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Stephanie Meeks, Olive-Harvey's 2023 valedictorian, hopes to combine her passions for mental and physical healthcare, as well as childcare, by becoming a psychiatric and labor and delivery nurse.
Stephanie Meeks came to Olive-Harvey College in September of 2020 after graduating from Carver Military Academy High School. Her high school advisor told her about the Star Scholarship, which encouraged Stephanie to start her college journey at City Colleges of Chicago, where she would be able to earn her associate degree at no cost.
Learning online was a challenge at first, but Stephanie worked hard, changing her plan of study along the way from early childhood education to psychology. During her time at Olive-Harvey, she joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Student Veterans Association. She also worked in the Registrar’s Office.
Seeing her mother and sister working in the medical field inspired Stephanie to follow suit. After finishing her associate degree program in psychology in December 2022, she decided to continue her studies at City Colleges, enrolling in the Medical Assisting program at Malcolm X College.
Stephanie plans to finish her Medical Assisting program and then transfer to Chicago State University or Governors State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She hopes to combine her passions for mental and physical healthcare, as well as childcare, by becoming a psychiatric and labor and delivery nurse.
Antoinette Hicks had been out of the classroom for 30 years before deciding to reignite her educational journey at Olive-Harvey College. She had previously attended two years of college at DePaul University but put her studies on hold to start a family.
She started taking classes at Olive-Harvey College in the fall of 2017, working her way through the prerequisites she will need to apply to nursing programs.
Paola Salcedo's advice to other students is to use all the resources that City Colleges offers and ask your advisor anything.
