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CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, is awarding 25 City Colleges of Chicago graduates with $5,000 scholarships as they move on to earn Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees.
Since 2017, CME Group has partnered with the Mayor's office to support the Star Scholars program, contributing over $1 million to help graduates who have earned an associates degree at a Chicago City College achieve their higher education goals at four-year institutions. The program evolved from the CME Group Mayoral Award for Student Achievement, which began in 1986, providing millions in financial support to high-achieving Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students to pursue college degrees.
"We are pleased to recognize the academic achievements of the Star Scholars as they continue to work hard to pursue higher education," said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. "These scholarships provide critical financial assistance to future Chicago leaders so they can explore learning opportunities that can help lead to rewarding careers."
"We sincerely thank CME Group for the generous scholarships supporting our Star Scholars as they continue their educational journeys. After a debt-free start at City Colleges of Chicago, our Star Scholars will use this scholarship to ease the financial burden of a bachelor's degree along their pathway to upward mobility," said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago.
This year's scholarship recipients were selected from more than 380 Star Scholars who completed their associate degrees in spring 2025 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Notably, 100% of this year's recipients intend to transfer to one of the 26 Star university partners in fall 2025 to pursue a bachelor's degree.
Scholarship winners were recognized by CME Group President and Chief Financial Officer Lynne Fitzpatrick, Deputy Mayor for Education and Youth Khari Humphries, and Chief of Staff and Advancement and President of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Veronica Herrero at a celebratory luncheon and education seminar on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at CME Group headquarters in Chicago.
The Star Scholarship program at City Colleges of Chicago has helped approximately 20,000 CPS and Big Shoulders Fund high school graduates pursue their associate degrees debt-free. During the academic year 2024-2025, more than 1,000 Star Scholars completed their associate degrees, making up over one-fourth of the graduating class of 2025.
For more information on the Star Scholarship at City Colleges of Chicago, visit www.ccc.edu/starscholarship.
