Aurora student awarded retired teachers association scholarship
Aurora resident Mumba Kabemba, a student at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, has received a $1,500 scholarship from the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association.
Dick Schindel of Aurora, association president and former East Aurora School District 131 educator, made the announcement.
Kabemba, a 2019 West Aurora High School graduate, is a second-year business administration major at the community college. Her career goal is to become a business adviser to women in refugee camps.
A native of Republic of Congo, Kabemba said, "I choose to major in business because my mum is a single mother. Living in the refugee camp, I have seen her and other single parents struggle."
"With a business degree, I can go back and help single parents in refugee camps try to set up small businesses to help feed their families," Kabemba said in an application to AARTA.
Since 2018, she has volunteered at World Relief DuPage/Aurora helping refugee children learn to read and write and play games. In addition to English, she speaks Swahili, Portuguese and French.
She hopes to transfer to DePaul University to continue her education. Hobbies include photography, art and singing.
At West High, Kabemba participated in homework club and served as president of Global Minds, a club that helps students new to the United States with mentoring and teaching American culture.
Additionally, she was junior varsity cross country team co-captain and served on the dance marathon committee that raises funds for Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.
In a thank-you note to AARTA, Kabemba wrote, "The scholarship that you have given me is going to help me accomplish my dreams of being a businesswoman. Since I was little, I have always dreamt big but never really thought those dreams would turn into reality.
"Because of this scholarship now I can accomplish my dreams and for that, I am forever grateful and thankful for what you have done for me. This scholarship is going to help me not only to continue and pursue my education but will help me in the future to help single women in the refugee camps."
The Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association is an Aurora-based nonprofit comprising 370 former educators from Aurora, Batavia and Kaneland school districts. The educational and service group suspended in-person meetings at Gaslite Manor since March due to the pandemic.
The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. Prospective members are welcome.
Call (630) 921-1307, email dickschindel@comcast.net or visit www.auroraarearta.org for more information.