Public Housing Students Celebrate College Beginnings

(CBS) -- Over 150 public housing high school students from Chicago gathered today to celebrate the beginning of a new journey.

The students, heading to some 75 colleges throughout the country, were recognized as part of the Chicago Housing Authority's sixth annual Take Flight College Send-Off.

Students were given dorm supplies, as well as refurbished laptops, and Housing Authority CEO Eugene Jones Jr. says that gets students moving in the right direction.

"They can focus on the studies and not worry about where they're going to get soap, toothpaste and so forth, that's an insurmountable task for some of these kids because some of them can't afford it, so we're putting them in right path so they'll feel better about themselves, better in the dormitory and so forth," Jones Jr. says.

Mark Mud is one of the students, getting ready to attend Missouri Southern State University in the fall.

"Today is great, I see everyone from different neighborhoods coming together that's going to college, that's not normal for African Americans in the community that I'm from, so seeing everyone go to college is a great feeling," Mud says.

Mud says help from CHA and his new supplies will make for a smooth transition to college.

"Seeing these things let me know that my parents don't have to spend as much money as they would have if I didn't have this event."

He adds he's especially grateful for one of his new appliances.

"Alarm clock, it's hard waking up."

A grant from CNA Financial helped supply the students with supplies. This marked CHA's second largest class of graduating seniors.