Chicago Star Scholarship Commemorate its 10th anniversary

By: Wilfredo Razo

City Colleges of Chicago celebrates the Star Scholarship’s 10th anniversary. Associate Dean of Student Services Maria Llópiz and Transfer Director Susan Calabrese discuss the success and opportunities of the scholarship. 

(Associate Dean of Student Services Maria Llópiz and Director of the Transfer Center Susan Calabrese. Photo Credit: Wilfredo Razo)

    Llópiz says the Star Scholarship began in the fall of 2015 when Mayor Rahm Emanuel implemented and launched it. It is the first-ever scholarship for community college students covering tuition and books for up to three years.

According to Llópiz, Calabrese, and the Program Director of the Star Scholarship, Rhonda Hampton, Wright College has granted 2,091 degrees to Star Scholars since it started. 

“1,399 Star Scholars are currently enrolled at Wilbur Wright College for Spring 2025. From their first fall semester to their second fall semester, Star Scholars’ retention rates consistently exceed 80%” they said. 

A second-year college student, Christopher Antonio Mendez, said, “My initial thought was, how would this benefit me in the long term? Before Wilbur Wright College, my emotion was joy mixed with relief. At the time, I was bummed from not getting any sports scholarships from schools that I applied to.”

The Star Scholarship follows students when transferring to a university if they choose to attend a transfer partner, where they can earn an additional scholarship. 

Llópiz shared that the Star Scholarship is anticipating changes. “The district director of transfer partnerships, Nellie Marcial, worked to ensure that all transfer partners are recent with their scholarships’ benefits. ”

Calabrese says, “She [Nellie Marcial] worked on ensuring that the listed STAR transfer partnerships are valid partnerships and that they are executing what they promised with scholarship amount and guaranteed admissions.”

Llópiz further says, “The STAR program would not run as smoothly it does, and it would not be as successful if we did not have district support, also have Dean Kinlaw, Dean Merton, President Oroz, and Vice President Arlene, doing all this work to ensure that our students, stars, and non-stars are well served.”