Lina Patton

Lina Patton has always considered herself creative—and she isn’t the only one. As a high schooler at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Lina’s creativity was so apparent that a teacher encouraged her to apply for an apprenticeship for creative youth at Ogilvy, a global branding, advertising, marketing, and public relations agency.

She got the position around the same time she made the decision to attend Harold Washington College, a decision she calls ‘easy’ because of the Star Scholarship, which would fully cover the cost of her tuition and books.

“The Star Scholarship was a huge relief for me,” Lina said. “I didn’t have the funding to pay for college right away, and I didn’t want to rely on student loans or go into debt.”

The summer before classes started, Lina traveled from her home in Englewood to Ogilvy’s offices downtown three times a week for her apprenticeship. The opportunity sparked her interest in advertising and communications. When the Fall semester started, Lina carried that appreciation for advertising with her. She also began to appreciate the diversity of her classes—and her classmates.

“Here at Harold Washington, I’m able to meet people from so many different backgrounds,” she said. “That’s what I love about this college—that we can all be in class together and learn from each other.”

Having already completed one apprenticeship, Lina was excited when she saw an email about a different work-based learning opportunity with City Colleges’ partner Weber Shandwick, another global communications and public relations agency. She applied for the yearlong position and was hired as one of only two public relations (PR) apprentices for the company.

“Through the experience, I learned a lot about how to work with influencers, with brands, and more. It was really fun to get experience with earned media and to learn from my coworkers. Even senior directors would make time to speak with me,” she said.

Lina completed the apprenticeship in October 2024 and plans to graduate with her associate degree in spring 2025. Next, she hopes to transfer to DePaul University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in advertising—a goal her apprenticeships helped her discover.

“Apprenticeships allow you to be a beginner,” Lina said. “They give you an opportunity to learn and grow.”