Chicago resident receives scholarship to Marquette through partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America

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Nuri Navarro (far right), along with past scholarship recipients, were welcomed to Marquette University’s campus by NBA Champion Dwyane Wade.

MILWAUKEE, WI (09/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Through a national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Marquette University has awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Nuri Navarro, A Youth of the Year winner from the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago.

Marquette partnered with BGCA in 2009 to offer scholarships to teens selected as Youth of the Year winners. Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor bestowed on a Boys & Girls Club member. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a young person's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. Applicants for the Marquette scholarships must also have met the university's admission criteria.

Navarro, who has been accepted into Marquette's Diederich College of Communication, moved to Chicago from Mexico City with her family when she was seven years old. She graduated from Major Hector P. Garcia High School, a charter school located in the Archer Heights neighborhood, which requires students to learn Mandarin. In 2011, she was one of 100 students selected nationwide by the Education Association for China Tomorrow organization to spend the summer in China, where she studied the language, as well as the country's culture and history. At Navarro's local Boys & Girls Club she helped tutor younger students, participated in summer camp and volunteered for large events. 

Renewable for four years, the scholarship is valued at more than $125,000. The national partnership between the university and BGCA has its roots in local partnership. When Marquette created its Urban Scholarship program several years ago, two of the 10 annual, full-tuition scholarships were designated for members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

When NBA champion and former Marquette basketball star Dwyane Wade was on campus for a book signing, he met with Navarro to welcome her to campus. Wade, through the Wade's World Foundation, provides support to community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations.

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4.2 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

About Marquette University

As Wisconsin's largest private university, Marquette offers endless opportunities: the chance to live, study and play in the heart of a dynamic city; nationally known programs and powerhouse faculty; a Catholic, Jesuit tradition that emphasizes ethics and lifelong values. For more than 125 years, Marquette has inspired students to Be The Difference in their professional and personal lives. Students and alumni say that a Marquette education is worth the investment, and the university is proud to be one of the lowest-cost private colleges among U.S. News and World Report's top 100 national universities. More than 11,500 students come from all 50 states and more than 75 countries to explore options ranging from intense undergraduate studies to specialized graduate and professional programs. Log on to marquette.edu for more information.