Launch Portal

Do you have a mentor who has made a significant impact on your academic or personal journey? If so, we encourage you to nominate them for the Mentor of the Year Award! Nominating your mentor is a wonderful way to show appreciation for their dedication and commitment.

To submit your nomination, please fill out the nomination form by Sunday, March 10th, using the following link: https://chicagoscholars.tfaforms.net/4618039

Your nomination could make all the difference in recognizing the hard work and dedication of your mentor. Don’t miss this opportunity to shine a spotlight on someone who has made a positive difference in your life!

The City of Chicago’s One Summer Chicago (OSC) Program seeks to create meaningful summer employment opportunities for Chicago’s youth, and is looking for students like you to join them this summer as an intern with the CTA!

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will be providing 250 high school interns with a 7-week paid internship, where interns will participate in a robust hybrid experience that includes an innovative approach to their hallmark program model of work experience, professional development, and mentorship from transportation industry leaders.

Benefits Include:

• $15.80/hour with FREE CTA, Pace, and Metra transportation
• Networking opportunities
• Professional development, financial literacy, and career exploration workshops
• Opportunity to be paid to earn college credit at the City Colleges of Chicago
• Technology provided during internship to enhance hybrid experience

Requirements Include:

• Must be a rising-sophomore to graduated senior, actively enrolled in high
  school
• 2.5 GPA or above
• Eligible to work in the United States
• Students under 16 years of age are eligible with work permit
• COVID-19 Vaccination NO LONGER REQUIRED

This program will run June 17 – August 2, 2024, Monday – Friday, from 9:00am – 2:30pm. Apply before April 15, 2024!

Are you interested in the field of Engineering?

🔎 Do you know any students with similar career goals?

🔎 Want the chance to speak with professionals on their career experiences?

Come join us in-person for a morning of networking with fellow students and networking professionals! 

The Chicago Engineers’ Foundation will be hosting a Student/Professional Networking Event on Saturday, February 24th from 10AM to 12PM CT. Click below to RSVP for the event as a Chicago Scholar!

Calling all mentors and scholars! Join us in Mentor Recruitment for the upcoming Class of 2029!

Mentor Recruitment Events You Can Participate In

⭐ Virtual New Mentor Open House

• Share your story/experience to individuals unfamiliar with the program!

⭐ Virtual New Mentor Interview Nights:

• Participate in the selection process
• Help identify qualities that make exceptional mentors

⭐ PR Opportunities

• Potential feature in media [TV, radio, print]
• Amplify the reach of our community and your story

Any Questions? Reach out to us: getinvolved@chicagoscholars.org

Check out available scholarship opportunities on our CS Scholarship page!

Learn more about scholarships like:

• ATLAS Fellows – due 3/3/24
• Chicago Engineers Foundation – due 4/1/24
• HEAR Foundation – due 2/11/24, 9 pm
• Pullman Foundation – due 2/1/24, 5 pm
• Renaissance Foundation – due 2/1 or 5/1
• Wentcher Foundation – due 2/7/24, 6 pm
• Additional Chicago Scholars Scholarships – apps due starting 3/1/24

And more! Check out the scholarship page below and explore various opportunities, including unique scholarships offered ONLY to CS scholars!

 Sleep

Sleep is essential to your mental and physical health! Lack of sleep can make you emotionally and physically exhausted, leading to more stress and burnout. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night to let your mind and body rest, and you’ll find yourself ready and energized for the day!

 Be Present

You may find yourself often consumed with thoughts of your future, like grades, graduation, and college. While these are essential things to keep in mind, you also need to balance being in the present.  If you’re with your friends, focus entirely on being with them. If you find your mind drifting as you work, get up and take five minutes to do something else. Once you take this time to come back to the present, you’ll find yourself more focused when you return to your task.

When you are overwhelmed with anxiety, try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique and use your five senses to help you focus on the current moment. After taking some deep breaths, identify five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Enjoy your time with your friends and family and do something that makes you happy! 

 Soak Up The Sun

Going outside and soaking up the sun can elevate your mental health and increase the brain’s release of serotonin. Plan an activity with friends, or grab a blanket and enjoy a few hours in the sun as self-care!

 Exercise

Exercise is known to be good for your physical as well as your mental health, including your mood, sleep, and concentration. And it doesn’t have to be strenuous either! It can simply be going for a 30-minute walk a few times a week. Aim for a total of 150 minutes of exercise each week, and if that seems too much, doing something is always better than doing nothing. Ask a friend if they’ll exercise with you. Having someone else with you can be a great motivator, and they’ll make sure you stick to your schedule.

 Create Goals

Set reasonable goals for yourself. Creating some healthy habits can help your mental health. If your current sleep schedule isn’t working try to go to bed 45 minutes earlier than usual, and observe how you feel the following day. Are you more energized? Give it seven days, and if you find yourself feeling better, stick with it!

The future is daunting and stressful to think about. We’ve all been there. At the end of the day, what matters most is you. So make sure you’re taking care of yourself and enjoying the present!

[Source] https://www.meredith.edu/admissions-blog/five-ways-high-school-seniors-can-prioritize-mental-health/

 Stay Connected To Home

It’s a good idea to find ways of keeping yourself connected after graduating. A favorite stuffed animal, some photos, or a friendly, familiar voice to call can go a long way towards helping you feel grounded as you make a new start.

 Be Open To Meeting New People

Soon you’ll find yourself surrounded by new faces, such as roommate(s), classmates, coworkers, and new neighbors. Challenge yourself to be the first one to say hello, to start a conversation. “Putting yourself out there” is a skill you can develop over time. Start now!

 Go Easy On Yourself

All this time, you thought graduating was the hard part… but now there’s so much to think through and handle! Be patient with yourself: This is uncharted territory, and you’re doing the best you can.

 Let Yourself Dream

From their school guidance counselors, to commencement speakers, to relatives with hard opinions, graduating seniors are given a whole lot of unsolicited advice. Allow yourself to dream about your future for awhile. And if someone asks you what your exact, 10-year plan is, don’t worry if you’re not sure just yet. (Spoiler alert: None of us are!)

 Care For Your Body

We know you’ve heard it all before, but sometimes it helps to hear it from someone other than your dad or your health teacher: Drink plenty of water. Find exercise you enjoy and make time for it each day. Get enough sleep. Educate yourself on sexual health. Nourish your body with colorful, nutritious, satisfying food. This is age-old advice for a reason, we promise you.

 Learn To Quiet The Mind, Naturally

From round-the-clock fast food access to drugs and alcohol to credit card reps offering you a special low-interest rate, you won’t have to look far for potential ways to distract yourself. Our advice? Learn to quiet your mind naturally, and you’ll have access to all the calming benefits without the consequences.

 Savor The Experience

This summer after graduating will be over in the blink of an eye. Try to pause every now and then to breathe in, look around, and take a mental snapshot of what you’re experiencing.

 Give Thanks

There will be moments after graduating when you can’t believe how much fun you’re having. And there will be moments when life feels anything but “fun”. Learn to feel gratitude in both extremes (and every situation in between), and you’ll have unlocked a key to lasting wellness.

 Be A Helper, And Accept Help Yourself

There’s this idea floating around that the world is divided into those who help others and those who need help. But, that’s a lie. We’re both, every one of us. So, look out for the people around you. And when you’re in need of help, ask for it.

 Embrace Change

There’s no doubt about it: Change is hard. You might feel yourself being pulled in new directions, and you might notice changes in your relationships with the people around you and at home. Try to remember: Change is growth. Give yourself time and freedom to evolve. And if you could use some support along the way, we’re here for you.

[Source] https://www.sonderwellness.com/blog/2019/06/10/graduating/

Take a deep dive into all colleges that Chicago Scholars is partnered with including Gold partners and Platinum Partner colleges here. You can also find Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s), and Historically Black and/or Women’s Colleges and Universities.

It’s a good idea to reserve your mandatory workshop dates in advance for the year! Try your best to set aside or reschedule any other external commitments as best as you can.

It’s a busy season, especially for Launch Scholars! If you find that you need additional support to complete your Launch requirements, we are happy to connect you with your assigned Engagement Contact. They can provide personalized resources or answer any questions you may have.

Unsure who your Engagement Contact is? Email teamlaunch@chicagoscholars.org and we can connect you!

Visit your Scholar Handbook to get a better understanding of the Chicago Scholars program, your requirements as a Launch Scholar and more.

Click below to see all slide decks from the 2023 Launch Workshops