Elmhurst College President Surprises Newly Admitted HS Students

Submitted by Elmhurst College.

ELMHURST, IL — Five high school students who had just been accepted to Elmhurst College got an unexpected visit at school the next day—from the College’s president and its furry-feathered mascot.

Elmhurst College President Troy D. VanAken and mascot Victor E. Bluejay recently went to York Community High School, in Elmhurst, and Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy, in Forest Park, to personally congratulate the students on being admitted early to the College.

President VanAken presented each student with a Bluejay Box, which contained the letter of acceptance and scholarship offer, an Elmhurst College skullcap, a “pop-up” snow-cube and more.

“That’s so cool!” York High School senior Jenna Garcia said as she opened the box. “This was really a surprise—at first I thought I’d been called to the office because I was in trouble or something.” Garcia is a member of the York Symphony Orchestra and also belongs to a group that provides music therapy at a local stroke recovery center in Elmhurst. She plans to study music education when she starts college next fall.

At York, President VanAken also gave senior Sarah Anil a Bluejay Box. Anil, who emigrated to the U.S. from India and began at York as an English Language Learner student, now will be graduating with honors and plans to study nursing in college.

“We wanted to congratulate our newly admitted students, and this has been a great way for us to catch and share their excitement,” President VanAken said. “It’s also been a fun way for us to start getting to know some of the students we hope to see on campus next fall.”

At Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy, President VanAken and Victor E. Bluejay surprised three students: Tiara Barrett, who plans to study nursing in college; Nazia Khan, who wants to study biology; and Rachael Calcote, who plans to major in theater and secondary education, and who has had starring roles in school theatre performances.

Nearly all of the early-admission students who got the surprise visit from President VanAken will be the first in their families to attend college.“I think the visit is a wonderful way to celebrate and share this really big moment,” said Amy Thompson, college and career counselor at York. “What a great thing to do—I love it!”

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Photo courtesy of Elmhurst College