Safiyah Agunbiade

Star Scholar

Safiyah Agunbiade is a long way from home. 

She moved to the North Side of Chicago from Nigeria in 2018 for a better education. Malcolm X College proved to be a perfect fit. 

Safiyah has always wanted to be a nurse—she was inspired by her grandmother who was in the same profession. But Safiyah knew she wouldn’t be able to afford a four-year university immediately after high school. She started researching affordable healthcare programs in the city and learned Malcolm X is City Colleges’ Center of Excellence in Healthcare.  

Safiyah applied and was accepted, but she needed a way to pay for her education. That’s when she learned City Colleges’  Star Scholarship could help. With the support of the award, she could attend Malcolm X College at no cost. 

“I didn’t have to worry about money. I didn’t have to worry about books,” she said. “I had a 100% commitment to my studies.”  

Safiyah thrived at Malcolm X as she pursued her associate degree in science. She appreciated the individualized attention she received from advisors and professors, and valued the help she received from the Advising and Writing Centers. 

“There are a lot of people that want you to succeed,” she said. “I feel like it’s a great community.” 

With two years of college under her belt, Safiyah will soon transfer to a four-year university to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing.  While she’s still deciding where to go, whatever school Safiyah picks, she will continue to receive financial assistance from City Colleges. That’s because she is one of 21 students to receive the Star Plus Scholarship. This new award for eligible Star Scholars provides students with $5,000 over two years to use towards their bachelor’s degree at one of CCC’s four-year transfer partner universities. 

Being chosen as a Star Plus Scholar means so much to Safiyah because being a Star Scholar was life-changing for her. 

“The Star Scholarship was able to help make me who I am today,” she said. “It gave me determination and motivation to keep putting in my best in my studies.” 

Safiyah is extremely thankful to those who donated to the Star Plus Scholarship Fund. Being a Star Plus Scholar is confirmation that a career in nursing is in her future. 

“It’s a signal of hope that I shouldn’t give up on my dreams,” she said.  

After she completes her nursing program, she wants to travel the world and use her degree to help provide medical care to disadvantaged communities—a path Safiyah hopes would make her grandmother proud.