back into my life because I love my car. I build on my car whenever I can  – my dad is a mechanic, so I’ve always been around them. He was also a motorcycle racer, so I wanted to be like him back then.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? The gym – it’s my second home. I’ve grown to love it, and I’ve grown to hate it. I’ve been through a lot in there!

What’s one thing that makes your day? My family. When I started college, I didn’t have as much free time as I thought I would, so I’m happy I stayed home. My friends who all left for a university want to come home. I get a home-cooked meal every night! I’ve always been very family-oriented; they mean the world to me. They have me and can call me whenever they want, and I have them. It’s good to know you have someone just a call away. 

What’s your favorite meal to cook or eat out? King crab legs. I get them each year on my birthday, and we try to go to different places each time. I’m a seafood girl!

Shout out to an ECC staff or peer! Melanie Schaefer, sports information and academic support specialist. She has helped me since day one, and I am very grateful for her in so many ways. Thank you, Melanie!