Formerly the Illinois Education Foundation, One Million Degrees (OMD) believes that when given a solid system of support, every student has the ability to reach his or her full personal and professional potential. Since 2006, One Million Degrees has provided critical supports to help empower hundreds of community college students to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
OMD offers groundbreaking, whole-student programming to low-income, highly motivated community college students to help them navigate these challenges while building key skills for success in school, in work, and in life. Our ecosystem of focused and intensive support, sustained encouragement, high accountability, and expansive social capital has transformational effects, helping our scholars become the leaders in their families, schools, communities, and careers that they are meant to be.
Today, One Million Degrees Scholars are graduating at roughly three times the state average and are equipped with the skills necessary to help them reach their full potential in school, in work, and in life.
Nadia is studying bio-engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago and plans to pursue a career in bio-medical engineering. Nadia's two life goals are to provide the best life she can for her son and to make a positive impact on the world. With the help of OMD, Nadia is excelling in her classes and working to achieve her goals.