Category: Luminary Award
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Pamella Andersen
As technology continues to evolve, Pamella Andersen is proud to serve as a link between students who want to upskill and employers who have talent gaps within their organizations. Andersen is the manager of continuing education and customized training at City Colleges, where she works to organize technology bootcamps and other continuing education classes that…
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Carolina Verdial
When Carolina Verdial first visited Wright College after moving to Chicago from the Honduras, she was looking for a college for her daughter. She didn’t know then that the trip would also turn into a career at the college. Previously a computer science teacher, Carolina felt at home in the education setting. She started working…
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LaTia Lane
Tia Lane was strategic in choosing to work at Olive-Harvey College, a Predominantly Black Institution. As a clinical counselor, she knew that the mental health field lacked diversity—and she wanted to show students from every background that it’s okay to seek out help. When students needed free and accessible mental health services during the COVID-19…
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Qiana Lewis
Professor Qiana Lewis has always known that she wanted to be a teacher—and attending Olive-Harvey College as a child convinced her that City Colleges of Chicago was the place to fulfill that dream. Today, as professor and chair of the Mathematics Department at Daley College, Lewis enjoys making math relatable for her students and watching…
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Eric Williams
Eric Williams’ future students are going to have a great teacher. He’s bubbly, positive, and described by others as a hard worker with infectious energy and an unmatched dedication to his studies. With plans to become a special education teacher, Eric is currently pursuing his associate degree in education at Malcolm X College. His peers,…
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Michael Sansone
After graduating from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in 2009, Michael Sansone was eager to jump into the workforce. He worked his way up in the restaurant industry and even operated a food truck—but, according to Michael, his growth was starting to plateau. That’s when he decided it was time to head back to…
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Marketta Sims
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Marissa Gora
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Jasmine Richmond
After Jasmine Richmond graduated from Fenger High School on Chicago’s far South Side, she considered a career in the trades. Her mother’s death a month after high school graduation changed her plans to attend a four-year university, and she focused on entering an allied health trade quickly to support her younger siblings. After trying out…
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Dr. Stephanie Krah