Education empowers communities. Providing children and young adults with the support and resources needed to excel in school creates a positive learning environment and opens a wealth of opportunities for our next generation of leaders. The Cubs support citywide programs that promote education and college persistence.

The Cubs Scholars program, launched in 2013, offers Chicago inner-city high school students financial contributions and a team-sponsored mentorship program designed to promote academic achievement and post-secondary educational advancement. Cubs Scholars are high-potential students with demonstrated need. Each recipient receives a $20,000 scholarship upon their enrollment in a four-year college or university and participates in a mentoring program with help from Cubs College Prep. The mentoring program helps prepare scholars for the transition from high school to college. The Cubs College Prep programming and mentoring from Cubs associates helps each scholar continue toward college graduation. Students are recommended for Cubs Scholars by Cubs Charities nonprofit partners.

In 2026, Cubs Charities selected its fourteenth class of Cubs Scholars:

2026 Scholars

The most recent class of Cubs Scholars are seniors in high school, participating in Cubs College Prep, a mentoring program to support their transition from high school to college.

• Alexa Rivera - Noble College Prep
• Alexavier Camacho - St. Francis de Sales High School
• Amani Giannopoulos - Lake View High School
• Anthony Carlos - Noble College Prep
• Caragh Folan - CICS - Northtown
• Evelyn Cabrera - Josephinum Academy
• Isaac Cornejo - Noble College Prep
• Jamyleth Canongo - Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy
• Ky Tran - CICS - Northtown
• Melana Distefano - Nicholas Senn High School
• Rossy Gomez - Back of the Yards College Prep High School
• Sophia Hernandez - ITW David Speer Academy
• Tyler Macklin - George H. Corliss Early College STEM High School

2025 Scholars

• Ailyn Mena – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Anali Lopez – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Brielle Sterling – Loyola University
• Chloe Gonzalez – Illinois State University
• Faizan Khan – CICS – University of Michigan
• Gabino Noriega – Boston University
• Jailah Lewis – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Jameela Lewis – Louisiana State University
• Jocelyn Vasquez – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Kanyla Stephens – Northern Illinois University
• Monique Wesseh – University of Michigan
• Shahbaz Tailor – Loyola University
• Wyneisha Boyd – Xavier University of New Orleans

2024 Scholars

• Annya Reyes – DePaul University
• Armelle Crowder – DePaul University
• Ellis Alexander – Macalester College
• Giovanna Zepeda – Roosevelt University
• Isabella Alfaro – Lawrence University
• Jaden Rivera – Roosevelt University
• Juan Velazquez – University of Michigan
• Julie Urgilez – Loyola University Chicago
• Lina Al-Maeeni – University of Wisconsin Madison
• London Jackson – Illinois State University
• Neyda Estefania – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Sariyah Thomas – Howard University
• Yanelly Contreras – Illinois State University

2023 Scholars

• Ceyanne Silas - Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
• Da’Niya Phillips - University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Giovanni Sanchez - University of Illinois at Chicago
• James Rand - Loyola University
• Jamyriah Scott - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Kelly Nguyen - Loyola University Chicago
• Mauricio Marin - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Susie Sanders - Illinois State University
• Victory Elekwachi - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2022 Scholars

• George Salazar – Oakton College
• Gustavo Cruz – Oakton College
• Jenny Chen – University of Michigan
• Jordan Miller – Illinois State University
• Joshua Reyes – DePaul University
• Julisa Diaz – Illinois State University
• Muntadher Al-Maeeni – University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Soley Gevorgiz – University of Illinois Chicago

Since 2013, Cubs Scholars has supported 111 Chicago students with college prep and persistence initiatives and committed $2.1 in scholarships. To date, 95% have received undergraduate degrees within 6 years