IEF Featured Scholar

Bruce Wilson

Bruce Wilson’s world revolves around art. Currently, a fine arts major at Harold Washington College, he is rarely seen without his sketchbook.  Bruce’s love for art is only matched by his commitment to his community. He loves teaching art to middle-school students from his neighborhood and watching them grow as they learn more about self-expression.  Bruce plans to transfer to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design or The School of the Art Institute of Chicago once he receives his associate’s degree.

Alysa Rivera

Alysa Rivera loves fashion.  Since she was a little girl, she’s been creating her own designs.  When Alysa enrolled at Wilbur Wright College with a focus in nursing, something felt off. She felt empty.  Alysa knew she wanted to follow her dream of working in fashion merchandising, and she changed her major. Now, with the help of the IEF, she is earning an Associate of Arts, and plans to attain a bachelor’s degree in fashion once she graduates from Wright College.

Katherine Tremble

If you ask Katherine Tremble what her greatest motivation is, she’ll reply with a smile, “My mother and my daughter.” At the age of sixteen, her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unable to afford hospice care, Katherine spent her teenage years at her mother’s bedside as her primary caregiver. Katherine was humbled by her mother’s strength and came to appreciate the patience and preparation required of those who care for the sick. Now a nursing student at Truman College and a mother herself, Katherine channels her mother’s strength as she pushes herself to succeed so that her own daughter can live the life she never had. Before her mother passed away, Katherine promised her she would see all her dreams into fruition and she’s well on her way to doing so.

Valery Mbah

Always a curious and deeply analytical person, Valery Mbah’s desire to become a pharmacist was inspired by a little leaf he used to chew back in his home country of Cameroon to soothe an upset stomach.  In high school, he found himself contemplating the chemical and medicinal properties of the leaf and how it could be used as a synthetic drug.  Valery soon realized that he wanted to become a pharmacist, but he encountered many roadblocks along the way.  Just after graduating high school in Cameroon, his father passed away and Valery was charged with supporting his mother and three siblings.  After overcoming many challenges, including moving to the United States, Valery was eventually able to continue his education at Truman College.  Through patience and determination, Valery has never lost sight of his goal—he will be starting pharmacy school at UIC in the fall of 2011.

George Lowery

Four years ago, scholar George Lowery would never have imagined himself back in school.  Due to degenerative arthritis, George’s mobility became so limited that he was no longer able to walk or stand.  After a life-changing double knee replacement surgery, however, George got a new lease on life. Now able to walk again, he is enrolled in Kennedy-King College where he is currently pursuing a degree in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. In spite of the long hiatus in his college education, George has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average since reenrolling in college and was recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  He is determined to obtain a bachelor’s degree and own his own business within the next five years.

Richie Torres

Four years ago, the IEF was formed to provide life-altering support to low-income, highly-motivated community college students.  With the incredible generosity of our supporters, we are now watching our alumni succeed and give back—alumni like Richie Torres.  Richie was the first in his family to attain a college degree.  Though he struggled in his studies at Truman college, Richie obtained his Associates in Applied Science with honors last May.  Richie is now working for Center Home for the Hispanic Elderly as a registered nurse where he is works with Spanish speaking senior citizens.  He also works for Resurrection Hospitals in Ambulatory care.  Richie loves the challenge of his jobs and finds his work very rewarding.

Karina Aranda

Karina Aranda is only eighteen but she has already acquired a wealth of life experience.  Karina had a truly bicultural childhood, spending extended periods in Chicago and Mexico until finally settling in Chicago at fourteen.  Shortly after her permanent move, Karina’s transition back to life in the US was complicated when her father fell ill during.  However, while her father was in the hospital, Karina recognized the important role nurses played in providing quality care to her father, and in supporting her family during a difficult time.  It was watching the work of these nurses that encouraged Karina to pursue a degree in nursing at Malcolm X College.  With the support of the IEF, Karina plans on graduating next year with an associate’s degree and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a specialty in pediatric oncology.

Lewis Magers

Lewis Magers has finally found peace…but it did not come easily. Placed into foster care as an infant, Lewis spent his childhood in different homes and centers until he was adopted at 11 years old by a family he now calls his own.  Lewis’ turbulent childhood profoundly affected his self-esteem. Five years ago, he found himself lacking direction and battling a drug addiction.  Inspired by his sister who rose above many of her own challenges to attain an associate’s degree, Lewis overcame his drug dependency and enrolled in community college.  Lewis has now been sober for two years, and is completing his Associates of Science.  He is proud to say that he has made the honor roll and the Dean’s list at Harold Washington College, and plans on working in addiction counseling upon graduation.

Teddy Marrufo

Maria Barraza

Maria Barraza

Throughout Maria Barraza’s childhood, she attended school in both Mexico and Chicago, earning her high school diploma in the US.  However, upon graduation Maria was unable to attend college due to her undocumented status, delaying her dream of a college degree.   Thirteen years later, after obtaining her US residency while living in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and two children, Maria was finally able to enter Truman College in the fall of 2006.  In December 2009, Maria was awarded her associate’s degree, with a 4.0 GPA, and graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Harry S. Truman College.  Maria transferred in the spring of 2010 to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she is majoring in criminal justice

Luis Zelaya

Luis Zelaya

Fundamentally analytical in nature, Luis feels his best when he is using his skills to efficiently assess problems and recommend solutions.  This realization helped Luis to uncover his passion for the sciences and computer engineering.  He is currently enrolled at Wright College and will transfer to a four-year institution in Fall 2010 to pursue a bachelor’s in Computer Engineering.  In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Luis is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

Elanje Flowers

Elanje Flowers

Elanje Flowers is standing firmly on her own two feet—it took some time, but she is proud to say that she has found the strength to do so.

Despite the sudden death of her mother and becoming a parent herself—all before graduating high school–Elanje is currently in her final semester of study at Richard J. Daley College where she is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.  Elanje will pursue her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing starting in Fall of 2010.  Elanje is having fun raising her own children, Elijah and Phoenix.  She emphasizes that for her children, school is of the utmost importance, and works to cultivate an environment where they feel encouraged to do better.

Didi Gattey

Didi Gattey

Didi’s family had no choice but to leave the Ivory Coast—after all, the country had experienced six attempted coup d’états in the past three years. Unsure of what lay ahead, they gathered their belongings and immigrated to the United States.

He and his family had a difficult time acclimating to their new environment. His dad took a job as a cab driver—an occupation that would allow him to earn a decent living and not highlight his limited English speaking skills. His mother stayed at home to take care of his two younger siblings. Didi enrolled in an ESL program, recognizing that even though he possessed the skills to become a pharmacist, he would not be able to accomplish his dream if he did not know how to communicate with his customers and colleagues.

Didi excels in his classes, earning a GPA of 3.8 at Harold Washington College, and in was  recently admitted to the University of Illinois at Chicago where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Bio-Chemistry.