Jade Villalobos

Jade Villalobos excelled in high school at UIC College Prep and dreamed of going to college, but attending a four-year university was out of reach due to the cost of tuition. When her high school counselor suggested City Colleges of Chicago and the Star Scholarship, Jade hesitated. She had heard the stereotypes about community colleges but couldn’t ignore the incredible opportunity to earn an associate degree tuition-free at Harold Washington College.

Jade enrolled to study marketing, and her ideas about community college quickly changed. Although she attended Harold Washington during the height of COVID and many of her classes were virtual, Jade found that the small class sizes, dedicated professors, and extensive resources created a supportive, tight-knit community. Professors went out of their way to help her succeed, offering mentorship and even letters of recommendation.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Jade said. “I was meant to be at City Colleges. I’m grateful to have started there. If I went straight to a four-year, I think I would’ve been lost.”

Harold Washington equipped Jade with the tools and confidence to transfer successfully. The college’s Transfer Director Ellen Goldberg helped Jade navigate financial aid, tuition fees, scholarships, and transfer partners.

Jade’s hard work paid off. She earned the Harold Washington Local 1600 Union Scholarship and the Friends of Harold Washington Scholarship to support her transfer. She also received the CME Group Star Partnership Mayoral Scholarship, a $5,000 award she initially hesitated to apply for because she didn’t know if she qualified. Encouraged by Director Goldberg, Jade applied—and received it. Jade also applied for a full scholarship to Elmhurst University. Once again, Jade received good news.

As a first-generation college student, Jade credits Harold Washington for preparing her to transition seamlessly to Elmhurst University, where she is currently pursuing a degree in digital marketing communications with a minor in digital media. The small class sizes at Elmhurst mirror the environment she thrived in at Harold Washington, making for a smooth adjustment.

Jade is on the Dean’s List and serves as a student ambassador giving campus tours. Her hard work also led to an internship as an events and communications specialist for the Office of Admissions in Spring 2025. Most recently, Jade showcased her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit by winning first place in Elmhurst’s E-celerator Bluejay Tank Competition—the university’s version of the TV show “Shark Tank.” She pitched Fashion Forecast, an app to help users create outfits from their wardrobe based on the weather.

As she looks toward her graduation in May 2025, Jade hopes to work in marketing or communications. She’s grateful for the opportunities City Colleges provided her with to go further than she ever thought possible.