Thurgood Marshall College Fund

SOAR HBCU Scholars Program

Empower your journey from high school to higher education with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) SOAR Program at Chicago State University. It will be a rewarding experience designed to help high achieving students Seek, Observe, and Achieve Results.

About TMCF SOAR

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The TMCF SOAR (Seeking, Observing, and Achieving Results) HBCU Scholars Program at Chicago State University is a six-day residential program for 100 high school juniors (Class of 2027). This transformative experience gives students like you an opportunity to explore Historically Black Institutions, navigate the college admissions process, discover financial aid and scholarship resources, and gain insight into diverse career pathways and academic programs. Best of all, the program is completely free for all participants.

Eligibility

Must be a high school student graduating in the class of 2027
A minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (preferred)
Must have an academic transcript (official or unofficial)
Submit a letter of recommendation from an academic teacher, administrator, advisor, coach or counselor at your school.
Write a personal statement (250-300 words) responding to the following prompt:
1. Prompt: What are your short-term and long-term goals after high school? How can your participation in the TMCF SOAR Program assist you in achieving these goals? (Note: In your response, reflect on how your experiences have shaped your goals and motivation.)
Available for on-campus programming 1st week June 21-26, 2026, or 2nd week June 28-July 3, 2026

Program Details

Dates: June 21-26, 2026, or June 28- July 3, 2026. Each participant should select one week.
Cost: Free for all participants. Housing, meals, materials, and activities are included. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses, including transportation to and from campus.
Capacity: 100 spots (50 spots each week)
Location: Chicago State University Chicago, Illinois

Benefits

Students will learn the necessary skills for success in college and the workforce by participating in the following activities:

Discover academic and career opportunities available after high school
Participate in professional and leadership development activities
Interact with students, faculty, staff, and alumni
Find out more about university admission and available financial assistance options
Build a peer network with other rising seniors/students from around the state in a cohort style program; develop relationships with students with similar interests

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