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The Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance

 

Gov. Quinn rallies for MAP grant

Students tell their stories

Kyle Malinowski is a junior from Ballwin, MO, majoring in accounting. Below are his remarks from Thursday's rally.

Imagine if you will, 33 years ago a young Mexican female, the daughter of two immigrants, graduating from an inner city Chicago public school at the top of her class. She was the star of the volleyball team, and chief editor of the year book, but once the high school gown and cap were removed her future looked bleak. Her father was a retired steel worker without a high school education, and her mother had never had any formal schooling. Her parents’ greatest dream was for their daughter to get out of the slums of south Chicago, go to college, and make a better life for herself. But finances made that a pretty impossible dream. Until she found an unexpected guardian angel – the state of Illinois.  With money from a state grant, her dream and her parents’ dream was realized. She graduated four years later with a degree and a variety of job offers. Today that woman assists in teaching kindergarteners about the importance of education in their lives. This woman’s story personally is inspiring to me, not just because it is  impressive.This woman is  my mother. 

Stories like this may seem unique, but to so many people of underprivileged and underrepresented families these are a reality.  Over 100,000 students each year from small Private schools, massive Public universities, and community colleges in our own backyard receive grants to further their education. This money is essential to today’s students, and to tomorrow’s society.

Let us not forget the goals of a state government- the mission of Springfield’s leaders. The Preamble to the Illinois State Government’s constitution establishes the grand aspiration to “provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual”. Education is the best way to accomplish this goal.  As history has proven time and time again, the best way to improve an economy is to improve the educational level of its work force. And in today’s economy, a more skilled workforce, and more educated population can only help.

Students have a responsibility to have our voices heard. We are the legislators of tomorrow, the CEOs of the Future, and the movers and shakers in the years to come. Let the ones in Springfield not forget this important fact. Education funding should never be a proverbial political football-. Let us move together as one, and come up with a solution that benefits both the budget and minds of today and financial situation of tomorrow.

The power of education is unimaginable. 33 years ago, when that woman from the south side of Chicago began her college career, I doubt anyone would have ever believed her youngest son would be standing before you today fighting to continue providing those same opportunities to a  new generation. However this isn’t just Kyle Malinowski’s fight, or Bradley University’s fight, or even Private University’s fight…but this is a struggle that involves all students of this state. The decisions of today echo for generations to come. So on behalf of the students of Illinois, Governor Quinn and all the legislators of Illinois, please find some way to reinstate the MAP Grant and give that chance at a better life back to the students of this great state for generations to come- Students like that  girl -- my mother. 

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