Chicago HOPE Award Recipients

• CLASS OF 2022
  • Kayode Balogun

    Kayode Balogun is a 2018 graduate of Urban Prep Englewood. Kayode is an extremely hard working student, ranking 1 in his class of 73 students. On top of being an academic all-star, Kayode was also involved in a myriad of extracurriculars including Student Government, National Honor Society, Tutoring, Collegiate Scholars, and the soccer and wrestling teams. He plans to study Applied Economics and Management in college which comes from his desire to change social structures that exist in impoverished neighborhoods. From his studies, Kayode desires to create and manage businesses and programs focused on the enhancement of these communities.
  • Donald Taylor

    Donald Taylor recently graduated from Urban Prep Englewood with a 3.69 GPA, and ranking of 3rd in his class. At Urban Prep, Donald was involved in Student Government, National Honor Society, and was on the basketball team all four years. Donald is thrilled to be attending Michigan State University in the fall and will study Accounting during his time there. He has always excelled in mathematics and plans to also pursue a Master’s in Business Management. These components will be the key to his ultimate goal to eventually own his own accounting firm.
  • Shehjina Patel
    

    Shehjina Patel is a recent graduate of Von Steuben High School where she excelled in the both the classroom as well as serving her fellow classmates and community. At Von Steuben, she was highly involved with the Student Council, Food Club, Key Club, Leadership Academy and also tutoring. She will enter University of Illinois Chicago in the Fall of 2018 and pursue her passion of studying chemistry and business with the ultimate goal of becoming a successful pediatrician. The drive to pursue a career in medicine began at an early at while growing up in India. She witnessed children in severe poverty and homeliness and was driven to ensure a healthy life for all children. 
  • Eva Roman

    Eva Roman is a 2018 graduate of Von Steuben High School. She is a driven and passionate young lady who excelled both in and out of the classroom, graduating 14th in her class of over 359 students, and participating in Academic Decathlon, Korean Club, Chinese Club and People’s Music School just to name a few. Eva is also passionate about music and is a tremendous vocalist, more specifically a principal soprano. Eva will attend Grinnell College in the fall where she plans to major in Economics and Global Development. She wishes to earn a Master’s degree in business post college, and is driven to work for a company that has an intent of global reach and development.
  • Carl Woods

    Carl Woods is very excited to start College at UCLA. Carl just completed a seven week summer program at UCLA and is looking forward to starting school with a major in Business Economics with the goal to go into sports management. He is also a student manager for UCLA's Men's Basketball team. Carl is a big Lakers fan and enjoys making YouTube videos about the team. He is the oldest of a set of all boy triplets. 
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• CLASS OF 2021
  • Jia Huang

    Jia Huang is a 2017 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Jia was able to academically achieve a cumulative 5.2 GPA, all the while being the captain of the volleyball team and member of various other clubs and activities such as Key club, eSports, Teachers Assistant, Badminton, and more. Jia is passionate about computer engineering and plans on starting his career in tech as soon as graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He plans on also graduating at the top of his class, and seeking research and internship opportunities in order to get ahead in the field.
  • Jeffrey Guaman

    Jeffrey Guaman is a 2017 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Throughout his high school career, Jeffrey balanced an impressive combination of academic and extracurricular excellence. He participated in volleyball, cross country, track and field, along with chess club, math team, service club, key club, and book club. In the class room he enjoyed mastering the study of Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and AP classes. This fall, Jeffrey will become a freshman at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying continuing his studies of Statistics and Computer Science.
  • Martyna Paruch
    

    Martyna Paruch is a passionate, focused, and determined young woman. Martyna graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School with an impressive 3.97 GPA and is excited to be attending the University of Wisconsin Madison this year. She's passionate about science, more specifically studying zoology and becoming a veterinarian. Martyna plans on enrolling in a FIG, a first-year program offered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison which lets students immerse themselves into a particular area of interest. However, her studies and career goals won’t stop her from developing her other interests at the university level as well which include sport, especially the practice of Kyokushin Karate, environmental science, and service.
  • Britney Lux

    Britney Lux is a 2017 graduate of Von Steuben High School with a GPA of above 3.8. During her high school career, she was active in a number of extra-curricular activities including National Honors Society, Chicago Scholars, Latino Health and Science, and spent all four years on the cross country and track and field teams – including acting as team captain for both! In addition to maintaining high grades and participating in these groups, Britney also volunteered for Misercordia. Britney is attending Middlebury College in Vermont in the fall and plans to major in Biochemistry. Her career goal is to become a medical physician and work within the Global Health sector. She dreams of becoming part of the Peach Corps and working in developing countries to provide a medical service that is crucial and scarce. We can’t wait to see the impact Britney has on this world!
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• CLASS OF 2020
  • Mahruq Khan

    Mahruq Khan is a recent graduate of Von Steuben High School where she was awarded the highest distinction of Valedictorian. In addition to her academic success in high school, she also took many college courses so she was able to enter the University level at higher level. At Von Steuben, she was highly involved with the Math Team, the Muslim Club and a very active member of peer tutoring and mentoring. There is a competitive streak that runs through Mahruq which is leading her towards her dream of becoming a doctor. She has entered Loyola University as a Biochemistry major and in the future hopes to study and research treatment options as a pediatric oncologist.
  • Holly Situ

    Holly Situ is a 2012 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Not only did she excel academically achieving a 4.01 GPA, but she was also involved in many extracurricular activities such as Student Government, Art Club, Yearbook Club, and Asian American Club. Holly is very passionate about the arts. In fact, she was the founder and President of the Art and Literary Magazine at Whitney Young.
    
    Holly will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign as a Freshman this fall. She is currently Undecided and actively exploring options for her major.

  • Christopher Wilson
    

    Christopher Wilson is a 2016 graduate of Von Steuben High School with a GPA of above 3.4.  Chris was very active in high school, academically, athletically, socially and in his underserved community.  He participated in basketball, football, cross country, track and field, National Honor Society, Computer Club, Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Scholars, through which he was able to visit Washington D.C. before his freshman year of college to attend Michelle Obama’s Beating the Odds Summit.  Chris is attending The University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall and plans to major in Computer Science.  He has already a job in the Space Science and Engineering Center as a Technical Computing student position.  He is interested in computer science because of his desire to create a more efficient world by increasing data capacities of computer processors to evolve to their fullest capacities. 
  • Darius Vinesar

    Darius Vinesar is a 2016 graduate of Von Stuben High School. Darius participated in many extra-curricular activities, including becoming the Chief Editor of the Riccochet Review. His passion for creative writing is evident to anyone who has read his work. Attending the University of Illinois at Chicago, Darius will major in English. 

    Beyond UIC, Darius plans to attend the University of Iowa as part of prestigious “Writer’s Workshop” and earn a Master’s in Creative Writing. His passion for writing permeates everything in his life. In his spare time he loves reading a wide variety of authors, with an understanding of each far beyond people 10 years his elder. He also enjoys television in his down time, however none of the mindless variety. His taste in programs adduces his insatiable thirst for storytelling. 

    When not reading, writing, or watching stories, Darius is active with his Church. Church and family are extremely important in his life. He is deeply proud of his Romanian roots, celebrating his culture whenever possible. 

    His love of writing is best portrayed through his own written word. These following is pulled from a piece he wrote titled “Aspire."

    "Writing, to me, is about sharing that realness, that truth I feel as I experience

     life. This is the only world I have ever lived in, that I know most about. So no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be able to make a world better than this one. It is here that I experience the greatest story: mine."

    -Darius Vinesar

    Future Nobel Prize Winner and Best Selling Author, Probably. 

  • Imani Thomas
    

    Imani Thomas is a 2016 grad from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. As soon as I 'met' Imani, reading her resume and personal statement, I knew she was a special gal. Ambitious is an understatement. This young women knows what she wants, but at the same time, she is not afraid to explore all her interests. Imani is attending Miami University studying Marine Biology and Philosophy. Her goal is to decide whether med school, vet school or law school is next for her after University - like I said, ambitious is an understatement! Imani and I have had only a few in-person encounters, but our time together is filled with ease that predicts a lasting friendship. She moved into college a last week and I am already extremely proud of how she is settling into her new life. Her future is bright and I am honored to be a part of it!.
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• CLASS OF 2019
  • JAZMINE MERCADO
    University of Michigan
    2015 Recipient

    Jazmine Mercado is a 2015 graduate of Von Steuben High School. Jazmine is an incredibly driven young woman. Throughout high school, she remained committed to her family and academics despite facing economic, educational and emotional hardships. During her freshman year, Jazmine joined debate team where she discovered her passion for public speaking and solidified her dream of becoming a lawyer.
    
    In the fall, Jazmine will attend The University of Michigan (Go Blue!) where she hopes to major in political science and earn minors in economics and philosophy. Once completing her degree at Michigan, Jazmine plans to attend law school and later return to Chicago to give back to the community. However, her ultimate goal is to Washington, DC to work for The United States government. Jazmine truly wants to make a difference in her community and her country, and looks forward to gaining the education and experience she needs from Michigan in order to pursue her professional dreams.
  • ALEX ALTAMIRANO
    Monmouth College
    2015 Recipient

    Alejandro (Alex) Altamirano is a 2015 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Throughout his high school career, Alex exhibited an impressive combination of seemingly endless ambition, unmatched passion, and undying determination to excel in the classroom, on the field (as a soccer player), and in the pool (as a water polo superstar) . This fall, Alex is taking his water polo talents to Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. There, Alex will remain persistent on making a true difference in the world, studying political science while pursuing a career in public service, in some capacity. This summer, Alex will be traveling around the country playing in water polo tournaments with his club team. He will also be sharing his love for the water with Chicago while working as a swim instructor at two separate facilities in the city.

  • DONNA GARY
    New York University
    2015 Recipient

    Donna Gary is an extremely intelligent, mature and motivated young woman. Donna is thrilled to be going to NYU this year. She starts school September 2nd, but is heading there in August to spend some time getting to know the area. She's going in as Undecided within the Core Liberal Studies Program at the College of Arts and Sciences. She's interested in possibly studying Marketing or Journalism, but also has strong interests in business and public speaking. She's also very passionate about being an activist and creating positive social change. Donna is most excited to head out to New York and meet her new roommates. I can't wait to see all of the amazing things she will accomplish!

  • TAI PENN
    Cornell University
    2015 Recipient

    Tai Penn is a 2015 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School with an impressive 4.59 GPA. During his time in high school, he was engaged in a number of extra-curricular activities including Orchestra Club, Ecology Club, Writer's Club, and spent all four years in the Model U.N. program – including acting as Vice President! Tai is attending Cornell University in the fall and plans to major in Animal Science, with the goal of applying to Cornell's veterinary school once completing his undergraduate degree. Tai is pursuing his passion for both science and his love of animals and is drawn to this field as a result of his extensive travels across the US visiting numerous zoos and national parks. !
  • TREASURY BLAKE-MARLOW
    University of Illinois
    2015 Recipient

    Treasury Blake-Marlow is a 2014 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School with a 4.30 grade point average. Treasury is a very impressive young woman. She followed a rigorous classroom curriculum while also devoting many hours to her church and after school programs she is involved with. Treasury is also a very talented singer and piano player. She will be starting her freshman years this fall at the University of Illinois. She is planning on pursuing a degree in Psychology.
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• CLASS OF 2018
  • RENATA WOJNAROWSKA
    Saint Louis University
    2014 Recipient

    Renata Wojnarowska is a 2014 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center.   Her intelligence is only exceeded by her passion, which has led to her shining across both academic and extracurricular pursuits.    She’s a lover of the arts who has been practicing dance for over 9 years, most recently touring with other international dance troupes across Poland prior to the start of her freshmen year. 

    Renata will attend Saint Louis University in Missouri this fall to take part in their rigorous and renowned medical program.  During her time at Saint Louis University Renata hopes gain the knowledge and experience needed to become a successful registered nurse in addition to taking full advantage of the college experience by studying abroad her sophomore year in Spain.  She also plans to volunteer at nursing homes and hospitals to stay connected with the medical world and help prep for her future.

  • DAVIT KSOR
    University of Illinois
    2014 Recipient

    Davit Ksor is a 2014 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Davit is an ambitious student with a continual hunger for more knowledge.  In the classroom, he has been passionate about continuing to further his physics studies because of the potential impact that future discoveries can have on the world around us. His other interests include kung fu, parkour, anime, and video games.  He intends to leverage the discipline learned throughout his kung fu training as he tackles the academic rigors of college. Davit will attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and will major in Physics. He hopes to pursue a career in particle physics and is interested in working at one of the U.S. national laboratories or the Large Hadron Collider Accelerator in Europe.

  • JOSE AREVALO
    University of Illinois
    2014 Recipient

    Jose Arevalo is a 2013 graduate of Von Steuben High School.  Aside from excelling in AP classes, he was very involved in the school community.  Jose has been blessed with a wonderful family who he treasures deeply.  He values hard work and determination and all that it can bring.  

    Look out college!  Jose is excited to start at UIC where he plans to pursue an Engineering major.  Not only will he continue on his path of excellence personally and professionally, but plans to give back to society by serving underprivileged international communities including his country of heritage, El Salvador.

  • MEGAN CHU
    University of Illinois
    2014 Recipient

    Megan Chu is a 2014 graduate of Whitney Young High School and will be starting her freshman year this fall at the University of Illinois. She plans on pursuing a dual degree in Accounting and Finance and becoming a certified public accountant by the time she graduates. Currently, she hopes to work at a Big Four accounting firm after college, but she’s open to exploring other career paths in the business world. Over the summer, she was an intern at ADM Investor Services, a futures brokerage, working in the compliance department. She learned a lot about the futures industry and she’s planning to intern there again next summer, hopefully in the accounting department! Megan has 2 younger siblings, a brother that’s a sophomore in high school and a sister in eighth grade. Her favorite activities include Pinterest, collecting nail polishes, and watching bad Lifetime movies. She’s excited to get down to U of I to meet new people and to explore all of the clubs and organizations that they have to offer!
  • JUSTYNA PASIEIAK
    Saint Louis University
    2014 Recipient

    Justyna Pasieiak is a 2014 graduate of Von Steuben High School with a GPA of above 3.50. During her high school career, she was active in a number of extra-curricular activities including National Honors Society, Math team, Link crew, and spent all four years on the Student Council – including acting as President! In addition to maintaining high grades and participating in after school events, Justyna worked at a nearby deli where she quickly became customers’ favorite employee. Justyna is attending St. Louis University in the fall and plans to major in Nursing. She is drawn to this field because of the health challenges she faced. At the age of 12 she was diagnosed with cancer and spent many nights in the hospital. Justyna is a strong young woman who overcame cancer and plans to devote her life to helping other people do the same.

  • ELIZABETH GUZMAN
    St. Olaf College
    2014 Recipient

    Elizabeth Guzman is a 2014 graduate of Whitney Young High School.  Liz is a passionate, focused, and determined young woman who is very active in her community and family. She has boundless energy and brings her dedicated vitality to all the activities she chooses to focus on.

    Liz will attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota this fall to study Biology and Spanish and pursue her medical career in Neurology.  

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• CLASS OF 2017
  • MARYLYN ROGEL
    University of Vermont
    2013 Recipient

    Marylyn Rogel is a 2013 graduate of Gary Comer College Prep. Marylyn has many interests including squash, philosophy and learning new languages. She is both ambitious and driven, yet its the compassion in her thinking that makes her stand out. In addition to her academic excellence graduating with a 4.25 GPA and National Honors Society member, Marylyn has demonstrated her commitment to serving her family and the entire community around her. She feels a responsibility to give back as a result of having so many great mentors and teachers in her life.

    Marylyn will attend the University of Vermont in the fall where she will major in education. Her goal after graduating college is to join Teach for America to provide students from low-income families with a quality education.
  • JOSEPH ENGLISH
    Beloit College
    2013 Recipient

    Joseph English is a 2013 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Joseph is an extremely motivated, mathematically gifted individual that has also been described by his teachers as a deep thinker. He has a passion for problem solving and often he uses that passion to serve others. In his senior year, Joseph volunteered in his school’s service learning program as well as his local church.

    Joseph will attend Beloit College in Wisconsin this fall to study engineering and pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur that invents products that will create jobs and help others prosper.
  • THERESA PHAM
    University of Illinois
    2013 Recipient

    Theresa Pham is a 2013 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet School. Music is an extremely important part of Theresa's life. From a young age, Theresa learned and witnessed the power of music as the only universal language that can breakdown all barriers. This experience was the catalyst in her journey to becoming a citizen of the world. Her current involvement with Invisible Children, Amnesty International and Fearless Radio has further expanded her global perspective and given her the opportunity to connect with people from every walk of life.

    Theresa will attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and will double major in Global Studies and Communications with a minor in Business. She hopes to pursue a law degree and spend the rest of her days giving the voiceless a voice and helping convict those committing crimes against humanity.
  • CHARLOTTE CARROLL
    University of Illinois
    2013 Recipient

    Charlotte Carroll recently graduated from Whitney Young High School. At Whitney Young, Charlotte was the editor of her school paper and is extremely proud that during this time, the paper featured an interview with Whitney Young alumnus Michelle Obama. Charlotte's enthusiasm for her field of journalism is infectious, and her optimism and drive will, no doubt, carry her far in the field.

    Charlotte will attend the University of Illinois in the fall where she will study journalism. She hopes to pursue a position in print journalism for a newspaper or magazine.
  • TISHINA DAVIS
    Western Illinois University
    2013 Recipient

    Tishina Davis is a 2013 graduate of College King Prep. She excelled both in and out of the classroom, graduating 6th in her class of over 325 students, and participating in student government, cheerleading and book club, just to name a few. Tishina is a tremendous, hardworking young woman, who learned to be independent and resilient at a young age, finding hope and success in each challenge she faced.

    Tishina will attend Western Illinois University in the fall where she plans to major in political science or biology. She dreams of becoming a lawyer or doctor and to give back to her community.
  • QUDDUS AKINLUSI
    University of Illinois
    2013 Recipient

    Quddus Akinlusi is a 2013 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria Quddus overcame adversities at a young age to develop into a bright, ambitious and inquisitive young man. His many activities and interests include debate team, drum line, tennis, soccer and chess. Quddus serves the community by volunteering at the local Boy's Club of America where he enjoys tutoring other students. Academically he excelled, graduating with a 4.18 GPA.

    Quddus will attend the University of Illinois this fall where he will major in biology. He will pursue a career in the medical field and hopes to assist other Nigerians who immigrate to the U.S.
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• CLASS OF 2016
  • SHAELA GILOT
    Howard University
    2012 Recipient

    Shaela Gilot is a 2012 graduate from Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center in Chicago.  Shaela was one of seven pioneering students, as a sophomore, to take an Advance Placement course on US History at her school.  As part of the AP course she saw the benefits of a positive tutoring experience and went on to volunteer as a mentor and peer tutor.

    In the Fall, Shaela will be attending Howard University in Washington, DC.  She is interested in pursuing a degree in psychology.  Shaela wants to travel to Haiti, where her family is from, and other countries to do humanitarian work following college and hopes to join the Peace Corps.  In her own words, Shaela wants “to give back to my foundation and this is the community in Haiti.”
  • RUCHIR PATEL
    University of Illinois
    2012 Recipient

    Ruchir is an incredibly intelligent young man, graduating 12th in his class of over 350 at Von Steuben. While in high school, Ruchir was very proactive as a member of Link Crew and Scholars Program. He was also on the High Honor Roll list, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and is a recipient of the Prarie State Achievement award.

    Next fall Ruchir will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue a degree in either Biochemistry or Engineering. His goal is to earn an internship while a full-time student so that once he graduates he can work in the field of his choice and travel the world.
  • IYESHA THORNTON
    University of Southern California
    2012 Recipient

    Iyesha Thornton is a 2012 graduate of Whitney Young High School. Thornton is an extremely hard working and passionate about whatever she is involved in. This summer she dedicated her time at Polsinelli Shughart PC, one of the top 100 law firms in the country. She helped in any capacity that was necessary and through that experience she has saw first hand what it takes to be a lawyer.

    Iyesha will be attending the University of Souther California in the fall of 2012. She has a clear vision and feels that International Relations and Pre-law is what she would like to pursue.
  • MELISSA LIN
    University of Illinois
    2012 Recipient

    Melissa Lin is a 2012 graduate of Whitney Young High School. Melissa is the third of five daughters and she is a first generation, college bound student. Melissa is an extremely hard working young woman and has been in the work force for many years already. Her aunt and uncle own a restaurant on the North Side of Chicago and she was asked to work there at the young age of 12. When she wasn't in school or working, she spends most of her free time volunteering for the CMAA (Chinese Mutual Aid Association), but more specifically the YWW (Young Women's Warriors). Melissa has been an incredibly active leader with the YWW which is a mentoring and youth leadership program for Asian American and immigrant teen girls. She has mentored teens, choreographed and led cultural dances and even organized a college night for the teens in the program. Melissa is incredibly civic minded and hopes to continue in a path where she can continue to serve her community.

    Melissa looks forward to joining her two older sisters at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 2012.
  • JUAN CHACON
    Marquette University
    2012 Recipient

    Juan is a 2012 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center.  In 2002, Juan and his family immigrated to the United States from Ecuador.  He dreamed of attaining an American education and continuing his development as an elite soccer player.  However, Juan’s dreams nearly ended when a severe corneal infection left him blind in his right eye.  With his mother’s unwavering support, Juan was determined to persevere; he taught himself to study with one eye and focused on a heightened sense of hearing to compensate for his limited eyesight on the soccer field.  Juan’s dedication and hard work paid off: he graduated in the top 5% of his class at Von Steuben and was invited to play collegiate soccer at MarquetteUniversity.

    Juan is excited to attend Marquette University and plans to study aeronautical engineering.  He looks forward to exploring innovative ways to design, engineer, and build aircrafts.
  • SHIVIA HARDIMAN
    University of Missouri
    2012 Recipient

    GShivia "Shy" Hardiman is a 2012 graduate of King College Prep. Always a creative spirit, Shy left her impact at King College Prep by leading such organizations as "Best Buddies" and the "Book Club". Shy is the first one in her family to graduate from high school as well as the first to head to college. She is a gifted, compassionate and genuinely well rounded individual that has shown the determination to overcome any obstacle in her way.

    With a passion for creative writing, Shy will be attending the University of Missouri to study Journalism. Through her studies and with the help of Chicago HOPE, Shy plans to ready herself for a career in journalism working for a magazine like Glamour or a newspaper like Red Eye.
  • DEVONTE RIMMER
    University of Arkansas
    2012 Recipient

    Devonte spent his summer getting a jump start on the college experience. In early July he went to Norfolk State and attended summer classes. Then in early August he moved to University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, where he will be a full time student, and started taking classes toward his computer science degree. While not working on his academics, Devonte was busy working out and preparing to walk onto the UAPB football team in the spring of 2013.
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• CLASS OF 2015
  • DARIA SILER
    Grand Valley State University
    2011 Recipient

    Daria is a 2011 graduate of King College Prep. She learned to be resilient at a young age and to find hope and success in every challenge she faced. Daria graduated in the top 20% of her class. Additionally, she participated in the marching band and knitting club and worked as a violence prevention advocate and social work apprentice.

    Daria will attend Grand Valley State University where she will study pharmacy. Her goal is to become a licensed practitioner in pharmacy and work in a community setting.
  • JESUS SOTELO
    University of Illinois
    2011 Recipient

    Jesus Sotelo is a 2011 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School on his way to the University of Illinois ' School of Engineering . In addition to excelling academically, he has also played a critical and generous role in his community by volunteering for his church and helping members of his community renew their residency and learn HIV awareness.

    Jesus is a driven individual who heads to Urbana-Champaign in August to study mechanical engineering. He dreams of a career developing engines for 18-wheel semi trucks.
  • BRIANNA KING
    University of Illinois
    2011 Recipient

    Brianna graduated from King College Prep where she excelled in and out of the classroom. She was on the varsity swing team and as the captain of the softball team she led her team to a 20-2 season. Brianna also displayed strong leadership skills as she and her twin sister co-created their school yearbook. Brianna spends time connecting with students with autism and special needs. Giving back is extremely important to Brianna and it’s her personal mission to help the less fortunate.

    Brianna will be attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this fall. Her intended major is Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  • HEATHER PEDZIWIATR
    University of Miami
    2011 Recipient

    Heather is a 2011 graduate of the Advanced Gifted Program at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. In addition to excelling academically throughout high school, Heather worked over 30 hours a week and participated in extracurricular activities such as Habitat for Humanity and Student Council.

    Heather will attend the University of Miami and plans to major in biological sciences. She is passionate about a career in Marine Biology and would love to manage her own research lab, free of animal testing.
  • RENITA WILLIAMS
    University of Southern California
    2011 Recipient

    Renita is a 2011 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Renita was raised by her mom and has always believed in the value of hard work and never settles for mediocrity. Her drive and determination to create a better life for herself and her family resulted in straight A's her senior year and leadership roles in 9 school clubs. Last year Renita volunteered over 150 hours of her time to the local community.

    Renita will attend The University of Southern California where she will study Marketing. Her career goal is to be a marketing executive for a fortune 500 company.
  • GOERGINA HARO
    Grinnell College
    2011 Recipient

    Georgina is a 2011 graduate of Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center.  Coming from parents that migrated from Mexico, she is aware of the struggles immigrant families deal with and values the importance of higher education.  Gina is a compassionate person, who balances academic rigor with a diverse array of after school activities such as the soccer team and National Honors Society. Having a younger brother diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth has inspired her to help others in need.

    Gina will attend Grinnell College in Iowa with a major in Sociology and minor in Spanish. She is excited to help others as a social worker.
  • UDUIMOH UMOLU
    University of Illinois
    2011 Recipient

    Uduimoh Umolu is a 2011 graduate from Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center. During sixth grade, he and his family moved from the United States to Ghana. Although he did not know anyone or speak the native language, his optimistic attitude immediately captured the affection of his unfamiliar classmates and he was elected Class Representative. Throughout high school, he maintained excellent grades while balancing a part-time job, playing two sports (baseball and track), and serving as a peer leader.

    Uduimoh will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he will study business. After college, he plans to continue on to law school in pursuit of a career as a corporate attorney and, ultimately, a successful entrepreneur.
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• CLASS OF 2014
  • ELIZABETH GARCIA
    University of Illinois
    2010 Recipient

    Elizabeth Garcia Elizabeth is a 2010 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Elizabeth learned to be independent at a young age and the memory of her father motivates her to make good decisions and strive for a better life for herself and others. Elizabeth was a member of National Honor Society and a mentor for younger students.

    Elizabeth will attend the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she will study biology and psychology. After college, Elizabeth plans to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. She hopes to travel abroad to underdeveloped countries and help children in poor villages who cannot afford medical care.
  • JAMESE DUNLAP
    Northwestern University
    2010 Recipient

    Jamese Dunlap is a 2010 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.  As a young girl, Jamese learned that education would be the way to reach a better life for her family.  Her resilience and perseverance helped her excel in her studies at Whitney Young.  In addition, Jamese was a member of Student Council and the captain of the school’s track team.

    Jamese will attend Northwestern University, where she plans to study business and Spanish.  Her goal is to be an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry and provide her community with a safe location to exercise, improve their health, and come together as a family.
  • CHRISTIAN CHOY
    University of Illinois
    2010 Recipient

    Christian is a 2010 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. As a student at Whitney Young, he was an Honor Roll student and Principal’s Scholar. In addition, Christian was a patient aid at Rush Hospital and a regular volunteer at his church.

    Christian will attend the University of Illinois and major in pre-med. His goal is to attend medical school, become an ophthalmologist, and help find the cure to blindness.
  • ANNIE HUANG
    University of Illinois
    2010 Recipient

    Annie is a 2010 graduate of Jones College Prep. As a first generation American, Annie understands the challenges that immigrants face with a limited knowledge of English. She volunteers at Pui Tak Center in Chinatown to help members of her community learn English and adapt to living in Chicago. In addition to her community service, Annie enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in Engineer Club at Jones College Prep.

    Annie will attend the University of Illinois. She plans to study science and is excited to follow her passion for singing.
  • GEORGETTA BUNDLEY
    Fisk University
    2010 Recipient

    Georgetta is a 2010 graduate of Jones College Prep. Georgetta was raised by her aunt, who taught her the importance of education. Georgetta was determined to overcome the challenges of her neighborhood and achieve her dream of attending college. At Jones College Prep, she excelled in academics and was also named captain of her school’s Dance Team.

    Georgetta will attend Fisk University where she will study anthropology. Her goal is to become a forensic anthropologist so she can help investigators solve crimes.
  • LILA CHIU
    Colombia College
    2010 Recipient

    Lila is a 2010 graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet School. In addition to excelling academically at Whitney Young, Lila was the graphic designer for Yearbook Club and a member of Dreams for Kids.

    Lila will attend Colombia College and will major in studio art and fashion design. She enjoys art as an outlet to express emotions and connect with people of many different cultures.
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• CLASS OF 2013
  • JULIAN COOK
    Houghton College
    2009 Recipient

    Julian is a 2009 graduate of Jones College Prep in Chicago.  Due to his strong leadership skills, Julian was elected not only as the Student Government President of Jones two years in a row, but also President of the Concert Choir, Christian Club, and Class of 2009.  Outside the classroom, Julian is actively involved with his church on Chicago 's south side, where he is a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Minister, and Choir President. Additionally, Julian has participated in the Apprenticeship Program at Gallery 37, a prominent performing and visual arts youth agency in Chicago.

    Julian will attend Houghton College in New York.  He plans to study theology, and hopes to pursue a dual career as both an opera performer and church pastor.
  • CRISTINA LAMAS
    Northwestern University
    2009 Recipient

    Cristina is a 2009 graduate of Jones College Prep in Chicago. In addition to an excellent academic record, she has been extensively involved in extracurricular activities such as National Honors Society and the Jones Mentorship Program, where she mentored struggling freshman students. Christina is driven to become the first in her family to graduate college.

    Cristina will attend Northwestern University. She plans to study political science and criminal justice in order to prepare herself for law school and a successful career as an attorney.
  • MARGARITA LAMAS
    Northwestern University
    2009 Recipient

    Margarita is a 2009 graduate of Jones College Prep in Chicago. In addition to her strong academic background, she was top 2% of her class at Jones, Margarita excelled in varsity sports (volleyball and track & field) and founded the Jones Community Outreach Program. She has also participated in the Rush Hospital Internship Program, which further developed her interest in science.

    Margarita will attend Northwestern University. She plans to study biochemistry, and aspires to discover new cures for major illnesses.
  • TAMATHOR ABUGHNAIM
    University of Chicago
    2009 Recipient

    Tamathor graduated as the Class of 2009 Valedictorian at Jones College Prep in Chicago. Due to her firsthand experience with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Tamathor joined the Hands of Peace Middle East Conflict Resolution program to promote understanding and compassion among Israeli and Palestinian teenagers. In addition, she was Vice President of both the Student Government Association and Diversity Club at Jones, and her many awards include Academic Decathlon MVP, National Merit Commendation, and Dartmouth College Book Award Winner.

    Tamathor will attend the University of Chicago, where she will study Medicine, Arabic, and Hebrew. Tamathor plans to join Doctors Without Borders and open new hospitals in impoverished communities in Asia and the Middle East.
  • GABRELA PEREZ
    University of Illinois
    2009 Recipient

    Gabriela is a 2009 graduate of Whitney Young High School in Chicago.  Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Gabriela developed a passion for volunteering and giving back to her community. Though Whitney Students are only required to participate in 40 hours of community service, Gabriela recorded over 300 hours of service.  Her volunteer efforts earned her the Sheriff's Youth Service Medal of Honor and American Veterans Association Medal.  In addition, Gabriela was actively involved in the NJROTC program at Whitney Young, where she was recognized as the 2009 Senior Cadet of the Year for her outstanding leadership.

    Gabriela will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she plans to study pharmacy.  As a pharmacist, Gabriela is excited to combine her keen interest in science with her strong desire to help others.
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• Class of 2012
  • LI YING WU
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
    2008 Recipient

    Li graduated as the Class of 2008 Valedictorian at Jones College Prep in Chicago. When she was seven years old, Li immigrated to Chicago from China with her family. Li's parents worked long hours and did not speak English, so Li decided to learn the English language and thrive in school for the sake of her family. In addition to her academic achievement at Jones, Li was a student tutor, member of the Math Team, and managed to exceed the 40 hour service requirement by volunteering over 168 hours.

    Li will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and plans to become a physician-scientist focused on biotechnology. She hopes to support her family financially as she develops new medicine such as artificial hearts and kidneys, vaccines for cancer and diabetes, and cures for genetic disorders and AIDS.
  • MAGGIE MAZURKIEWICZ
    University of Illinois
    2008 Recipient

    Magggie is a 2008 graduate of Whitney Young High School. Maggie was in the top 5% of her class and an active member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. In addition, she received the Cook County Youth Service Medal of Honor and the Heroes of the Hood Award for outstanding community involvement. She is an extremely motivated person and believes it is important to give back to the community.

    Maggie will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has been accepted into the school's pre-med program.
  • SAMUEL MAXEY
    Valparaiso University
    2008 Recipient

    Samuel is a member of the Jones College Prep Class of 2008. When he was one year old, Sam's parents moved their family to Cameroon, Africa, so they could translate the Bible into a local dialect. As he learned French, Samuel befriended many of the local children and still keeps in touch with his Cameroonian friends today. When he returned to the United States, Sam quickly adjusted to his new environment and was named valedictorian of Cantor Middle School . At Jones College Prep, Samuel excelled at basketball, co-founded the Business Club, and enjoyed participating in Young Movie Makers.

    Sam will attend Valparaiso University and plans to start his own international business. He hopes to live in Europe, travel globally, and earn an MBA.
  • STEPHANIE KUO
    University of Illinois
    2008 Recipient

    Stephanie is a 2008 graduate of Jones College Prep. After being born in Chicago, she spent the first five years of her life with her grandparents on their farm in Canton, Southern China. Upon her return to Chicago, Stephanie helped her single-mom raise her family by cooking for her siblings. She grew to love theater, and was in charge of the Jones College Prep 2008 production "Chicago ". In addition to the Jones' drama department, Stephanie was active in the marching band, Investment Club, and was co-founder of the Book Club. She was an Honor Roll student and earned the school's Perfect Attendance Award every year.

    Stephanie will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , and looks forward to studying visual arts and biology.
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