CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Every time a bell rings, a student receives a college scholarship. Every time a scholarship is awarded, the numbers board gets higher.
"We love the tote board,” smiled Chicago Scholars CEO Jeffrey Beckham. “It shows, in real time, how much merit scholarships we are giving away for school for these students.”
Chicago Scholars are chosen each year through applications and interviews. Students must be juniors in high school, live in Chicago and attend a high school in Chicago. They also need to be either a first-generation college student or come from an under-resourced community.
"We're an organization that works to provide students with mentors, college counselors, all the resources they need to make it from high school to college and college to career,” Beckham said. “Since 1996, we've done this now with 5,000-plus students. Our students are the first in their families to go to college and from low income backgrounds. These are young people really trying to take hold of their futures."
The 2022 event was the first one since 2019 to be held in person at Navy Pier.
"It's so great to be back,” Beckham said. “We've even added some things here. We have a leadership hub here. They can register to vote. We have parent resources here where they learn about how to finance school."
In addition, Chicago Scholars kicked off its Young Men of Color Initiative: a new program and commitment, which will extend their reach to young men of color and help keep them on track to graduate high school and attend college. The initiative launched during a special Young Men of Color Seeing is Believing program.
Angelo Perez, 17, is a senior at Bogan High School and the first in his family to attend college.
"It's been eventful,” he said. “I just had two interviews back to back. I interviewed with DePauw University and Cornell College. They both went really well.”
Perez will be the class valedictorian when he graduates in the spring of 2023. He was accepted to three of his five picks so far. His mother said it's been an emotional day.
"I'm so proud of him,” she smiled. “I'm beyond proud. My son works so hard, and he's a great role model for his younger siblings."
Sa'Niyah Bedell, 17, attends Westinghouse College Prep. Her top schools are University of Chicago, Spelman College, Michigan State and Knox College. Bedell wants to major in clinical psychology.
"My grandmother didn't get to go to college, so she made sure I had the chance,” Bedell said. I've already been accepted to Michigan State.”
"I was really nervous today but after my University of Chicago interview, I'm really pumped. I can't wait to get to the other interviews." said Bedell.
Omar Akil Solomon is a recruiter for Eastern Illinois University.
"I'm so glad we're back in person,” he said. “I love hearing all the students' stories and seeing their reactions.”
"I just talked to a student who was accepted to EIU and she also received the top level of our scholarships. I love giving away money that's not mine," Solomon laughed. "This is paying it forward to the next generation. These students are in a shopping mall for the future here."
As part of the annual Chicago Scholars’ Onsite College and Leadership Forum, 140 colleges and universities were on hand interviewing seniors. At last year's event, there were 776 admissions, and $31.7 million in merit aid was awarded.
"A college degree is just the starting line for what they are doing,” Beckham said. “They are taking their parents and families from multi generational poverty to multi generational prosperity and that's what this day is all about."
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