Our Scholars, Our Future: 30th Anniversary Gala

Created in 2009, the Crystal Award honors extraordinary champions of college-bound youth in Chicago. The award is named for Mrs. Crystal Ward, whose son, Cory, was accepted into ten colleges at Chicago Scholars’ first Onsite College & Leadership Forum in 2005, including his first choice, the University of Wisconsin. Though Mrs. Ward passed away later that year, her love, resilience, and unwavering belief in her son’s future continue to inspire the spirit of this award. 

This year, we are thrilled to honor A Better Chicago with the Crystal Award at Our Scholars, Our Future: 30th Anniversary Gala. For more than a decade, A Better Chicago has been a powerful partner in our growth, contributing $2.7 million to expand Chicago Scholars’ work and strengthen pathways for young leaders across our city. Since its founding in 2010, A Better Chicago has raised more than $50 million from over 2,200 donors to invest in Chicago’s most effective youth-serving nonprofits – fueling the kind of bold, citywide impact that changes what is possible for students and communities. 

At its heart, this recognition celebrates what partnership can make possible: a stronger future for Chicago’s next generation of leaders. 

“We’re incredibly honored to receive the Crystal Award during Chicago Scholars’ 30th anniversary celebration. Since 2016, we’ve been a proud partner as they connect talented students across the city with the guidance, opportunities, and support they need to thrive in college and beyond. We’re grateful for this recognition, and even more grateful for the partnership we’ve built together to improve outcomes for Chicago’s youth.” – A Better Chicago

Created in 2025, the Distinguished Alumni Award is a celebration of the incredible achievements of our Scholars in their lives after college. The award is presented to one esteemed and accomplished Chicago Scholars Alum annually. 

This year, we are thrilled to present Class of 2002 Alum Paul Trussell with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the Our Scholars, Our Future: 30th Anniversary Gala. 

Paul Trussell serves as VP, Corporate Finance & Treasurer at NIKE, Inc. In his role, Paul oversees Investor Relations, Treasury, Strategic Finance, Corporate Development, and Corporate FP&A, driving a holistic approach to long-term value creation. His responsibilities include managing relationships with Nike’s largest shareholders; communicating the company’s financial performance, strategy, and ESG priorities; overseeing capital allocation and returns on invested capital; and bringing external insights to inform financial planning.

Paul joined Nike in June 2021. Previously, he held senior leadership roles in equity research at Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan, where he covered a variety of retail sectors. Paul is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.