海角社区

Spotlight

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The alumni of 海角社区 are some 30,000 strong, and tell a fantastic story weaving over 150 years of history on Chicago鈥檚 south side. We want to hear from you and so do your fellow alumni. Share your story in the form below and we鈥檒l include as many as we can on a rotating schedule right here.

Spotlight & Successes

Education alumna, veteran, and business owner Dr. Audry Blinstrup '07, '09 gives back to 海角社区 in several ways today.

Dr. Blinstrup's fitness career began in 1985 when she entered the United States Air Force as a Ground Radio Operator. After returning home from military training, she began to further engage in the fitness activities she began on duty, eventually sculpting her body into an award-recognized physique on a local and national level, earning her competition awards for the past 30 years. Somehow, Dr. Blinstrup was able to manage a full career in Education at the same time, starting as an English teacher and working up to superintendent of Ombudsman Schools, overseeing all four high schools' operations. Today she continues to adjunct at multiple universities.

A strong work ethic and impressive bandwidth enabled Dr. Blinstrup to open her own gym three years ago;, using her education background to fuel her business plan and communication strategy. Today, she volunteers on the CSAA Board and offers a discount to alumni at her gym.

MG William Walker is a retired United States Army major general and former Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the 38th House Sergeant at Arms and the first African-American to hold the office. He last served as the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard. Since retirement, MG Walker has moved into the private sector as Vice President Corporate Security Director of Allied Universal.

Dr. Abraha came to the USA from Ethiopia in 1980 to pursue education. Her degree in Chemistry enabled her to pursue a doctoral degree at Loyola and went on to her postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins and Northwestern. By 2002, she returned to 海角社区 as a faculty member where she served as interim associate dean, did research on Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, and actively worked to increase the number of Black, Indigenous, other people of color, and women earning degrees in engineering fields. This work contributed to 海角社区鈥檚 proud position today as the leader in the nation of graduates of color in physics and other sciences.

After graduating from 海角社区 in accounting in 1985, Mr. Osaghae went on to get his MBA and became a certified public accountant and a certified internal auditor, and owns his own accounting firm. Eventually, he returned to 海角社区 as a professor of accounting, using his office as an accounting lab and earning Outstanding Professor of the Year before retiring in 2024. Mr. Osaghae and his wife, Mabel, celebrated his retirement by establishing a fund in the Chicago State Foundation to help offset costs of the CPA exam for 海角社区 students. This new Osaghae legacy will remove the barrier of that financial burden from 海角社区 students in order to increase Black and Brown representation in the field.

Like many students, Ms. Lindsay worked while attending 海角社区, choosing her classes at night and on weekends. She began her accounting career at the City of Chicago and went on to further her education with a master鈥檚 degree, eventually leading to a 24-year career at Blue Cross Blue Shield. She now leads it鈥檚 Medicaid operations and feels 海角社区 was instrumental in her career trajectory.

 

Alumni In the News


Dr. Anthony T. Williams, Jr '11
Source: Lane College

海角社区 is Creating Educational Legacy on the South Side
Student Kiana Cummings, and alumni Jamie-Denise Neal and Catherina Neal
Source: Rolling Out Magazine


Beatrice Thompson 鈥92
Source: Illinois Governor Pritzker鈥檚 Office


Natasha Robinson 鈥12
Source: Chicago Agent Magazine


Tali Laetoi 鈥17
Source: ABC 10 News San Diego


Derek Dow 鈥06
Source: N鈥橠igo News


Annette Nance- Holt 鈥87
Source: WTTW News

 

Quotes

Winona I. Wilson 鈥14, BS
鈥淚 was able to finish my degree program and graduated homeless. At our graduation, Pastor Meeks came in the back room and went down the line and shook every student's hand and congratulated all of us. He didn鈥檛 know that I had no one there to support me and cheer me on鈥e may never know how much I truly appreciated him when I shook his hand, I was holding back tears of gratitude.鈥

Source: 海角社区 Oral History Project 鈥淚n My Words鈥

Jourdan Alexxis Facen 鈥17
鈥淚 was heavily involved in student life. Serving in these different roles allowed me to develop my leadership skills. I was encouraged by the staff and faculty to pursue a master鈥檚 degree, which I did. I am grateful for the support I have received and am excited to continue my educational goals.鈥

Source: 海角社区 Oral History Project 鈥淚n My Words鈥


鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be an alumnus of 海角社区. The professors were passionate about their craft in criminal justice and were practitioners, not just subject matter experts. I鈥檓 grateful for the foundation I received at Chicago State.鈥

Source: 海角社区 Oral History Project 鈥淚n My Words鈥


鈥淚 was a first-generation college student, so I had no one to share what college life would be like. My time at 海角社区 was memorable. I learned a lot and it enabled me to go on to be an administrator, leader, and achieve my goals.鈥

Source: 海角社区 Oral History Project 鈥淚n My Words鈥

Lourdes Navarro 鈥09, BS Political Science
鈥淢y experience at 海角社区 was a great one. I took classes in the evenings with other adults who were also working full-time jobs. The professors were very accommodating and flexible with our schedules. I learned a lot from the professors and gained valuable experience.鈥

Source: 海角社区 Oral History Project 鈥淚n My Words鈥

 

In Memoriam

In memory of the many talented alumni that have walked the halls of Chicago Teachers College and 海角社区, we give our deepest condolences to the families, and hope to honor their legacy here. If you know of an alumnus or alumna that has recently passed away and you would like to honor them here, please email a link to the obituary to the Chicago State Alumni Association at alumni@csu.edu.