Chiann Walker graduated from high school after already earning her licensed practical nursing degree.

She spent the final years of her high school experience working as a certified nursing assistant.

Now, with help from the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Walker will be working to earn her bachelor’s degree in science and nursing.

“I’m just excited to start my new journey and be able to give back to my community,” she said.

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The cream of the crop

Walker was one of 32 scholarship recipients recognized by the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation last month in front of parents, peers, supporters and community members.

Tiffany Tardy, the executive director of the foundation, said hundreds of students applied for the 20 scholarships that were awarded.

“The scholarships weren’t awarded solely based on academics,” Tardy said. “We conducted interview to get to know the whole student.”

Helping students in Mexico

Another award recipient, Ashley Hernandez Caballero and her siblings started a project collecting donations to send backpacks and school supplies to her hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico.

“When my grandmother passed, we went to visit, and we saw just how different the community was in comparison to how we lived in the states,” she said.

They raised money and were able to provide 90 children there with backpacks filled with school supplies. They named the project after their late grandma, Epifania.

“She would always say the same things to us: Work hard in school so one day you can give back to our community,” Hernandez Caballero said.

‘They’ve overcome’

Together, the students, who represented 13 of MPS’ high schools, were awarded more than $150,000 in  scholarships. 

Eighty-one percent of the students will be first-generation college students, and 87% are students of color. Scholarships will support dreams in fields, including law, engineering, arts, pre-med, astrophysics, business and nursing.

Tardy said the foundation is particularly proud of this class because its entire high school experience was changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the students still managed to thrive.

“They started high school in 2019,” she said. “They’ve overcome all the regular trials of high school while dealing with different modes of learning.”

For more information

The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation collaborates with corporations, foundations and individuals to provide philanthropic support for students, schools and district programs in an effort to expand and enhance academic achievement for all MPS students.

Learn more about the MPS Foundation by visiting its website.