Obama Foundation Scholars prepared as new generation of leaders, Presidential Center nears opening

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are less than six weeks until the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, and work continues on the 19-acre campus.

Long before the center was erected, the Obama Foundation has been preparing a new generation of leaders.

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There is excitement for graduation on the University of Chicago campup, but some grad students are already graduates of the Obama Foundation Scholars program.

"Through the Obama Foundation, I feel like there has been a different lens," Obama Foundation Scholar Ope Sunmola said. "There is the concept of plurality. How do you work with people who have different opinions than you do?"

"Pretty full tool kit, leaving this program and graduating from Booth," Obama Foundation Scholar Christian Ochoa said.

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"I'm among good company of people who care about be change makers no matter what career path we go in," Obama Foundation Scholar Hira Qureshi said.

Obama Foundation Scholar Levi Jenkins is from Englewood and was a public school teacher before starting his masters work.

"It expanded my horizon it helped me to think bigger more globally,"

The program operates at UChicago and Columbia University, offering students a stipend the year long program to fortify their goals to be of service. It's one of several global leaders programs and scholarships created by the Obama Foundation over the last 10 years.

"We've got hundreds of leaders, but they didn't really have a home, but now they do right here in Chicago, which is the place that symbolizes a new generation of leaders," said Michael Strautmanis, Obama Foundation Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.

In previous years, participants gathered at Summits in Chicago, but Strautmanis explained the Obama Presidential Center will be home base.

"The thing about a new generation of leaders that's a renewable resource there are always new people coming who want to create the change they want to see," Strautmanis said.

And change, they are planning.

"Closing the gap in kidney care equity," Ochoa said.

"I want every African girl to consider a career in STEM," Temiladi Adelakun said.

"Inspiring the new generation in public service," Qureshi said.

"Helping our next generation stay engaged in our democracies," Megha Bhattacharya

"Increasing access to educational care for marginalized communities," Sunmola said.

"Bringing community voices into government processes," Jessica Perez said.

"Inspiring the next generation of change makers," Jenkins said.

Applications are closed now for Obama Scholars, but more details about the Scholars program and other Obama programs and scholarships can be found at obama.org.

Tickets to the Obama Presidential Center museum are available June 19 through November 30. Click here for more information.