The obstacles Jamaal Applewhite encountered during his four years at Evanston Township High School would have derailed most adults, but Jamaal surpassed all expectations by graduating from high school at the top of his class and securing an elite academic scholarship for college. As he struggled with issues of residency in his battle to attend ETHS, faculty members were helping him achieve his goals. For instance, when Applewhite needed to front-load his schedule with more mathematicsin order to complete Advanced Placement Calculus during his senior year, teacher Marion Kelley arranged for him to take the necessary course at Oakton Community College.

When school administrators discovered Jamaal was homeless they secured the legal help necessary to have Jamaal reside with his godmother and remaining at ETHS. Jamaal now attends the University of Illinois on a full-tuition scholarship from the Posse Foundation, which covers up to $100,000 in tuition over four years at one of 17 colleges and universities. The highly competitive scholarships are given to students who have bucked the odds - possess an intangible spark, signaling promise and potential.