AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/college/)
Jemese Marks was one of about 1,400 students who graduated this month from City Colleges of Chicago. The Austin resident earned a degree in early childhood education from Malcolm X College. Hundreds of other West Siders attend the college.
Eleven Austin high school students out of nearly 600 citywide have been accepted into the Chicago Scholars program. Since 1996, about 900 students have completed the program, which provides support throughout college and once the participants have graduated.
James Nnabuihe graduated as valedictorian last month from Austin College & Career Academy. He will be the third sibling to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he plans to study math.
Each graduating senior will receive a $1,000 scholarship. This is the 46th year the Austin church has awarded scholarships to college-bound students from the West Side.
High school seniors can start completing the Free Application for Financial Student Aid form. All seniors attending Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School are required to fill out the FAFSA, apply to at least 10 colleges and submit at least two scholarship applications.
This is the 45th year the Austin church has awarded scholarships. Since the program began in 1974, more than 500 students have received the awards. This year, students received $1,000 each.
Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School seniors Lamaria Johnson and Tanzanikia Taylor were recently awarded four-year scholarships that cover all tuition costs.
Choosing from about 40 eligible applicants, the church’s scholarship committee selected 20 students to each receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Austin church has awarded hundreds of scholarships to West Side students since 1974.
Marquise Linnear is studying math at the University of Illinois after overcoming some challenges and getting help from Bottom Line, a nonprofit that helps first-generation students from low-income backgrounds attend and graduate from college.
The documentary Derek Grace made about Spencer Elementary Technology Academy’s annual College Week can be seen on America ReFramed.