Author: Zach Sorensen

Members of the Hektoen Institute Board and guests celebrated the second Community College Essay Contest Winners at a Brunch held Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Sofitel Hotel Chicago.  All enjoyed the convivial atmosphere and a delicious brunch buffet.

Essay Contest Winners Tiara Davis and Sedef Ozbay. Not pictured: Alleya Williams

L-R: Doug Walker, Scholarship Donor; Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Scholarship Donor,
Sedef Ozbay, Tiara Davis, Dr. Sally Metzler, Donor and Scholarship Initiative Founder.

Board Member Doug Siefken, Levi Moore and Alice Cameron, Hektoen Institute.

Board Members Second Row, L-R: Dr. Peter Hart, Courtney Avery, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta;
Doug Walker; Dr. Sally Metzler; Kathleen Weber; Dr. James Franklin; Doug Siefken.
Front, L-R. Dr. Earl Smith, Dr. George Dunea.

Sedef Ozbay offered remarks on her educational goals.

Tiara Davis receives scholarship award from Dr. Gupta.

We are proud to announce our inaugural 2025 scholarship recipients, and congratulate:

• Haftom Amha, Harry S. Truman College
• Valeria Cancino: Malcolm X College
• Jamarius Ducker, Kennedy-King College

Members of the Hektoen Institute Board and guests celebrated the inaugural Community College Essay Contest Winners at a luncheon held Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Sofitel Hotel Chicago.  Board Members and their guests, along with the prize winners and their guests, enjoyed the convivial atmosphere and a delicious lunch buffet.

The Hektoen Institute Community College Scholarship program, launched in 2025, reflects Hektoen’s commitment to education and cultural enrichment by offering scholarships aimed at empowering Community College students.

Founded in 1943, Hektoen has long stood at the crossroads of science and humanities, fostering intellectual curiosity.  Our online journal, Hektoen International, explores the intersection of science, literature, art, and history. The free-access journal encourages thoughtful writing that bridges disciplines and generations.

Our goal is to encourage Community College students to strengthen their writing skills and complete their education. We aim to mitigate financial barriers for these students to matriculate. Our scholarship program is grounded in compassion, education, and the belief that meaningful stories have the power to shape a more humane world.

We are proud to announce our second group of scholarship recipients, and congratulate:

• Tiara Davis, Kennedy-King College
• Sedef Ozbay, Harold Washington College
• Alleya Williams, Wabash Valley College

Photos from the 2026 Community College Scholarship Winners Awards Brunch can be viewed here.

Photos from the 2025 Community College Scholarship Winners Luncheon can be viewed here.

Please subscribe to Hektoen International and follow us on social media to be the first to learn of the next scholarship launch!