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Alan’s journey is one of resilience, hope, and opportunity.
Alan’s journey is one of resilience, hope, and opportunity. As a DACA recipient from a low-income background, he faced numerous financial hurdles that made attending a traditional university feel unattainable. However, City Colleges of Chicago presented Alan with opportunities and a pathway to pursue his passion for healthcare.
Malcolm X College’s diverse and inclusive community became a place where Alan thrived . The college became a supportive environment that embraced Alan’s unique challenges and helped him grow.
The pivotal moment for Alan came when a City Colleges staff member introduced him to the Monarch Scholarship. “The scholarship itself, even at home, is giving me more time to be with my kids and my husband. I don’t have to focus on my tuition- I can focus on my regular bills” Alan reflects.
Looking ahead, Alan is determined to continue his education, earn a bachelor’s degree, and ultimately become a physician’s assistant, working with neonatal or pediatric patients.
Karla Armour, a fifth-generation baker and a proud alumna of Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute at Kennedy-King College, has turned her love of baking into a business that blends culinary arts with her commitment to restorative justice.
For Jacqueline Urquizo, Daley College feels like home. She took Early College classes at Daley in high school, earned her associate in arts from the college, and now, she’s back as an employee.
Monique Ester-House always had big dreams, but the road to achieving them wasn’t easy.
At Olive-Harvey, Carlthel had the freedom to explore several academic pathways—business, nursing, and criminal justice—before earning an associate degree in general studies in 2013.
