POSTED: Thursday September 3rd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO 2016 AND WORLD SPORT CHICAGO ANNOUNCE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Scholarship competition prepares local student athletes for college success

CHICAGO (September 3, 2009)—Today, Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago announced the launch of World Sport Chicago Scholars, created to help Chicago youth prepare for and succeed in college. Through this program, as many as 56 high school student athletes will receive assistance with college access and compete for scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for a total of four years. Funding for the scholarships is supported, in part, by a $900,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

 

“Chicago 2016 believes in empowering youth,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “Through strong partnerships with community organizations and among the many dedicated academic and athletic leaders, we are creating a living legacy by reaching children across many avenues. These positive influences will take them beyond high school, into college and well into their adult lives.”

 

As the living legacy of Chicago 2016, World Sport Chicago promotes the Olympic values and ideals through new and expanded sport and educational programming.

 

High School juniors who live and study in Chicago and have participated in an Olympic or Paralympic sport for two seasons in the past three years are eligible to apply for the World Sport Chicago Scholars program. Athletes of all levels are encouraged to apply. Commitment to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect on the playing field, in school and in the community will be the primary consideration during the evaluation process.

Fifty-six students will be chosen to become World Sport Chicago Scholars and participate in a college access and mentoring program that encourages academic and personal success. In order to encourage greater participation in a wide number of sports, the program’s goal is to award scholarships to a boy and a girl in 28 different sport disciplines. World Sport Chicago Scholars will also be eligible to compete for one of 16 renewable college scholarships worth up to $10,000 annually per student ($40,000 total). The scholarship program will proceed regardless of the outcome of the city’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

“World Sport Chicago is incredibly excited to contribute to the success of the city’s deserving students,” said Bill Scherr, chairman of World Sport Chicago. “This program recognizes those who exhibit strong values on and off the field. It extends to athletes whose involvement in Olympic and Paralympic sport may vary from casual participation to highly-competitive.”

 

“MacArthur has a deep commitment to Chicago communities and World Sport Chicago Scholars will bring the Olympic spirit, love for sports, and a challenge for academic achievement right into the neighborhoods,” said Julia Stasch, MacArthur vice president for U.S. programs. 

 

World Sport Chicago is working with Kaplan, Inc., to provide ACT test preparatory courses to students participating in the scholarship program to prepare for the spring 2010 ACT exam.

 

“Kaplan is pleased to partner with World Sport Chicago and Chicago 2016 in their effort to help deserving student athletes achieve their college goals,” said Lynette Boone, director of pre-college programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.  “We share their belief in encouraging academic and personal success, and support the efforts of WSC, Chicago 2016 and their partners in helping young people achieve the dream of higher education.”

 

World Sport Chicago Scholars will be administered by Chicago Scholars Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) corporation that provides administrative support and offers comprehensive best practice programs for college admissions and graduation success, such as workshops on writing the college application essay, financial aid and making smooth transitions to college. 

 

“We are thrilled to partner with World Sport Chicago and Kaplan to honor the achievements of scholar athletes,” said Karen G. Foley, president of Chicago Scholars Foundation. “It shows that Chicago knows how to work together to support our city’s tremendous college bound talent with ACT tutoring, mentoring and college scholarships so that they are equipped not only to attend college but to earn their degrees.”

 

“Our sincerest thanks to the MacArthur Foundation, Kaplan and the Chicago Scholars Foundation for coming together to make this program possible for the youth of our city,” said Ryan.

 

Additional information and application materials can be obtained from the World Sport Chicago website and also at www.wscscholars.org.  Interested candidates must submit completed applications by the November 30, 2009 deadline.

 

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About Chicago 2016

Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

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Keywords · Chicago 2016 · World Sport Chicago · John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation · scholarships · Patrick Ryan

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Name: Mica Matsoff
Organization: Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
Email:
Phone: 1.312.861.4826
URL: http://www.chicago2016.org/

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