Large Increase in Scholarships Awarded to Grand Rapids Public School Graduates

With the number of minority students attending college doubling in the last 30 years, Grand Rapids Community Foundation has made a concerted effort to increase the number of college scholarship awards to this population. This year, the Community Foundation had much to celebrate. In addition to awarding a total of $544,550 in scholarships this year, 22 percent of those who received scholarships are minority students.

Earlier this spring, the Community Foundation reviewed 1,181 applications from high school, undergraduate and graduate students and awarded 501 scholarships. Nearly 30 percent of the 144 scholarships to high school seniors went to students graduating from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). Three of four new scholarship funds this past year were established by local donors specifically to provide scholarships for students graduating from a GRPS high school.

The new funds helped 42 students from GRPS receive $53,550 worth of scholarships, a $20,000 increase from last year. Having more awards flow to GRPS students, who represent a vibrantly diverse population, was one useful way to reach the minority population. Other accomplishments for 2008 included a 32 percent increase in the number of Hispanic scholarship recipients.

According to Ruth Bishop, director of the Community Foundation’s scholarship program, these goals were accomplished by “working with high school counselors to provide information workshops about the financial aid and scholarship application process” as well as speaking directly to students about planning for college. In addition, information about Community Foundation scholarships was widely publicized in the area's minority publications and sent to faith-based organizations that provide services and support to the local minority population.

This year, the amount of scholarships awarded increased by $28,600 from last year’s total. Awards ranged from $300-$5,000, and the average scholarship awarded increased from $1,000 to $1,100 to assist with increasing tuitions.

• Michigan colleges received 89 percent of all awards with a total of $482,425.
• Over 50 percent of the awards are going to colleges in the greater Grand Rapids area.
• Students from Grand Valley State University received $90,725 in scholarships, the largest amount of any school.
• 63 percent of recipients are undergraduates.
• 67 percent of recipients are female and 33 percent are male.