Posted on For Richmond blog, February 25, 2014.

For Richmond to send 25 deserving high school students in Richmond to summer programs at college campuses.

For Richmond will provide scholarships to 25 deserving high school students in Richmond this summer, allowing them to attend summer programs on college campuses across the U.S.

Summer enrichment programs are offered at many universities, enabling high school students to pursue an academic passion, develop meaningful connections with faculty and peers and, most important, discover that a higher education is a real and attainable goal for the future.

In its ongoing effort to help make a higher education a reality for students in Richmond, For Richmond will sponsor selected students to participate in a summer program at one of the following four-year colleges: Morehouse College, Spelman College, University of New Mexico, Tennessee State University and Fisk University.

“Students who earn For Richmond scholarships to these programs will not only benefit from the programs themselves, but they will also have a chance to get out of their comfort zones and experience different cultures than what they’re used to here in Richmond,” said For Richmond’s Jordan Greer, highlighting the fact that all schools selected are located in the south and southwest.

Selected students will have their pick in choosing a program right for them – the summer programs available cover a range of subjects, from a focus on nuclear materials and space sciences to transportation policy to general pre-college preparation.

Within the next few months, For Richmond will be reaching out to Richmond high school students at the rising senior, junior, and sophomore levels who have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA to encourage them to apply.

For Richmond’s Fernando Ramirez helped develop the project and said this is a unique opportunity for Richmond students to represent their community and build relationships across the U.S., paving the way for even more students to participate in the future.

“By helping Richmond students attend these summer programs, we’re building relationships with colleges and universities and setting the tone that Richmond students are part of a college-bound culture,” Ramirez said. “Those relationships are important when the kids come back and tell their friends, brothers and sisters about the experience, and even more want to go next year.”

This scholarship program continues For Richmond’s strong track-record of initiatives that promote higher education in Richmond, including a new partnership with Holy Names University in Oakland and Fisk University in Nashville.