In Case You Missed It

University of Chicago Tour & Essay Writing Workshop

Our Class of 2026 Scholars participated in their first Project College event on Thursday, August 7, at the University of Chicago. Senior Scholars toured the campus and gained invaluable tips on how to stand out in the college admissions process in a powerful College Application Writing Workshop led by Jawann Pollard, University of Chicago’s Associate Director of Admissions and Director of UChicago Promise. Scholars also worked on refining their Common App and personal statement essays with purpose and power. We’re so proud of the energy and effort our Scholars brought to this event as they took one more step toward their dreams of going to college

Summer Learning Highlights

Our rising 7th–11th grade Scholars enjoyed a time of growth, discovery, and community during Summer Learning. Nearly 145 Scholars participated in our Summer Learning academic accelerator, which included City Colleges Dual Enrollment (Class of ’26), ACT Test Prep (’27), Job Shadowing (’28), and ELA/Math Prep (’29-’31).

Highlight: On Thursday, July 10th, Scholars dove into a full day of learning at the Museum of Science & Industry—from deep sea discoveries to human biology and WWII history. Scholars enjoyed exploring exhibits such as:

• The Blue Paradox—An immersive 360° dive into the global plastic crisis
• You! The Experience—A hands-on journey through the human body
• The U-505 Exhibit—Uncovering the story behind a captured German submarine

It was a fun day of hands-on experiences that truly brought science, history, and curiosity to life!

Highlight: On Thursday, July 17th, our Scholars rolled up their sleeves for a day of Service Learning with Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg. Together, they packed 102 boxes of meal packets to be shipped worldwide—helping feed children and families across the globe. From making food bags to building and packaging boxes, our Scholars put in the work while learning the true meaning of being global citizens. We’re so proud of their teamwork, dedication, and heart for service!

Summer Learning 2025 was an amazing success! We’re proud of our Scholars’ dedication to self-improvement and promise for a strong school year. Now, let’s keep that momentum going all year long!

A New Model, A New Milestone: Mentors Join Scholars on the Road to College

We kicked off our mentoring season with a magical Mentor & Scholar Match Event on September 4. This year marks an exciting evolution of our model: Mentor-Sponsors will walk side by side with their Scholars through the entire college application and admissions process, providing guidance, encouragement, and career insights during this pivotal senior year.

New and returning Mentor-Sponsors were officially paired with their Scholars and began building the relationships that will help shape their Scholars’ futures. The energy in the room was full of hope, excitement, and commitment to supporting Scholars as they prepare for life beyond high school.

Here’s what some of the participants had to say about their Mentor/Mentee relationship:

Scholars (Mentees):

Kenzie White-Vontayes (Senior, DeLasalle Institute)
“I’m very excited because I’ve never had a mentor. All my other friends have been able to experience that. I’m really excited, because it’s good to have someone else to talk to and go to for advice. I really think it’s good to have someone I can trust. I want to ask them what they think my next step should be and what is something I should do that would help my future.”

Terry Smith (Senior, Brother Rice High School)
“I hope my mentor can help me make connections. I want to ask them how they got to where they are now—and if they could go back in time, what would they change.”

Mentor-Sponsors:

Dimitri Wilder
“I understand the importance of networking and relationship building. Mentors gave me inside knowledge about job hunting and corporate America, and I would like to bring that same level of experience to the next generation. As I get to know my Mentee, I hope to learn about what makes them happy, what makes them motivated, and what makes them driven. Hopefully I can provide the tools necessary to help them succeed in all aspects of life.”

Nick Johansson
“This is my second mentoring experience. The more formal mentorship that I’ve been doing through LINK is just a continuation of the informal mentoring I’ve done through other programs where I’ve brought on interns to different work programs. The most rewarding part of my career has been helping people get started on their own. One thing mentoring has taught me is just how many good mentors I’ve had in my life, and I’m just so glad I can pay that forward.”

Troi Sharpp
“What really inspired me to become a LINK Mentor is that I had a mentor when I was a Lynx scholar who was also an alum. Just seeing someone give back like that, someone who had been in the same program as me, really inspired me to do this myself when I was in the position to do so. I’m looking forward to getting to know my mentee and really learn what they’re looking to get out of this year and what’s most important and top of mind that I can help them out with.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us in launching this journey. Here’s to a year of shared milestones, big wins, and celebrating every step on the college application journey!

Mentor/Scholar White Sox Night

Thanks to a generous donation of tickets from the Chicago White Sox, our Mentors and Scholars enjoyed a fantastic night at Rate Field on Tuesday, September 16, as the White Sox took on the Baltimore Orioles. The Scholars and Mentors who attended had a special opportunity to engage in conversation and continue to build the relationships that will support Scholars through their senior year of high school and the college application and decision process. We will continue to sponsor events throughout the year so Scholars and Mentors can enjoy a variety of experiences together. Scholars and Mentors, be on the lookout for upcoming events!