Back to Stories

Star Scholarship

Karen Sinchi-Sarmiento

Karen Sinchi-Sarmiento and her family moved to the U.S. from Ecuador when she was three-years-old. She attended Lakeview High School…

Read more

Valori Laudarji

It hadn't occurred to me until I was a week or two away from graduating from Lane Technical High School…

Read more

Favour Gbadamosi

After graduating from Hyde Park Academy, Favour Gbadamosi took advantage of the Star Scholarship to begin her college journey at Kennedy-King College…

Read more

Vincenty Lucas Jackson

Vincenty Lucas Jackson is getting valuable experience for his future career before he even starts his first class at Truman…

Read more

Liam John Smith

Liam John Smith, Wright College’s 2023 salutatorian, was born in Ukraine and joined his parents in Chicago about 10 years…

Read more

Kaliyah Chestang

Kaliyah Chestang is learning first-hand about being a woman in tech in her One Summer Chicago internship at the Kennedy-King…

Read more

Jessica Atieno-Walker

Although she speaks softly, Jessica Atieno-Walker exudes confidence when she discusses life’s possibilities. She earned her Associate in Arts in…

Read more

Olga Sanchez

Olga Sanchez, Daley College’s 2023 salutatorian, grew up in a bilingual household, where Spanish was her first language.

Read more

Esmeralda Cirilo

Esmeralda Cirilo, Harold Washington College’s 2023 salutatorian, grew up in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and attended Community Links High School.…

Read more

Stephanie Meeks

Stephanie Meeks, Olive-Harvey's 2023 valedictorian, hopes to combine her passions for mental and physical healthcare, as well as childcare, by…

Read more