Where are the future History Makers- Black History Month
Where are the black history makers in the making? Though Chicago's underserved neighborhoods are often overlooked, that's exactly where Monster Education Foundation (MEF) has been looking to find future leaders. This Black History Month marks the sixth year of MEF's mission to seek, identify, and support young agents of change as they pursue higher education and a lasting difference in their communities.
MEF is searching specifically for sixth-graders who exemplify drive, leadership, compassion, intelligence, and peace-making. Any school in an underserved Chicago neighborhood can become an ambassador school if a sixth-grade teacher there nominates one of their students in whom they see these qualities. Four students will be selected as the 2019 Monster Scholars to be supported with a scholarship as well as educational, social, and professional resources to advance their learning and prepare them for college.
As Monster Scholars remain active in the Monster program from 6th through 12th grades, they grow their scholarship accounts more than $1,000 yearly. Opportunities to earn scholarship funds include:
Planning and executing an individual service project annually, getting family and friends involved, and targeting who and what the scholars are passionate about (previous Monster service projects have included leading peace rallies, caring for the environment, tutoring at-risk students, and helping homeless children make SMART goals)
Regularly submitting their report cards
Participating in fun and meaningful group service projects in which sponsors and supporters partner with the scholars
Participating in leadership growth opportunities
Expressing (for example, through essay writing) their hopes and plans to make a difference in their communities
Monster cares to equip its scholars with:
Social resources, such as mentors who will meet them where they're at as well as expose them to new and exciting experiences
Educational resources, such as study skills workshops and standardized test prep help
Professional resources, such as giving scholars opportunities to interview/meet professionals in the fields of their interest.
Monster Education Foundation was founded in 2013 by Jenny Chang who once taught in the Chicago Public Schools and witnessed firsthand the challenges students faced in Chicago's West Side neighborhood of Austin. Kyu Choi-who desired to give back to the South Side neighborhood of Englewood, where he began as a businessman-partnered with Chang financially. Together, Chang and Choi built a team of board members who understand that many children living in Chicago's underserved communities possess incredible compassion, gifts, and talent but often do not have the opportunity to reach their full potential due to the effects of urban poverty and limited access to higher education. Monster Education Foundation aims to help its scholars grab hold of that opportunity to make a big, or "monster," impact in their spheres of influence.
For more information, go to www.monstereducationfoundation.org.