The Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Application 2025-2026

*Application for students beginning college in the 2026-2027 academic year.*

Walsh Vinci Transit Community Partners (WV TCP) has been selected by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as the contractor for the CTA Red Line Extension (RLE) Mainline Design-Build project. WV TCP recognizes that numerous socio-economic barriers too often prevent community residents from pursuing a college degree. In response, Walsh Vinci Transit Community Partners has established The Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund.

It is the mission of the Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund to aid qualified Chicago Public School students seeking assistance with the costs of their post-secondary education. The fund will provide college scholarships to students who live and/or attend school in the RLE project area who are interested in pursuing studies within the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) fields, particularly those interested in exploring the construction and engineering industries.

The scholarship program will be administered by Chicago Scholars, a mentoring and leadership development organization that helps first-generation college students and students from under-resourced communities navigate transitions into college, through college, and on to careers.

Eligible students must live and/or attend school in the CTA Red Line Extension project area (60619, 60620, 60628, 60643, 60827), be enrolled in a CPS or CPS-supported high school, and have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0.

The Application Process

ELIGIBILITY and REQUIREMENTS

Currently attending a CPS high school or charter school supported by CPS
Graduating high school senior with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher
Come from a low-income household and/or identify as a first-generation college-going student (does not have a parent and/or legal guardian who has a 4-year college degree from the U.S.)
Planning to attend a 4-year college or university in the United States
Planning to pursue STEAM field of study in college (particularly engineering, architecture, construction management, or similar fields)
Live and/or attend high school in CTA Red Line Extension project zip codes (60619, 60620, 60628, 60643, 60827)

AWARD

Up to $3,000/year for up to 5 years of college (or a 4+1 bachelor's/master's program)

APPLICATION DUE

May 31, 2026 11:59pm Central

APPLICATION PROCESS

Complete the attached application by May 31, 2026 including:

General background information
High school transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable)
2024 household tax return (or similar income verification)
Your Student Aid Report from FAFSA (if applicable)
Financial aid award letters you have received from your chosen or preferred schools (if applicable)
List of activities or resume
At least one but no more than two letters of recommendation from a counselor, principal, teacher, mentor, or employer
Essay of no more than 650 words explaining why you are applying for the scholarship and how the funds will help you achieve your goals for the future

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Applicants who are selected to advance in the application process will be invited to interview to be considered for the scholarship. The interviews will be held in June 2026. Students will be asked to share their goals for the future and how this scholarship will allow them to achieve these goals.

SELECTION

Students selected for the scholarship will be notified via email by mid-July, 2026.

Before you begin the application:

Please ensure that you have the necessary documents available to you and ready to upload. You will NOT be able to save and resume your work on the application, so you will need to submit in one sitting.

Remember, Chicago Scholars is here to help! If you have any questions regarding the scholarship application process or need assistance along the way, please contact us at: scholarships@chicagoscholars.org.

General Background Information

First Name:

Last Name:

Preferred Name:

Pronouns:

Preferred E-mail:

Alternate E-mail:

Home Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Please list home zip code. Applicants must live or attend high school in the following CTA Red Line Extension project area zip codes: 60619, 60620, 60628, 60643, 60827

Chicago Neighborhood:

Phone Number:

Date of Birth:

My gender is:

FemaleMalePrefer not to answerPrefer to self-describe

Prefer to self-describe:

Do you identify as a first-generation college-going student (meaning you do not have a parent or legal guardian who has completed a 4-year college degree in the U.S.)?

YesNoMaybe/Unsure

Please explain or provide additional context for your response:

What was your household's gross income for 2024?

Please use your parent and/or guardians' tax documents to help you. You will upload them later in this application. The total gross income is the amount of money earned by a person in one year from all sources before taxes. Add these amounts for all individuals living within the household. Please enter a whole number only. Do not include a decimal point or the form will reject your response.

Number of family members in household (including you):

STLS student?
The definition of STLS is Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time place of residence, including those who are: sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (sometimes referred to as "doubled-up:); living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground due to lack of alternative, adequate accommodations; living in an emergency or transitional shelter; living in a car, park, public place, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus, or train station or similar setting; having a primary nighttime residence that is a private or public space not designated or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation; unaccompanied youth.
Are you considered an STLS student?

YesNo

If you have completed the FAFSA and received your SAI, what is your SAI (Student Aid Index)? If this does not apply, please write "N/A"

We understand you may not have received your SAI yet. If/when financial info becomes available after you have submitted your pre-application, please let us know at scholarships@chicagoscholars.org.

School and Program Information

Are you a participant in the Chicago Scholars program?

YesNoMaybe (please contact scholarships@chicagoscholars.org if you are unsure)

What is your Chicago Scholars Cohort Number? #

The name of the school you presently attend:

Applicants must attend a CPS or CPS-supported charter school. Also, applicants must live or attend a high school in the following CTA Red Line Extension project area zip codes: 60619, 60620, 60628, 60643, 60827

Will you be graduating from high school in spring/summer of 2026?

YesNoMaybe

Please share information regarding your response:

Cumulative unweighted GPA:

Cumulative weighted GPA (optional):

Do you already know which college you will be attending?

YesNo

If yes, which school?

If no, what are some of your top choices?

I am interested in studying or working in the following fields:

Check all that apply (hold Ctr+ click to select multiple options).

Other:

List other scholarships you have been offered, including scholarship amounts. If not applicable, write n/a.

Student Essay

The Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund's mission is to aid qualified Chicago Public School students who are first-generation college-going students and/or from low-income households in pursuing a four-year college degree.

In 650 words or less, share why you are applying for the scholarship and how the funds will help you achieve your goals for the future. Please consider the scholarship's mission when developing your response.

Additional Documents to Upload:

Activities

We'd love to learn more about your interests and activities! Please upload a list of activities that includes information about extracurriculars, volunteer projects, and jobs and/or internships that have been important to you during high school.

If you have a resume, you can upload it in place of your activity list, although it is not required. A simple list of your most significant activities is all that is needed. If you would like assistance creating or updating your resume, the REACH Pathways Resume Builder is a helpful tool.

For each activity, please include:

Organization/Employer
Position held
Dates of involvement (ie. sophomore through senior year, summer of 2025, etc.)
Hours per week or total hours completed
Briefly describe or list your responsibilities and duties and/or any awards or accomplishments you'd like to include

List of Activities / Resume

Academics & Score Reports

High School Transcript, including 1st semester senior grades (can be unofficial)

SAT/ACT Scores (optional)

Financial Information

Please attach your household's 2024 tax return, your FAFSA Student Aid Report listing SAI (Student Aid Index) and the Financial Aid Award letter(s) from your selected or top choice college(s). If you have not completed the FAFSA or it has not yet been processed, you are welcome to upload a brief note explaining the circumstances. Screenshots of your SAI and/or an estimated SAI and estimated award letters may also be uploaded.

If financial information becomes available after you have submitted your application, we encourage you to let us know at scholarships@chicagoscholars.org and we will send you a secure link to upload the information so we can add it to your application file. We may also reach out to you during the application review process with follow-up questions regarding finances. Feel free to email with any questions - we're here to help!

Please upload a copy of your household's 2024 tax return

If tax return is unavailable, please upload a note explaining the circumstance. We may follow up for additional information.

FAFSA Student Aid Report, including SAI

Financial Aid Award letter from school you are planning to attend or considering attending

Letter(s) of Recommendation

Upload letter(s) of recommendation below.

Please submit at least one but no more than two letters of recommendation from a counselor, principal, teacher, mentor, or employer.
If your recommender(s) would feel more comfortable emailing their letters directly to Chicago Scholars, they may email them to scholarships@chicagoscholars.org with the subject line: "Elevating Futures RLE recommendation--[applicant name]." In this case, the applicant must upload a document in the space below stating: "My letter of recommendation is being emailed to the CS Scholarships from [recommender name]."

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2 (optional)

General upload (optional)

Optional: If additional information is needed regarding an aspect of your application you can upload it here. In most cases, this will not be necessary.

Signature Page

I have confirmed that all my information is correct, and I am ready to submit my application for the Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship.

YesNo

I understand that, during the application review period, the CS Scholarships Team may request additional information (such as recent financial aid award letters, updated information regarding other scholarships received, college admissions updates, etc.).

YesNo

I certify that this application and all attachments are complete and true. I hereby authorize Chicago Scholars to furnish copies of my academic record, this application, and letters of recommendation to the Scholarship Committee and scholarship donor(s) for review. I authorize my college or university and/or Chicago Scholars to furnish information on my academic and general progress to the scholarship donor. If selected, I further authorize release of information for publicity purposes.

YesNo

My full legal name is:

Date