An immigrant story (of a future architect!)

Eisenhower High School graduate Denisse Fernandez Rico set her sights high.

Ambitious and so bright, Fernandez Rico impressed her teachers and mentors at Eisenhower with her attitude and work ethic. And those qualities resulted recently in her admission to the famed College of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

This achievement would represent a great milestone for any college student. Architecture scares away many students with its demanding coursework.

But for someone who arrived in the United States as a fifth grader, this accomplishment truly represents a goal worthy of celebration and respect.

Fernandez Rico completed the English Language Learner program at Eisenhower. Academic counselor Raquel Chavez remembers her well.

“Denisse came to the US as a fifth grader and last year she met English proficiency. We are very proud of her and her accomplishments. In addition to becoming the first person in her immediate family to graduate high school, she’s also the first to attend college,” Chavez said.

In the letter welcoming her to the College of Architecture, Executive Director of University Admissions Malinda Lorkovich notes the magnitude of what Fernandez Rico has achieved.

“Congratulations! On behalf of the University of Illinois at Chicago, it is my pleasure to offer you admission as a first-year student to the Architecture program in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts. We commend you for your hard work and we are thrilled to welcome you to our diverse academic community,” Lorkovich wrote.

“As one of the top research-funded institutions in the world, UIC faculty actually discover what others teach. You now have the unparalleled opportunity to take advantage of the cultural, academic, and social opportunities with Chicago as your campus,” Lorkovich added.