Application Now Open To Coach One Million Degrees Scholars

Michaela McGill
Published: July 5, 2016

One Million Degrees (OMD)— a Chicago nonprofit organization that empowers low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work, and in life—is now accepting applications for its volunteer coaches. OMD Coaches work with scholars in a one-on-one or small group setting to provide professional and personal support throughout the academic year, while helping to broaden scholars’ horizons of career aspirations and possibilities. Coaches are supported with ongoing training by OMD to ensure a positive and productive volunteer experience, and also have opportunities to connect with fellow coaches to expand their own professional networks.

Coaches give just a few hours each month and make a profound difference in the lives of OMD Scholars. “I have loved my mentee and everything about my mentoring experience at OMD,” said coach Neha Gupta, HR Specialist at PricewaterhouseCoopers, “The two hours I spend monthly with my mentee are easily the two most meaningful hours of my month!”

OMD provides a variety of holistic supports—financial assistance, mentoring, academic interventions and professional development—to hundreds of community college students across 11 Chicago-area community colleges each year. It is one of the only organizations in the country working directly with low-income community college students. OMD Scholars graduate from college at over three times the national average. Upon completion, its scholars transfer to four-year colleges and universities to earn their bachelor’s degrees and enter the workforce in high-demand fields, such as health care, IT and engineering. OMD Scholars build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities, while helping to strengthen the local and national economy.

OMD is rapidly expanding the number of students it serves in Chicago and the suburbs. In the 2015- 2016 academic year OMD served 440 scholars, and in the 2016-2017 academic year, OMD will have the capacity to serve up to 700 scholars across all of its program locations including Kennedy-King College, Olive-Harvey College, Richard Daley College, Harry S. Truman College, Malcolm X College, Prairie State College, Harper College, and College of Lake County.

Learn more about coaching and apply at www.onemilliondegrees.org/get-involved/coach-a-scholar. For questions about the program or applications, call Michaela McGill at 312-920-9605 ext. 310 or send an email to mmcgill@onemilliondegrees.org.

About One Million Degrees

One Million Degrees believes that when given a solid system of support, every student has the ability to reach his or her full personal and professional potential. Since 2006, One Million Degrees has provided critical supports to help empower hundreds of community college students to succeed in the classroom and beyond. One Million Degrees Scholars are graduating at roughly three times the state average and are equipped with the skills necessary to help them reach their full potential in school, in work, and in life.

To learn more about One Million Degrees, please visit www.onemilliondegrees.org.

Keywords: college, community, community activities, community college, community engagement, education, mentoring, professional development