City Colleges of Chicago

Category: Scholarships

  • Aaron Zabrinas

    Aaron Zabrinas

    Aaron Zabrinas is well on his way to his goal of becoming a lawyer that advocates for vulnerable populations. After graduating from high school in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and trying out some classes at a local community college, Aaron decided he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do and wasn’t ready for college.…

  • Ruth Flores

    Ruth Flores

    Little Village native Ruth Flores is still adjusting to her recent transfer from Richard J. Daley College to the University of Illinois Chicago. But, because she is a Star Plus Scholar, she’s able to focus more on her studies than on how she’s going to pay for school.  Ruth received the Star Scholarship for two…

  • Kaileigh Boggs

    Kaileigh Boggs

    Kaileigh Boggs, a Star Scholarship recipient, began her journey to further her education at Malcolm X College in 2018. Due to her strong grades at CPS, the scholarship enabled Kaileigh to pursue her degree at no cost, including free tuition and books. Additionally, she was determined to be the first in her family to graduate…

  • Bara Zalloum

    Bara Zalloum

    When Bara Zalloum was surprised with a $5,000 scholarship at a computer science fair he was judging, he was “at a loss for words.” “I was not expecting it at all,” Bara said. “To hear my friends at the event rooting for me was heartwarming… it was surreal.” Like Bara, many of those friends are…

  • Charlene Barrios

    Charlene Barrios

    Patience. Patience. Patience. That is the main word that comes to mind when Charlene Barrios is mentoring other parents and educators about early childhood education. She should know since she has spent the last 15 years operating her own daycare center, Kids First Home Daycare Inc., in the West Englewood neighborhood. Barrios initially opened the…

  • Tyla Allen

    Tyla Allen

    From winning a regional championship with the Malcolm X College Lady Hawks to earning her associate degree and transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tyla Allen has soared to success—both on and off the basketball court. Read Tyla’s story in her own words below:   I started at Malcolm X College in Fall…

  • Valentina Atehortua

    Valentina Atehortua

    Two years ago, Valentina Atehortua moved thousands of miles away from her home in Colombia, arriving in Chicago just months before COVID-19 did. As she adjusted to the cultural differences of living in a new country during a stay-at-home order, she was able to build a community at Truman College. Read Valentina’s story in her…

  • Charlotte Andry

    Charlotte Andry

    Star Scholar Charlotte Andry started her college journey at Malcolm X College, eager to explore computer science. Taking advantage of resources like the Transfer Center early, she learned that many of the four-year universities she was interested in, like UIC, had a Guaranteed Admissions Program. With that knowledge, she applied to as many guaranteed admissions…

  • Lulu Ugbebor

    Lulu Ugbebor

    Cooking was originally just a hobby for Lulu Ugbebor, who was ready for a career switch after several years working in the banking industry. Now, the graduate of Kennedy-King College’s Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute is the owner of A.O. Tacos, a grab-and-go eatery set up inside half of a 20-foot steel shipping container in…

  • Anastasia Render

    Anastasia Render