Aliyah Plummer had no Waukegan High School graduation to attend in 2020 because the ceremony was not held due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When it came time for her college graduation from the University of Illinois Springfield in May, Plummer was there, proud of her accomplishment and planning to eventually embark on a career in public health in her hometown, a choice influenced in part by her going to school during the pandemic.
“The experience showed me why public health is so important to the community,” she said. “It made me realize what public health can do for us as a country and a community.”
Plummer was one of 16 college and 24 high school graduates honored as part of Waukegan to College’s annual celebration Saturday at Waukegan High School’s Brookside campus, which also marked the organization’s 100th college graduate.
Now in its 15th year, Waukegan to College helps first-generation college students — many the children of immigrants, and some immigrants themselves — navigate the process of getting into college and graduating. It provides mentoring, tutoring and more.
Board member Joan Boughton said Waukegan to College has helped nearly 300 students navigate the college process, gain admittance and financial aid. Of those, 95% have graduated in four years, which eclipses the national average of 62%.
“We have a goal of 1,000 students with 10,000 dreams by 2029,” she said.
Executive Director Aaron Arnold told the crowd of several hundred people a course of study may change while a student is in college, but the dream must remain.
“Keep your eyes on your dream,” he said. “It will nurture you and give you strength. It’s your dream, not anybody else’s dream.”
Of the 16 college seniors in Waukegan to College’s current graduating class, many like Plummer were at the event, but Syed Hussaini was not. He was in Hanover, N.H., with his family preparing to graduate from Dartmouth College the following day.
Arnold said Hussaini was picked as the 100th graduate among his 16 classmates in part because he could not be at Saturday’s event.
Though Hussaini was not yet a graduate, eight newly minted college alums like Plummer were there to celebrate with their classmates. She said the networking she developed through Waukegan to College helped her since she joined the program in 2015.
“It’s become a big part of who I am,” Plummer said. “I’ve met a lot of people. It helped me get an internship.”
With plans to take a year off from her schooling, Plummer said she intends to get a master’s degree before she begins her career in public health. She plans to make her home in Waukegan.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, engages with Waukegan to College students along with his duties in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said he had the opportunity to develop a relationship with Gilberto Colin, now a board member.
Colin got his undergraduate degree from DePaul University, obtained an MBA from Marquette University and is now in the finance industry doing private equity. He makes his home in Waukegan.
“This is where I want to give back,” Colin said. “It’s very accessible, and this is where I want to make a difference.”
Schneider, who was also a speaker at the event, said during his speech Waukegan to College is, “an outstanding role model for our community,” giving people an opportunity to achieve.
“It opens windows for people,” Schneider said after the event. “It gives them the confidence to pursue the possible. They learn how to see the world as a place where they can be successful.”
Valeria Mencia recently graduated from National Louis University after finishing Waukegan High School in 2020. She said she intends to eventually start a not-for-profit organization focusing on women and children. The dream started with a research paper.
“People were not getting all the resources they could,” she said. “Most advocates were focusing on violence and abuse. There is a need for other resources.”
Mencia said she started working with Waukegan to College as a seventh grader. She came to Waukegan with her family from Mexico as a dreamer. She said she is now awaiting her green card making her a legal resident.
Along with the college graduates, the event honored those who graduated from high school and are heading to college. Of the 24 in the class, 16 were at the ceremony. They each had a sign indicating their college choice. Their dreams include medicine and journalism.
Andrea Palma plans to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She started working with Waukegan to College as a sophomore. It helped her develop a friend group in high school with others who shared her goals and dreams.
Leslie Solorio, who plans a career in journalism, will be going to Knox College in Galesburg. She said she joined Waukegan to College in eighth grade at her mother’s suggestion.
“She said education is the key to getting ahead,” Solorio said.
Juliana Reyes plans to attend the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She said she joined Waukegan to College as a high school junior. It made her journey easier.
“It helped relieve a lot of pressures,” Reyes said. “It provided a lot of resources.”
