Triton College Student Jaden Chandler Nominated for Statewide Gandhi/King Scholarship

Triton College student Jaden Chandler was nominated for the ICCTA’s 2026 Gandhi/King Peace Essay Scholarship Award, after submitting a paper on how community colleges can build more sustainable campuses.

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — The Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) has nominated Triton College student Jaden Chandler for its 2026 Gandhi/King Peace Essay Scholarship Award.

With this statewide recognition, Chandler is in the running for a $750 scholarship awarded to a student who best articulates the peaceful messages of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Applicants submitted an essay addressing an issue of their choice and outlining a nonviolent response, drawing on the lives and writings of Gandhi and King.

“I was just shocked,” Chandler said. “It was really nice to see all the work that I’ve been putting into applications paid off. I really did put a lot of effort and attention into the essay.”

An environmental science student, Chandler focused on sustainability and how community colleges — and their students — can work individually and collectively to build more environmentally conscious campuses.

“My overall claim was how we can enact actions at a community college to make a future that’s more sustainable and better for the environment,” he said. “[Gandhi and King] really care about thinking holistically and thinking about every human, and that connects with sustainability.”

Though not directly tied to sustainability advocacy, both Gandhi and King emphasized public welfare and the responsible use of resources, Chandler explained.

He said simple steps, like using reusable cups, can make a difference, but broader institutional changes — such as reducing Styrofoam use and expanding campus gardens — can have a greater impact.

“Refusing to act in a sustainable manner is harmful to both people and the planet,” he wrote. “Solutions exist, and Gandhi and King’s lives show these systems would prioritize the well-being of all students rather than the benefit of a few.”

The winner will be announced at a June 5 banquet in Lombard, according to the ICCTA.

If selected, the scholarship would add to a growing list of honors for Chandler. In March, he earned the Model Illinois Government Outstanding Lobbyist Award after participating in the annual congressional simulation with Triton’s delegation. More recently, he traveled to Baltimore with fellow members of Chi Zeta’s officer team to accept Phi Theta Kappa’s 2026 Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award. The recognition placed Chi Zeta — of which Chandler serves as vice president of fellowship — in the top 2.5% of chapters worldwide.

Since enrolling at Triton College, Chandler said he has grown into a leader and a more confident student — a stark contrast to his younger self.

He first came to Triton to earn an Illinois High School Diploma through the Adult Education Department. After completing his GED, he stayed to pursue an associate degree in environmental science, gaining both academic experience and a strong support system.

After graduating from Triton in May, Chandler plans to transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“This whole time I was just trying to rebuild that academic confidence and get a head start on what I want out of my future,” he said. “Comparing my high school years to now, it’s like night and day.”

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College, located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.