Stephanie

Chicago native Stephanie has always had an interest in the human body. That interest led to her pursuing an education at Malcolm X College, with plans of attending Northeastern Illinois University, and one day becoming a physical therapy assistant.

Following the recommendation of a friend, Stephanie applied to Malcolm X after high school. She received the Star Scholarship which made attending Malcolm X an even easier decision.

“The Star Scholarship helped me go to school without stress, because it paid for books and everything,” she said “I didn’t have to worry about getting money for that or having a job. It allowed me to dedicate my time to my studies.”

Stephanie’s favorite part about attending Malcolm X was meeting people of varying ages and cultures, and hearing what led them to pursue a similar educational path. While Stephanie’s recognition as Malcolm X College’s 2026 valedictorian came as a surprise, she is happy to know that her efforts did not go unnoticed.

“All those classes I took, all the nights I spent studying, it’s been recognized,” she said, “That feels really good to me.”