History & Rationale
Our Story: A Plea for Help
Formed in 2009, Waukegan to College began in response to an urgent plea from the Waukegan parent community: parents had neither the experience nor expertise to guide their first-generation, college-bound children down the path to and through college. This critical need became an urgent priority and the start of our tailored programming and strategic college advising.
Founding Story
Elyse Danckers
Founding Executive Director
2009 - 2021
"I got involved with Waukegan to College in 2009, early in the planning stages. It all started when an acquaintance told me about soaring dropout rates and poor performance at schools only ten miles away from my house. Something began stirring in my heart to think about all the young people who weren’t getting a good education and a chance at a better life."
Today's Chapter
Aaron Arnold
Executive Director
2021 - Present
​"For me, education is a means to an end. It's a springboard to thriving, prosperity, and most importantly living your dream. I am passionate about facilitating pathways for Waukegan youth who have been historically marginalized and underserved. They deserve the access, support, and resources they need to become flourishing, resilient, and contributing members of their communities and a college education is an important step in the journey."
Why Waukegan?
Untapped potential and a need for hope.
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Economic disinvestment. Educational inequities. Community trauma. Toxic environmental stress: these challenges have raised overwhelming barriers and shut down dreams for Waukegan youth and families.
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A town of 88,000 people, 40 miles north of Chicago, Lake County’s largest city and its county seat, and the county’s most economically depressed area.
Startling Statistics:
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Low-income families, inadequate public education, many households run by first-generation, non-English speakers — these dire conditions prompted our work. We firmly believe that hundreds, THOUSANDS, of Waukegan students are not reaching their full potential. We work to identify, guide, and empower this under-served, under-resourced population with the goal of college success.
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For one of the country’s largest student bodies with over 4300 students, Waukegan High School receives barely 50% of the resources as surrounding high schools.​
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Less than 20% of Waukegan High School students meet the requirements for “college readiness.”
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Less than 15% of Waukegan High School are enrolled in a 4-year college after graduation, and only 41% in any post-secondary pathway.
