About The HEAR Foundation (Health Education and Relief)
The HEAR Scholarship Foundation’s mission is to provide financial and mentoring support to Chicagoland High School graduates of need, who have demonstrated academic excellence, commitment to community, and highest moral character in pursuing their dream of a college education.
Meet the HEAR Scholar Class of 2023!
Please join us in congratulating these students as we celebrate their fantastic achievement….
The HEAR Class of 2023 is our biggest yet, with 29 new scholars joining our program. We are delighted to welcome them into the HEAR Family of scholars and look forward to supporting them throughout their college careers. We are certain these 29 young men and women are destined for great things!
Angelique Acevedo – Northeastern University of Boston (Environmental Science)
Kevin Alcantara – Case Western University (Biochemistry)
Johnny Brown – University of Miami, FL (Bio-medical Engineering)
Anthony Burtley – Marquette University (Biological Sciences)
Gabby Calderon – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Animal Science)
Mia Cinquini – Marquette University (Nursing)
Mearieta Clemente – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Anthropology)
Ikenna Elue – Northwestern University (Computer Science)
Kely Enriquez – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Biology)
Miguel Fernandez – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Electrical Engineering)
Ines Garcia-Valdivia – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Psychology)
Evan Garrett – University of Oregon (Interior Architecture)
Angelica Glogowski – DePauw University (Biology/Global Health)
Cathy Guan – University of Toronto (Neuroscience & Bioethics)
Darius Johnson – Santa Clara University (Management Information Systems & Economics)
Gurleen Kaur – University of Illinois at Chicago (Computer Science)
Izabela Kwietniewski – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Business)
Alyssa Matias – University of Southern California (Political Science)
Tamara Mazets – Fordham University, NY (Economics & Computer Science)
Kiera McNeary – Xavier University of Louisiana (Pre-Med)
Kassidy Moy – Illionois Institute of Technology (Undecided)
Anthony Navarette – University of Illinois at Chicago (Computer Engineering)
Jenifer Nunez – University of Pennsylvania (Undecided)
Alexandra Ramirez – St. Olaf College (Nursing)
Marc Ridgell – Washington University in St. Louis (African-American Studies)
Andrea Salamanca – Occidental College (Critical Theory and Social Justice)
Aatika Shaikh – University of Illinois at Chicago (Business Management)
Alexandra Siek – University of Illinois at Chicago (Biological Sciences)
Alondra Valezquez – Lake Forest College (Biology)
Lucy Weaver – University of California at Los Angeles (Public Health)
The HEAR Scholarship Foundation is creating opportunity and changing lives for underserved Chicagoland high school seniors. Please take a moment to listen to our scholars tell their stories in their own words.
Meet Our HEAR Class of 2019 Graduates!
2019 marks a major milestone for the HEAR Foundation. At our annual awards ceremony in May, we awarded our 100th HEAR Scholarship! As we consider how far the HEAR Foundation has come, we’d like to reflect on the graduates from our program. HEAR maintains a 100% college graduation rate to-date with 19 scholars successfully graduated from our scholarship program. We couldn’t be prouder and you should be too!
Meet the class of 2019 graduates:
Kelly Canoy
College: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Major: Kinesiology
High School: Fenwick
Having recently graduated, Kelly is now pursuing enrollment in graduate school to study for a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy.
Nick Coleman
College: Illinois Wesleyan University, IL
Major: Accounting
High School: St. Patrick
After graduating Cum Laude in May, Nick started work at All State Insurance in Bloomington, IL where he is currently an Assistant Finance Analyst. He is also studying for his CPA exams.
Brianna Guzman
College: St. Louis University, MO
Major: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Special Education
High School: St. Ignatius College Prep
Brianna graduated Magna Cum Laude. This fall, she will be commencing a doctorate at Rush University in Audiology.
Allison Ledwon
College: Northwestern University, IL
Major: BSJ in Journalism
High School: St. Ignatius College Prep
Allison graduated with a BSJ in Journalism, an Integrated Marketing Certificate and a Religious Studies minor. Currently working part-time at UIC’s Booth School of Business, Allison recently applied for a position at Northwestern University’s Alumni Services.
Jackie Morgan
College: Southern University and A&M College (graduates Dec. 2019) Major: Teaching High School: Kenwood Jackie recently passed her Teaching Certification in Louisiana and is currently finishing her student teaching requirements in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Upon graduation, she will be going to basic training to be Military Police in the Army Reserves. After 20 weeks of training, Jackie plans to return to Louisiana and teach.
Juliana Tamayo
College: Loyola University, IL
Major: BA in International and Global Studies, a BA in Spanish and a minor in Women Studies and Gender Studies
High School: De La Salle Institute, Lourdes Campus
Juliana graduated with a double major. In the fall, she will be attending Loyola Graduate School as a recipient of the Attoh Diversity Fellowship, where she will be obtaining her master’s degree in Gender and Migration. She has also been working in the Division of Student Development at Loyola as a student assistant.
Sam Van Loon
College: Northwestern University, IL
Major: BS in Theatre with a concentration in lighting design.
High School: Chicago Laboratory Schools
Since graduation, Sam has been working as a freelance lighting director and with a Chicago photography company.
Deja Young
College: Hampton University, VA (graduates Summer 2020)
Major: Health Sciences
High School: St. Joseph
Deja is in a 5-year degree program at Hampton University. While she is a graduate of the HEAR Class of 2019, Deja will complete her degree in the summer of 2020.
Listen to our HEAR Story!
See, HEAR and discover what being awarded a HEAR Scholarship from our Foundation really means to some of our scholars. Listen to members of our Board of Directors explain why they felt compelled to become part of our organization and help change the futures of some of the Chicagoland area’s brightest students.
Desperately seeking Mentors!!
The HEAR Foundation is delighted to announce that in May 2019 we awarded 30 new college scholarships to high school graduates in financial need, who have shown perseverance and demonstrated academic excellence. Many of these students are first-generation college-goers in their family.
Did you know? Almost a third of first-generation students drop out of college in the first year. There are numerous reasons why this happens but often it is because they are overwhelmed by the journey ahead of them and they have no one to turn to for advice. The pressure of trying to succeed on their own is just too much.
The good news? The HEAR Foundation has assigned a mentor to each of our new HEAR Class of 2023 Scholars as they start to navigate their way on their new and exciting journey, helping them to succeed in college.
We are already beginning the search for mentors for our incoming HEAR Class of 2023. Please consider becoming a mentor for one of our future scholars and feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that you personally made a difference in someone’s life.
If you, or anyone you know, are interested in learning more about becoming a mentor (or are ready to volunteer your services), and want to make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life – whilst at the same time no doubt enriching your own – please contact us at info@hearfoundation.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
This could be you at our next annual fundraiser. Matt is one of our most dedicated mentors. He supported Nick, a HEAR Class of 2019 scholar, throughout his four years of college.
Nick graduated in May 2019 from Illinois Wesleyan University having already accepted a full-time position at the organization where Matt helped him find an internship. Matt was a committed mentor during Nick’s four years at college, offering support and advice whenever Nick needed it. Without a doubt, Matt’s help and commitment made a difference in Nick’s life! Nick presented Matt with our “Volunteer of the Year” award at our 2019 HEAR Fundraiser as recognition for all he has done – thank you again Matt!
Scholarships
Over $1,500,000 in scholarships granted since 2010.
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Events
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Recently from the Blog
HEAR Enrichment Committee Sends Another Care Package
All four HEAR Classes were grateful to receive another care package sent by our HEAR Enrichment Committee last week. With over 60 students in our HEAR Scholarship Program at universities throughout the United States, it is a lot of work for these ladies, and our...
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Scholar Workshops Feature At Our 2018 HEAR Winter Event
In late December, the HEAR Family of Scholars came together for our annual Winter Social at Pompei Pizza in Little Italy. We love this event for many reasons, not the least of which is that we get to reflect upon a full year with our scholars. Our Freshmen in...
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Annual HEAR Summer Scholar Event – A New Format
Sunday, July 8th was our annual HEAR Summer Scholar Event and we were fortunate to be able to hold it at the Chicago Academy for the Arts who very kindly let us use their space. The main focus this year was on our newest, and largest, class of HEAR Scholars. In the...
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Welcoming The HEAR Class of 2022 At Our Awards Ceremony
We had a delightful evening at St. Ignatius College Prep on Tuesday, May 8th 2018 as we welcomed our latest class of HEAR Scholars into the family. This year's class is our biggest yet with 25 new scholarships awarded. Recipients attend high schools from all over the...
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Special Packages Sent To Our HEAR Scholars
We have to give a HUGE shout out to the wonderful ladies on the HEAR Scholarship Enrichment Committee who gave up an evening last week to pack up and send out care packages to our HEAR Scholars. Each box contained homemade cookies, brownies and other delicious snacks!...
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A Reflection On A Semester Spent Studying Abroad – Juliana Tamayo
"I knew I wanted to study abroad since I started college. As a Global Studies and Spanish double major I could basically choose to study abroad anywhere in the world. I’d always wanted to go to Spain so this helped me narrow down my options. I chose the Saint Louis...
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