CME Group Foundation announced today that 18 rising Black and Latinx students majoring in finance, technology, and related fields at 11 Illinois colleges and universities will each receive $20,000 to further their education. More than $2.5 million in Foundation scholarships have been awarded since 2019.

While many scholarship programs help freshmen get started in college, the CME Group Foundation Scholarship Program works to ensure that sophomores, juniors, and seniors complete their four-year degrees. Winners are eligible to reapply for up to three years of financial assistance, for a total of $60,000 in financial assistance. Since its inception in 2019, this program has awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships to 69 deserving college students.

"By providing financial assistance for high-quality education and career development opportunities, CME Group Foundation is pleased to play a role in driving equitable growth opportunities for under-represented students in our state,"

said Terry Duffy, CME Group Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of CME Group Foundation.

"This scholarship program can help our students graduate debt-free while also opening up new opportunities to explore careers at CME Group and other world-class organizations."

"We are extremely proud to learn that 15 of the 35 CME Group Foundation Scholars for 2022 are UIC students,"

said Interim Chancellor Javier Reyes of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"As one of the nation's most diverse public research universities, we are committed to expanding access to higher education for Black and Latino students. Scholarships and internship opportunities provided by the CME Group Foundation will open doors for underrepresented students and provide exposure to careers in finance, technology, and related fields."

"Loyola is grateful for the CME Group Foundation's long-standing support of the University and our students, including its partnership in the CME Group Foundation Business Analytics Lab in the Quinlan School of Business,"

Loyola University Chicago Provost Margaret Callahan said.

"The Scholars program contributes to Loyola's core mission by providing critical opportunities for Black and Latinx students in finance and analytics, and we are particularly pleased to note that three Loyola Scholars who graduated in May are now working full time at CME Group."

CME Group executives will host an annual Market Education Day on the financial services industry on August 11, during which students can learn more about internship and career opportunities at CME Group.

CME Group Foundation assists today's students in keeping up with rapidly changing technology, resulting in a workforce for the future that is prepared to meet tomorrow's global challenges. We are sparking system-wide change by bringing together the brightest minds in education to generate new approaches to early math, computer science, personalized learning, and college and career success, with a focus on those who are typically underrepresented in STEM fields. They will shape the future of the world's most important industries, including ours, so we must provide them with the resources they require to reach their full potential.

Source: CME Group news