Junior Citizens Scholarship

“It is an honor and privilege to celebrate the achievements of this year’s Junior Citizens finalists, an elite class of future leaders who are making a positive difference in their parks, communities, and our city." ~ Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño.

In 2024, the Chicago Park District marks the 71st anniversary of the Junior Citizens Awards/Scholarship program. The purpose of the Junior Citizen Program is to recognize and honor outstanding young people who are active in Chicago's parks and prominent in school, and civic affairs. We hope to encourage and mentor these young people to become our future leaders of government and industry.

2024 Junior Citizens winners were announced on April 4, 2024 at an Awards Banquet at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

1st Place Winners
- Natalie Perez – Calumet Park
- Briana Mathews – Ellis Park
- Halena Gartner - Merrimac
2nd Place Winners
- Mikyla Mabon – Tuley Park
- Sofia Serrano – Commercial Club Park
- Kelsey Broderick – Portage Park
3rd Place Winners
- Maura Poppish – McKiernan Park
- Micah Askew – Union Park
- Athena Severance - Lincoln Park Cultural Center

Of the 24 finalists this year, the first, second and third place winners named, for each region, received $1000, $600 and $400 scholarships respectively.

History of the Junior Citizen Program

The Junior Citizen Program originated in the late 1940’s and was designed to inspire and empower the young future leaders of Chicago. Through a selective process, student candidates are judged by school officials, non-profit groups, and private companies on their record of contributions made to park, school, religious and community affairs. Junior Citizen finalists are celebrated and honored at an annual banquet where the Mayor’s Office, Park District Superintendent, and “Chicagoan of the Year” address Chicago’s fourth-coming leaders.

In 1949, the Park District organized a Junior Officials Program that would later become the foundation of today’s Junior Citizen Program. A Park District Junior Official was competitively selected to act as Superintendent during a mock city assembly during Youth Week. Other city agencies, including City Hall, the Police and Fire Department, simultaneously selected a junior official to act as their top administrator.

In 1952, Thomas Hogan, of the Chicago Junior Association of Commerce and Industry, proposed that the Chicago Jaycees sponsor a program to coincide with the Junior Citizen Programs organized and held independently by nine Chicago agencies. Hogan’s ideas advanced the winners of each agency so they would compete against each other for a citywide Junior Citizen title. His organization also donated two large scholarships to the two title winners.

Over the years, the Junior Citizen Program has evolved into a highly selective, distinguished and comprehensive program. The selection begins at local parks, advances to an area, and then a region competition. Finally, winners are selected to represent the Park District in the citywide Junior Citizen contest

View Past Winners

Junior Citizens Winners Archive | 2021-2013 and 2007-2003

2023

1st Place
Kayla Williams, Seward Park
Makani Brocks, Loyola Park
Jessica Browley-Claxton, Gage Park

2nd Place
Jeniya Brown-Nolton, Ellis Park
Jasmine Jackson, Blackhawk Park
Immauel Ogundipe, Avalon Park

3rd Place
Fiona Borders, Olympia Park
Bianca Marchan, Scottsdale Park
Madeline Bailey, Pulaski Park

2021

Winners*

Alonda Bardney, Austin Town Hall

Joseph Cumpian, Mount Greenwood Park
Leilani Linton-Williamson, South Shore Cultural Center

Michael Mullen, Sauganash Park

2020

Winners*

Treville Hilton, Fosco Park

Simone Holland, Maggie Daley Park

Amber Matias, John P. Wilson Park

Elizabeth Urchell, Munroe Park

Ana Zuluaga, Brands Park

*In 2020 and 2021, the Junior Citizens program was held virtually, and all winners were awarded equal $1,000 scholarships.

2019

Winner Runners Up

Ashley Wright, West Pullman Park Armani Brooks-Street, Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens

Stevie Early, Jesse White Community Center

Shannon Edwards, Gill Park

2018

Winner Runners Up

Mara Contreras, Durkin Park Keith Calloway, Amundsen Park

Kiana Spears, Franklin Park

Jayla Young, Sherman Park

2017

Winner Runners Up

Elizabeth Luna, Gage Park Danielle Calloway, Union Park

Kirk Cherry, Rosedale Park

Alec Montgomery, Lincoln Park Cultural Center

2016

Winner Runners Up

Cameron McCoy, Washington Park Simone Laszuk, River Park

Jorian Reeves, Bogan Park

2015

Winner Runners Up

Lizbeth Carrazco, Commercial Club Playground Sarah Mullen, Sauganash Park

Alexandra Harris, Kennicott Park

Evonne Weeden, Palmer Park

2014

Winner Runners Up

Char’Nese Turner, Nat King Cole Park Betty Bu, Lincoln Park Cultural Center

Benjamin Chrobak-Prince, Wentworth Park

Precilia Ortiz, Eugene Field Park

2013

Winner Runners Up

Raheen Clay, Euclid Park Thomas Carden, Norwood Park

Mary McInerney, Gompers Park

Gabrielle Simmons, Sheridan Park

2007

Winner - Whitney Smith, Oakdale Park

2006

Winner - Michael Field, Douglass Park

2005

Winner - Lily Augustus, Gompers

2004

Winner Runners Up

Nicole Franklin, Brainerd Park Elizabeth Boyle, Beverly Park

Parvane Cruz, Kelyvn Park

Brian Mitchell, Oriole Park

2003

Winner - Saul Meza, Park [unknown]

Nomination Process

Each year, the Park District calls for nominations from park staff, educators, elected officials and other stakeholders. The selection process begins at local parks, advances through Park District’s three regions and culminates in a citywide competition. A panel of judges, comprised of representatives from schools, public and private sectors and non-profit organizations review each finalist’s summary of activities and essays and then conducts personal interviews. Judges evaluate finalists on their contributions to their parks, schools, places of worship, neighborhoods, character and values, employment history and career/educational goals. Each candidate must be a junior or senior in high school with a “C” average or better.

Photos