Scholarship and Fine Arts Awards 2026

Scholarship 

Name 

School 

1 

Jacqueline B. Vaughn Scholarship 

Jacqueline Barbara Vaughn had the distinction of being the first female and the first African American president of Chicago Teachers Union. Elected in 1984, she served until her death in 1994. Under her leadership, the Union conducted the longest strike in Chicago’s history (19 days). Mrs. Vaughn also served as President to the Illinois Federation of Teachers from 1989 to 1994 and as a vice president to the American Federation of Teachers. She also initiated education reform and restructuring initiatives through the establishment of the CTU Quest Center. 

Camila Valles 

John Hancock College Preparatory High School 

2 

Ernestine Cain Brown Scholarship 

Ernestine Cain Brown was a functional vice president teacher assistants and a staunch advocate for Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel. Ernestine served on the PSRP Committees of both the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. Appointed assistant to the president for paraprofessionals, Mrs. Brown became a member of the negotiating team where she was instrumental in initiating the career ladder for teacher assistants. 

Chiya Stonewall 

Lindblom Math & Science Academy 

3 

John E. Desmond Scholarship 

John Desmond was CTU President from 1966 to 1972. He negotiated the first written contract for Chicago teachers. It was considered a model contract and its provisions were written into other teachers’ agreements around the country. His tenure was marked by three-cornered battles waged by the union, the Chicago Board of Education and the Illinois General Assembly over the Chicago school budget. In his six years in office, starting salaries for teachers increased by $4,000. Following his presidency, Mr. Desmond served as a lobbyist for the union. 

Daniel Mulchrone 

Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep 

4 

Mary J. Herrick Scholarship 

Mary Herrick taught high school from 1922 to 1965. She was actively involved in the teachers’ union movement, commencing this service with her membership in the Federation of Women High School Teachers, 1923 to 1937, and serving as its president from 1933 to 1936. Ms. Herrick became chairman of the Joint Board of Teachers Unions which formed the basis of the Chicago Teachers Union. She served as a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. Mary Herrick was the first editor of the award winning Chicago Union Teacher newspaper and a prolific author of many printed papers and pamphlets, with her most notable work being The Chicago Public Schools. 

Gail Capao 

Lake View High School 

5 

David M. Peterson Scholarship 

David Peterson taught 7th and 8th grades in CPS. His tenure with the Chicago Teachers Union began as a field representative. Later, as legislative director, David quickly became one of the most respected lobbyist in Springfield. He knew that politics and the legislature had a direct impact on the lives of teachers and education workers, and also understood how to convince legislators about the validity of passing good legislation and defeating harmful proposals. 

Joesiah Johnson 

Dunbar Vocational Career Academy 

6 

Beatrice Lumpkin Scholarship 

Beatrice Lumpkin became a community activist as a high school student in New York. Thanks to a long life and a strong love for people and justice, she has enjoyed more than 80 years of activism. Beginning her career as a high school mathematics teacher, Bea, as she is affectionately called, retired her career in 1990; but continues her activism. Mrs. Lumpkin was recently honored at the 100th anniversary of the American Federation of Teachers as one of its oldest advocates. At 100 years of age, Bea can still be seen marching at Union rallies, and remains interested in multicultural education, and re-inserting into the curriculum the contributions of people of color, women and working people. 

Laila Clay 

Kenwood Academy 

7 

William ‘Bill’ Buchanan Scholarship 

Bill Buchanan was a Chicago Public School teacher for twenty-four years, teaching at Farragut and Foreman High Schools. He then earned his National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Mathematics certificate and became an Academic Coach for other math teachers throughout Chicago. He held a firm commitment to public education and his compassion touched the lives of thousands of students. Bill Buchanan’s serious regard for his students’ futures made him highly respected by colleagues and students alike. 

Micah Kholodenko 

Prosser Career Academy 

8 

Geoffrey Jennings Scholarship 

Geoffrey Jennings taught woodshop, drafting and architectural drawing in CPS from 1961 to 1993. He was a proud CTU member and an ardent supporter of the Industrial Arts. He worked tirelessly with his students at Parker (now Robeson) and Kenwood to promote vocational education as a complement to “academic endeavors.” His students won citywide competitions for their creative and innovation designs and executions of those designs, beating schools with much better resources than afforded his students. Mr. Jennings, who died in 1997, is the father of former CTU President Karen GJ Lewis. 

Mya Boatman 

Nicholas Senn High School 

9 

Dr. Margaret Burroughs Scholarship 

Dr. Burroughs, taught for more than 20 years at DuSable High School. An artist, she shared with her husband, Charles, an interest in history and a desire to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. In 1961, using their own collection of art and artifacts, Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs established a small museum in three rooms on the first floor of a large house they had recently bought on South Michigan Avenue. Originally called the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, it was renamed in 1968 to honor Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, the black settler considered the first permanent citizen of what would become the city of Chicago. 

Olivia Cabrera 

Jones College Prep 

10 

John M. Fewkes Scholarship 

John M. Fewkes was president of Chicago Teachers Union from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1947 to 1966. He was also president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1942 to 1943 and signed the original CTU Charter that amalgamated five small unions into Local 1 of the American Federation of Teachers, in 1937. 

Travis Smith 

Chicago Christian High School 

11 

Robert M. Healey Scholarship 

Robert Healey was CTU president from 1972 to 1984. His tenure at the helm of the Chicago Teachers Union led to paid vacations for teachers and the introduction of class-size limits. Later, he became president of the Chicago Federation of Labor and reinvigorated the group to involve more than 300 unions and locals and presided over its subsequent rise to political prominence. 

Zion Richards 

Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School 

12 

Karen G. Lewis / Future Teacher (KGJL) Scholarship 

Karen GJ Lewis, a National Board Certified Teacher, was elected president of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. Through her bold leadership, she changed the narrative around public education in Chicago and the United States. During her tenure, the CTU created a model for union organizing and the fight for education justice and built strong and lasting relationships with parents and community organizations across the city. 

Janiya White 

Morgan Park High School