At Chicago Scholars, we’re committed to helping students graduate debt-free or with as little student debt as possible, allowing them to get the best start in their journey after undergrad. Through partnerships with incredible individual and corporate Scholarship providers, our Scholars have access to life-changing opportunities as they matriculate to and through college.  

Through our longstanding partnership with Invenergy, we’ve distributed eight Invenergy scholarships to students attending a four-year college or university who are passionate about pursuing a career in clean energy, in addition to opening the doors to internship opportunities for seven students.  

Check out the reflection from Zandie Lawson, a senior at Denison University and Class of 2026 Scholar, who was a recipient of the Invenergy Scholarship:  

“Receiving the Invenergy Scholarship has been a major milestone in my journey at Denison University, providing more than just financial relief it has offered the peace of mind that comes with being truly supported. Knowing that Invenergy invests in students dedicated to environmental stewardship has validated my passion for sustainability and empowered me to dream bigger. This security has been the foundation upon which I’ve built my college experience, allowing me to move past the stress of financial barriers and fully commit myself to the leadership and academic roles that define who I am today. 

Because of this support, I’ve had the capacity to dive deep into my community and my studies. Since my freshman year, I have been incredibly involved, eventually rising to become the President of the African Caribbean Student Association, a Senior Docent and Interviewer for the office of admissions, and a Fellow for the Environmental Studies department. Beyond my professional and environmental pursuits, the scholarship has granted me the “luxury” of creative freedom; I’ve been able to pursue a minor in dance and perform with the Denison Dance Company over the course of my time at Denison.  

My academic journey as a double major in Politics & Public Affairs and Environmental Studies has been equally fueled by this support. As a pre-law student, I am dedicated to pursuing a career in environmental and international law, a goal that was solidified during my time studying abroad in South Africa and Namibia. There, I had the invaluable opportunity to study social and environmental change firsthand while conducting research on green energy. I feel incredibly lucky to have matched with an organization like Invenergy that aligns so perfectly with my professional goals and my personal passion for protecting our global environment. This balance of environmental advocacy, campus leadership, and artistic expression would not have been possible without Invenergy’s belief in my potential.” 

A recent NBC News poll showed that nearly two-thirds of American voters do not think a college degree is worth the cost. While we at Chicago Scholars agree that the cost of education is too high, we also believe in the transformative power of a degree.

We asked Class of 2030 Scholars why they believe a degree is worth it – see their responses below.

“Getting a 4-year degree is important to me because it’s my ticket to build the best version of myself. My degree will provide me with the skills and experience I need to grow, while giving me the ability to invest my degree back into my community.” – Skyeshell Blake

“I want to get a 4-year degree to continue the legacy of excellence that I have been raised in. Growing up around successful black women who defeated all odds has only pushed me further, and going to college is my opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to uplift my community just as they uplifted me.” – Indigo Gray

“Getting a bachelor’s degree is essential to me because of all the opportunities that would permit me to advance in my career path. In the electrical engineering field, I want to have knowledge and experience with hardware and software properties to create astounding devices for future generations in the world. With that vision in mind, I believe that I can become the successful person I aspire to be one day.” – Janeen Scott

“Getting a four-year degree is incredibly important to me because it represents the transition into the next phase of my journey toward medical school. I aspire to become a medical doctor, specifically a neurologist, and earning a bachelor’s degree is one of the essential steps I need to take to make this goal a reality. In addition, as a first-generation immigrant student, completing my degree would be a dream come true for both me and my family.” – Ayomide Olatunji

“In a world that is steadily declining, having a bachelor’s degree would help deepen my effect on stopping it. Even when everything seems to be for naught, education and the wish to create change is supported when and after obtaining a four-year degree.” – Naphtali Davis

“Getting a four-year degree is important to me because I’ll be able to raise the bar. I will prove to not only others, but to myself that I am beyond capable. It will reveal that drive, dedication, and determination come at a good price.” – Wyneisha Boyd

“A four-year degree is important for me because it will help prepare me for my future job. It will also help me secure a pretty good paycheck to be able to get paid well. Being a first gen also helps motivate me to attend college to pursue a four-year degree and be on track to get an MBA.” – Michael Gomez-Hernandez

“The reason that getting a four-year degree is important to me is because it effects your ability through life. If I have a degree on a topic I care about, then people will take me seriously when I engage with that topic.” – Geovonni Green

We’re excited to share our report covering fiscal years 2022-2025!

Download the report here to see stories and successes from the last three years.

Chicago Scholars has partners all over Chicago, but one of our longest-standing partnerships came to us through Chicago Scholars’ Founder Tim Schwertfeger, former CEO and Chairman of Nuveen Investments.

Since Tim’s initial introduction, TIAA/Nuveen has supported Chicago Scholars through scholarships, sponsorships, and volunteering.

“TIAA/Nuveen is committed to funding college and career readiness for first-generation college students in our community, so our partnership with Chicago Scholars is a natural fit,” said Karly Ashlock, Director of Community Impact at TIAA. “We know that attaining a college degree can unlock the potential for a lifetime of financial security. It’s been an honor for TIAA/Nuveen to walk alongside these students during such pivotal moments, and to invest in the future they’re building.”

In 2025, TIAA/Nuveen sponsored the New Scholar Orientation opening session, playing a crucial role in the Class of 2030’s first impression of Chicago Scholars. Through their sponsorship, we were able to host a virtual celebration for over 600 students and their parents. TIAA/Nuveen also sponsored pre-filled pencil pouches for every incoming Scholar, ensuring that they all had a piece of Chicago Scholars and TIAA/Nuveen to take into their senior year of high school.

TIAA/Nuveen’s impact extends far beyond the current class of high school Scholars. For several years, TIAA/Nuveen sponsored major components of the Onsite College and Leadership Forum experience, including the Leadership Hub, which gave community organizations and vendors the chance to offer resources to Scholars and families, and our Family Engagement programming. Through their support of Onsite alone, TIAA/Nuveen has touched over 1,000 lives.

Recently, TIAA/Nuveen supported Scholars in a new way by contributing to Scholar Dollars, funding that provides emergency funding and grants to Scholars during their college years.

“TIAA/Nuveen have been such good partners to Chicago Scholars,” said Andre Hebert, managing director of partnerships at Chicago  Scholars. “We often see a TIAA/Nuveen representative volunteering at signature events, which is a huge help as we undertake those busy and impactful days.”

“The relationships CS has with TIAA/Nuveen is one we want to highlight because it speaks to the impact of strategic partnerships that can deepen over time,” said Jeff Beckham, Jr., CEO of Chicago Scholars. “What started out as a scholarship opportunity led to a company investing their time, treasure, and talent to ensuring Chicago’s youth have access to pivotal college and career readiness programs. One of our primary contacts at TIAA/Nuveen is even mentoring a cohort of Scholars!”

If your organization is interested in exploring a partnership with Chicago Scholars, please contact Andre Hebert at ahebert@chicagoscholars.org.

After a nationwide search, Chicago Scholars has selected Dr. Leah Fulton as their new Vice President of Programs.

Dr. Fulton holds a PhD in Higher Education with a minor in African American Studies from the University of Minnesota. She brings 16 years of hands-on experience in higher education leadership to Chicago Scholars, where she will oversee college access and college success programming. Dr. Fulton’s research and publishing focuses on the leadership experiences of students of color, relationships between Black and white women in higher education, and motherhood in higher education.

Previously, Dr. Fulton served as Assistant Dean of Students at University of St. Thomas, Associate Dean for Intercultural Student Programs and Services at Bethel College, and is the founder and principal consultant at Project 51.

In her transition to Chicago Scholars, Dr. Fulton is leaving her position as Vice President for Student Life at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. Trinity Christian College is a Gold Plus Partner of Chicago Scholars.

“The last three years at Trinity have been incredibly formative for me in my leadership journey,” Dr. Fulton said. “The shared ambitions between Trinity and Chicago Scholars to address higher education’s most pervasive challenges by centering student wellbeing and college success as a matter of economic justice makes for meaningful connections and a sensible transition from one organization to the next.”

“We are so fortunate to have Dr. Fulton join the Chicago Scholars staff,” said Chicago Scholars CEO Jeffery Beckham, Jr. “She brings so much experience and insight into the student experience, especially the experiences of students of color. She will be an asset to our Scholars across our program.”

Dr. Fulton will take her new position on August 5, 2025.

June Career Partner Highlight:

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Our Emerge Summer Career & Leadership Program is well under way – and we’re kicking off a series of spotlights on several of our incredible Emerge Career Partners, the companies and organizations that make our Emerge internships possible. For each, we’ll give you a special look at what called them to partner with us, tell stories of their Scholar interns – and maybe inspire you and your company to partner too!

Our June 2025 Emerge Career Partner Highlight of the Month is The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, an innovative and groundbreaking rehabilitation facility for children and adults, providing care for more stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury patients than anywhere else in the US. With their primary location in River North, the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab has partnered with Chicago Scholars to host several Emerge interns over the years, as well as hosting yearly Growth Labs at their dynamic downtown space. We spoke with Maya Yuen, Manager of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Center for Hope and Equity at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab about the organization’s commitment to our Scholars.

Firstly, why did you choose to partner with Chicago Scholars?

“We partnered with Chicago Scholars because their model aligns with our goal at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to create paths to meaningful healthcare careers and to invest in the next generation of leaders.”

To continue, why did you choose to specifically support the Emerge Program as a Career Partner and Growth Lab Host? 

“The Emerge program aligns closely with the mission of our Robert R. McCormick Foundation Center for Hope and Equity — particularly our focus on creating pathways to rewarding healthcare careers. Emerge provides us with a meaningful opportunity to support early talent, provide immersive experiences and develop future professionals who reflect the communities we serve.”

What is Radio Flyer looking to accomplish through your internship program?

“We hope to shed light on the field of rehabilitation medicine as a highly collaborative and impactful area of healthcare. Through our unique translational model of care, we aim to introduce interns to how STEM disciplines — like engineering, math, and data science — can be applied in clinical settings to directly improve patient outcomes. Our translational model bridges the gap between research and real-world application, allowing patients to benefit from innovation more quickly. Our goal is to inspire the next generation to see themselves in these careers and to understand the meaningful role they can play in advancing health equity and recovery.”

What qualities does your organization look for in potential Emerge interns? 

“We look for curiosity, compassion and a desire to make an impact. Emerge interns who are eager to learn, open to collaboration and committed to excellence thrive in our environment — where diverse perspectives not only are welcomed but essential to innovation.”

Finally, what are your hopes for the young adults of Chicago?

“We hope the young adults of Chicago know that their ideas, voices and dreams matter. We want them to feel empowered to pursue careers that bring both personal fulfillment and community impact — and to know that organizations like ours are ready to invest in their growth every step of the way.”

Inspired by The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s work with our Scholars? Head here to learn more about becoming a partner with us!

Meet Angel Quintana, the new Development Intern with Chicago Scholars! Angel is a Chicago Scholar from the Class of 2026, currently attending Columbia College Chicago.

We spoke with Angel about his experience as a Scholar so far, what he’s excited to learn with this internship experience, and why he decided to intern at Chicago Scholars. Read on for his responses!

This piece was written in response to the October 23, 2024 New York Times article, “Freshman Enrollment Appears to Decline for the First Time Since 2020.”

The question of access to college is one that is not unique to our time but has grown in its presence as various factors compile to make it more apparent than ever. The NYT article “Freshman Enrollment Appears to Decline for the First Time Since 2020” makes note of this, highlighting how these challenges are especially true for historically underrepresented students. At Olin College of Engineering, we’ve been aware of this trend and have been working to address it through direct work with CBOs like Chicago Scholars.

As a small institution, Olin is flexible, quick-to-adapt, and able to pivot when enrollment markers are evaluated.  What this most recent application cycle has told us specifically is that many young scholars are facing two major obstacles to enrollment that are out of their control but force their hand when deciding whether to apply to college or not.

1. ’24 FAFSA Challenges

1. ROI / Promise of the Future

The first, which likely impacted low-income families most significantly, will hopefully be worked out in the coming cycle and the roadblocks that hindered folks from applying will (fingers crossed) be removed. We assume that students felt it was not wise to immediately enroll anywhere without a better grasp of their financial aid offerings and as such, stepped back momentarily or entirely. This ephemeral issue should cease to inhibit enrollment in the future, but we are keeping an eye on the developments.  We find that clear communication about our financial aid processes can be reassuring to prospective students and their families, and our small size allows us to respond directly to questions or concerns as they arise.

The second, a more prescient trend, is students questioning the ROI, or return on investment, of higher education. And why shouldn’t they? With mounting student loans and difficult job markets, it’s a troubling scenario for those seeking a college degree. They wonder, will it all be worth it?

At Olin, we believe our project-based learning curriculum offers students peace of mind in this realm by instilling key teamwork, executive function, and leadership skills that translate immediately to the workforce. As such, a solid engineering background with these attributes at its core does not require additional degrees to be competitive in today’s job market, allowing students to put their Olin degree to use immediately upon graduation.  Our push for outside the classroom learning opportunities like internships and research also strengthens the appeal of an Oliner’s resume to prospective employers. Unfortunately, this immediate ROI isn’t true for all academic programs or majors, thus students may feel the high price tag of a college degree isn’t worth the investment. This could foster disillusionment with higher education overall, increasingly so from those facing additional barriers to learning, resulting in the figures the NYT article addresses.

In the case of FAFSA, Olin has ensured our Financial Aid team could   offer our current and prospective students as much support as possible, while staying abreast of any developments from the Department of Education. In the case of FAFSA, Olin has ensured our Financial Aid team could offer our current and prospective students as much support as possible, while staying abreast of any developments from the Department of Education.

And with the second point of concern, we’ve been addressing this for years through those CBO connections mentioned earlier. Information on our website or during our on-campus events is great, but connecting with those directly in the community is even better. Not only do we aim to educate more students about Olin’s offerings, but we also hope to build the toolkit of CBO counselors so they are best prepared to advise students who may otherwise be unable to find the answers on ROI they are looking for.

Collaborations like counselor information events, student visits (both on-campus and virtual), financial aid town halls, and open houses can deliver this insight in several accessible formats. These such offerings (quite standard on most campuses) help connect CBOs to their local colleges and those across the country. Higher education institutions can increase the attractiveness of these outlets or reach out and make connections directly to support prospective students in the best way they see fit. Meanwhile, we are always looking to grow engagement with those on the counseling side of college process and the students they serve.

Accordingly, we see our relationship with Chicago Scholars as a beneficial two-way street where we can offer insight and gain great knowledge in return. When institutions like ours collaborate and grow for the benefit of students, especially those who may not have access to inside information otherwise, we’re directly combating the concerns the NYT points out and working toward a higher education landscape that is shifting for the betterment of the next generation of learners and leaders.

Chicago Scholars is proud to bring you essays about the impact of a college degree on our Scholars, their families, and communities. This essay was contributed by Michelle Valencia (Class of 2026), a student at University of St. Francis. 

I remember visiting campus for the first time with my parents. It was for a scholarship competition to determine whether I would attend university. I am generally a confident person, but the reality of leaving high school and starting a new chapter of my life made my heart palpitate. I realized I had the potential to improve my family’s life and bring positive changes to my community if I decided to embark on this journey for the next four years. As these thoughts ran through my head, I heard my parents speaking quietly in the background. “This place feels like home,” my mom said. My dad agreed, saying he would feel proud if his daughter spent the upcoming years at this university. After overhearing my parents’ conversation, I felt certain of my decision to pursue a college degree.

As someone who grew up in Mexico, I always envisioned ways to improve my surroundings. Throughout school, I have participated in advocacy events to defend immigrants’ rights and called for increased resources for the most vulnerable in society. Currently, I am involved in over 10 clubs and organizations at my university. Among many roles, I serve as the Vice President of Student Endeavors for the Student Government Association. In this role, I plan large-scale events on campus and connect with students and faculty to determine their needs. I am also the Chair of Servant Leaders, a group dedicated to placing others’ needs before our own and helping students attain career-accelerating opportunities. I feel blessed to have the chance to impact lives through my work in these roles. Moreover, I am grateful to my parents for supporting me along the way.

I am also deeply appreciative of Chicago Scholars for equipping me with the skills and resources to be where I am now. Chicago Scholars gave me mentorships, a valuable network, and lasting relationships. I value being a Chicago Scholar because I know someone had faith in my abilities and saw my potential to accomplish great things. Becoming a Chicago Scholar was a pivotal moment in my life, and it remains one of the greatest contributors to my earning a college degree.

As I write this essay, I recognize the tremendous impact earning a college degree will have on my family and community. I have the opportunity to have an education, something not everyone has equal access to. I am committed to using my college degree to change the lives of those struggling and help them attain a better life situation. Further, I will use my college degree in my career to ensure people are treated fairly in the workplace and recognize their self-worth.

Chicago Scholars is excited to bring you a series of essays and reflections on the impact of Scholars’ college degrees on their communities, their families, and themselves. This essay was written by Ginelle Bamfo, Class of 2025.

Deciding to pursue a degree in Film & TV at New York University was one of the best things I could’ve done for myself. While it’s true that in most artistic fields, a degree isn’t a necessary aspect of a successful career, there is so much value in doing so anyway. I grew up loving and consuming art, and it showed me ways to communicate with the world even when I found doing so extremely difficult. Art has made me who I am, and I am extremely passionate about creating stories that help others discover who they are too.

So, what does a college degree have to do with any of that? For one, being in a controlled environment that encourages me to make mistakes and learn through them in my craft is invaluable. I’ve learned so much more about how to take care of the technical aspects of art so that I can better communicate the heart of each story. But, the most beneficial part of my schooling so far has been the people that I’ve been able to connect with as a result of being here.

I’ve found so many lifetime collaborators through my time at NYU, and I haven’t even graduated. I’ve connected with alumni who have founded their own production companies and have worked at big-names companies like NBC or Disney. I’ve talked to multi-hyphenates who have done everything from acting to camerawork. My network has exploded, and now I have so many dependable contacts that I can always call when I need something. Not to mention the professors that I have access to now. There are so many people here that have created work that inspires me and have taught more productive and efficient ways to work.

Because of my degree, I’m being given opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise have. My time in college has helped me secure internships at WarnerBros/Discovery and HBO. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Prague and to work on 35 mm film. I’ve connected with other Black creatives and taken up leadership roles in spaces dedicated to us.

My time in college has helped me find security in my sense of self and identity. Pursuing a degree has been one of the best things I’ve done in my life and I can’t wait to see what post-grad life holds for me.

August Career Partner Highlight:

Cars Commerce

The Emerge Summer Career & Leadership Program may be over for this year – but we’re finishing out our series of spotlights on our incredible Emerge Career Partners, the companies and organizations that make our Emerge internships possible. For each, we’ve given you a special look at what called them to partner with us, shared stories of their Scholar interns – and maybe inspired you and your company to partner too!

Our August Emerge Career Partner Highlight of the Month is Cars Commerce, the expanded platform behind Cars.com that allows a simplified experience of buying and selling cars. With their roots and current headquarters based firmly in Chicago, Cars Commerce has partnered with Chicago Scholars to host several Emerge interns over the years. Cars Commerce is also committed to community engagement, making them a fantastic partner in our work. We talked with the communications team at Cars Commerce about the company’s commitment to our Scholars – read on for their responses!

Firstly, why did you choose to partner with Chicago Scholars?

“We have employees all over North America, but we launched our headquarters here in Chicago 25 years ago. We are deeply committed to our community and our hometown city. We’re thrilled to partner with Chicago Scholars in their mission to nurture the next generation of diverse leaders from our own backyard. This collaboration not only supports a vital cause but also strengthens our talent pipeline, paving the way for future opportunities within Cars Commerce.”

To continue, why did Cars Commerce go beyond general sponsorship of Chicago Scholars to also host interns as part of the Emerge program?

“Instead of merely sponsoring Chicago Scholars through a general sponsorship, we hosted 6 Emerge interns this year to offer more direct, hands-on support and development for emerging professionals. By integrating these interns into our team, we provide them with practical experience, mentorship, and potential career pathways. In return, we gain fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, benefiting from their contributions and the dynamic impact they bring.”

What is Cars Commerce looking to accomplish through your internship program?

“Our goal is to offer the next generation of professionals valuable real-world experience through engaging projects, hands-on training, and mentorship, helping them stand out in a saturated job market.”

What qualities does Cars Commerce look for in potential Emerge interns? 

“We seek individuals who are eager to learn, highly adaptable, and passionately curious about their field. These traits help them excel in our fast-paced industry and fully leverage their internship experience.”

Finally, what are your hopes for the young adults of Chicago?

“Being based in Chicago, we are fully committed to our community. We aim to provide individuals with the skills and experiences needed to excel both personally and professionally, empowering them to eventually contribute back to the community.”

Inspired by Cars Commerce’s work with our Emerge Scholars? Head here to learn more about becoming a partner with us!

Meet Our 2024 Reach Innovation Award Winner – Levenfeld Pearlstein

Meet Our 2024 Reach Pathways Innovation Award Winner, Levenfeld Pearlstein– With this award, we honor a company or organization that has allowed Chicago Scholars and Reach Pathways to reach new heights due to their support and innovation. LP has been an incredible growth partner over the last year, and has allowed us to grow Reach to new stages, and introduce it to new audiences.

We spoke with Suzanne Shier, Of Counsel in the firm’s Trusts and Estates group, about what it means to be recognized for this award, and how it drives LP forward as they continue their work in partnership with Chicago Scholars. Read on for her responses!

July Career Partner Highlight:

Radio Flyer

There’s just over two more weeks until our Emerge Summer Career & Leadership Program closing ceremony – and we’re continuing our series of spotlights on several of our incredible Emerge Career Partners, the companies and organizations that make our Emerge internships possible. For each, we’ll give you a special look at what called them to partner with us, tell stories of their Scholar interns – and maybe inspire you and your company to partner too!

Our July Emerge Career Partner Highlight of the Month is Radio Flyer, the company behind the iconic red wagon, which has more recently expanded to so much more. With their headquarters right here on the West Side of Chicago, Radio Flyer has partnered with Chicago Scholars to host several Emerge interns over the years, as well as hosting yearly Growth Labs at their Radio Flyer Campus. We talked with Lisa Cockrell, lead of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Radio Flyer, about the company’s commitment to our Scholars.

Firstly, why did you choose to partner with Chicago Scholars?

“Radio Flyer chose to partner with Chicago Scholars because of the awesome work and opportunities that they provide to Chicago youth. When we first were introduced to Chicago Scholars through a volunteer opportunity at the annual college Onsite event, there was synergy among, parents, students, business partners, colleges/university partners, and the Chicago Scholars team that was unparalleled. What Chicago Scholars has cultivated for Chicago youth is something great and Radio Flyer wanted to be a part of that work.” 

To continue, why did you choose to specifically support the Emerge Program as a Career Partner and Growth Lab Host? 

“Radio Flyer recognizes that the students of Chicago Scholars are some of the best and brightest in the Chicagoland area. As a best places to work company we want to support these students as they matriculate through their college journey.”

What is Radio Flyer looking to accomplish through your internship program?

“Our internship program is a direct pipeline to full-time employment at Radio Flyer. Currently, about 30% of our full-time employees were previous interns.”

What can Emerge Interns plan to experience and learn about at Radio Flyer’s Growth Lab? 

“Through the Radio Flyer Growth Lab, Emerge Interns will learn professional development skills that will help them become more self-aware, confident and be able to solicit and give feedback. They will tour our Chicago offices and be able to talk with Flyers (employees) in various professional disciplines.”

Finally, what are your hopes for the young adults of Chicago?

“Our hope for the young adults of Chicago is that they will have equal access to opportunities for success without systematic barriers. In addition, we hope that young adults find a workplace where they can say, “I love my job.”

Inspired by Radio Flyer’s work with our Scholars? Head here to learn more about becoming a partner with us!

Meet The Emerge Intern – Growth Labs

The Chicago Scholars and Invest for Kids Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program is already almost halfway over! We’re celebrating this year’s class of interns by bringing you a weekly blog post focused on their experience – continuing on this week with a look what projects our interns are working on, and what they’re learning on the job.

This week, we’re featuring a blog post from Henry Lui, whom is interning this summer with Cars Commerce, and is a Chicago Scholar from the Class of 2026. He is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read on for his full post focused on the Growth Labs interns attend each Friday:

Meet The Emerge Intern – Work Project Debrief

The Chicago Scholars and Invest for Kids Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program is in full swing! We’re celebrating this year’s class of interns by bringing you a weekly blog post focused on their experience – continuing on this week with a look what projects our interns are working on, and what they’re learning on the job.

This week, we’re featuring a blog post from Dianella Ruiz, whom is interning this summer with The Women’s Business Development Center, and is a Chicago Scholar from the Class of 2026. She is currently attending Boston University. Read on for her full post:

Meet Aniyah Davies, the new Marketing & Communications Intern with Chicago Scholars! Aniyah is a Chicago Scholar from the Class of 2026, currently attending Kent State University

We spoke with Aniyah about her experience as a Scholar so far, what she’s excited to learn in this internship, and what advice she has for younger students looking to start their first internship. Read on for her responses!

Meet The Emerge Intern – First Week Reflection

The Chicago Scholars and Invest for Kids Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program is in full swing! We’re celebrating this year’s class of interns by bringing you a weekly blog post focused on their experience – starting this week with a reflection on their first official week of work.

This week, we’re featuring a blog post from Jennifer Vergara, whom is interning this summer with BMO Bank, and is a Chicago Scholar from the Class of 2026. She is currently attending Gold Plus Partner, DePaul University. Read on for her full post:

We’re just a few days away from the start of our Emerge Summer Career & Leadership Program – and we’re continuing our series of spotlights on several of our incredible Emerge Career Partners, the companies and organizations that make our Emerge internships possible. This month, we’re giving you a bonus Emerge Intern spotlight to go along with our Career Partner highlight – meet Sam Vargas, Environmental Health & Safety Intern at Magid Glove & Safety.

As a recipient of the Rusty Cohen Legacy Scholarship with Magid and Chicago Scholars, Sam also took part in the company’s internship program with Emerge, and spent the summer of 2023 learning about all things health and safety in the workplace, taking on projects of his own, and advancing his career. Read on to hear about Sam’s internship experience, his future plans, and what advice he has for students starting their first internships.

Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and when you’re set to graduate?

“My name is Sam Vargas and I am a civil engineering major at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I will graduate in 2026 and my Emerge Internship was with Magid Glove as their health and safety intern.”

To continue, how has Chicago Scholars supported you throughout your college and career journey?

“My experience in Chicago scholars has been very influential to my college and career success. Being a part of this community has allowed me to foster relationships with people who have knowledge about the college process and professional development knowledge. Not only has the guidance of the Chicago Scholars team fostered my development as a student and professional, it has also opened opportunities for me to gain work experience through internships provided by the Emerge program. Just this summer, I landed an amazing internship with one of the leading names in my field due to Chicago Scholars’ corporate partner connections.”

How would you describe your internship experience with Magid?

“My internship experience with Magid was amazing. While the role of environmental health and safety intern was a very new role to me, my manager made my role easy to understand and also made it known that I was valuable to the team, even being allowed to start my own project due to their faith in me. The work I was doing was influential and I was even able to see the progress in my work and receive feedback about it. I also enjoyed my time there due to the work and life balance that the company encourages. They do this with their recreational opportunities, which include: two tracks that employees are encouraged to use, a basketball court, ping pong tables, and a pickleball court as well. These recreational opportunities helped me make great friendships with my fellow interns and managers.”

How has your internship with Magid impacted your career journey?

“My career journey has only been propelled by Magid. Working there I was taught what it is like to be part of a team that trusts in each other’s capabilities. Being able to manage projects as well as take the lead on certain assignments helped me acquire skills that I use to this day in my project management field. Magid has also taught me a lot of knowledge about things we see in our day-to-day lives but don’t think about, causing me to be well versed in the safety and personal protection field as many only know equipment but not specifics. this has allowed me to express myself as a leader and professional which gets recognized a lot when speaking to potential employers.”

What were some of the highlights of your Emerge experience?

“The highlights of my Emerge program were my reviews, cohort meetings, and working on our company. I liked the opportunities I was given at Magid to collaborate with my manager and hear what I was doing good at and if there were more opportunities to expand my knowledge. The cohort meetings were a nice way to end the week as I got to meet with interesting companies and learn about what they do while also meeting with fellow students from other programs and hearing what they were working on as well. Finally, being able to work through the logistics of creating a company using the golden circle was influential in being able to present about something I’m passionate about as well as being able to present about myself. Overall, my highlights were the moments I got to socialize, learn, and develop new skills.”

Finally, what advice would you offer Scholars going into their first internship experience?

“Entering your first internship can be a daunting experience, especially with little to no knowledge about how to do the work. My biggest advice would be to ask questions and take notes, and if you have downtime see what else you can learn. I do this at each of my internships and it has propelled my career and in some cases helped with my career-specific college courses. Doing these things shows drive, passion, and will help you decide if that is your path in life.”

Inspired by Sam’s experience as an intern, and want to host Scholar interns at your company? Head here to learn more about becoming a partner with us!

May Career Partner Highlight:

Magid Glove & Safety

We’re just a few days away from the start of our Emerge Summer Career & Leadership Program – and we’re continuing our series of spotlights on several of our incredible Emerge Career Partners, the companies and organizations that make our Emerge internships possible. For each, we’ll give you a special look at what called them to partner with us, tell stories of their Scholar interns – and maybe inspire you and your company to partner too!

Our Chicago Scholars May Emerge Career Partner Highlight of the Month is Magid Glove & Safety, a revolutionary and family-owned force in PPE Manufacturing that’s been keeping workers safe for four generations! Based in Romeoville, Magid partners with Chicago Scholars to offer the Rusty Cohen Legacy Scholarship Fund, which includes an internship component, and has hosted several Emerge interns over the years. We talked with Gigi Cohen, Executive Vice President of Magid, about the company’s commitment to our Scholars.

Firstly, why did you choose to partner with Chicago Scholars?

“In 2021, we wanted to offer a scholarship to honor the memory of Rusty Cohen, a family leader who had been actively involved in working with students from under-resourced communities to help them get into and graduate from college.  We researched a number of organizations and felt the Chicago Scholars programming best aligned with our vision.”

To continue, why did Magid choose to go beyond just supporting Chicago Scholars as a scholarship funder, but to sponsor an intern as part of the Emerge program?

“The Rusty Cohen Legacy Scholarship includes a summer internship as part of the scholarship.  We felt including the intern in the Emerge program would further enhance the internship experience. ”

What is Magid looking to accomplish through your internship program?

“There is a shortage of professionals in the Environmental, Health & Safety industry.  We are hoping to raise awareness of the EH&S industry and the various professions available.  In addition, we are hoping to broaden our interns’ understanding of the wide variety of business careers that are available. Lastly, we are hoping to provide future leaders of Chicago with insight into the world of business.”

What qualities does Magid look for in potential Emerge interns and scholarship recipients? 

“As with any Magid team member, we are looking for motivated, smart, creative and curious people. Chicago Scholars are a great fit because they have demonstrated high academic performance, leadership potential and initiative.”

Finally, what are your hopes for the young adults of Chicago?

“Like the Chicago Scholars team, we believe that a college degree does more than change the course of a student’s life – it brings opportunities and new perspectives to their community, too.  We are hoping to help develop the future leaders of Chicago!”

Inspired by Magid’s work with our Scholars? Head here to learn more about becoming a partner with us!

For the past month, we’ve been walking you through the ins and outs of our Scholar Dollars and ELD Grant programs, as well as our incredible Scholarship offerings. This month, we’re bringing you some one on one interviews with scholarship funders and partners, Scholars who have received funding, and more.

We spoke with Bridget Drury, Associate Director of Scholar Supports and Wellness at Chicago Scholars, about what resources are available for Scholars to safeguard their health and wellness, the Lifeline Grant, and honoring Mental Health Awareness month all year round.

What is your role and what does it entail? 

“My role is the Associate Director of Scholar Supports and Wellness. I oversee everything health and wellness related for our college Scholars, but also support other areas of the programming, such as identifying and informing Scholars of free and low-cost resources, or giving referrals, as well as having events where we teach Scholars low-cost ways to take care of themselves. When you’re a broke college student, it’s important to learn how to create balance as you’re juggling so many things. I also oversee the emergency fund, known as Lifeline. It exists to make sure Scholars have their basic needs covered when the unexpected happens. One mishap can throw your college dreams out the window. Whether that be rent or food, we make sure to holistically address their wellness, financial, and mental and physical health needs.”

What do you find fulfilling about your work? 

“I really like seeing the direct impact of my work, and the work we do as an organization. For Lifeline, those funds are going to pay a college Scholar’s rent, or paying a car maintenance fee, so we can see the short-term impact. Working here for almost five years, I’ve seen a lot of Scholars graduate, and the Lifeline funding can often be crucial. Nonprofit work is often very emotionally taxing on staff – but at Chicago Scholars we can see that the work we do matters and that we really are helping our Scholars.”

What is something about your job that you wish people knew? 

“I wish more people knew that Lifeline isn’t a scholarship – it’s for the unexpected. Sometimes stakeholders might think they can use it to pay for books, tuition, or other expected costs. We try to reserve the funds for students that are going through emergency situations. We don’t want people to prove their trauma or poverty. We recently had a Scholar that had an unexpected death in the family and needed to go home for the funeral and then fly back to school to take their finals. In part, I’m trying to help Scholars budget their money. Every student needs to pay for books, but we try to reserve funds for the unexpected. Every penny of the Lifeline Grant is spent each each, so I’m always trying to assess what is an emergency versus an expense.”

How does your work fit into the ecosystem of Chicago Scholars and our Scholars lives? 

“I think that especially in the last couple years, the Scholars that are graduating have had a great experience, and they want to come back and help. We had a panelist that came back as an Alum to participate. He wants to help. It feeds into a phrase we like to say – ‘once a Scholar, always a Scholar.’ We can instill that sense of belonging and community and Scholars find that impactful. They feel they benefitted from our program, both in mentoring and the one–on–one support in building connections. Scholars want to come back and stay engaged with us.”

Do you have a favorite scholarship related story/memory?

“A general thought is that in the last two years, at the end of every semester or graduation season, I intentionally reach out to the Lifeline recipients. I follow up and see if they are persisting or graduating. I had several Scholars say they were graduating on time because of the Lifeline funding. One Scholar had received three Lifeline grants throughout college and when I reached out, he told me he had a job lined up after graduation. I like hearing their stories and when they share the good news. Oftentimes we get the bad news, the emergencies that need help, but it’s great to get the good.”

What does your day-to-day work look like? 

“I spend most days checking Lifeline requests that come in, or reaching out or collaborating with other staff to talk to Scholars about their financial needs. Sometimes I’m working with college partners to see where they can provide support to our Scholars. I evaluate survey data and what Scholars say they need. We have the college success survey going out this month, and I look at the mental health data and see whether they’re receiving the support they need. I also work with staff to see where more partnerships can be brought in, and what resources we need to look into creating.”

Do you have anything else you want people to know about our work with Wellness for our Scholars?

I’d like people to know that by donating any amount to our Lifeline Grant, you’re making a direct impact on our Scholars and what we can offer them in emergencies, when they need us most. There is a lot of data out there that shows that emergency funds are very impactful in terms of college persistence, and the Lifeline Grant is no different. You can be part of that. 

Discover more about our scholarship opportunities, read about recent awardees, and learn how to become a funder by visiting our Chicago Scholars Scholarships webpage: https://chicagoscholars.org/scholarships/. If you are interested in exploring opportunities to sponsor a scholarship for our students, please contact us at scholarships@chicagoscholars.org. 

Korbin Houstin, Mentor since 2023

As of today, there’s just one more day to apply to become a Chicago Scholars Mentor! Be sure to get your application in before it closes on the 3rd.

In celebration, we’re introducing you to our final Mentor of the month! Over the past several months, we’ve introduced you to some of our current incredible mentors, given you a special look at what called them to take on this responsibility, and shared stories of connection with their Scholar cohorts – and maybe inspired you to become a mentor too!

Our May Mentor of the Month is Korbin Houstin, who started her journey with Chicago Scholars as a Scholar from the class of 2018. After her college graduation and several big moves in her professional career, she returned to bring her experience and compassion to a new class of Scholars, this time as a mentor.

“I wished that I felt comfortable being a mentor sooner, but I came to it in my own time. Despite going through the Chicago Scholars program myself, when I first graduated from college I was still trying to find my footing. At the time, I didn’t feel that I had much to offer as a mentor – but I wish I would have seen that just by showing up and being a reliable adult to lean on for advice, I was already bringing everything a mentor needs to the table.”

“However, I did join the Chicago Scholars Alumni Board along with volunteering at events with scholars. It was at one event in particular when I was helping a Scholar that it really occurred to me. Despite being fairly early in my career, and without having a wide professional network to offer, I was still an alumni who really knew the program and could guide scholars though it when they ran in to issues.”

During her first year as a mentor for Chicago Scholars, Korbin has been able to build relationships with the Scholars in her cohort, guiding them into their first year of college and beyond. As she continues her mentoring experience, she’s seen how impactful being a resource for Scholars can be, and hopes other people are encouraged to sign up.

“I encourage anyone who’s interested in helping youth to be a mentor. By signing up, you’re directly helping college bound youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, just by being a stable and encouraging presence. Relationships between scholars and mentors vary, but at the very least you can be a resource to a scholar who may not have many other places to turn.”

Inspired by Korbin’s story? Head here to learn more about applying to be a mentor! The mentor application is open to support our new incoming class of Chicago Scholars – head here to check out the application and apply before the deadline on May 3rd!