College Admissions Forum Presented by Chicago Scholars Helps Chicago High School Seniors Begin Their Post-Secondary Education

CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Five hundred high potential, first generation and underserved low income Chicago high school seniors are expected to attend the fifth-annual College Admissions Forum, presented by Chicago Scholars on Oct. 25. The event allows students to meet with admissions officials representing 70 colleges and universities from across the U.S. to review their applications, conduct informational interviews and learn about financial assistance.

Preparations have been underway since this summer, when mentors from Chicago Scholars and partner organizations began working with students to develop their admissions materials. Applications are developed for the student's top five schools, giving them an edge in the process when they have time away from their studies to focus on them. Chicago Scholars are among the first in the nation to receive college admission.

"Many of our students will leave the College Admissions Forum with acceptance letters and financial aid packages, including scholarships, in hand," said Karen G. Foley, president of Chicago Scholars. "Taking this early start in their college education puts them ahead of the game by creating the relationships and support networks they need to succeed in their studies."

The College Admissions Forum will be held throughout the day at Chicago's UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road. Individuals and organizations interested in mentoring, sponsorship and diversity recruitment opportunities through Chicago Scholars are invited to attend a student ambassador-guided open house from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Highlights of the event include:

• The presentation of the Chicago Scholars Crystal Award. Eve Tyree, the wife of the late Jim Tyree, the former chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial, will accept the award on his behalf. The Crystal Award is named for the late Crystal Ward, whose only child participated in the first Chicago Scholars College Admissions Forum and earned a full scholarship to graduate from his top-choice college.
• A keynote address by Michael Sacks, CEO at Grosvenor Capital and vice chair of Mayor Emmanuel's World Business Chicago committee. His speech will explore the connection between education, economic development and Chicago Scholars' efforts to help build a globally competitive workforce.

Student participation at the College Admissions Forum has grown more than eight times since its debut in 2007. The 500 students attending this year's event represent nearly half of Chicago's 160 high schools and 90 percent of the city's neighborhoods. In addition to students directly involved with the Chicago Scholars program, the forum includes students working with partner organizations such as College Bound Opportunities, Common Ground Foundation, Evanston Scholars, HACE, IES, ITT/Boeing, the Kappa Institute, Link Unlimited, the University of Chicago Collegiate Scholars, and the Chicago Urban League.

"Chicagoans understand the critical role post-secondary education plays in creating the talented workforce our city needs to compete on the global stage," Foley said. "Events such as the College Admissions Forum not only motivate our future business and community leaders to work for their dreams of graduating college, but they also provide the foundation they need to achieve them."

About Chicago Scholars

Chicago Scholars (chicagoscholars.org) prepares under-resourced Chicago high school students for college and career success through a five-year program model. We recently welcomed the class of 2016, our largest and most diverse group with 300 high-potential, first generation, low income college-bound students from approximately 90 Chicago high schools. The program begins at the college admissions stage and continues through undergraduate and graduate school, laying the groundwork for professional success.

We work with partner organizations such as Deloitte (www.deloitte.com), Kirkland & Ellis LLP (www.kirkland.com), Freeborn & Peters LLP (FreebornPeters.com), Chicago Public Schools (www.cps.edu), IES Abroad (www.iesabroad.org) and World Sport Chicago (www.worldsportchicago.org), among others, to enhance their existing programs. These additional offerings include: college access and success workshops, a live, university admissions forum, a three-tiered mentoring program and summer career exploration exposure sessions.

SOURCE Chicago Scholars