11 Columbia Students Awarded the Chicagoland Transfer Award for 2024

Chicagoland Transfer Award winner Meliha Calisir Photo of 2024 Chicagoland Transfer Award Full-Tuition Scholarship Recipient Meliha Calisir
The Chicagoland Transfer Award recognizes transfer students from eligible Chicago area community colleges based on academic merit. The winners received scholarships for the fall 2024 semester.

In its 7th year, Columbia’s Chicagoland Transfer Award provides ten recipients with $15,000 scholarships and one full-tuition scholarship to students transferring from Chicago-area community colleges.  

The scholarship is designed to support students transferring from eligible community colleges in the Chicago area, recognizing their academic achievements and potential. To be considered for this prestigious scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria. 

Applicants are required to have accumulated a minimum of 30 graded college credit hours, reflecting their commitment to their education. Academic performance is a crucial factor in the selection process, as students must demonstrate a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher. This benchmark showcases the scholarly dedication and capability of the applicants. 

As part of the admission process, prospective students must also complete an award application essay. This essay provides an opportunity for students to express their academic goals, personal experiences, and motivations for transferring to Columbia College Chicago, allowing the selection committee to understand their unique perspectives and aspirations. 

Meliha Calisir is this year’s full-tuition scholarship recipient and is pursuing her bachelor’s in Film and Television. Calisir transferred from William Rainey Harper Community College in Palatine, IL. 

“After moving to America alone to pursue my dreams, I faced challenges and there were times I questioned if I could keep going or not. It was precisely at one of these moments that Columbia College came to my rescue with the Chicagoland Transfer Scholarship," says Calisir.

"I am truly grateful for this opportunity, as it enables me to pursue my education at one of the best film schools in the country and turn my dreams into reality," adds Calisir. 

The following students each received $15,000 in scholarship awards: 

  • Shaymaa Atwa (Moraine Valley Community College), Creative Writing, BA 
  • Sarah Diaz (Triton College), Graphic Design, BFA 
  • Moises Encarnacion (Elgin Community College), Audio Arts, BA 
  • Tristan Hrencecin (Triton College), Graphic Design, BA 
  • Paige Larsen (College of DuPage), Interior Architecture, BFA 
  • Manny Martinez (Harold Washington College), Audio Arts, BA 
  • Yari Montelongo (College of DuPage), Graphic Design, BA 
  • Sonia Montgomery (William Rainey Harper College), Fashion Studies, BA 
  • Zahir Nunez (William Rainey Harper College), American Sign Language – English Interpretation, BA 
  • Priscilla Oludaisi (William Rainey Harper College), Fashion Studies, BA 

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