CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Hundreds of Chicago high school seniors were among the first in the nation to be accepted to college Tuesday through the Chicago Scholars program.
Jeffrey Beckham, CEO of Chicago Scholars said 750 students were chosen
to talk to their top schools about their applications with some walking away with acceptance letters.
Founded in 1996, Chicago Scholars is a non-profit leadership development program focused on getting young people into college and then providing mentorship afterwards as well.
The event usually happens inside one of the huge ballrooms inside Navy Pier, but for the second year in a row, the Online Admissions Forum was virtual.
"Typically, we have between $20- $30 million dollars of merit scholarships given out, so it's day where our students are who are many of the first in their families to go to school-who are from low-income communities in Chicago actually interviewing to get into college," said Beckham.
Chicago Scholars, which is celebrating 25 years of granting senior scholarships, selects recipients each year through applications and interviews. To apply to Chicago Scholars, students must be high school juniors, live in Chicago and attend a Chicago high school.
"Over the last 25 years, Chicago Scholars has empowered more than 5,000 of Chicago's talented students," said Beckham.
"By making sure our Scholars have the right mentors, college counselors and opportunities, our Scholars are getting into their dream colleges, graduating and launching their careers as leaders."
