2020 Scholarship Application Period is now OPEN

**READ ENTIRE LISTING**

For questions, please email help@pushexcel.org

No exceptions will be made for application or supporting documentation

 

Important dates:

January 20, 2020 – Application Opens

April 15, 2020 – Application Closes.

April 15, 2020 – Cirilo McSween & Ora Lee Sanders applicants: Official Transcript must be received or postmarked this date. No exceptions.
Aramark Trades: DO NOT mail transcript. Upload online only.

PUSH Excel Scholarship Program

The PUSH Excel Scholarship Program was created to assist young people who are qualified but lack the financial resources to attend college. The goal of the program is to develop servant leadership potential in the scholarship students and encourage a spirit of social justice and social change.

College is the key to economic freedom for all Americans, yet a college degree is becoming less and less affordable for the average student in the U.S. Over the past several years, PUSH Excel has awarded over three million dollars to deserving students enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. PUSH Excel Scholars attend a variety of institutions and we take pride in the fact that ninety percent of PUSH Excel Scholars graduate from college.

PUSH Excel makes a number of awards each year through four named scholarships: Jesse Jackson Fellows (scholarship applications returns 2021), Ora Lee Sanders, Cirilo McSween, and (NEW 2020) Aramark Trades. Scholarship recipients will be selected from the pool of applicants who apply for a particular scholarship and meet the minimum criteria provided in the guidelines. There are no geographical limitations–applicants are selected from across the nation.

Applicants should apply for the scholarship that best fits their particular situation. You may apply for only one scholarship in a particular year and, if awarded a renewable scholarship, may not apply for a different scholarship in subsequent years. Applications will be evaluated by a committee of educators and corporate executives.

Staff or board members of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition or its affiliates and children or immediate family members of staff or board members are not eligible to participate in the PUSH Excel Scholarship Program.

Scholarship recipients are required to participate in the scholarship event at the Rainbow PUSH annual conference and will agree to cooperate with the scholarship committee to promote the PUSH Excel Scholarship Program by participating in various events and public relations activities. There are also a number of additional requirements PUSH Excel asks scholarship recipients to agree to regarding their involvement with the organization that will be explained when a scholarship offer is made.

Cirilo McSween

Cirilo McSween Scholarship Sponsored by New York Life

NOTE: Must be Incoming Freshman and Business or Accounting Majors.

The Cirilo McSween (New York Life) Scholarship is awarded to students who are majoring in business or accounting, achieve academic success, and play an active role in their communities. Scholarships are given in honor of New York Life’s first African American agent, Cirilo A. McSween, who became an agent in 1957. Mr. McSween, who passed away in 2008, was a member of Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s board of directors, a renowned civil rights activist who worked closely with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a noted businessperson. The Cirilo McSween (New York Life) Scholarship is a $5,000.00 award and may be renewed depending on the student’s ability to maintain a 3.0 GPA and depending on the student’s undergraduate status (not including a collegiate status of 5 years or more). The award will be paid directly to the college or university the student will be attending.

Application and supporting documents (excluding official transcript) must be submitted online.  Official transcript may be mailed by applicant or school to:

PUSH Excel
ATTN: Jason Robinson
930 E. 50th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60615

on or by 5p.m. CST, April 15, 2020

.
Eligibility:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited, four-year-degree, undergraduate program at a college or university in the U.S. by August 2020.
  • Please Note: Must be entering freshman year.
  • Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
  • Must demonstrate academic preparation to attend college and succeed.
  • Must demonstrate the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve academic and personal goals.

Requirements:

  • Must become a Student Member of RainbowPUSH if selected as a scholarship recipient. (Click here to Become A Member)
  • Official transcript. (May be mailed by applicant or school)
  • Two letters of recommendation (cannot include a family member).
  • Proof of current enrollment or acceptance to accredited college/university in the United States (course schedule/admission letter, if applicable).
  • Evidence of service learning (Must indicate any school-based extracurricular involvement and/or community-service involvement).
  • Must submit a minimum 500-word essay. The required essay must address the following:
    • Identify five (5) prerequisites for success and explain in detail your personal philosophy for the pursuit of excellence.
    • Explain the obstacles or hardships you had to overcome on your journey to achieve academic success.
    • Finally, explain how you will use your college education to achieve your personal goals and pursue excellence.

Renewal:
The Cirilo McSween (New York Life) Scholarship is renewable depending on the student’s ability to maintain a 3.0 GPA and depending on the student’s undergraduate status (not including a collegiate status of 5 years or more).

Apply Here

Ora Lee Sanders

Ora Lee Sanders Scholarship Sponsored through PUSH Excel by various sponsors

The Ora Lee Sanders Scholarship is awarded to students who are majoring in any college-approved major, achieve academic success, and play an active role in their communities. Scholarships are given in honor of Ms. Ora Lee Sanders, an educator who believed that all children should have the opportunity to attend college regardless of having a high grade point average and/or test scores. The Ora Lee Sanders Scholarship is a $2,500.00 award and may be renewed depending on the student’s ability to maintain a 2.5 GPA and depending on the student’s undergraduate status (not including a collegiate status of 5 years or more). The award will be paid directly to the college or university the student will be attending.

Application and supporting documents (excluding official transcript) must be submitted online. Official transcript may be mailed by applicant or school to:

PUSH Excel
ATTN: Jason Robinson
930 E. 50th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60615

on or by 5p.m. CST, April 15, 2020.

 

Eligibility:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited, four-year-degree, undergraduate program at a college or university in the U.S. by August 2020.
  • Must be entering freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year (but not 5th year or greater).
  • Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
  • Must demonstrate academic preparation to attend college and succeed.
  • Must demonstrate the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve academic and personal goals.

Requirements:

  • Must become a Student Member of RainbowPUSH if selected as a scholarship recipient. (Click here to Become A Member)
  • Official transcript. (May be mailed by applicant or school)
  • Two letters of recommendation (cannot include a family member).
  • Proof of current enrollment or acceptance to accredited college/university in the United States (course schedule/admission letter, if applicable).
  • Evidence of service learning (Must indicate any school-based extracurricular involvement and/or community-service involvement).
  • Must submit a minimum 500-word essay. The required essay must address the following:
    • Identify five (5) prerequisites for success and explain in detail your personal philosophy for the pursuit of excellence.
    • Explain the obstacles or hardships you had to overcome on your journey to achieve academic success.
    • Finally, explain how you will use your college education to achieve your personal goals and pursue excellence.

Renewal:
The Ora Lee Sanders Scholarship is renewable depending on the student’s ability to maintain a 2.5 GPA and depending on the student’s undergraduate status (not including a collegiate status of 5 years or more). Complete the Online application to renew each year.

Apply Here

Aramark Trades

PUSH Excel / Aramark Trades Scholarship Sponsored by Aramark

The PUSH Excel / Aramark Trades Scholarship is awarded to Chicago Public School (CPS) students who are planning to pursue careers in the building trades and/or facilities management. With the growth of careers in the trades industries, students have more opportunities to expand their educational pathways to prepare them for high demand jobs of the future. To that end, Aramark, in partnership with PUSH Excel and Kennedy-King College, a member of the City Colleges of Chicago, has developed this scholarship to provide financial assistance for graduating CPS seniors interested in continuing their educational advancement.

The $20,000 scholarship is for two (2) CPS students who will receive $10,000 each. This is a non-renewable, one (1) time award.

 

Eligibility:

Scholarship is only for Chicago Public School students who are a member of Rainbow PUSH and meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen;
  • Will graduate in June 2020 from a Chicago Public School high school;
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale) at the time of application;
  • Have demonstrated leadership ability through past/present participation in community service, extracurricular and/or other activities;
  • Have fully completed the application in its entirety with original signatures, submitted on or before the deadline.

Requirements:

  • Must become a Student Member of RainbowPUSH if selected as a scholarship recipient.
  • Two letters of recommendation (cannot include a family member).
    • One (1) letter of recommendation must be from a CPS instructor describing the student’s leadership and academic excellence.
    • One (1) letter of recommendation may be from a social worker, church or community leader, or an adult who has worked with the student in a community service capacity; describing the students role and leadership.
    • Recommendations should explain why the student is worthy of the scholarship.
  • Official transcript from Chicago Public Schools.
  • Evidence of service learning (Must indicate any school-based extracurricular involvement and/or community –service involvement.)
  • Must submit a minimum 500-word essay. Essay must be typed, double space, in Times New Roman font, with 12 point font size.
    • Required essay must address the following:
      • Identify five (5) prerequisites for success and explain in detail your personal philosophy for the pursuit of excellence.
      • Explain the obstacles or hardships you had to overcome on your journey to achieve academic success.
      • Explain why you wish to pursue a career in the trades industry and how this scholarship will help you achieve your goals.

Payment of Scholarships:

  • A $10,000 check will be made payable to City Colleges of Chicago / Kennedy King College on behalf of the scholarship recipient from Operation PUSH on behalf of Aramark; upon written confirmation of enrollment of the scholarship recipient at Kennedy King College.
    • Scholarship funds are to be used for payment of tuition, books and supplies.
  • All Scholarship recipients must agree to allow PUSH Excel and Aramark to share their name and photograph with the public/media.
  • After the first year of school, all scholarship recipients must provide a letter to Aramark and PUSH Excel explaining how the scholarship assisted them in their educational goals.
Apply Here