Dylan McGee

When Dylan McGee graduated from Oswego High School, he didn’t have any college offers to play baseball. He thought his days on the baseball diamond were behind him until a phone call from Olive-Harvey College’s Head Baseball Coach Jameel Rush and Assistant Coach Sullivan Stickann changed everything.

“I wasn’t planning on playing anymore,” Dylan shared. “But Coach Rush invited me to visit, and I thought—why not take a chance on myself? I figured everything happens for a reason.”

Dylan’s journey at Olive-Harvey started with an unexpected challenge. Just as he was settling in during his first year, he tore his ACL and meniscus—an injury that left him questioning whether to remain enrolled. But with encouragement from his family and teammates, he stayed the course.

“I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to do it,” he admitted. “But the people around me—my family, coaches, and especially my team—kept me going.”

That sense of community made all the difference. For Dylan, the Olive-Harvey baseball team was more than just a team; it was a family.

“The coaches and my teammates made it for me,” he said. “They were the reason I kept showing up. We spent nearly every day together, and it was their support that pushed me through.”

Dylan graduated from Olive-Harvey in spring 2025 with an Associate of Arts degree in business administration, inspired by his mother’s career in the corporate world and his own entrepreneurial ambitions.

“I don’t want to get stuck in a cycle,” he said. “I want to be my own boss—to be able to show up for my future kids the way my parents showed up for me.”

Dylan is transferring to Purdue University Northwest this fall to continue his education and baseball career. There, he plans to join the Honors College and engage more with his campus and community. He recently received the news that he will be getting some help funding his education. Dylan is a recipient of the prestigious PepsiCo S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship, a $20,000 renewable award. He found the scholarship online, applied on a whim, and was stunned to receive the news.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Dylan said. “I called my mom, my dad, my grandma—everyone was so proud. It felt amazing knowing I’d be able to pay for college myself and ease that burden off my parents.”

The lessons Dylan learned at Olive-Harvey go far beyond baseball. Supportive instructors like Professor Donna Kassar and Professor Rochelle Robinson-Dukes helped create a welcoming, in-person learning environment that encouraged connection and growth. And his journey, full of unexpected twists, helped him realize the value of staying open to opportunities.

In the next five to ten years, Dylan hopes to launch his own business—possibly a boat chartering company in Florida, where much of his family lives.

“I want to create something that allows me to be present, enjoy life, and help others do the same,” he said. “Something fun and meaningful.”

To students unsure about attending City Colleges, Dylan offers this advice: “It’s a great start. You get a quality education, stay close to home, and save money. It’s a stepping stone that can take you anywhere.”

With resilience, heart, and a strong team behind him, Dylan McGee prepares to embark on a new journey knowing that great things happen when you bet on yourself.