These core set of four values have guided our work from the beginning. We use them as a compass to inform our organizational practices and how we work with our Scholars, our school partners and our communities. At the heart of our values are our Scholars. They are foremost in our minds when we do our everyday work.
Our vision is to create enduring socio-economic prosperity for first-generation students, students of color, low-income students and their families. Through a transformative educational experience, motivated students will become the leaders of the future who change the quality of life for their communities. To reach more students and to improve every Scholar’s chance at succeeding in a top college, we continue to partner with new schools and expand our services for Scholars and their families.
Schuler partners with Scholars and their families to help Scholars identify, pursue and achieve their academic and professional aspirations. During the high school years, Scholars focus on activities to propel them on their academic journey. After high school, Schuler provides support that helps Scholars flourish in college and beyond. These resources–which are all free to Scholars and their families enable Scholars to create, and follow, a customized roadmap to succeed at highly selective colleges and universities.
Every Scholar receives personal coaching and counseling from Schuler’s professional staff to help them excel academically in high school. Whether overcoming challenges in a difficult subject, or increasing performance on standardized tests, we support every Scholar’s individual learning goals.
A 10-day leadership camp begins the Schuler Scholar experience. Subsequent workshops on topics ranging from time management to team building help Scholars develop into strong leaders and academic colleagues. By cultivating these important skills early on, Scholars learn how to thrive in any academic environment.
We introduce Scholars to a wide variety of cultural, social and civic experiences, including travel around the US and abroad, to expose them to new perspectives. As a result, Scholars expand their cultural curiosity and develop the confidence they need to succeed in a college environment and beyond.
We focus on helping Scholars find the top college that’s the best fit for them. Scholars and their families receive expert guidance on maximizing financial aid and building strong college applications. Every Scholar visits at least 15 of the more than 140 Schuler-approved colleges or universities by senior year to experience a variety of college environments.
Every Scholar is matched with a mentor upon entering college. We also offer career support and networking opportunities to help Scholars land career-launching jobs upon graduation. The Schuler network, now 1000 strong, provides a lifelong connection for Scholars to rely on, as they advance in their career.
The Schuler Scholar Program, founded by Jack and Tanya Schuler Sharman in 2001, is rooted in our belief that a high-quality education is transformative for students as well as their communities. We began our partnership with one school and a handful of students, which produced two graduating seniors in 2002. During that first year we focused on mentoring the younger students and assisting the seniors with college scholarships and honing our program to better support students through this journey. To date, Schuler has helped more than 1,800 first-generation students, students of color, and low-income students in Chicago on their path to college and beyond.