CHICAGO (Sept. 15, 2021) — The Related Affordable Foundation’s Scholarship Program invites high school seniors in Chicago and across the country who reside at affordable housing properties to apply for scholarships to support their pursuit of higher education, including trade and technical schools, colleges and universities. The goal of the program is to eliminate the economic barriers these young adults often face while pursuing higher education.
All affordable housing residents are eligible to apply for scholarship funding. The Foundation recently awarded ParkwayGardens resident Mekaela Barner a scholarship to help her continue her college education. Barner attends Harris-Stowe State University, a historically Black public university in St. Louis, Missouri.
“I’m so grateful to be able to continue my college career at Harris-Stowe State,” Barner said. “I deeply value the opportunity that a college education will create, and I feel confident knowing the Related Affordable Foundation is behind me.”
With an interest in entrepreneurship, Barner is taking courses that will help her to launch her own business upon graduation. Her application highlighted her academic achievement, emotional maturity, intellectual curiosity and personal initiative. The Foundation chose to renew Barner’s award after previously awarding her a scholarship in the Fall of 2019.
“We’re proud to support Mekaela as she continues to pursue her dreams,” said Leleah James, Related Affordable Foundation. “Despite the interruptions and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mekaela has continued to persevere in her studies and we are confident she will continue to excel.”
For more information, please visit relatedaffordablefoundation.org.
Related Midwest: Tricia Van Horn (312) 832-4114 tvanhorn@relatedmidwest.com
