Benito Juarez Community Academy
Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken and other University ambassadors recently hit the road to personally congratulate more than 100 Chicago-area high school and transfer students, and even a graduate student who all were just accepted to Elmhurst through its early action admission program.
On Dec. 1-2, President VanAken, University mascot Victor E. Bluejay, and a small army of counselors and leaders from the Office of Admission surprised nearly 50 seniors at Fenton High School in Bensenville, 40 seniors at Addison Trail High School in Addison, 20 seniors at Benito Juarez Community Academy in Chicago, and several transfer students currently attending Triton College, Harper College and College of DuPage.
College of DuPage student Tiffany Cuevas, who was surprised at her home in Addison, thanked the admission team for making that in-person visit. “I had no idea you and my mom had planned this!” she said.
At Fenton High School, 49 unsuspecting seniors were called out of class to attend a mysterious “Special Recognition,” where President VanAken congratulated the students and presented each with a “Bluejay Box” containing their letter of acceptance, a scholarship offer, an Elmhurst T-shirt and more. He noted that annual merit scholarships totaling $958,000 were offered to the Fenton students, or more than $4 million over the four years that they would be Elmhurst students, should they decide to attend.
Fenton High School
“It means so much for us to be able to come and be a small part of your journey,” he said, adding that their early acceptance to Elmhurst reflected their hard work and investment in themselves and their future. Encouraging them to pursue their college dreams, whether at Elmhurst or somewhere else, he advised them to “choose a place where you can reach your full potential, where they’re committed to you, and where you feel you can belong.”
Fenton senior Tera Pabico, of Bensenville, applauded enthusiastically for each of her fellow students as their names were called to get their Bluejay Box.
“I thought it was really nice, very personal, for the University to do this for us,” said Pabico, who plans to major in communications or marketing. “It felt really welcoming, and shows that Elmhurst cares.”
In late November, Elmhurst University senior Alison Skiple, of Des Plaines, received a “graduate student” Bluejay Box as one of five students who gained early action admission to Elmhurst’s master’s program in communication sciences and disorders.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up