Representatives from the University of Iowa, Southwestern Community College (SWCC), and the Creston Community School District came together on Wed., March 2, 2016, at 10 a.m., at Creston High School, to discuss a new statewide scholarship program available to high school students in the Creston district who plan to go directly to the UI or transfer to the UI after graduating from SWCC.
The University of Iowa has partnered with the Raise.me scholarship platform on a statewide pilot project to encourage and improve college readiness among Iowa high school students. Using Raise.me, students from select school districts in each of Iowa’s 99 counties will be eligible to earn up to a total of $1,200 in “micro-scholarships” to attend the UI by meeting certain criteria, such as achieving an A or a B grade in select math classes or being involved in arts, athletics, or other extracurricular programs.
The goal of the program is to encourage students to take rigorous courses and get involved in school activities, all while saving for future college expenses. The high schools selected are from the district in each county with the highest Free and Reduced Lunch percentage, based on 2015-16 data from the Iowa Department of Education.
In addition, students who attend Southwestern Community College in Creston and earn an associate’s degree can then transfer to the UI and use the full amount of the Raise.me scholarship during their final four semesters.
Beth Kulow, SWCC dean of student services, attended the UI Raise.me announcement event. Kulow is excited about the assistance these scholarships will provide to students.
“This partnership provides immeasurable benefits to Southwestern’s students, ensuring our graduates have a seamless transition while completing the transfer process,” Kulow said. “Having these micro-scholarships available at the University of Iowa will continue to strengthen the bond existing between the two institutions and most importantly, continue to make college more affordable for our students.”
The micro-scholarship platform is a partnership between the UI and Raise.me, with the support of Facebook and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The platform gives students instant feedback on their accomplishments, helping to motivate and provide them with the preparation they need to meet college admission guidelines.
For more information about the micro-scholarships, visit admissions.uiowa.edu/all99 or www.raise.me.
PHOTO ABOVE: Richard Lewis, from the UI strategic communications department, speaks to the group during the UI's announcement of Raise.me scholarships available to Creston students.
PHOTO BELOW: Creston High School senior Sydney Suitor completes the Raise.me scholarship application during the UI's event to show attendees the ease of the application process.
