Cohort III
Kenneth Ogunniyi Heading link
Kenneth Ogunniyi is from Country Club Hills and attended Rich Township High School. He is currently majoring in Neuroscience and plans to become a Doctor or get his PhD in Neuroscience. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, chess, and video games. He is also part of the College Board African American Recognition Award, Mathletes Athlete, and National/Spanish Honor Society.
Nada Mahmoud Heading link
Nada Mahmoud is from Burbank, Illinois, and attended Universal High School in Bridgview, Illinois. There, Nada founded and led the first Black History Committee which funded the first Black-Authored Library of Universal School. She also founded and led IDH (Inner-city Muslim Action Network, Dawa and Humanitarian Aid Club), which helped collect jackets, clothes, and canned goods for homeless people in underserved areas of Chicago. Nada is a Biological Sciences major planning to pursue Dentistry.
Michael Charles Heading link
Hi, my name is Michael Charles. I was born in Chicago but grew up in South Holland, IL. I attended Marian Catholic High School where I was a part of the marching band and basketball team. I am majoring in Computer Science in hopes of becoming a software engineer. In my free time, I love to play basketball, and the piano, and work out in the gym.
Venus Obazuaye Heading link
Venus Obazuaye (they/them) is from Forest Park, Illinois, and they attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). In high school, they were involved in clubs such as the Council for Campus Equity, Student Coalition for Racial Justice, and served as a multidisciplinary tutor. Outside of school, they sew their own clothes, spend too much time second-hand shopping, and take care of over 20 plants. At UIC, they will be majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Spanish on the pre-Med track.
Keiayla Smith Heading link
I am from the south side of Chicago, I graduated from Englewood Stem High School. I am majoring in electrical engineering and I plan to be a robotics engineer. I love to read, do archery and play video games. I love hanging out with friends and family. During high school I was the captain of the robotics team and co captain of our archery team also I was apart of The national honors society.
Skylar Hunter Heading link
Skylar Hunter is from Belleville and attended Belleville West High School. She is majoring in Neuroscience and plans to pursue a career in content creation, fashion, possible research, or government organization. Her interests include fashion, content creation, watching movies, and taking pictures.
Skylar’s notable achievements are:
President of an honors organization for POC students, marching band flute section leader, Harambee leader, scholarships (presidents award, dusable scholarship, honors college scholarship, Meridian scholarship from SIUE), NAACP Charles H. Lawson III Youth Award
Cameron Denmark Heading link
Cameron Denmark is from Homewood and attended Marian Catholic High School. He is majoring in Electrical Engineering and his interests are games and running.
Dylan Kerr Heading link
Dylan Kerr and I was born and raised in the south side of Chicago. I went to Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory academy(GBCPA)in Chicago. I am double majoring in Biochemistry and economics to hopeful go to Ph.d/Med school. I enjoy playing sports and helping out my schools community at all times. I’m high school I was the Vice president of the National Honors Society and I was apart of the student council to help volunteer and serve GBCPA and the community around us. I am also and Illinois State scholar from the 23/24 year which means I rank in the top 10% of all Illinois students.
Thomanz (TJ) Ingram Jr Heading link
Thomanz Ingram Jr is from Aurora, IL, and attended Oswego East High School. He is majoring in Computer Engineering and plans to become a Computer Systems Analyst/Software Developer. His interests are Music Production.
TJ’s notable achievements include:
Summa Cum Laude, Honor roll, Vice President of the Black Student Association in high school
Maame Afua Poku Heading link
Maame Afua Poku is from Monee, IL and graduated from Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). In high school, she was a student ambassador, a peer tutor, played the bass clarinet in wind ensemble, and a part of the National Honors Society. She will majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in International Studies. In her free time, she enjoys helping out in the community, dancing, and cooking.
Amia Shakir Heading link
My name is Amia Shakir. I am from Chicago, Illinois, and attended Kenwood Academy High School. I am majoring in Computer Science and Design and hope to become a Software Developer. I enjoy art, nature, poetry, baking, and watching anime in my spare time. I have volunteered at community gardens and humanitarian organizations and am a member of the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT).
Tion Houston Heading link
Tion Houston, Bolingbrook IL, went to Bolingbrook Highschool, majoring in civil engineering, project manager/ research in sustainable living, speech, jazz band.
Kamal Oladipo Heading link
Kamal Oladipo is from Frankfort IL and attended Lincoln-Way East. He is majoring in Pre-Nursing.
“I want to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.”
“I like physical activity whether it is sports or going to the gym and hanging out with my friends.”
Daunovan McCullough Heading link
Daunovan McCullough is from Dolton, IL, and graduated from Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a residential high school in Aurora. He is a Computer Science major and has minors in Computer Engineering and International Studies (with a focus on Colombia). After graduation, he intends to pursue a career in software or potentially embedded development. Outside of school, he likes to tutor, bike, play videogames, and occasionally write poems. In addition to being a Dusable Scholar, Daunovan is a Greer Scholar, a recipient of the President Award Program scholarship, and a bp Bridge Scholar.
Emelie Jean-Simon Heading link
Emelie Jean-Simon is from Flossmoor, IL Homewood and attended Flossmoor High School. She is majoring in Nursing and wants to become a nurse practitioner. Her interests include hanging out with friends.
Zarya Alexander Heading link
Zarya Alexander is from Sauk Village, Illinois. She went to Andrean High School in Merrillville Indiana. Zarya is doing a double major in Biological Sciences and Earth and Environmental Science. She will use both majors in her career of paleontology. She loves to play video games in her free time. A past achievement was that she was one of the first students after the pandemic to be invited to Northwestern for an extensive health program.
Andrew Green Heading link
Andrew Green was born and raised in Chicago and attended high school at Chicago Math and Science Academy in Rogers Park. He plans to pursue research following graduation from UIC and is currently majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor in materials engineering. While in high school Andrew received an opportunity to work on a research program in one of Northwestern’s Material Science labs and lead his high school Robotics team to victory on the city level. When not in class or studying, he enjoys cooking, watching movies and TV, and reading.
Amira Adeleke Heading link
Amira Adeleke, originally from Chicago, Illinois, graduated from Jones College Prep, marking the start of her academic journey. Currently majoring in Biological Sciences, she aims to become a physician, focusing on improving healthcare.
Beyond academics, she is an ardent reader, drawn to various genres. Reading allows her to escape into different worlds and keeps her passion for learning alive.
Isaiah Smith Heading link
Isaiah is from Chicago’s South Side and attended Willowbrook High School, he is currently majoring in pre-health/nursing and plans to become a nurse anesthetist. Isaiah enjoys weightlifting, volunteering, hanging out with friends
Past achievements: Selected President of high school Black organization, Athlete of the Month, MVP of wrestling team, All-Academic Award.