December Report Card

Scholarship Chicago Board Members Tim Schwertfeger (Nuveen) and Sarah Nava Garvey (Boeing) join Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce president Jerry Roper and vice president Peggy Luce to announce a new partnership to mobilize Chicagoland businesses in support of talented college- bound youth.
Developing a trained workforce is one of the Chamber’s top priorities, explained Jerry Roper. “By working with Scholarship Chicago, we can create a focused effort in the business community to help support a group of diverse, academically ambitious students earn their college degrees and return to productive careers in our city,” Roper stated.

“We are delighted to be chosen as the Chamber’s official scholarship partner. Combining our efforts will enable us to reach more deserving college bound students. That’s good for the kids and good for Chicago’s businesses,” said Sarah Nava Garvey, a member of the Scholarship Chicago’s Executive Committee.

The partnership will focus on four major action steps in the coming year: surveying members that currently support scholarship programs or are interested in doing so; reaching out to members to serve as mentors; collaborating with other city-wide summer internship programs; and, sponsoring a series of forum discussions around what it specifically takes to help underserved minorities earn their college degrees.

For more information, contact Karen Foley at Scholarship Chicago at 312.917.6868 or Peggy Luce at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

One of the great benefits of being a part of Scholarship Chicago's programs is the ability to connect students to professional adults. Building social capital is having the opportunity to make connections for professional and personal networks and helps to create a pathway to success.

Scholarship Chicago’s Fall Intern and Grinnell College student, Jamel Williams, will be featured on the Russ Meek Speaks show, with guest host Lester Blair. Mr. Blair was a Business Leader of Color 2003 Award Recipient and CEO of Blair Capital. Jamel participated in a panel discussion on issues facing African American men today, including the college experience, discrimination, and politics.

Scholarship Chicago met Lester through Chicago United at the launch of our joint summer internship program that connects the Business Leaders of Color with our scholars. The show will air on Channel 21 on January 6 and January 20, 2006, from 9-10pm.

College Bound Scholars attended Northwestern University for a day-long college visit on November 19th. The students heard stories from current university students, toured the campus, and learned about the curriculum at the school. Amongst the tour guides were Chicago Scholars and Northwestern students, Yaneth Bello and Jaime Flores.

The high school seniors explored the university’s dormitories, and more importantly they took part in a question and answer session at the Multi-Cultural Center. The students were excited that they had the opportunity to experience a little taste of college life at Northwestern by attending a gospel choir concert on campus and ending the evening with a bite to eat at a local restaurant and student hangout spot.