Waukegan to College Students Celebrate Decision Day 2022
Waukegan to College celebrated College Decision Day on April 30 with 21 graduating seniors from Waukegan area high schools. All of the students were participants in the organization's college readiness and access programming and will continue to be supported by the organization throughout their college journey.
Waukegan to College, a non-profit organization that helps Waukegan students maximize their academic potential and break barriers to higher education, assisted the students in submitting a combined total of 209 applications to colleges across the country. The majority of applications resulted in acceptance. The students have received a combined total of over $13 million in scholarships and financial assistance, with help from Waukegan to College's Scholarship Club.
The graduating high school students will be attending a wide variety of colleges and universities. The students and their chosen schools include Aaliyah Decillo (Elmhurst College), Adrian Rojas (Boston University), Adriana Bahena (Davidson College), Alexi Garcia (College of Lake County), Amaya Collins (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), Ana Alvarez (Macalester College), Botnia Calzada (University of Illinois), Diane Romero (University of Illinois-Chicago), Eduardo Alfaro (Beloit College), Frank Sanchez (Hope College), Isam Hussaini (Macalester College), Jasmine Chuc (Vanderbilt University), Kevin Rosiles (Boston University), Lizbeth Castrejon (Illinois State University), Melanie Trujillo (College of Lake County), Michelle Cazarez (New York University), Miguel Valdovinos (Brown University), Nohemi Agulilar (Butler University), Rosa Echeveria (Knox College), Stephanie Calderon (Northwestern University) and Tania Campuzano (Lake Forest College).
Waukegan to College helps local students reach higher. The organization offers comprehensive educational programming designed to help them do well academically in middle and high school, starting with students as early as the fifth grade. The organization also helps students gain acceptance into four-year educational institutions, secure financing and successfully graduate from college. These services, provided by both staff and volunteers, are not available without cost elsewhere in the community.
Since its start in 2009, with 25 students and two staff members, Waukegan to College has grown to serve over 400 local students. The organization is on its way to a significant expansion in the next few years, aiming to increase community engagement and partnerships among Waukegan stakeholders as a way to significantly increase student participation. Sixty-nine students who participated in Waukegan to College programs have already graduated from a variety of colleges and universities across the country and nine more will graduate this year.
Any middle school or high school students interested in opportunities through Waukegan to College, please contact Pricilla Uriostegui, pricilla.uriostegui@waukegantocollege.org, or call (224) 628-3067.