Mikayla Zinkel, a senior at Elmhurst University, exemplifies the resilience and determination that define so many first-generation college students. She is pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Biology, along with minors in Communications, Sociology, and Psychology. A transfer student from McHenry County College, where she graduated as valedictorian, Mikayla arrived at Elmhurst with strong academic credentials but limited financial resources.
Despite her achievements, financial barriers threatened to derail her college journey. At one point, a six-month financial hold placed her enrollment at risk. Thanks to the generosity of ACI donors, Mikayla received the support she needed to clear that obstacle and remain in school. Recalling the moment she received the news, she said, “I remember looking at my advisor’s email saying I was off a financial hold… I actually started sobbing. I finally caught up enough that I didn’t have to work 40 hours a week to continue my education.”
Now in her final semester, Mikayla is focused on the future—one that includes graduate school, a Ph.D., and a career in law enforcement. Her ultimate goal is to serve as a police officer, work her way up to the FBI, and eventually teach criminal justice to inspire students from backgrounds like her own.
Mikayla’s story is a powerful reminder that ACI scholarships do more than support education—they create futures filled with promise and purpose. Mikayla’s journey is just one example of how your generosity can change a life. Every contribution to ACI helps remove financial barriers, empowering first-generation and underserved students to stay in school, graduate, and pursue meaningful careers.