City Colleges of Chicago Star Scholars preparing to earn their associate degree honored with a cording ceremony

“They earned their degree debt free. They’ve earned that opportunity. Know that City Colleges of Chicago, that we believe in you,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “Celebrate your accomplishments,” he told a packed room.

CHICAGO — (April 20, 2026) — More than 1,000 City Colleges of Chicago Star Scholars are expected to earn their associate degree in the 2025-26 school year. A number of these scholars will gather along with family and friends for the Star Scholar Cording Ceremony at 6pm on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Street in Chicago. Program begins at 6:15pm.

“The Star Scholarship has given me the opportunity to fully engage in my studies, connect with peers and faculty, and grow as a person and a student without the anxiety of college affordability. I believe the Star Scholarship has empowered me to pursue my academic and professional goals with clarity, confidence, and purpose,” said Harold Washington College Star Scholar Sebastian Ayala, Harold Washington College SGA Senator, member of the SGA Finance Committee and president of the Organization for Latin American Students.

During the Star Scholar Cording Ceremony, City Colleges leadership will present the royal blue cords that the Star Scholars will wear to the City Colleges Commencement ceremony on May 2, 2026 at Wintrust Arena. More than two hundred Star Scholars will be in attendance at the cording ceremony along with their families and friends, City Colleges of Chicago leaders, faculty and staff.

The Star Scholarship has given me the opportunity to fully engage in my studies, connect with peers and faculty, and grow as a person and a student without the anxiety of college affordability. I believe the Star Scholarship has empowered me to pursue my academic and professional goals with clarity, confidence, and purpose,” said Sebastian Ayala, business and economics student at Harold Washington College, member of the Student Government Association serving as its senator on the Finance Committee.

The Star Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that covers up to three years at City Colleges for tuition and books, after the application of financial aid. Students qualify for the Star Scholarship if they graduate from a Chicago Public School or partner with Big Shoulders Fund high school with at least a 3.0 GPA.

“The success of our Star Scholars proves that when financial obstacles are eliminated, college success follows. Our Star Scholar graduates will pursue further education and enter the workforce ready to contribute on day one, bringing their academic knowledge, adaptability, and strong problem-solving skills they learned at City Colleges,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “As they navigate a more competitive and evolving world shaped by tech and employer needs, I know they will be successful because of the flexibility and determination they have already shown. I look forward to seeing the impact our Star Scholars will make in their communities and beyond.”

The Star Scholarship program was launched in 2015, and since then, more than 20,000 graduates of the Chicago Public Schools and partner Big Shoulders Fund Catholic high schools have been recognized as Star Scholars. This academic year, about 1,051 students are expected to graduate as Star Scholars. More than half of the Star Scholars will go on to transfer within two years to a four-university. The top transfer universities for Star Scholars include: Chicago State University, DePaul University, National Louis University, University of Illinois Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, and Roosevelt University.

“The Star Scholarship gave me the freedom to choose my future without fear. Instead of worrying about how to afford school, I was able to grow, lead, and fully invest in my college education. Looking back, it wasn’t just financial support, it was the opportunity that changed everything for me,” said Natalia Santos, president of the Star Scholarship Ambassador Enrollment team and student at Richard J. Daley College; Phi Theta Kappa member, and Pi Rho Chapter, President.

“It’s a privilege to support students through the Star Scholarship program, which not only provides financial assistance but also opens doors for those who may not have seen college as a possibility,” said Star Scholarship Director Rhonda Hampton of City Colleges of Chicago. “Seeing our students’ dedication and celebrating their accomplishments at the Star Scholar Cording Ceremony is truly rewarding and I congratulate each and every one of them.”

To learn more about the Star Scholar program, visit www.ccc.edu/starscholarship or click here.

About City Colleges of Chicago

As the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity, City Colleges of Chicago catalyzes our students’ capacity to prosper and take part in building a stronger and more just Chicago.

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