Jennifer

Jennifer enrolled at Kennedy-King College to continue pursuing a dream she had put on hold years earlier: to become not only a first-generation college student, but also a first-generation college graduate.  

After graduating high school in 2014, Jennifer attended a four-year university, but when her father became sick, she had to step into the role of caregiver on top of balancing school and work. Then, Jennifer’s grandmother passed away, and eventually, so did her father. But their passing gave her new motivation. 

“I was like, ‘Let me do it for them. Let me go back to school,'” she said. 

Jennifer chose Kennedy-King because of its proximity to her home. That was especially helpful as Jennifer welcomed her first child and continued operating her catering business. Jennifer also made the most of every opportunity during her time at Kennedy-King. She served as vice president of Phi Theta Kappa, participated in One Million Degrees, and built lasting relationships with classmates, faculty, and staff. Despite a packed schedule, Jennifer built the future she had always envisioned for herself and in 2025, she graduated with an associate degree in business and economics. 

“I got to meet amazing students,” she said. “That community that I have with City Colleges—it’s not just Kennedy-King. It’s across the campuses that I’ve made friends.”  

Jennifer’s business knowledge served her well during a year-long paid apprenticeship with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. As a Corporate Foundation Organization Development apprentice, Jennifer helped secure more than $50,000 in funding, built relationships with donors, gave tours, planned community events, and collaborated with teams across the organization. Jennifer credits Kennedy-King with preparing her for those opportunities. Business courses helped her understand how to communicate and collaborate across teams, while her speech and communication classes gave her the confidence to deliver presentations. 

“I had to talk with donors and give tours,” she said. “That definitely gave me the confidence to project my voice and communicate with people.” 

Growing up, Jennifer’s family sometimes relied on food pantries, and she volunteered at the Greater Chicago Food Depository as a student. Returning as an apprentice gave her a new perspective on how the organization’s partnerships, fundraising, and programs work together to fight hunger throughout Chicago. 

Today, Jennifer is continuing her education at DePaul University, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She is also on the Associate Board for One Million Degrees and volunteers as a One Million Degrees coach, helping other students navigate their own educational journeys. She hopes to continue working in nonprofit development while pursuing her long-term dreams of opening a restaurant, launching a food truck, and starting a nonprofit organization. 

For students who may be facing setbacks of their own, Jennifer offers simple advice.