Thirty area students receive funding from educational foundation

The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation recently awarded $1 million dollars in scholarship assistance to 32 area students. The 66-year-old foundation has assisted more than 14,000 Cook County students over the years with scholarship funding. Students can apply for scholarship assistance beginning November 7th through February 3rd. Pictured is the 2016 Pullman Scholars.
The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation recently awarded $1 million dollars in scholarship assistance to 32 area students. The 66-year-old foundation has assisted more than 14,000 Cook County students over the years with scholarship funding. Students can apply for scholarship assistance beginning November 7th through February 3rd. Pictured is the 2016 Pullman Scholars.

Thirty area students receive funding from educational foundation

By Safiyyah P. Muhammad

The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation recently announced that it's sending 30 Chicago college-bound students to the school of their choice with the help of $1 million dollars in

scholarship assistance.

"Our scholars have received a total of $40,000 or $10,000 per year for four years. Along with financial support, they will also receive educational support through the Pullman Symposium,” said Executive Director, Robin Redmond. “The symposium teaches them about financial management, etiquette, and networking. During their first year in college, they work with our scholarship director and former alumni with issues that they might face. T his serves as a support

mechanism particularly, if students are interested in taking specific classes or if they are struggling during their first year of college. The college alumni (team) is there to of fer advice and feedback. We want them to graduate in a timely manner with no student loan debt,” she said.

According to Redmond, the Foundation has been consistent through the years in aiding blacks desiring to pursue a higher education.

"People do not know that we’ve been in business for 66 years. One of the foundation’s roles back in the 1950’s was to ensure that people of color and women had money to go to college. It is one of a hand full of foundations that’s doing this kind of work,” Redmond said.

Redmond added that the scholar alumni make up a large percentage of the donor funding and the Pullman endowment fund. She also stated that since its inception, the foundation has given more than $33 million dollars in scholarship assistance.

Pullman scholars are enrolled in more than 132 colleges across the country including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Loyola, DePaul and the University of Illinois, among others, according to Redmond.

After graduation, students pursue careers as financial analysts, doctors, attorneys, and teachers, she said.

Redmond explained the process of becoming a Pullman Educational candidate. She said, “Our scholars must complete an online application. The grade point average has to be a t a 3.0 or higher.

Candidates must also write three essays. In one of the essay questions, candidates are asked about their American Dream and what they want to accomplish in life?

A former Pullman scholar also conducts a phone interview with applicants. Students can apply for scholarship assistance

starting now through February 3rd,” Redmond said.

Students who receive funding come from a diverse background, she said, adding, "The Pullman scholar population is composed of students who are Caucasian, A sian, Latino- American, Multi-ethnic and African-American.

They are just really smart kids who don’t have enough money to go to college.” According to Redmond, George Pullman is also the founder of the Pullman Free School of Trade, which is now Gwendolyn Brooks High School.

To learn more about the George M. Pullman

Education Foundation Scholarship, please g o to

www.pullmanfoundation.org.

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