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Local Voices

Orland Park High School Student Receives College Scholarship from Orland Square Mall

Megan Malloy, of Orland Park, has received a Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship valued at $1,400. The scholarship is awarded in partnership between Orland Square Mall and Simon Youth Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and career development opportunities to youth.

Malloy is a recent graduate of Mother McAuley High School and exemplified herself through academic excellence, leadership skills, and participation in both school and community activities.  She plans to study nursing at Marquette University in the fall.

“We are very proud of the Simon Youth Scholarships program, because it has given us the opportunity to support the academic endeavors of promising youth right here in our community,” said Gayle Gleespen, director of mall marketing and business development, Orland Square Mall. 

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With a combined value of more than $1 million, Simon Youth Scholarships have been awarded this spring to at least one student in every nationwide community that is home to a Simon® property. The highly competitive program awarded one scholarship for every five applicants that applied at SYF.org or their local Simon property.

“Anything is possible with education, and Simon Youth Foundation is committed to igniting this kind of hope in students,” says J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., President and CEO of SYF.  “We are proud that our Simon Youth Scholarships help remove financial obstacles that would otherwise prevent deserving young people from pursuing the dream to attend college or another post-secondary institution.”

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About SYF

Simon Youth Foundation, established in 1998, operates 23academies in 13 U.S. states that give at-risk students the same education they would receive in a traditional classroom while offering the flexibility that their individual circumstances require. Recipient of the Crystal Star Award of Excellence in Dropout Prevention from the National Dropout Prevention Center, the foundation has helped more than 8,000 students earn their high school diploma and provided more than $9.5 million in post-secondary education scholarships to 3,200 students in 42 states. The Education Commission of the United States has recognized the foundation with its Corporate Award for sustained and substantial investment in improving public education.

About Orland Square Mall

Orland Square Mall, Chicagoland’s leading fashion destination, is anchored by Macy’s, Carson Pirie Scott, Sears and jcpenney. This climate-controlled indoor mall features more than 150 popular retail stores, such as Apple, A|X Armani Exchange,  Banana Republic, Coach, Disney Store, Express, Guess, H&M and Victoria’s Secret. In addition, shoppers enjoy a variety of dining options, including recently opened The Cheesecake Factory and Dave & Buster’s, as well as Starbucks, Great Steak & Potato Company, Taco Bell and more. Orland Square Mall is located at 288 Orland Square Drive in Orland Park, Illinois, at the intersection of 151st Street and La Grange Road.  For additional information, please contact Orland Square Mall at (708) 349-1646 or visit www.simon.com/mall/orland-square-mall, www.facebook.com/OrlandSquareMall or www.twitter.com/OrlandSquare.

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