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High School Scholarship Opportunities

The Native American Heritage Essay Contest is now closed. Stay tuned, results of the essay contest will be announced soon

CPS Students submit essays via Academic Works

Non-CPS Students submit essays to CityTreasurerEvents@cityofchicago.org

2022 Essay Question:

“Identify some of the barriers and challenges facing Native Americans to accessing economic opportunities. Then, based on your own personal experience, research, or knowledge, explain what steps you would take to improve economic opportunities for Chicago’s Native American families and communities.” (600-1200 words)

As part of the Treasurer’s High School Scholarship Essay Contest, the Treasurer’s office annually awards non-renewable scholarships, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, to support the cost of attending the first year of college to two high school students. This scholarship is open during Black History Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month, recognizing seniors in high school who have displayed outstanding academic achievement or community involvement and who write a thoughtful and impactful essay on a topic related to the respective heritage month. This scholarship is open to all Chicago High Schools seniors and requires no minimum grade point average.

Click here for more information and eligibility requirements.

Below are the winners of previous scholarships:

2022 – 2023
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
First Place: Jeremy Battung, Goode High School
Second Place: Marish Manuel, Admundsen High School

2022 – 2023
Black History Month
First Place: Tyler Smith – $1,500
Second Place: Iyana Gross – $1,000

2021 – 2022
Hispanic Heritage Month 

First Place: Jade Avalos, World Language Academy High School
Second Place: Alicja Martinez, Carl Schurz High School

2021-2022
Black History Month

First Place: Aniyah Chase-Mayfield, Walter Payton College Prep
Second Place: Maurice Oldham, Amundsen High School

2021 – 2022
Black History Month
First Place: Jada E. Carey, Gary Comer College Prep
Second Place: Ezekiel Bramble, Von Steuben High School

2020 – 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month
First Place: Alissa Medina – $1,500
Second Place: Jacqueline Guzman – $1,000

2019 – 2020
Hispanic Heritage Month

First Place: Abel Almanza – $1,500
Second Place: Yovani Villeda Alvarez – $1,000

CPS Essay Scholarship Announcements