OMD Welcomed New Class of 815 Scholars at Orientation

Speaking to 500 Scholars and Alumni at One Million Degrees’ annual Scholar Orientation Day on August 15th, City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado called the students “the largest single asset in the City of Chicago.” 

OMD Alumna Jackie Sanchez Profiled in Sunday's Chicago Tribune

After [OMD Alumna Jackie Sanchez] was accepted at DePaul, [she] volunteered to become a One Million Degrees coach. “You can’t do it on your own,” Sanchez said. “I know I’m the one staying up nights and doing the homework, but you need someone in your corner. After I had that experience I just wanted to do more and give back.”

OMD Honors Record 250 Community College Scholar Graduates

OMD Raised Record $775,000 at 10th Anniversary Food & Wine Tasting

OMD CEO Talks Community College Success on WGN's The Download

OMD CEO Paige Ponder joined Justin Kaufmann on WGN's The Download to talk about why Community Colleges have been overlooked when it comes to getting students prepared for life after school and how OMD is changing that.

OMD's Associates Board Named Best in Chicago

“As ambassadors for One Million Degrees, and for low-income, first-generation college students, OMD’s Associates Board is advocating for the importance of a community college degree, soft skills development, and forging a path into the middle class.” – Michaela McGill, Senior Manager, Volunteer & Alumni Programs

OMD Wins Make It Better Philanthropy Award

OMD was recognized in the Education category as “an impactful and inspiring organization” and selected for its combination of “excellence, scalability, efficiency, leadership and effectiveness.”
As part of the award, OMD received a specially-produced video profile highlighting its work helping scholars enter the workforce.

OMD Logo Shines in New York's Times Square

In recognition of winning a Chicago Innovation Award, One Million Degrees' logo shone bright over Times Square after OMD CEO and Chief Program Officer helped ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ.

FORMER US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN SPEAKS AT OMD/X

More than 100 Chicago thought leaders joined us at OMD's 3^rd annual OMD/x at Deloitte on February 9. Throughout the morning, the message was clear: the work we are doing at One Million Degrees matters. Read more about the discussion and what Arne Duncan is working on here.

OMD Featured on ABC Chicago's NewsViews

OMD CEO Paige Ponder and OMD Alumna Olivia Cruz sat down with Judy Hsu on ABC Chicago's Sunday morning news show, NewsViews, to discuss the important supporting role OMD plays for its 700 scholars. Learn more about OMD's core programming along with its expansive reach across the greater Chicago community by watching the interview on ABC's website (click on the image above!).

OMD Alumna sits down with CEO in the StoryCorps Booth

Karina Esparza has been an integral part of OMD for the past three years, first as a scholar and now as our Operations Intern as she studies for her BA in Psychology at DePaul University. Her story is nothing short of amazing. Listen to OMD CEO, Paige Ponder, interview Karina in partnership with StoryCorps in Chicago. (Produced by Anne Ford)

OMD WINS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD AT THE 15TH ANNUAL CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

More than 640 organizations were nominated for Chicago Innovation Awards this year, and OMD is honored to be one of three inaugural winners of the Neighborhood Award category.

WTTW's Chicago Tonight Profiles One Million Degrees' Malcolm X Program

Chicago Tonight reporter Brandis Friedman spent four hours shadowing OMD Scholar Nika Pruitt around Malcolm X College, learning more about the obstacles she faces, her determination to become a radiologist, and the support OMD provides her.

One Million Degrees Receives $400,000 Grant from JPMorgan Chase to Expand Programming

"We are excited to be able to leverage the high-quality education at Malcolm X College along with One Million Degrees' comprehensive program to support hundreds of individuals who will work in hopsitals, clinics and healthcare facilities throughout the region," said Whitney Smith, Executive Director - Midwest, Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase.