The DevUp Scholars Program is an interactive three-year program that exposes high school students from Chicago’s South Side to STEM and entrepreneurship, connects students with mentors, and prepares students to pursue STEM majors and careers.
DevUp focuses its programs on social justice through STEM entrepreneurship, equipping students with the skills to be innovative STEM leaders in their communities. Students are empowered with the skills and the knowledge to influence peers in their school community through student-led events at their home schools.
DevUp Scholars Program Partner Schools
Elevate College Prep partners with high schools for the DevUp Scholars Program. Schools that nominated students who were selected for past DevUp cohorts include:
- Gary Comer College Prep
- Kenwood Academy High School
- Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy
- Englewood STEM High School
- De La Salle Institute
- Benito Juarez Community Academy
- Jones College Prep
- Dunbar Academy
- Walter Payton College Prep High School
- Dr. Martin Luther King College Prep High School
- UIC College Prep
- DuSable High School
- Chicago Tech Academy
- Tilden Career Community Academy High School
- Wendell Phillips High School
- Lindblom Math and Science Academy
- Chicago Vocational High School
- Walter H. Dyett Arts High School
- Bronzeville Scholastic Institute
- Morgan Park High School
Program Nominations
The Elevate College Prep team is now accepting nominations for the 2026 sophomore cohort the DevUp Scholars Program.
High School teachers, counselors, and administrators can now nominate a freshman student or freshmen students who they believe would be a great fit for the DevUp Scholars Program. Students who are nominated should demonstrate leadership, curiosity, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to contribute to the future of STEM or humanities.
Timeline for 2026 DevUp Scholars Program Cohort
- February-March 2026: Nominations are accepted
- April 6, 2026: Deadline for nominations
- Mid-April 2025: Students are invited to interview or complete an essay
- End of April 2026: Students are selected for the 2026 cohort
- Early May 2026: Students and their parents are invited to attend the 2026 Welcome Ceremony
- June-July 2026: Students may participate in one of Elevate College Prep’s summer programs
- August 2026: Students begin their DevUp journey as a high school sophomore
Program Structure and Benefits
Each cohort of DevUp scholars is selected at the end of the students’ freshman year in high school. The scholars receive a full scholarship to participate in structured STEM enrichment activities every month beginning the summer before their sophomore year and continuing through their high school graduation; the program takes place at ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Tech and at the students’ individual high schools.
The monthly activities are designed to expose students to the depth and breadth of STEM, to cultivate their leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset, and to build their college readiness.
Here is a year-by-year look at the Develop Scholars Program:
| Focus | Example Activities | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Grade | In the first year of the DevUp Scholars Program, students develop a relationship with their mentors, explore STEM disciplines through structured events and summer programs, and become familiar with ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Tech’s campus and its resources. Each student develops a plan for their high school career to stay on track to pursue a STEM major in college. |
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| 11th Grade | In year two, DevUp scholars continue to explore STEM disciplines and careers. They also prepare for standardized tests and learn the mechanics of writing a compelling college essay to convey their individual experiences and academic goals. |
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| 12th Grade | In the third and final year, DevUp scholars are immersed in the college application and selection process. They learn about concrete strategies for completing and submitting applications, applying for financial aid, and networking. The goal is to prepare students to successfully pursue and thrive in higher education. |
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Students in each cohort of DevUp scholars will be connected with mentors who are current ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Tech undergraduate students. We will prioritize pairing students with mentors who graduated from Chicago Public Schools or local charter schools. Scholars will also network with STEM professors and industry professionals.
At the completion of the program, DevUp Scholar Program graduates who are admitted to a degree-seeking undergraduate program at ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Tech will earn a guaranteed tuition scholarship of $25,000 and a housing scholarship of $5,000 annually to attend the university. Students may be eligible for additional aid to attend ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Tech after submitting their FAFSA.
If you have any questions about the DevUp Scholars Program, please contact Gabrielle Palomo, coordinator of pre-college access, at gpalomo@illinoistech.edu.
