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Hope Scholars

About the Program

Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused non-profit designed to provide students and their parents/guardians with the support they need to graduate from college debt-free. Hope Chicago covers tuition, room and board, books, fees, and surcharges for eligible students graduating from one of Hope Chicago's partner high schools that have been admitted to and enrolled full-time in a 2-year or 4-year nonprofit college or university during the first fall after high school graduation.

National Louis University is proud to be a university that has an established Memorandum of Understanding with the Hope Chicago program, meaning that National Louis University welcomes and supports Hope Scholars.

For more information on Hope Chicago, please click here to view the full Hope Chicago website.

Mission Statement

For every 100 students who enter a Chicago Public School, only 30 will earn a post-secondary degree. Prior to Hope Chicago, college enrollment rates at the five Hope Chicago partner high schools averaged 57%. In Hope Chicago’s first year, that number jumped to 74%. Hope Chicago Scholars are more likely to enroll in a degree program at competitively ranked four-year institutions. 

Hope Chicago generates value for the City, State and economy overall estimated at $215,000-$364,000 for each student who attends a postsecondary education. Looking at Hope Chicago’s first class alone, that adds up to $143,000,000.

Hope Chicago's goal is to provide debt freedom, increased lifetime earnings, a better quality of life, improved health, less involvement in the criminal justice system, and reduced reliance on public programs for students..

Summer Bridge

We want to see our Hope Scholars succeed and have the tools that they need to be confident as they go into their academic journey. Starting in 2024, Hope Scholars are required to attend our six-day day orientation program that situates students in the broader context of National Louis University and the Hope Chicago program. Students get the chance to meet other Hope Scholars at National Louis University within their cohort, learn about the various departments that are here to support students, and identify the requirements they must fulfill to maintain the Hope scholarship.

Our Team

Shelley-Ann Lemons

Assistant Dean of Student Engagement Leadership and Belonging

Travis Morgan

Senior Student Affairs Specialist

Stephan Oliveira

AmeriCorps Campus Compact VISTA

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