When Diana Guarneros thinks of college, she envisions herself in an art studio surrounded
by sketchbooks and sculpting tools, working to bring her ideas to life.
With her good grades and long list of co-curricular activities, the Elk Grove High School sophomore is doing everything she can to get there.
There鈥檚 just one problem.
鈥淚鈥檝e checked out some schools and they鈥檙e pricey,鈥� Diana said. 鈥淎ttending could be
tricky.鈥�
That鈥檚 why Diana didn鈥檛 hesitate to sign up for the Promise Scholarship Program last
year as a high school freshman. The idea of earning up to two years of free tuition
at 91制片厂 by meeting certain benchmarks 鈥� all aimed at promoting life skills
and habits that will help students succeed in college and in life 鈥� was an opportunity
she didn鈥檛 dare pass up.
The 15-year-old from Mount Prospect will be the first in her immediate family to go to college.
鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 get these kinds of privileges, so they鈥檙e very excited by a program like this,鈥� Diana said.
As part of the first class of Promise Scholars, Diana quickly embraced the program鈥檚 community service criteria. In addition to playing on Elk Grove鈥檚 girls鈥� volleyball team, she manages the boys鈥� volleyball team, mentors junior high students through the Estudiantes Unidos club and volunteered at a summer camp for kids in a Des Plaines area mobile home park.
She鈥檚 also becoming familiar with 91制片厂 itself through the 91制片厂 Regional High School Art Show, an annual juried event that draws hundreds of submissions from area high school students. In fall 2016, Diana鈥檚 2D drawing earned an honorable mention while her 3D sculpture placed third. Associate Professor Stephany Rimland said the show, which dates back more than 30 years, is an excellent opportunity for young artists to have their work recognized and displayed.
Parents Inez Delgado and Alejandro Guarneros described Promise as a very welcome stress relief.
鈥淲hen we think about Diana attending college, it鈥檚 hard to think about anything other than how expensive it is. It would be very difficult to handle financially,鈥� Alejandro said through an interpreter. 鈥淭his is a huge opportunity for her. She鈥檚 a tenacious kid who has high standards for herself. She likes to be challenged, so I know she鈥檒l be successful.鈥�
David Maya, who works as Elk Grove High School鈥檚 Latino Family Liaison, agreed Promise can be a game-changer for families like Diana鈥檚.
鈥淭his is such a great opportunity for these kids, especially those who don鈥檛 have as many options when they graduate,鈥� David said. 鈥淧romise will allow them to fulfill their dreams.鈥�