Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.), a non-profit, college and career access organization, headquartered in Richmond, recently awarded 130 Last Dollar scholarships totaling $135,500 and 82 Community College Pathway scholarships totaling $82,000 to Virginia high school students graduating in 2023.
Last Dollar Scholarship recipients were NiJe’l Cook and Usman Khan, Martinsville High School; and Macy Hall, Patrick County High School.
Pathway Scholarship Recipients were Andrew Rakes, Patrick County High School and Tanaysia Blackstock,
Marissa Espinosa, Camryn James, and RG Olea, Martinsville High School.
GRASP’s mission is to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for continuing education after high school, regardless of financial or social circumstances. During the 2022-2023 academic year, GRASP financial aid professionals provided free, confidential, one-on-one advising in 109 Virginia high schools to students seeking financial aid and scholarships for continuing education after high school – whether that is technical school, community college or a four-year university.
GRASP advisors were able to provide financial aid advising this year through in-person meetings as well as virtual options including video meetings, phone, email, texting, assisting students/families through the financial aid process to include completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as well as the VASA (Virginia Alternative State Aid) application.
In addition to financial barriers, many would be first generation college students and students from lower-resourced communities have a lack of knowledge of the financial resources available and how to navigate the complex maze of the financial aid system. GRASP advisors are typically retired educators who have a passion for expanding students’ opportunities to learn and bring decades of life-experience to the discussions.
The GRASP advising program and scholarships are made possible by generous donor support and private and community foundations. Last Dollar scholarships are awarded to at least one student at each school GRASP serves. The Community College Pathway scholarships are awarded to students who plan to attend community college to receive a career certificate or transfer to a four-year college and are renewable.
Scholarship luncheons were hosted in seven areas of the state served by GRASP (Cedar Bluff, Staunton, Warsaw, Keysville, Williamsburg, Hopewell, and Richmond) recognizing GRASP Scholarship recipients as well as high school seniors who have participated in the early commitment scholarship program (SOAR Virginia®), a Virginia529 program that was created and funded by Virginia529℠ to inspire and assist high school students to reach their post-secondary education goals.
Appointments, which are free, can be made through the schools’ counseling offices. More information about GRASP is available at www.grasp4va.org. Point of Contact is Paula Buckley, pbuckley@grasp4va.org.
