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Thursday, June 19th, 2024
Dear Vera,
We've been a little quiet here at the HEAR Scholarship Foundation, but it isn't because we weren't working, quite the opposite in fact!
After a very challenging review and selection process this year that was hampered by delays with the processing of students' FAFSAs, I am excited to introduce the 29 young men and women who are part of the new HEAR Class of 2028. They come from schools throughout the Chicagoland area and will be attending colleges around the US.
These impressive individuals put a huge amount of effort into their applications and impressed our committee during the interview process. We are confident they will continue their exemplary academic career and will thrive and excel in college.
Learn more about them below.
With warmest regards,
Vera
Vera Pollina
Executive Director
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Citlalli Alaniz
High School: Fenwick High School
Attending: Duke University*
Major: Public Policy
Highlights: Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund recipient. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholar. Long-term volunteer at Berwyn Public Library. Tutor at Fenwick High School and two elementary schools. 1st Honors award at high school. Fernando Mendoza Poetry Contest Sobresaliente Award recipient. Member of 17 clubs, programs, and societies at school and in the community.
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Sanáah Alston-Henry
High School: Kenwood Academy
Attending: University of Michigan
Major: Neuroscience
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Volunteer for numerous programs both in and outside of school. Honor Roll, Principal's List, and Reed Junior Scholar. Treasurer for Student Government, Executive Board Member for LEAD Ambassadors. Member of Service Club, DevUP Scholars at Illinois Tech., and CAM (Medical) Club.
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London Banks-Jenkins
High School: Lincoln Park High School
Attending: Howard University
Major: Finance
Highlights: Member of School Links and Western Health Authority Programs. Participant in Best Buddies program at Lincoln Park High School. Has worked throughout high school.
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John Baratta
High School: Elmwood Park High School*
Attending: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Undeclared
Highlights: High Honor Roll throughout high school. Metro Suburban Conference Academic All Conference award. Illinois State Scholar. Varsity Football Captain and member of Track & Field team. President, Student Council. Member of Varsity Club, a community volunteer organization. Special Olympics volunteer. Lifeguard and swim instructor. 7th place in DECA state competition. Interested in business administration.
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Leslie Cazho
High School: Bennett Day School*
Attending: University of Michigan
Major: Sport Management
Highlights: Bottom Line participant. Interned with Chicago KICS FC. Participant of Purdue Business Opportunity Program for Future Scholars. Soccer and Volleyball player. Senior Writer & Editor at Bennett Chronicle. Student Government Treasurer. Student Ambassador. Attended Foreign Exchange program in Argentina.
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Madison Chan
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: Loyola University Chicago
Major: Cellular & Molecular Biology
Highlights: Presenter and speaker at numerous ceremonies and youth leadership programs. Received "34 Award" for Girl's Golf at Walter Payton College Prep. Co-Captain of Girl's Golf Team. Sub-team Lead Facilitator/Core Member of Teen Coalition for Chinatown. Tutor in Mandarin and AP Biology.
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Camila Chavez
High School: Lindblom Math & Science Academy
Attending: University of Michigan
Major: Neuroscience with a Minor in Latino Studies
Highlights: Honor Roll throughout high school. National Honor Society member. Chief Editor of yearbook and school newspaper. Part of Lindblom Medical Society. Received 2022-23 STEM Challenge Showcase Certificate of Excellence. Part of TRiO outreach program.
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Jaretsy Espinosa
High School: Lane Tech College Prep
Attending: University of Illinois Chicago
Major: Public Health / Dentistry
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Long-term volunteer at Cradles to Crayons. School Mentor at Lane Tech. Honor Roll throughout high school. National Honors Society. CPR Certified. JROTC Cadet of the Month award recipient, JROTC Upperclassmen Drill Commander (9th-12th grade), Art Club President. Part of TeenDoc Mentorship Program at Lurie Children's Hospital.
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Maricruz
High School: Latin School of Chicago
Attending: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Communications
Highlights: Chicago Scholar, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund recipient. Member of teen youth group, Messengers of Christ. Teaching Assistant at High Jump, Chicago. Part of Latin American Student Organization. Attendee at Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Ambassador for Latin School.
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Huiyun Jiang
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Volunteer at Midwest Asian Health Initiative and Origin. Participant in Teen Coalition for Chinatown. Part of TeenDoc Mentorship Program at Lurie Children's Hospital. Tutor in local community. Part of MedSTEM Explorers and Heart and Vascular Center Mentorship Program at UChicago Medicine. Member of school Math Team, Robotics Team, and iCAN Research.
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Babesh
High School: Chicago Math & Science Academy
Attending: Bradley University*
Major: Civil Engineering
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Tutor & volunteer at Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA). Summer Intern at Adler Planetarium. Dean's List. Presented with a Resilience award in 2021. Part of robotics team within FORA. Captain of Esport team.
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Olivia Kluska
High School: Lane Tech College Prep
Attending: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Major: Fine Arts / Illustration
Highlights: Consecutive Honor Roll since 2012. Featured student artist at the All-City Senior Portfolio Exhibition and Marwen's Art Fair. Three-time featured artist in the All-City Visual Arts Exhibition. Multi-award recipient for Martial Arts. Volunteer at Frank's Martial Arts Studio.
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Qianya Lin
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: Northwestern University
Major: Bioengineering
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Volunteer teacher for Girls Who Code. Participant in Teen Coalition for Chinatown. Volunteer at University of Illinois Health Volunteering. Received International Children's Advisory Network Star Chapter Award. Artwork displayed on All-City Visual Arts Exhibition Online Gallery. Member of Math Team, International Children's Advisory Network, and part of TeenDoc - Mentorship Program, Lurie's Children's Hospital.
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Julia McHugh
High School: St. Ignatius College Prep
Attending: University of Michigan
Major: Marketing
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Participant in Matriculate. Volunteer at Breaking Bread Ministry. Started a food distribution and delivery service for nurses at Lurie's Children Hospital during the pandemic. Coach for local grade school volleyball team. 1st place winner at Regional DECA Competition. Vice President of school DECA Team. Honors with Distinction throughout high school. Team Captain of Ignatius Volleyball Team, named MVP and Coach's Award recipient. Summer student at Stanford University and University of Chicago.
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Kevin M.
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: Northwestern University
Major: Data Science
Highlights: Outreach Coordinator for Teen Coalition for Chinatown. Volunteer tutor at One Hope United. Part of TeenDoc - Mentorship Program, Lurie's Children's Hospital. Winner of Rush Education and Career Hub's MedSTEM Explorers Capstone Showcase. AP Scholar with Distinction. Member of Asian-American Club and HOSA - Future Health Professionals.
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Emaan Nadeem
High School: DeVry University Advantage Academy*
Attending: Loyola University Chicago
(Transferring to Northwestern Fall 2025)
Major: Biological Sciences
Highlights: Dean's List A'Level Honor Roll throughout high school. Finalist in the Global Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition and Chicago Math Competition. Volunteer at Cancer Kids First Illinois. Volunteer and tutor at Northtown Branch Library. Teacher assistant at High Jump Chicago. Founder of Medical Leaders at three Chicago Public Libraries and two Chicago Public Schools. Cancer researcher with ResearcHStart at Northwestern University.
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Alexa N.
High School: Lake Park High School
Attending: University of Miami, FL
Major: Biochemistry
Highlights: Certificate of Excellence Award and Positive Recognition Award recipient. AP Scholar with Distinction. Seal of Biliteracy Commendation. Club Officer, Group Leader and Member of Future Medical Professionals School Club. Committee Leader and club member for Girl Up (school chapter of UN Organization). Twice state & international qualifier with school's DECA Team.
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Oluwatobi Olatunji
High School: Kenwood Academy
Attending: University of Illinois Chicago
Major: Biological Sciences
Highlights: Volunteer at local food pantry, Civil Service Learning Project at Kenwood, and Blackstone Bicycle Workshop. Principal Honor Roll. Regional IHSA All-State Academic Team Award. Illinois State Scholar. Member of Kenwood Varsity Soccer team, Kenwood Chess Club, After School Matters, and Kenwood Environmental Club.
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Temiloluwa O.
High School: Chicago Waldorf School
Attending: University of Chicago
Major: Business/Economics
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund recipient. Teacher's Assistant and Campus Intern at High Jump, Chicago. Camp Counselor at Chicago Waldorf School. Student Ambassador throughout high school, Volleyball Club organizer.
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Mikyra Palmer
High School: Kenwood Academy
Attending: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Major: Political Science
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Volunteer at Rescue, Release, Restore camp. Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance award throughout high school. Participant in Bottom Line, Mikva Challenge, After School Matters, and Girls Who Code. AM Academic Ambassador offering tutoring, counseling and mentorship to freshman students.
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Kiana Pan
High School: Northside College Prep
Attending: Harvard University
Major: Biology / Pre-Med
Highlights: Volunteer Judge for Chicago Debate League. US Figure Skating National Scholastic Honors Team. National Champion Figure Skater, Debate State Champion. Recipient of National American Visions Award and Chicago Public Libraries Teen Art Challenge Young Artist Award. 2023 Congressional Art Competition winner. Awarded 1st place in 2023 Chicago Architecture Center Newhouse Design Competition. Debate Team competitor on National Circuit. Co-founder and Co-president of Photography Club at Northside College Prep.
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Sapna Patel
High School: Lake Park High School*
Attending: DePaul University
Major: Data Science
Highlights: Member of Girls Who Code. Highest Honor Roll throughout high school. National Honors Society. AP Scholar with Distinction. State Commendation toward biliteracy in Spanish. Over 190 volunteer hours with ISSO Seva (non-profit humanitarian organization), and Itasca Swaminarayan Temple. Numerous other volunteer events totaling over 400 hours. Co-president, South Asian Student Association. Team member of school's Student Council. Dancer and Dance coach.
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Micaela Reed
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: University of Michigan
Major: Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience
Highlights: National French Exam Honorable Mention. AP Scholar with Honors. Recreational and Competitive Dancer at Varsity level. Me To We To Them Volunteering Club member. Vice President, Payton Mental Health Association. Intern at Chicago History Museum.
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Emmanuel Reese
High School: Lindblom Math & Science Academy
Attending: Howard University
Major: Computer Science
Highlights: Part of the Schuler Scholar Program, Honor Roll throughout high school, Illinois State Scholar, Seal of Biliteracy 2024.
Internship at Apple during summer of 2023. Youth Mentor/Tutor at local after school center teaching Algebra.
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Leslie Solorio
High School: Waukegan High School
Attending: Knox College*
Major: Journalism & Political Science
Highlights: Participant in Waukegan to College and AVID College Prep. Volunteer in after-school program at Roberti Community House. Seal of Biliteracy. High Honor Roll throughout high school. Co-President, Principal Advisory.
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Claire Walker
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: Emory University
Major: Business & Biology
Highlights: Participant in the Women in Engineering Summer Program at UIUC. Silver Medal, National French Contest. French Honors Society and National Honors Society. HOSA State Qualifier in Biotechnology. Voters of Tomorrow Illinois State Lead. Captain of Walter Payton Girl's Varsity Tennis Team. Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center Research Assistant. VP of Operations and Development at The Re-Write It Project. Over 250 volunteer hours. Mediclub Co-President. Payton Advisory Leaders Freshman Mentor.
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Joseph Williams-Salgado
High School: Evanston Township High School
Attending: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Film/Media Studies
Highlights: Evanston Scholar. Chicago Area Alternative Education League Football & Basketball. Received African American Youth Award - four art selections were accepted into the Black Creativity Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry. Featured on WGN 9 for said selections. Had feature films selected in the Shortcut 100 Youth Film Festival and Evanston Film Festival. Member of Film Club, Photography and Video Club.
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Harrison Yeboah
High School: Loyola Academy
Attending: Denison University
Major: Computer Science
Highlights: Chicago Scholar. Loyola Scholar and First Honors awards recipient for high GPA. Loyola Academy Summer Camp Counselor. Finance Club President, Pentecost Youth Organization Leader, Business Club member. Track & Field Captain and Varsity Football player.
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Hailan Yu
High School: Walter Payton College Prep
Attending: Williams College*
Major: Economics
Highlights: Member of Thrive Scholars and Matriculate. Volunteer at Payton Red Cross/American Red Cross, the Re-Write It Project, NAV Garden for Girls, and Talaria Summer Institute. Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction. 3rd place, Junior Achievement Chicago. HOSA Future Healthcare Professionals qualifier. Junior Achievement Company Program National Finalist. Varsity Volleyball and Badminton. Member of Economics and nvestments Team.
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Interested In Helping Support Our New Class?
Become A Mentor...
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Now that you've learned a little more about our new class of scholars, would you consider becoming a mentor to one of these outstanding students and help to support them on their college journey? We are now actively seeking additional volunteers to our mentoring program.
Wondering what it entails and what both parties get out of a mentoring relationship? We've listed a few benefits below to help you decide!
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Benefits of mentoring.
- Offering advice and guidance on academic life and helping scholars navigate the complexities of college life and beyond.
- Providing academic support: offering tips for effective stud habits, research methodologies, and how to approach teaching staff for assistance.
- Career planning advice: Helping scholars understand the career landscape in different fields, offer advice on job applications. Sharing career experiences.
- Emotional Support: college can be stressful, offering a sounding board and perspective on situations makes a big difference. Sometimes, just knowing someone is in your corner makes a big difference!
- Motivation and accountability: regular check-ins can keep scholars on track in college. Help keep focus and provide encouragement.
- Networking Opportunities: HEAR Scholars rarely have professional networks to help them find relevant internships.
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Benefits of being a mentor.
- Personal satisfaction: in helping others achieve their goals. Watching a mentee grow and succeed can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.
- Development of leadership skills: mentoring helps enhance mentor's own leadership and coaching skills. It requires effective communication, empathy, patience, and the ability to guide and motivate others.
- Reflection and self-improvement: encouraging mentors to reflect on their own experiences and knowledge.
- Learning and staying updated: mentors often learn from their mentees, gaining fresh perspectives and staying updated on new trends, technologies and methodologies.
- Enhanced reputation and recognition: being a mentor can enhance a mentors's reputation in their professional community, showing a commitment to the development of others.
- Allows mentors to contribute to the community as a whole.
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Ready to commit to one of our new scholars? Please click on the link below to fill out our mentor application. Still have questions? Please contact lucy@hearfoundation.org | | |
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HEAR's 3rd Annual Golf Outing
More information to follow over the coming months.
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(847) 834 9124
1100 Central Avenue, Unit 1G
Wilmette, IL 60091
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