RICHTON PARK, ILL.—(ENEWSPF)–September 2, 2015– Ron Anderson, a Southland College Prep Charter High School senior college counselor, has received a Yale Educator Award by Yale University.
Anderson and 28 other secondary school counselors from 40 U.S. states and 15 countries have been recognized for the support, inspiration and encouragement of their students to achieve at high levels, according to an announcement by Yale University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Anderson was nominated by Amy Kwarteng, of Matteson, the 2015 Southland College Prep class Valedictorian, who is pursuing a psychology degree at Yale.
Anderson is a 65-year-old marathoner who has gone the distance for all of Southland College Prep’s graduates.
“This is a most well deserved recognition for Ron Anderson who, together with fellow counselor Robert Lane, has provided extraordinary service and assistance to every member of Southland’s first two graduating classes and their families. Every one of our graduates was admitted to colleges and universities, many among the top schools in the nation like Yale and collectively they have been offered $ 21 million in merit scholarships,” said Dr. Blondean Davis, Southland’s CEO.
A product of Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood where he graduated from the original Farragut High School in 1968, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972 from Illinois State University with a triple major of history, sociology and economics.
A year later, he earned a master of science in public and urban policy from the University of Chicago.
Anderson returned to ISU in 1973 where he held six administrative positions over the course of 13 years. Among his posts were Associate Director of Admissions, Associate Director of Financial Aid, Associate Director of Career Planning and Associate Dean of Student Activities.
In 1986, Anderson joined the University of Chicago as Associate Dean of Students in the Graduate School of Business, a post he held for another 13 years.
After a stint as an independent college counselor focused on assisting minority students secure entrance into top-tier business and law schools and three years with the National Education Loan Network, in 2010 he joined the City Colleges of Chicago as Chief of Staff for Chancellor Cheryl Hyman.
In 2011, Anderson joined Southland College Prep Charter High School as its senior college counselor.
“I’ve focused on ensuring that everyone Southland’s graduating seniors have an opportunity to be admitted to first-rate colleges and universities all across the U.S., have the means to do so in the form of merit scholarships and financial aid packages and graduate with a four-year college degree,” Anderson said.
Anderson spends long hours throughout the year working with Southland College Prep students, their parents and admissions officers at scores of colleges and universities across the U.S.
During the lunch period, Anderson’s office is often a den, with small groups of students sitting on the floor, munching their food and listening to his practical advice and thoughts on how best they can present their case to specific colleges.
The father of two sons, Anderson is single and resides in Glenwood. His hobby is long distance running which he does every day and he has completed 11 marathons.
Southland’s enrollment is non-selective and students enter a well-publicized annual public Lottery to earn one of its 500 seats capped by the Illinois State Board of Education.
The only criteria for admission are successful completion of elementary school and residence in District 227’s four elementary school districts which include: Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Tinley Park.
Source: Southland College Prep Charter High School
