Chicago Scholars

08/14/2026

As our current Content Crew signs off for the year, we asked them to tell us about their experience, and with the application open, why other Scholars should apply for the opportunity. Next up, hear from Krish from the Class of 2030:

"Being a part of the Content Crew was my very first opportunity to get paid doing what I love, filmmaking. The experience opened my mind up to the possibility of making film a viable career path in the future. This year, I’ve been able to build an extensive portfolio and leverage my work to secure other paid opportunities. I’ve even used the earnings to build out my first full camera rig! Additionally, senior year was an especially busy time for me. It was hard to make time to stay connected to my passion, but being a part of the Content Crew allowed me to stay creative during such a hectic time. For anyone thinking about applying, I’d 100% recommend. This experience has been formative and honestly life-changing."

08/14/2026

Calling all professionals interested in giving back to the Chicago leaders of tomorrow: join us next Thursday, August 20th from 12 PM to 1 PM for a virtual Mentor Town Hall!

Whether you're a current mentor, former mentor, or interested in becoming one for our 2027–2028 cycle, we invite you to join us! During this virtual gathering, you'll hear from Dr. Leah Fulton, Vice President of Programs; Jim Wright, Manager of Mentorship & Coaching; and Bridget Guerra, Associate Director of Scholar Supports as they share updates on Chicago Scholars’ strategic direction, Chicago Scholars Virtual (CSV), organizational changes, and the critical role mentors will continue to play in supporting our Scholars.

Register here: https://give.chicagoscholars.org/event/mentor-town-hall-august-2026/e828390

08/13/2026

You met our Scholar Leadership Council yesterday, and today, we're announcing our brand new Class of 2031 Scholar Ambassadors! Representing more than 50 high schools across the city, Scholar Ambassadors play a crucial role in helping our team spread the word about our program to recruit the next Class of Scholars.

This select group of Scholars works directly with staff each year to elevate the voices of their fellow CS Class members, as well as embarking on a year of professional and leadership development.

Stay tuned to see all of the incredible things that the LC and the Ambassadors take on over this coming year!

08/13/2026

Join us this afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. for another virtual session in the Ask an Alum series, this time featuring Scholar Alum Christi Wright from the Class of 2021. In this series, CS community members can tune in to hear from a featured Scholar Alum and ask questions about their college and professional journey, as well as their experience as a Scholar. Join us today at 4 p.m. here: https://lnkd.in/gMTaxWPP

Christi works in the nonprofit financial education sector as a Financial Education Supervisor and ABLE Education Program Manager. She serves as her organization's ABLE Education Program Manager, leading its Illinois ABLE education partnership with the State of Illinois by developing curriculum and educational resources for youth served by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). She also oversees financial education programming, teaches financial literacy workshops, and provides one-on-one financial coaching. Through her work, she equips youth and young adults with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed financial decisions.

08/12/2026

As our Scholars head back to school, or off to campus for the first time, we know that unexpected costs from emergencies, last minute opportunities, and the regular hurdles that life brings can easily derail a student's future. That's why we're proud to offer Scholars the Lifeline Grant and the Scholar Dollars fund, providing emergency aid, grants to support unpaid internships and study abroad, and scholarships when Scholars need them most. By building a permanent endowment, Alumni pay it forward to ensure that a setback never stands between a Scholar and their degree.

This month, WGN-TV Families Charities will be matching $.50 on the dollar of every donation made towards the Scholar Dollars Fund here: https://www.mccormickfoundation.org/partnerships/wgn-tv-chicago-scholars-campaign/. Support a Scholar with double the impact and give today!

08/12/2026

We're so excited to welcome our Leadership Council for the Class of 2031! Last night, this incredible group of Scholars met for the first time, learning about all that they'll tackle this coming year as representatives for their Class.

At CS, our Scholars are the driving force behind everything we do - and with the Leadership Council, Scholars have a direct voice to weigh in on organization-wide decisions big and small. Through workshops, a capstone project, and facilitation of events, this group gains leadership development skills while optimizing the future of our work for current and incoming Scholars.

Stay tuned throughout this year to keep up with the LC, and check back tomorrow to meet the new reps from our other student group - the Scholar Ambassadors!

08/11/2026

When we say that we couldn't do our work without our Mentors, we mean it - so many of our Mentors at CS go above and beyond to build lasting connections with our high school and college Scholars, guiding them through questions and challenges, and serving as a trusted resource who's been in their shoes before.

We're excited to recognize three of our incredible Mentors as our 2026 Mentors of the Year: Jacqueline Gilson, High School Mentor of the Year; Jennifer Jones, College Mentor of the Year; and Luke Migalla, CS Way Mentor of the Year.

To read their full statements on the award, and learn more about what it takes to be a CS Mentor, head here: https://chicagoscholars.org/become-a-mentor/

08/10/2026

As one of our Visionary Sponsors for the Our Scholars, Our Future: 30th Anniversary Gala, a sponsor for this year's College Fair, and a continued scholarship provider, TIAA Nuveen has demonstrated an incredible investment in our Scholars, giving them hands-on resources in financial literacy and wellness. Our Content Crew talked to Karly Ashlock, Senior Director of Community Impact, about what this investment means to her. Check it out here!

08/10/2026

Sending a huge thanks to the Chicago Bears and General Manager Ryan Poles for welcoming 18 of our Chicago Scholars to the 5th Annual Scout School at Halas Hall!

Throughout the course of the day, Scholars got a behind-the-scenes look into all of the work that makes up a successful NFL team, from marketing to analytics. They spent the afternoon paired one-on-one with a scout to observe training camp practice and break down film in the draft room.

For many of our scholars, it was a first look behind the curtain at everything that goes into building an NFL team, and a reminder that there's a career path in sports for nearly every interest.

We're so thankful to our Chicago teams that continue to invest in the young adults who will be the leaders of tomorrow!

Last Friday, 18 first-generation college students dove into the world of pro football scouting, learned about the different careers within an NFL organization and experienced the energy inside Halas Hall, all thanks to general manager Ryan Poles' annual S

08/07/2026

Last night, we headed to Salesforce Tower for the fifth annual Ticket to the Future, celebrating our CS Scholarship funders and Scholar recipients. With so many of our college Scholars home from campus for the summer, or getting ready to start their freshman year of college, we're so thankful to bring our community together for such a special evening. Here's to the funders opening doors of possibility, and to our Scholars for being the future leaders our city needs!

Sending a special thanks to our Scholarship funders: TIAA, Cubs Charities, the Generations Scholarship, Invenergy, the Manjie Sikdar Scholarship, the Manuel and Pat Pulido Sanchez Legacy Scholarship, Magid, The SBB Research Group Foundation, Schreiber Philanthropy, and the Chicago Transit Authority