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One Million Degrees—a pioneering organization that serves and graduates area community college students - celebrated 150 community college graduates, twice as many graduates as last year, at its annual Scholar Awards ceremony on June 21. The ceremony at Chase Auditorium also recognized the 440 highly-motivated, low-income students served by the program this year, and featured keynote speaker the Honorable Kurt Summers, Treasurer of the City of Chicago.

One Million Degrees announced today that it has received a three-year $750,000 grant from the Caerus Foundation plus a $750,000 challenge grant to fund OMD expansion of its innovative services to community college students at Kennedy-King and Olive-Harvey Colleges in Chicago. Together, the opportunity for $1.5 million in total investment from Caerus Foundation, whose education funding is dedicated to providing opportunities for under-served communities, is the largest funding commitment received by OMD since its founding 10 years ago. OMD is the only organization in Chicago and one of few nationally to exclusively focus on community college students, providing the essential programs – tutoring, mentoring, professional development, and financial assistance – to increase graduation rates.

The One Million Degrees Coach application for the 2016-17 year is now open to professionals from across the Chicago area to make a difference in the lives of One Million Degrees community college Scholars. For a glimpse into the One Million Degrees Coaching experience, meet Jessie Halton, a specialist at Coyote Logistics. Jessie's first interaction with One Million Degrees was through a 2013 Suited For Success event where she met scholars and found how their confidence soared when given the right tools, like receiving their first custom suit—or having a mentor in their corner.

"Being behind was a big motivator to go to college," says Taniya Scott whose educational journey was delayed due to a learning disability. Despite this obstacle, she always aspired to become a lawyer and was cheered on by her first grammar school teacher to pursue higher education.

One Million Degrees (OMD)—a Chicago nonprofit organization that empowers low-income, highly motivated students at 11 Chicago-area community colleges to succeed in school, in work, and in life—announced a new partnership with Allstate to support the pilot of OMD's first-ever summer acceleration program.

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—and United Airlines are working together to inspire civic engagement among local community college students through a unique spring break project. United Airlines is providing financial support for an Alternative Spring Break (ASB), in which 12 OMD Scholars and two staff are traveling to San Francisco March 28-April 4. Throughout the week, scholars will volunteer with a variety of nonprofits and learn about the social and environmental issues those organizations are addressing across the Bay area.

One Million Degrees is thrilled to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Andrew Feinberg, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Adrian I. Peace, Vice President, Specialty Brands, M&A, Brazil, W. W. Grainger. Inc., and George Ruhana, Chief Executive Officer, Peak6 Capital Management.

On Friday, January 9th, Microsoft Chicago hosted 25 One Million Degrees (OMD) Scholars as part of OMD's Wisdom from the Workplace initiative for a day of career exploration activities related to technology and innovation.

One Million Degrees (OMD) is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 OMD Signature Scholarship Program. All students planning to attend the City Colleges of Chicago, College of Lake County, Harper College, Prairie State College, or South Suburban College for the 2015-2016 academic year should apply now!

One Million Degrees (OMD) announces its fifth annual Suited for Success, a ground-breaking event designed to provide high-quality, interview-worthy clothing to low-income, highly motivated community college students who will soon be entering the professional world.