award type: The Elevating Futures Scholarship

Austin attended Kenwood Academy, where he took STEM courses such as pre-engineering and construction, AP classes, and was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. He participated in several sports and a variety of STEM and leadership organizations, including SMASH STEM Scholars, Obama Youth Job Corp/Urban Alliance, Jack and Jill of America, NAACP, and The Fellowship Initiative through JP Morgan Chase. He served as the president of his chapter for Top Teens of America as well and had numerous other experiences in volunteering and leadership. Austin’s passion started when he would tinker with small toys as a young child, and slowly grew through the years as he began taking advantage of the opportunities presented to him. Austin attends Morehouse College and will major in either mechanical or construction engineering. He hopes to one day travel the country as an engineering consultant and build affordable housing for those in need.

Jonathan graduated from John Hancock College Prep, where was on the honor roll and thrived in his many honors and advanced Pre-Engineering, Construction, and STEM courses. He was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Model UN club, and varsity soccer team. He also worked several jobs outside of school and participated in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program. Ever since he was young, Jonathan spent his summers helping his uncle on construction projects. Through this and learning how engineering can be green and still help people, his passion grew. Jonathan attends the University of Illinois at Chicago and wants to major in civil engineering, with the hopes of one day having his own construction company.

Dorothy attended Disney II Magnet High School, where she took a rigorous course load of AP and honors classes, graduating on the honor roll with several awards. In addition, she completed several capstone projects and acted as president of the National Honor Society in her school’s chapter. As a well-rounded Scholar, Dorothy took part in many volunteering opportunities, Senior Committee, Model UN, and the Global Youth Summit on women empowerment.  She is a self-driven learner who has taken a multitude of STEM courses and taught herself how to code in C. Dorothy attends Bradley University, where she plans to major in computer science with a possible double major in mechanical engineering or artificial intelligence, and eventually gain a doctorate. She hopes to become a roboticist and help provide and update technology to low-income communities.