Category: Alumni
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Jelena Trkuljic
Jelena Trkuljic, Truman College’s 2023 valedictorian, moved from Serbia to Chicago when she was 19 years old, right after finishing high school in her home town of Aranđelovac. Knowing she wanted to continue her education, Jelena enrolled in free Adult Education courses at Truman College to prepare to earn her Illinois High School Diploma. From…
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Vincent Smith
Vincent Smith is celebrating two big life moments this summer: receiving his high school diploma and earning his first college degree. The senior at Corliss STEM High School is the first student from his school to earn an associate degree from City Colleges of Chicago prior to high school graduation. Conveniently, Olive-Harvey College is only…
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Claretha Morrell
Claretha Morrell is an Olive-Harvey College alumna and a lifelong learner. At age 62, her desire to work in the fast-growing cannabis industry brought her back into the classroom. She’s now completing the Cannabis Dispensary Operations certificate program at her alma mater, Olive-Harvey, with the goal of working in or owning a medical cannabis dispensary…
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Derek Davis
If you’ve ever had dreams of becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT), a paramedic, or a member of the Chicago Fire Department, Derek Davis recommends Malcolm X College. The Beverly resident is currently months away from completing the paramedic program at Malcolm X. Derek began attending the college’s EMT program during the pandemic and took…
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Adrian Pickett
Adrian Pickett has dreamed of being a part of the Chicago Fire Department since he was a child. Malcolm X College not only helped him achieve that dream, but it also ensured he was prepared for the job on day one. Adrian first enrolled in the emergency medical technician (EMT) program at Malcolm X in…
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Ryan Caguia
While I was growing up in the Philippines, my parents always emphasized the value of education. They taught me that education is something that nobody can take away from you. This is something that has remained with me up to this date. My brother, who is a physical therapist, influenced me to explore occupational therapy.…
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Leslie Guzman
I was born in Mexico, and my mom crossed the border with us when I was just two years old to give us a better life. I often say that I’m who I am today because I grew up poor and humble. My life hasn’t been without challenges, but I have had opportunities and made…
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Jonathan Cifuentes Barrios
Since I was four years old, I knew I wanted to be an engineer. I would play with my toys for a couple of days before breaking them to see how they worked. I knew what I wanted to be, but I didn’t always have a clear path to get there. I’m so proud of…
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Shottees Melton
Malcolm X College’s Project MPACT has given Shottees Melton a second chance. She’s now working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), but she needed some support to get where she is today. Shottees graduated from Hansberry College Prep in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. During her senior year, a lot of her classmates were choosing four-year…
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Nina Florez
Nina Florez is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who is currently working as a field producer for NBC Chicago. Her job revolves around telling unique and impactful stories about other people—but her own story fits that description, too. Nina, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the U.S. when she was 8 years old,…