$20,000 value per student: Program makes awards to 30 Waukegan High freshmen
By Judy Masterson
STAFF WRITER

WAUKEGAN — The Schuler Scholarship program at Waukegan High School , heading into its third year, continues to push college-bound students to high levels of achievement.

Thirty Waukegan High School freshmen were awarded scholarships this week during a ceremony at the Upper Grade Center .

The new scholars join 57 past scholarship winners. Funded by the Schuler Family Foundation, the program awards each recipient a $20,000 college scholarship to be applied to any four-year college or university in $5,000-per-year installments.

Since the program's inception in 2002, the Schuler Family Foundation has awarded 87 scholarships to Waukegan High School students totaling $1.7 million.

"We are so impressed with this year's group of Schuler Scholars," said Soledad Boyle, program director. "We had a very difficult time choosing only 30 scholars from more than 100 outstanding candidates. These scholars should be very proud of their accomplishments.

All scholars must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the high school's demanding College Studies Program.

"We want to push these kids to work hard," said Waukegan High Principal Kim Zupec. "We've raised the bar and they have responded positively. They're working hard to keep it there."

Each Schuler scholar is assigned an adult mentor from the community who provides advice and support. Boyle visits the school each Thursday to check on academic progress and meet with individual students in the program.

"The retention rate has been phenomenal," Zupec said. "Just three or four have been dropped because of a low GPA."

In addition to the assignment of a mentor, new scholars will participate in a four-day summer leadership program in the wilderness, receive comprehensive college counseling and ACT/SAT training, and be assigned a mentor.

To maintain compliance with the program, scholars are also asked to increase their cumulative GPA each semester. Scholars will be automatically readmitted into the program each semester if they meet the program requirements.

"We want to make sure kids keep on track and work hard," Zupec said. The Schuler Family Foundation was begun by Jack and Renate Schuler of Lake Bluff . Jack Schuler is the former CEO of Abbott Laboratories.

The following Waukegan High School freshmen were named Schuler Scholars this week: Alberto Alvarez, Rogelio Arizmendi, Crystal Austin, Byron Brantley, Arvin Canda, Jenessa Connelly, Alicia Conover, Karina Cortez, Brittany Doxie, Maria Estrada, Teresa Fabila, Analise Harris, Geraldine Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez, Jennifer Jensen, Jesse Kempf, Matthew Klosinski, Erik Pasillas, Rob Petrusky, Eric Pierce, Elizabeth Pottala, Kaytlen Prusha, Mary Quintans, John Rasmussen, Victoria Shaw, Sierra Shipley, Colin Swanson, Elizabeth Teliz, Sharissa Tobias and Simone Wright.

For more information, call Soledad Boyle at (847)-492-0930 or visit www.schulerfoundation.org. Waukegan News Sun 03/20/04