The employment situation is improving, but it is still tough to find a job, especially if you are a young person looking to get started in a career that matches your interests and abilities. But, whether the economic times are good or bad, the one thing that remains true is that if you are college educated, you will be less likely to be unemployed and over your lifetime you will make far more money than those who didn’t attend college.

Farther Foundation is a charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences. The investment Farther Foundation makes in these eager and deserving students is paying off. In an environment where only about 54% of Chicago Public High School students are graduating, Farther Foundation supported students are graduating high school and enrolling in college at a 100% rate.

Over the past three years, 48 students have received scholarships from Farther Foundation and have traveled to locations on six continents. While traveling, students interact with people from diverse backgrounds, become immersed in new cultures and experiences, learn and develop skills, engage in community service, cultivate leadership potential and attain personal growth. Some of our alumni are still in high school, but many have gone on to college.

Here is a rundown of some Farther Foundation alumni, where they traveled with their scholarship, and where they are now attending college:

– Lawrence traveled to Ghana and is now a sophomore at Southern Illinois University.
– Chelsea participated in a 6-week pre-college, pre-med program at Vanderbilt University and is now a sophomore at Colgate.
– Anna trekked the Inca Trail in Peru and is now a sophomore at the University of Chicago.
– David provided community service and learned about local activism in El Salvador and is now a sophomore at Vassar.
– Nitza traveled to Argentina and is now a sophomore at Williams College.
– Angelicca spent 6 weeks in Thailand and now attends Pomona College.
– Gabriel studied in a language immersion program in France and is now at Tufts University.

Farther Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing scholarships to low-income students to inspire them to reach their highest aspirations through educational travel experiences.