Lake County school may benefit from Schuler scholarship program
Warren Township High School students may get a helping hand toward attending prestigious colleges that otherwise would be out of their financial grasp.
The Schuler Family Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for students to attend private colleges with fewer than 10,000 undergraduates, is looking at adding Warren Township to its ranks.
The Schuler Scholar Program awards qualifying students $20,000 to help pay their college costs.
In addition, it offers guidance and enrichment programs that help teenagers thrive at select colleges.
To qualify, students must earn a minimum 3.0 grade point average after their freshman year of high school and be involved in leadership or community service activities. They must have a personal development plan as sophomores, and participate in a five-day leadership summer camp in Wisconsin.
Candace Browdy, executive director for the Lake Forest-based foundation, said the organization expects next week to select either Warren or Highland Park High School as its fourth partner. The other three schools are also from Lake County --Waukegan High School, St. Martin de Porres High School in Waukegan and Round Lake High School.
O'Plaine Road freshman-sophomore campus Principal Jeff Brierton said he became acquainted with the Schuler foundation when he was the Round Lake principal in 2006.
"It's a remarkable opportunity," Brierton said, pointing out it can put the likes of Harvard and Princeton within reach.
"It transforms the conversations about (college) aspirations."
Schuler typically accepts 20 to 50 new scholars annually. At least 68 students currently attend college with assistance from Schuler.
Brierton, Superintendent Phil Sobocinski and other District 121 officials recently began talking with foundation officials. Schuler would handle the student selection process if they become partners.
District 121 board President John Anderson called the Schuler program "really, really wonderful."
The foundation was started by former Abbott Laboratories executive Jack Schuler.