20 U-46 students win Superintendent's Scholarship
Twenty U-46 college-bound seniors from the class of 2021 were awarded a $1,000 Superintendent's Scholarship this May.
In addition to having strong academic backgrounds and being leaders in their schools, these students will all be the first generation in their family to attend college. By going to college, the students feel they are carving pathways, not just for themselves, but for their whole family.
"These recipients are among our most motivated students," said U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders. "We have seen them face numerous challenges, both at school and at home, and they have repeatedly demonstrated the inner strength and perseverance to come out ahead. I have no doubt that they have bright futures ahead of them."
While previous Superintendent's Scholarship recipients demonstrated similar fortitude, this group of winners will always stand out for also navigating the challenges of the global pandemic.
Many continued balancing rigorous coursework with jobs, sports, and school leadership roles amid the challenges of remote learning, social isolation, and family members impacted by health and financial consequences of the pandemic.
Since the Superintendent's Scholarship fund was established in 2012 through the U-46 Educational Foundation, more than 250 U-46 graduates, including this year's recipients, have each received a $1,000 scholarship.
Eligible seniors submitted applications for the scholarship this past winter. The application included their high school transcript, a copy of their Federal Student Aid application, a letter of recommendation from an adult (a principal, teacher, academic advisor, employer, religious leader, etc.) and a personal essay. A panel of judges selected the 20 scholarship recipients.
On May 6, recipients participated in a networking workshop led by former board of education member Traci O'Neal Ellis.
Ellis hosts this event annually for Superintendent's Scholarship winners to talk to the students about the "soft skills" they should develop to find success past high school, skills such as making a good first impression and building a professional network. Then on May 12, the scholarship recipients put those skills to use at the Superintendent's Scholarship reception, where they mingled with the donors who funded the scholarships.
The 20 Class of 2021 Superintendent's Scholarship recipients are as follows:
• Bartlett High School: Alexander Gierut, Yesenia Ramos and Morgan Van Meter;
• Elgin High School: Cesar Aguayo, Natalie Gonzalez, Efrain Hernandez, Gabriela Hernandez, Julian Jarmula, Jocelyn Martinez, and Noah Munoz;
• Larkin High School: Bryan Aleman, Oscar Garcia, Jesus Ojeda, and Reagan Sanchez;
• Streamwood High School: Emily Diaz-Romstadt, Raymar Flores Rondon, Leslie Hernandez, Abraham Lopez, Melanie Maldonado, and Madison Rivera.