Recent Ombudsman Chicago graduate, Destiny Wright, works with the school’s summer outreach team, assisting with student recruitment and enrollment.
“The challenges you go through in life are going to either push you forward or drag you deeper into a hole – the choice can be yours…”
Destiny never thought she would graduate from high school, after dropping out her freshman year. But after enrolling into Ombudsman in September of 2014, she has not only earned her diploma, Destiny also has a job at the school from which she just graduated.
In their roles on the summer outreach team, the recent graduate hires work closely with Ombudsman outreach specialists, fielding inbound student inquiries and conducting proactive outreach. The graduate hires have enhanced their professional phone etiquette skills as they learn how to make calls to parents and students, and they are gaining grassroots marketing experience as they work with the teams to conduct neighborhood outreach. With the addition of the recent graduates, the outreach team has seen a significant increase in both the number of returning students and new student inquiries.
“We are extremely proud of our graduates, and we felt that it was important to give them the opportunity to gain professional experience while connecting with potential students and sharing their success stories,” said Tammie Samuels, administrative recruitment and retention assistant. “It’s a great fit for our graduates and for our program because potential students identify best with our recent graduates, and graduates feel empowered by helping other students get back on track.”
A Chicago Public Schools Options School Program, Ombudsman Chicago offers out-of-school and at-risk teens a second chance at achieving academic success while preparing them for continuing education and a career. Their core goal is to help each student form a foundation of success that they can build upon and prepare for the future, while providing an environment where students are empowered and encouraged.
Offering open enrollment throughout the school year, Ombudsman has three convenient Chicago locations on the Northwest, West and South Sides. Learn more at www.chicagodiploma.com