In the past four years, Nick Werle has studied at Indiana University and lived in Mexico and Spain. He already has a job in Chicago lined up for when he graduates next spring.

Werle was always a bright and motivated student with supportive parents. But money was tight and college was uncommon in his near-Eastside neighborhood. He’s certain things would have turned out differently for him if not for his good fortune to be paired in eighth grade with mentor Mike Feeney. READ MORE