LINK UNLIMITED Celebrates Success of Program Scholars

June 2, 2011 - PRLog -- CHICAGO, June 2, 2011-- LINK Unlimited, one of Chicago’s oldest scholarship and mentoring programs for African American youth from Chicago’s economically disadvantaged communities, today announced that for the eleventh year 100% of its  graduating seniors were accepted to top colleges in the nation.  Fifty nine seniors and their sponsoring mentors were honored for their four year achievement at the city’s top private and parochial high schools at the organization’s annual Graduation and Awards Banquet held in the Hyatt Regency Chicago Grand Ballroom.

“Our students who come from the city’s economically disadvantaged neighborhoods defied the odds to be accepted to the nation’s top four year colleges and universities,” said Virgil Jones, President of LINK Unlimited.  This year nearly a third of the graduates earned full tuition scholarships at the school of their choice, he added.  Graduating seniors were accepted into Williams College, Pomona College, Grinnell College, Cornell University, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Washington University and the U.S Military Academy at West Point among many others.

Started in 1966, more than half the scholarship students come from homes with incomes of less than $40,000.  Each incoming student is matched with a mentor for his
four years in high school.  Mentors financially support the student’s tuition and are expected to be a role model and friend to the student.  They meet with their scholar at
least twice a month to track the student’s progress and provide learning insights and opportunities to support the student’s education.

“The biggest benefit of LINK is that it opens up a whole new world for kids who have only seen the world from one very narrow perspective,” said Philip Suse, a LINK mentor, Board chair and partner at Baker McKenzie LLP.  “The program shows them what they can achieve and opens doors to what is possible.”

Eighty five percent of LINK scholars achieve honor roll status each year.  All are expected to enroll in summer enrichment programs and participate in four years of community service activities as part of the college readiness program.

Students are referred to LINK by community partners and teachers based on their academic potential reflected in their grades and test scores.  Applicants must be highly motivated to succeed and have been accepted by one or more of the area’s parochial or private high schools.  The family must exhibit a financial need to get one of the scholarships that offsets $5,000 or more of the tuition fee to selected private high schools.  Parents are expected to financially contribute as well.

In its 45 year history, LINK has helped more than 1,700 African American youth with scholarship and mentor support.  Approximately 70% of the scholars come from single parent homes and the majority are the first generation in the family to attend college. The program has five key goals:  provide a high quality education to disadvantaged students, ready the students for college, offer opportunities for leadership development, ensure personal development and encourage interracial harmony.

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ABOUT LINK UNLIMITED
LINK Unlimited is one of Chicago’s oldest scholarship and mentoring organizations serving economically-disadvantaged African American youth. Founded in 1966, LINK has enabled academically motivated students to obtain a college preparatory education at the high school of their choice. All LINK students are paired one-to-one with a sponsor/mentor, who assists with scholarship support and personal guidance. Students are also provided with high quality educational enrichment and college readiness services to prepare them for success in higher education. As a result, LINK students academically outperform their peers locally and nationally. Since 2000, 100 percent of the LINK graduating seniors have enrolled in a four-year college or university, the majority with full or significant tuition scholarships. www.linkunlimited.org
Video at http://www.hypemediaus.com/linkseniors2011v2.html