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I found so much more than an affordable, quality education at Wilbur Wright College, I found a community.
When I was a senior in high school, I had a good idea of what I wanted to do with my life, but I was unsure about how I would achieve it. I knew college would put a financial strain on my family. My thinking changed after a conversation with my brother. He suggested I take a serious look at the Star scholarship I was eligible for. It provides Chicago Public Schools students the opportunity to earn their associate degree at City Colleges tuition free. I took his advice, accepted the scholarship, and enrolled in Wilbur Wright College’s engineering program. I found so much more than an affordable, quality education, I found a community.
I got involved on campus. I noticed there was no active student organization dedicated to fostering a sense of community among Black students. That led me to restart the Black Student Union (BSU) at Wright with help from my faculty advisors. My position as president of the BSU and my student ambassador job in the Financial Aid office helped me develop invaluable leadership skills and long-lasting relationships with faculty and staff.
I now advocate for high school students to take advantage of the Star scholarship and speak highly about the resources Wright provides its students like the Tutoring, Advising and Transfer, and Wellness Centers. However, the most valuable resources at Wright College are the people. The professors and staff are truly dedicated to motivating students to achieve their goals and find fulfillment in their academic pursuits. My connection with Associate Dean María Llόpiz led me to an alumnus who had completed the same program I was pursuing. I was able to shadow him and confirm my passion for industrial engineering.
Thanks to the connections I made at Wright, my education in the engineering program, and the leadership skills I developed, I transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and participated in an engineering co-op with the Illinois Tollway. I am proud to be a Wright College graduate, as I firmly believe that it provided me with a strong foundation to successfully transfer to UIC, earn my Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, and secure a position at a civil engineering firm immediately after graduation.
At 15, I never imagined I’d one day work in the automotive industry. Back in middle school, I told everyone on career day that I wanted to design cars, which sparked my interest in engineering—but the cost of college made that dream feel out of reach.
When Kenneth Balcarcel moved to the United States from Guatemala, he faced the daunting challenge of learning a new language while navigating life in a new country.
For more than 25 years, Jocelyn Sanders built a successful career as a salon owner and licensed cosmetologist. But deep down, there were still goals she wanted to complete, like going back to school.
After my time in the military, I decided to enroll at Wilbur Wright College. I saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start. I was determined to take full advantage of every resource available to me. I learned how to study and take notes, I met with my advisors, I networked with my peers, and I was enjoying all my classes. One day, one of my professors took notice of my hard work and dedication and asked me a simple question that changed the entire trajectory of my life: “How are you paying for college?”
