Mayoral Award for Student Achievement

The CME Group Center for Innovation Mayoral Award for Student Achievement was established in 1986 by CME in conjunction with the Mayor's Office and the Chicago Board of Education. The purpose of this award is to encourage outstanding Chicago public high school students to achieve excellence and is an acknowledgement of their exceptional accomplishments.

It has become one of the preeminent cooperative programs between business, government and education in the City of Chicago and is recognized for its innovative concept.

On the basis of an essay surrounding the futures industry, along with the student's academic record and recommendations, one graduating senior is selected from each of the city's public high schools as the recipient of the award. This student is presented with a $1,000 cash grant, to be used for academic purposes only in furtherance of his/her education. In addition, students are chosen from this group for paid summer internships with CME clearing firms.

An awards luncheon for the students and their parents is hosted by CME Group each June. It is traditionally hosted by the Mayor, representatives from the Board of Education and CME Group officials. The luncheon provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the recipients of the Mayoral Award for Student Achievement for their diligent efforts throughout high school.

CME Group is proud to sponsor such an innovative program for talented Chicago public high school students. The Mayoral Award for Student Achievement is a testimony to the strength of our city's public schools and ensures the vitality of our future business community.

Selection Process
Chicago Public High Schools counselors, college and career coaches, and teachers will have the opportunity to nominate up to three students from their school for the CME Group Center for Innovation Mayoral Award for Student Achievement scholarship. Each high school should establish an award selection committee comprised usually of Educators and members of the Counseling Department. This committee will screen student applications, judge the essays, interview the candidates and select up to three students to move on to the next selection phase of the scholarship process for the $1,000.00 award. The nominated students should have outstanding extracurricular activities, excellent academic achievement and be considered leaders of their class. A strong interest in a business or business-related field is required as these students will also become eligible to be considered for the summer employment program. This can be evidenced as a planned college major in business or in a business-related field. Representatives of the Mayor's Office and the CME Group Center for Innovation will screen the nominated applicants and choose only one student from each school for the scholarship. If any nominated candidate does not meet the application criteria he or she will not be considered for the scholarship award.

Eligibility:

Chicago Public High School Seniors with:
1. Excellent academic achievement
2. Career goal/college major in business or a business related field
3. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0
4. Excellent attendance (90% or higher)

Career Goal: Business and Finance

Application Deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012

*Application materials will be available in January 2012. Please see visit the CPS Web site or a Chicago Public School guidance counselor for an application.

This award is administered by Chicago Public Schools, Office of Pathways to College and Career. For more information, please contact:

CME Group Scholarship Review Committee
Chicago Public Schools
Office of Pathways to College and Career
Attention: Marcia Boyd
125 S Clark Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603