As a member of the Waukegan High School class of 2014, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education member Adriana Gonzalez learned how to navigate the college admission process as a Schuler Scholar.
A first-generation college student whose father did not get past the fourth grade in Mexico before going to work and whose mother did not finish high school, Gonzalez said college was not a topic of conversation at home. She became a Schuler Scholar in high school.
“They were not aware of the process,” she said. “Because of Schuler, I got a general awareness of the resources available to students. I became attuned to the process and learned from the people what you can’t find doing research.”
Gonzalez is among more than 300 Schuler Scholars from Waukegan High School to earn college degrees since the program began in 2001. Waukegan High was the first served by the Schuler program, which has helped more than 1,800 students in 14 high schools, according to its website.
Schuler Scholars graduating in 2027 from Waukegan High, six other schools in Lake County and 14 overall, will be the last in a program starting to significantly decelerate now and ending in four years because its funding resources have lost significant value.
Founded by Jack Schuler in 2001, Tilden Katz, a spokesperson for the organization, said Friday the program was funded by a portfolio of stocks managed by Schuler. While the market was increasing in value, those managed by Schuler lost rather than gained value.
“The portfolio of assets that funded the scholarship program, including stocks, declined in value and did not follow the market,” Katz said.
Though Katz said the program will continue to support its current juniors and seniors through August with some resources, other organizations like Waukegan to College and College Bound Opportunities in Highland Park will welcome them, too.
Aaron Arnold, the executive director of Waukegan to College, said Friday his organization will receive 100% of the Schuler Scholars who are Waukegan High School students.
Waukegan to College guides first-generation college students and their families through the admissions process, including completing applications, learning about financial aid and academic help when necessary. Arnold said there will be an open house on April 26.
“We’ve invited the 30 students who have been part of the Schuler program. They’ll learn about our group, and decide if they want to join,” Arnold said. “We’re looking for the funding now,” he added, referring to the money needed to accommodate them. “I already have some commitments.”
Susan Bell, the executive director of College Bound Opportunities, said her organization also works with first-generation college students, as well as students from low-income families.
Bell said the goal is to guide students through the admission process, and help them succeed when they get there. The process is not complete until a college diploma is earned. They start working with teens in their sophomore year of high school.
College Bound Opportunities works with two schools — Highland Park High School and Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan — also still served by Schuler. Bell said she is reaching out to those youngsters.
Along with Highland Park and Cristo Rey, Bell said College Bound also works with students at Deerfield, Lake Forest, Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills high schools.
While some Schuler Scholars may avail themselves of the resources of Waukegan to College or College Bound Opportunities, Katz said Schuler plans to continue helping the students — particularly juniors and seniors — it already assists through the summer.
“A team will be there through August to help the seniors transition to college, and prepare the juniors for the college admission process,” Katz said. “They will still get their scholarship,” he added, referring to a $10,000 grant.
For Schuler Scholars in the first two years of high school, Katz said there will be help moving to another organization and eventually a $2,000 scholarship.
Along with sitting on the school board where she was a student 10 years ago, Gonzalez earned an undergraduate degree from Pomona College in 2018. She credits the Schuler Scholars program with helping her achieve her goals.
“I would not have obtained the job I have if it was not for the experience I obtained at Pomona,” Gonzalez said.
Josue Pasillas, a 2013 graduate of Waukegan High School who earned his undergraduate degree from Pitzer College four years later, was also a Schuler Scholar. He sits on the board of the Waukegan Public Schools Foundation and is the communications supervisor with the Waukegan Park District.
Pasillas said Schuler helped him achieve academically with its programs and coaching. It prepared him to pursue higher education while he was a high school student.
“I was able to navigate the path to college which isn’t always the easiest as a future first-generation college student,” Pasillas said. “Their impact on the lives of so many students from Waukegan is invaluable.”
Along with Waukegan, Highland Park and Cristo Rey, other schools in Lake County where the Schuler Scholar program has been active are Mundelein, North Chicago, Round Lake, Warren Township and Zion Benton Township high schools.
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